Kuldkala 2010 rules and regulations

The main competition

1. Location: Valgamaa, Otepää, lake Pühajärv. The centre of the competition and location of start - the beach of lake Pühajärv.
2. Time of competition - Saturday 13 February 2010 at 12.00-15.00.
3. People are allowed on the lake ice at 12.00 after the start has been announced.
4. The competition has a special purpose fishing permit thus the competitors do not need to obtain a separate fishing permit.
5. The participants of the main competition are all fishers who have registered, also fishers taking part in the team competition are included in the main competition i.e. catching the marked fish.
6. A competitor may use winter fishing gear, but only one device at a time.
7. All traditional baits are allowed e.g. maggots, worms and dough balls, also moderate groundbait is allowed. It is forbidden to use live fish as bait.
8. The fish of the competition are 130 marked perches and ruffes (probable rate is 100/30, the exact rate will be declared on the competition day). The fish will be caught from lake Pühajärv, marked and then released back into the water to acclimate 7-8 days prior to the competition.
9. The fish from last years’ competitions marked with plastic and numbers are not included in the competition.
10. It is recommended to bring the caught marked fish directly to the head judge right after being caught. Marked fish brought after 15.15 will not be counted in the competition.
11. Only fishers registered in the competition are allowed to fish on lake Pühajärv on the day of the competition. Cheerers and spectators are allowed to move on the ice if not decided otherwise by the organisers of the competition due to the condition of the ice.

Prizes of the main competition   

1. The one to catch a marked fish will get a prize according to which prize the number on the mark corresponds to. The list of prizes with their corresponding numbers will be printed in the Kuldkala leaflet distributed on the day of the competition. A leaflet will be given to each participant before the competition upon registration.
2. The main prizes of the competition are 1 KILO OF GOLD and 100 000 Estonian Crowns. If no one catches the fish marked with the number corresponding to the main prize, the 100 000 Crowns will be drawn between all competitors who caught a marked fish. If not one marked fish is caught the 100 000 Crowns will be given out as a lottery between all registered competitors present at the centre of the competition at Pühajärve beach at the time when the prizes are given.
3. Some of the prizes, corresponding to the numbers on the fish that are not caught, will be given out by drawing a lottery between all competitors.
4. The organisers of the competition reserve a right to give out special prizes e.g. a prize for the smallest fish caught.

Team competition

1. The team competition takes place at the same time as the main competition. Each member of each team simultaneously participates as a single competitor at the main competition i.e. catching the marked fish.
2. A team is made up of four fishers and has to be registered as a team beforehand. Fishers registered as single competitors at the main competition will not be re-registered as a team on the day of the competition.
3. The rules of the team competition (more specifically the fish that will have to be caught as a competition) will be announced on the day of the competition.
4. The measuring of the fish caught in the team competition will take place at Pühajärve beach in front of the Laululava singing stage. The fish set out by the rules of the competition will have to be brought to be measured within half an hour after the competition has ended, approximately until 15.30.

Prizes of the team competition     

1. Three teams with the best results will be awarded a prize.
2. The prizes consist of a possibility to take part in the following NPO Koos Kalale fishing trips: I prize - 1-week fishing trip to Norway; II prize - 1-week fishing trip to Åland; III prize - a boat with a Honda engine.
3. In order to promote corporate sports activities a special prize will be given to the company with the most successful team. The prize is a company’s day out at the Raudsilla Matkakeskus (value 30 000 Estonian Crowns).
4. The organisers of the competition reserve a right to give out special prizes e.g. a prize for the most colourfully dressed team.

Competition in ice hole drilling

1. The purpose of the competition is to find the most skilful ice hole driller of 2010 and also to drill holes for the “Kuldkalake” children’s competition held in the same area.
2. The competition takes place in an area surrounded by safety tape and is situated further away from the main competition area. The competition starts at 12.15 and lasts approximately until 13.00.
3. Participation in the competition is free of charge and participants are registered shortly before the start and during the competition.
4. The competition is divided into groups of 4 competitors. Each competitor is given the exact same kind of an ice drill. In one round a competitor has to drill 4 fishing holes approximately 3 meters apart. 2 fastest drillers will move to the next round until the final round that declares the 3 best drillers.
5. The 3 best ice hole drillers will be awarded a non-monetary prize.

Competition “Kuldkalake” for children

1. The competition for children will be held in an area surrounded by safety tape and only judges and competitors are allowed there. Parents who want to help their children are allowed on the ice by the judges. The competition begins at 13.00 and lasts for 1 hour.
2. The children’s competition consists of two rounds - fishing and a quiz with multiple-choice questions. The quiz is for those young fishers who catch a fish in the first round. To find a winner the points of fishing and the quiz are added (1 point for each caught fish and 1 point for each correct answer in the quiz). Prior to the fishing competition children will briefly be instructed in fishing and also the rules will be explained.
3. The 3 best of the children’s competition will be awarded a non-monetary prize.
4. Children up to 12 years of age (12 included) are allowed to participate in the children’s competition. In case of a doubt the judges are entitled to ask for an ID.
5. Participation in the children’s competition is free of charge; registration takes place shortly before the competition near the area of the competition. Children without a fishing gear will be given a winter fishing rod by the organisers of the competition.
6. Children participating in the children’s competition are not included in the Kuldkala main competition except for those children who have paid the Kuldkala participation fee.

Good practice, safety, filing a protest, the organisers’ right to change the rules and regulations

1. All competitors and spectators are on the ice at their own risk.
2. In order to avoid accidents, during the time when fishers are moving around on the ice the blades of ice drills have to be covered. A drill with uncovered blades cannot be put down on the ice - it is recommended to keep one’s drill standing up with the blades drilled in the ice.
3. The recommended space between competitors is at least 3 meters. According to the good practice in fishing one fishes closer to another fisher only with his/her permission.
4. Caught fish have to be released back in the water or brought off the ice to the shore.
5. All trash has to be taken with oneself when leaving the ice. There are trashcans on the shore.
6. The organisers are entitled to remove from the competition and fine with up to 1000 Estonian Crowns any fishers who deliberately break the rules of the competition or try to interrupt the organising of the competition.
7. In order to file a protest the protest fee of 1000 Estonian Crowns has to be paid. If the protest is found to be reasonable the protest fee will be refunded.
8. In case of unforeseeable circumstances or in order to secure the successful realisation of the competition the organisers of the competition reserve a right to specify or change the rules and regulations of the competition.
9. The decision of the head judge of the competition is decisive and final.