Flatlanders Chapter of Muskies, Inc.
Members Only Contest Rules and Awards Policies
The following rules and policies supersede any and all previous rules and policies. These rules and policies become effective beginning with the 2025 contest year.
1) Chapter Contest Committee
A chapter contest committee exists for the following purposes:
a) To establish proposed rules and policies for the chapter release contest. Said rules and policies become effective only when presented to and accepted by the chapter executive committee.
b) To resolve any dispute(s) that may arise in the event that an established rule or policy fails to provide for a specific situation.
The Chapter Contest Committee will consist of the Chapter President, Vice-President and the Contest Release Chairman.
2) Contest Rules
Except where specifically noted below, the Chapter Contest Rules will follow the rules established by Muskies, Inc.
a) The angler must be a Flatlanders Chapter member, not an Affiliate member.
b) The chapter does not differentiate between a hybrid or true muskellunge.
c) No witness is required unless the Chapter Contest Committee, at its discretion, requests additional documentation.
d) All entries must be registered with the Chapter Contest Release Chairman within 30 days of date of catch. An exception to the 30 day rule applies in January. All fish for the previous contest year must be reported to the Chapter Contest Chairman no later than January 5th. To register fish, members are encouraged to use the Muskies, Inc. website. By entering fish on the website, your catch will be entered into your Fish List in the Muskies, Inc. data base. You must also inform the Chapter Release Chairman of your catch to be entered into the Chapter Contest. One way to do this is to go into your fish list on the website and use the print function to generate a report of that entry, save it and forward it to the Contest Chair via e-mail. Or you may simply email the Contest Chair with the Date of Catch, Length and Lake, including the State. Include a photo also if you would like to do so. If a member is not able to enter fish on the M/I website, the Chapter Release Chairman will enter the fish for the member. The chapter contest begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st
e) Members are encouraged to measure fish quickly and to return fish to the water as soon as possible. Measurements to the fraction of an inch are not needed. Points are awarded based on whole inch increments. Any fish reported under a half inch will be treated as the next lower whole inch. For example, a fish reported as being 42 ¼ inches long will be entered into the contest as 42 inches. Any fish reported as being a half inch or more, will be treated as the next whole inch. For example a fish reported as 42 ½ inches long will be entered into the contest as 43 inches, as will a 42 ¾ inch fish. Therefore members should report their catches in whole inches only. A fish must measure at least 30 inches to be eligible for the contest. Do not round a “short” fish to make it 30 inches.
3) Release Divisions
The following release divisions exist.
a) Men’s Release Division – 10 Awards, no point minimum
b) Women’s Release Division – 3 Awards, no point minimum
c) Junior’s Release Division – 3 Awards, no point minimum
d) Men’s Master Release Division – 2 Awards, 150 point minimum
e) Men’s Masters “400” Release Division – 1 Award, 400 point minimum
f) Women’s Masters Release Division – 2 Awards, 50 point minimum
g) Men’s Masters Elite Division – 1 Award, 750 point minimum
If the winner of the Men’s Release Division has attained 150 points or more, he will be moved to the Men’s Masters Release Division the following year.
If the winner in the Men’s Master’s Release Division has attained a minimum of 400 points, he will be moved to the Men’s Masters “400” Release Division the following year.
If the winner of the Men’s Masters “400” Release Division has attained a minimum of 750 points, he will be moved to the Men’s Masters Elite Division the following year.
If the winner of the Women’s Release Division has attained 50 points or more for two consecutive years, she will be moved to the Women’s Masters Release Division after the second year.
Once a member has fulfilled the requirement to move to a Masters, Men’s Masters “400” or Men’s Master Elite division, he or she will remain in that division. No provision for moving back is made.
4) Longest Release
A 40 inch minimum applies.
Contestants from all divisions are eligible.
5) Longest Illinois Release
To be eligible for this award, the muskie must have been caught and released from any public Illinois waterway and it must have been caught within the Illinois portion of that waterway. For example, a fish released in the Wisconsin portion of Lake Michigan would not be eligible even though Lake Michigan is also an Illinois Waterway.
6) Ties
All ties will be accepted. Awards are presented based on points. In the event two or more anglers qualify for an award and have the same number of points, each will receive an award. This does not affect the quantity of awards given in each division. For example; if in the men’s release division where there are 10 awards and there is a tie for sixth place. Awards will be presented as follows: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th, 8th, 9th and 10th. No 7th place will be awarded. In the event that a tie will cause the number of awards to exceed the defined number for the division, additional awards will be presented. For example, there are only 2 awards presented in the Men’s Masters Release Division. If multiple members tie for 2nd place, each will receive a 2nd place award. However if two members tie for 1st place, those two will receive the awards and no 2nd place will be awarded.
Where Traveling Trophies are involved, the trophy will be time-shared among the recipients
7) Outings Contest
There is no longer an Outings Contest. However, the Chapter typically conducts an outing to Lake of the Woods in July. The member(s) releasing the longest muskie during the designated hours of the outing, will have their name engraved on the Jerry Lewis Memorial traveling trophy. In the event of ties, the trophy will be time shared.
8) Flatlander Chapter Awards
a) Men’s Release Division
1st thru 10th Places – 6” x 8” Plaque
4th place – Designated as Tim Kimball Memorial Award
b) Women’s Release Division
1st thru 3rd Places – 6” x 8” Plaques
1st Place – Designated as Kris Lamendola Memorial Awar
c) Junior’s Release Division
1st Place – Traveling Trophy – Brad Moon Memorial Trophy (Donated by Special-T Engraving)
1st thru 3rd Places – 6” x 8” Plaques
1st Place – Designated as Brad Moon Memorial Award
d) Men’s Masters Release Division (note- 150 point minimum)
1st and 2nd Places – 6” x 8” Plaques
e) Men’s Masters “400” Release Division (note- 400 point minimum)
1st Place – 6” x 8“ Plaque
f) Women’s Masters Release Division (note- 50 point minimum)
1st and 2nd Places = 6” x 8” Plaques
g) Men’s Masters Elite Release Division
1st Place – 6” x 8” Plaque (note 750 point minimum)
h) Longest Release of the Year
8” x 10” Plaque with Photo of Largest Fish – (winner must submit photo 40 days prior to banquet)
Plaque Designated as Ralph Blanck Memorial Award
i) 40 Inch Release Plaque
This award is a 6” x 8” or larger (if required) engraved plate on a solid walnut plaque.
This optional award is available to any member catching and releasing at least one muskie 40 inches or longer in length. If member desires this award, the member must purchase the award. The cost will be determined based on the current cost of the plaque, including tax, rounded up to the nearest whole dollar.
j) Longest Illinois Release
1 Award Only
Illinois Shaped Plaque with engraved plate.
In the event of a tie, the recipient of the award will be determined by a random drawing.