Notice: Please view this letter regarding 2010 fishing tournament applications.

In 2008, the Natural Resource Commission adopted a rule change for the Iowa DNR's fishing tournament permit program. Beginning July 1st, 2009 a $25.00 administrative fee will be charged for fishing tournament applications. Each year the DNR issues approximately 700 authorizations for fishing tournaments conducted on public waters in the state. The fee will partially offset the costs incurred to administer the tournament program. Additionally, Iowa DNR is in the process of developing an online application and payment system similar to the one used for campsite reservations in our state parks. This web site system will be the only method to apply for and get approval for fishing tournaments. All tournaments will be listed on the DNR's web page following implementation of this system. Applications received prior to July 1st, 2009 are not subject to this fee. Applications for 2010 will not be accepted until the new system is functioning, which will not be before October, 2009.

Beginning in 2008, all bass tournaments in June, July and August will end at 1:00 PM. Fisheries biologists across the state felt that holding fish in live wells during warm water conditions causes undue stress and higher latent mortality. This new rule will be enforced statewide. An exception to this rule exists, allowing tournaments to continue past 1 PM, if the tournament holds multiple weigh-ins, at least once every four hours.

Authorization by the Department of Natural Resources is required to conduct a fishing tournament on public waters under the jurisdiction of the state. Fishing clinics and youth fishing days are excluded. Fishing tournament means any organized fishing event with six (6) or more boats or twelve (12) or more participants or where an entry fee is charged or prizes or other inducements awarded, except for waters of the Mississippi River where the number of boats shall be 20 or more and the number of participants shall be 40 or more.

Separate authorization is needed for each tournament. Fill out the 2009 Fishing Tournament Application (39K pdf) and send (by mail) the completed application to the Department of Natural Resources Area Management Fisheries Office in whose region the contest will be held.

Applications will only be accepted for 2009 tournaments. Applications for 2010 tournaments will be accepted via the online application system starting in October of 2009. Authorizations are not transferable. Applications must be received by the area fisheries management biologist at least 30 days prior to the proposed event, and not more than 6 months prior to the event.

Approval of any tournament application is at the discretion of the fisheries management biologist. The DNR may impose special conditions not specifically covered herein for any fishing tournament if deemed necessary to protect the resource or to assure public safety. Special conditions may include, but are not limited to:

• aerated live wells
• release of live fish
• fish measured to length and released from a boat
• designated release areas
• designated release persons
• multiple weigh-ins when water temperatures exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit
• scheduled weigh-in no later than 1:00 PM
• no weigh-in tournaments allowed for walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge in the months of June, July and August

Tournament size:

• on lakes less than 100 surface acres - a 15 boat maximum
• on lakes greater than 100 surface acres - a maximum of one boat per ten surface acres (Biologists may waive this rule in special cases.)

The number of tournaments at any one access area during a given day may be restricted if deemed necessary to avoid congestion with the public or competing tournaments.