JANUARY 17-19, 2025 | SYLVAN LAKE, AB

$0 GRAND PRIZE

Spend three days fishing on Sylvan Lake for perch, walleye, whitefish, and burbot. Winner of this catch-and-release ice fishing tournament will take home a cash prize of $3,000! Over $6,600 in total prizes.

The tournament is organized online through the Angler's Atlas MyCatch App. Be sure to read and follow all event rules carefully. Bring your own gear or rent from providers in town!

Open to all ages. Our CFE license number is #627972

POLAR DIP | JANUARY 18, 2025

Take the plunge this winter and make a splash for a great cause at the Polar Dip! The Polar Dip is happening on January 18th, with the first jump at 11:45am. By joining us, you'll help support a local charity by having a blast and making new memories. To participate all jumpers must register at the link below and are required to raise a minimum of $100 to benefit one of our amazing local charities.

For this event there will be a mandatory orientation and safety briefing at 11am. Polar Plunging will start at 11:45am, just west of the Pier. We are excited that Sylvan Lake Fire and Rescue is a co-sponsor for this exciting event. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience - dive in and make a difference!

HOW TO ENTER THE BIG JIG

GRAND PRIZE:

$3,000 awarded for the Longest Catch of the Derby! Any species.

TOP PRIZES:

Awarded for longest catch of each species. $750 for Longest Burbot, $750 for Longest Perch, $750 for Longest Walleye, and $750 for Longest Whitefish

LONGEST CATCH - YOUTH CATEGORY:

Prize pack valued at $100

CASH DRAWS:

Five randomly drawn $100 cash prizes throughout the tournament

RANDOM PRIZE DRAWS:

Participants in The BIG JIG Tournament will also be entered in for random prize draws, which include gift cards and other tangible sponsored prizes. Random prize draws will be awarded randomly throughout the derby, whether the fish are biting for you or not!

A participant can only win for one prize category. One participant cannot win multiple prizes. Where a participant places first in two categories simultaneously, that participant will be awarded the highest dollar value prize and win in that category. Prizes will be awarded on or before January 24, 2024. Winners will be contacted using the information provided when registering for the tournament via Angler's Atlas MyCatch App.

Make sure to purchase an Alberta sportfishing license.

The BIG JIG runs from the following times:

January 17 & January 18 from 6am - 9pm

January 19 from 6am - 3pm

Remember to dress warm, bring a clearly marked bump board (measuring board) or tape measure to enter your catches in the derby, and to bring your phone to register for the tournament and upload your catches during the event. Bring your own gear or book ahead of time and rent gear from providers in town

The BIG JIG Fishing Tournament is an online tournament organized through the Angler's Atlas website and their MyCatch App. You will need a phone that can connect to data or the internet as well as that has a camera to photograph your catches to participate.

The BIG JIG is an online tournament organized through the Angler's Atlas website and their MyCatch App. You must register to participate in the tournament in three easy steps:

To register for the tournament, log in or create an account online at anglersatlas.com
Register for The BIG JIG tournament and pay the $35 entry fee at The Big Jig 2025 | Angler's Atlas
You will then receive an automatic email confirming that you have registered for the tournament and that your payment has gone through
Download the MyCatch App to your mobile phone and log in using the same information you used to register your account. You will enter your catches through the app.

Watch this quick video for how to register and use the MyCatch App!

The BIG JIG Ice Fishing Tournament is operating under Alberta Competitive Fishing Event License No. 620482. By registering for the tournament, you agree to abide by all event regulations and conditions of the CFE license. Not abiding by the rules will result in disqualification and forfeit of any entry fees paid.

The BIG JIG Ice Fishing Tournament Event Regulations

Conditions of CFE License No.627972

CFE No.627972

The BIG JIG tournament is CATCH AND RELEASE only! Eligible species include Walleye, Lake Whitefish, Yellow Perch, and Burbot. Only barbless hooks are permitted.

Disqualification will result from:

harvesting any species of fish during the tournament
submitting entries of Northern Pike (Northern Pike are an ineligible species)
using barbed hooks
not following any other rules set out for the derby as in the documents above

The public access point to Sylvan Lake from within the Town of Sylvan Lake is located on Lakeshore Drive and 49 street. There is only one public access point from within the municipality.

There are other accesses to Sylvan Lake in surrounding municipalities including Sun Breaker Cove, Norglenwold, Jarvis Bay, and Half Moon Bay. Use of all access points to the lake ice is at your own risk. These access points and ice quality are not monitored by the Town of Sylvan Lake.

Practice ice safety at all times and be cautious! Sylvan Lake is a natural waterbody and affected by changing environmental conditions and usage. Ice quality and thickness are not monitored or maintained by the Town of Sylvan Lake. Use at your own risk. For more ice safety tips see:

My Wild Alberta Ice Safety Tips

Canadian Red Cross Ice Safety

Canadian Red Cross Ice Fishing Safety

Lifesaving Society Ice Safety Tips

Our goal is to host an ice fishing tournament in a good sportsmanlike manner. Please work with us to ensure the fairness and integrity of the event. For adjudication and concerns please email tournaments@anglersatlas.com

This tournament is catch and release only! Eligible species include Walleye, Lake Whitefish, Yellow Perch, and Burbot. Only barbless hooks are permitted.

