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 $7,500 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. CFE license number #620482. Register now to enter the derby!
HOW TO ENTER
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
FIRST CATCH OF THE DAY:
$300 awarded for the first caught fish on each day of the tournament
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 19 - January 20 from 6am - 9pm
January 21 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 https://www.anglersatlas.com/search/tournaments
- 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.620482
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
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 INSTRUCTIONS
Event Schedule
Due to extreme cold temperatures, Learn to Fish, Cultural Teachings, and Sleigh Ride activities have been cancelled for February 13, 14, 15.
GRAND PRIZE
Longest Catch Overall
LONGEST BURBOT
SPONSORSED BY THE SYLVAN LAKE WRANGLERS JUNIOR B HOCKEY TEAM
LONGEST WHITEFISH
LONGEST PERCH
LONGEST WALLEYE
3 x FIRST CATCH OF THE DAY
5 x CASH DRAWS
SPONSORED BY TERRY'S LEASE MAINTENANCE
RANDOM PRIZE DRAWS
20 x Boat Launch Gift Cards
Prize Value $40 per pass
Half-day ice Fishing Experience and 1-Hour Sauna on the Ice
Prize Value $288
Jason H.
Kayak of Ice Fishing Shack Rental
Sponsored by Castaway Adventure Fishing
Prize Value $150
Sponsored by Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash
Prize Value $65
Guided Fishing Excursion for 4
Sponsored by K2 Charters
Prize Value $300
Drew D.
EYOYO Fish Finder
Sponsored by Bonefish Marine
Prize Value $350
Ben N.
Popcorn Swag Basket
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
Sweet Home on the Lake Gift Card
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.
Winter Equipment Rentals
Bring your own gear or rent from providers in town. Make sure to book as early as possible - rentals book fast! Find ice fishing shacks and equipment, snowshoes, snow karts, and more!
SUN SPORT RECREATION
Equipment Rentals:
- Ice Fishing Shacks
- Rods
- Hooks
- Bait
- Snowshoes
- Snow Karts
https://sunsportrentals.com/sunsportrentals.com
Located at 5100 Lakeshore Drive
403-887-7368
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.
