2009 PSEA MatSu Valley King Salmon Derby

DATES & TIMES

6:00 am, Saturday, May 30, 2009 – through – 11:59 pm, Monday, July 6, 2009

TICKET PRICES

$5 Youth / One Day (Under 16)
$10 Youth / Entire Derby
$10 Adult / One Day
$20 Adult / Entire Derby
$40 Family / Entire Derby (Up to four people from same household)
$20 Pro Class / Entire Derby (Not sold separately. May add to any ticket)

Derby ticket vendor locations: Sportsman’s Warehouse, Three Rivers Fly and tackle, Moore’s True Value Hardware (Talkeetna), Newman’s Hilltop Tesoro (Willow), Deshka Landing, Susitna Landing, Sheep Creek Lodge, Mahays Riverboat Service, Talkeetna Boat Launch, Montana Creek Campground, Camp Caswell, Cubbies Grocery (Talkeetna), and McKinley Princess Lodge.

RULES & ELIGIBILITY

Any contestant who complies with Derby rules is eligible. All contestants must have a current sport fishing license as required by Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game (youth under 16 years of age are not required to possess a sport fishing license, however adult supervision is suggested and a Harvest Record Card is required by ADF&G). Sponsors, their employees and committee members/weigh station employees are eligible to compete in the derby, but are not eligible to win prizes which they have supplied for the Derby. All contestants must comply with Alaska Department of Fish & Game regulations.

TACKLE

King Salmon to be entered in the Derby must be caught with rod and reel. Entrants shall fish using one pole only. Violations of these rules will permanently disqualify any individual on shore, or any boat and all its occupants.

DERBY BOUNDARIES

The area for King Salmon fishing in this derby includes all legal waters in the Susitna River Drainages, (Units 1 through 6 as identified on page 23 in the 2009 Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game Regulations Summary) as well as the Eklutna Tailrace and the Little Susitna River, both part of the Knik Arm Drainage. Any individuals who are discovered to have fished in areas not included within the official Derby boundaries will be disqualified from this and all subsequent PSEA Derbies.

FISH ENTRIES AND WEIGH STATIONS

Each derby participant with a valid Sport Fishing license, King Salmon stamp, and derby ticket will be allowed to enter a maximum of three King Salmon during the duration of the derby.

Each King Salmon entered will earn the derby participant one ticket for every ten pounds of weight. Example: a fish weighing 1-19 pounds will earn 1 ticket, a fish weighing 20-29 pounds will earn 2 tickets, a fish weighing 30-39 pounds will earn 3 tickets, a fish weighing 40-49 pounds will earn 4 tickets, a fish weighing 50-59 pounds will earn 5 tickets, a fish weighing 60-69 pounds will earn 6 tickets and a fish weighing 70 pounds or more will earn 10 tickets. At the conclusion of the derby each participants respective number of tickets will be placed into a lottery style drawing for prizes. When a ticket is drawn it will be removed from the remaining tickets to be drawn for prizes. All fished weighed in are eligible to win the grand prize.

All King Salmon to be entered in the Derby must be hooked in the mouth, caught within derby boundaries and weighed in at one of our official Derby Weigh-in locations. Prior to weighing in your fish you will be asked to present a valid 2009 Alaska Fishing license or Harvest card, a valid Derby ticket, and a King stamp which indicates you have entered the fish to be weighed. Failure to comply with any of these regulations will prevent weighing-in your fish. All fish may be opened and checked. All eligible King Salmon weighed will be entered for derby prizes.

Weigh stations will be located at Three Rivers Fly & Tackle (Wasilla & Willow), Sheep Creek Lodge, Montana Creek Campground, Mahay’s Riverboat Service, Talkeetna Boat Launch, Deshka Landing.

PRIZES

Weekly prizes will be awarded for King Salmon entered each week. Recognition for the heaviest King Salmon entered for the entire Derby period will be presented after the Grand Prize winner has been drawn. A trophy plaque and professional photograph will be awarded to the fisherman who catches the heaviest fish along with a cash prize. Ties will first be decided by the length, then by date of ticket purchase, and finally by the flip of a coin. Guides are eligible to enter fish in the derby, but must obey all Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sport Fishing regulations during the harvest of the King Salmon intended to be entered.

Weekly ‘Weight-Match’ Contest (How it works): Fish weighing closest to the pre-selected weight for that week wins the prize. In the event of more than one fish matching the pre-selected weight for that week, the tie will first be decided by length, then by a raffle drawing.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs of contestants and any fish entered become the sole property of PSEA, and may be used for publicity purposes without compensation.

JUDGING and DECISIONS

Derby judges’ decisions and rules of the Derby herein outlined shall be considered final and binding upon the contestants and sponsors. PSEA reserves the right to make decisions on all matters pertaining to the Derby, including eligibility, weights, time limits, right to receive awards, and all matters relative to participation in conduct of the Derby. Judges may disqualify a fish or fisherman for any reason whatsoever, and decisions of judges on all matters pertaining to this contest shall be final.

WAIVER OF LIABILITIES

The purchase of a Derby ticket constitutes a waiver of liabilities, absolving PSEA, it’s Directors and Staff, and all sponsors from any damages of liability which may occur after entering the Derby.

ACCEPTANCE OF DERBY REGULATIONS

Purchase of a Derby ticket indicates your acceptance of all regulations relating to the 2009 PSEA MatSu Valley King Salmon Derby.

CLAIMING OF PRIZES

Prize winners need not be present to win. Prizes not claimed in person by July 30, 2009 are automatically forfeit. Prize winners must also present positive identification as well as their derby ticket stub at the time of claiming. Mailing of any prize will only occur after pre-payment of postage by the Prize Winner. Cash awards for Youth category winners must be signed for, and will only be presented to a parent or legal guardian.

DERBY RESULTS

Weekly updates of the largest fish weighed-in and final results will be available on the PSEA website immediately upon verification/certifications: www.PSEAKingDerby.com

Updates and results will be forwarded to Frontiersman, Anchorage Daily News and KMBQ 99.7fm Valley Radio.