Disqualification will result from harvesting fish during the tournament, submitting entries of Northern Pike (Northern Pike are an ineligible species), using barbed hooks, or not following any other rules set out for the derby.

Remember to follow all Alberta provincial sportfishing regulations! Fish and Wildlife officers will be monitoring the area.

HOW TO REGISTER VIDEO INSTUCTIONS:

Event Schedule

Due to extreme cold temperatures, Learn to Fish, Cultural Teachings, and Sleigh Ride activities have been cancelled for February 13, 14, 15.

Download Event Schedule

GRAND PRIZE

Longest Catch Overall

Scott C.

LONGEST BURBOT

Gerry S.

SPONSORSED BY THE SYLVAN LAKE WRANGLERS JUNIOR B HOCKEY TEAM

LONGEST WHITEFISH

Alena D.

LONGEST CATCH - YOUTH CATEGORY

Elliot T.

$0 PRIZE PACK

LONGEST PERCH

Jered J.

LONGEST WALLEYE

Ryan C.

Saturday - Shilo S.

Sunday - Ryan E.

Monday - Justin C.

SATURDAY'S FIRST CATCH SPONSORED BY LADY MAY TATTOO

Enter the Tournament

5 x CASH DRAWS

$0 each draw

Mike M.

John N.

Travis L.

Marshall T.

Byron B.

Prize Value $40 per pass

Ray B., Mary Jane R., Dustin B., Corey J., Christopher R., Haddy A., Brendan N., Jiekang L., Kurtis W., Reed E., Matthew M., Connor H., Tyson N., John L., Eric H., Ben N., Mathieu M., Alvin H., Jeremy P.

Half-day ice Fishing Experience and 1-Hour Sauna on the Ice

Prize Value $288

Jason H.

Kayak of Ice Fishing Shack Rental

Prize Value $150

2 x Half-Day Aqua Splash Passes

Prize Value $65

Jackson M., Tony B.

Guided Fishing Excursion for 4

Prize Value $300

Drew D.

EYOYO Fish Finder

Prize Value $350

Ben N.

Popcorn Swag Basket

Dean B.

Prize Value $100

3 x Lakeshore Café Gift Cards

Prize Value $50 per gift card

Don L., Justin G., Cameron O.

UFA Prize Basket

Prize Value $125

Hailey G.

Sweet Home on the Lake Gift Card

Prize Value $100

Sandi VB.

2 x 100-Year Celebration 'Ready to Fish' Prize Sleds

Prize Value $250 per pack

Amie D. & Zoe Q.

Celebrate winter spirit all weekend long! Ice Slide, kids zone, fireworks, an epic poutine contest, and so much more. Sylvan Lake's biggest winter event of the year returns this family day weekend.

See all event activities

Learn to Fish Workshops

Beginners can try their hand at setting up a line, casting, and jigging at Learn to Fish workshops. All ages welcome. Did you know? Feb 18-20, 2023 is an Alberta Family Fishing Weekend! That means that this weekend only, no fishing licenses are required! It's the perfect time to try something new! Note: Fish caught during the Learn to Fish workshops are not eligible to be entered into the Big Jig Fishing Derby.

Learn to Fish Workshops are provided by the Alberta Conservation Association's Kids Can Catch Program and are proudly sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund!

Winter Equipment Rentals

Bring your own gear or rent from providers in town. Make sure to book as early as possible - rentals book fast! Sun Sport Recreation day and overnight ice fishing shack rentals. A representative from Sun Sport Recreation completely sets up your rental so you and your friends, family, and ice fishing pals simply show up and have fun. They also offer the following equipment rentals; fishing rods, hooks, fish bait, snowshoes and snow karts.

Learn More!

Clean up your winter waste and WIN!

Be sure to clean up your trash when you leave the lake and you could win great prizes! Winter waste on the ice becomes lake litter when the snow melts. You can help protect Sylvan Lake's watershed ecosystem by picking up your trash when you're leaving the lake. Snap a pic of yourself cleaning up your lake litter and upload it to the Winterfest x The BIG JIG Facebook event discussion for the chance to win great prizes! Find public trash cans and recycling bins along Lakeshore Drive.

ENTER TO WIN

This event operates under all Alberta Sportfishing Regulations and the conditions of CFE license #614504. Fish and Wildlife officers will be monitoring the area. For more information on Sportfishing Regulations please visit albertaregulations.ca

Event Schedule

Sponsored by The Launch at Sylvan Lake

Prize Value $40 per pass

Sponsored by Sun Sport Recreation

Prize Value $288

Jason H.

Sponsored by Castaway Adventure Fishing

Prize Value $150

Sponsored by Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash

Prize Value $65

Sponsored by K2 Charters

Prize Value $300

Drew D.

Sponsored by Bonefish Marine

Prize Value $350

Ben N.

Sponsored by The Popcorn Company

Dean B.

Prize Value $100

Sponsored by Lakeshore Café

Prize Value $50 per gift card

Sponsored by UFA

Prize Value $125

Sponsored by Sweet Home on the Lake

Prize Value $100

Sandi VB.

Sponsored by Canadian Tire

Prize Value $250 per pack

Amie D. & Zoe Q.

This event operates under all Alberta Sportfishing Regulations and the conditions of CFE license #614504. Fish and Wildlife officers will be monitoring the area. For more information on Sportfishing Regulations please visit albertaregulations.ca

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July 16-18
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