Ice Fishing Derby Rules

  1. All participants MUST SIGN UP at Soldotna Trustworthy Hardware & Fishing BEFORE going fishing. Sign-up online until January 31st or sign-up in store at the front counter!
  2. All fish must be caught by rod and reel, tip-up, or hand line.
  3. All fish entered must be caught from a Kenai Peninsula FROZEN, FRESHWATER LAKE.
  4. All fish entered must be caught through a drilled or chopped hole in solid ice.  No OPEN WATER fish will be accepted.
  5. All fishermen must follow all current Fish & Game regulations, and make sure you have a signed 2026 Fishing License that you can purchase in store, online, or on the ADF&G mobile app.
  6. Once fish are caught, they must be brought into Soldotna Trustworthy to be weighed within ONE (1) day, preferable same day caught. Reminder that we are closed Super Bowl Sunday, February 9th, and all fish caught can be entered on Monday, February 10th.
  7. All fish will be weighed on a scale provided by Soldotna Trustworthy Hardware & Fishing.  The same scale will be used on all fish to insure a set standard.
  8. No fish shall be altered in any way to attempt to increase its weight.
  9. Soldotna Trustworthy will make any and all decisions concerning eligibility of any fish entries.
  10. Any fish that is a potential winner or has a question on eligibility can be HELD by Soldotna Trustworthy until it can be verified by Soldotna Trustworthy; or, if needed, by ADF&G genetic testing to determine rule violations or watershed origination.

Haley will be gone Feb. 2-5 for a buying show. Any derby leaders brought in during this time frame may be asked for their fish to be held in Soldotna Trustworthy Hardware’s freezer to verify the fish. We apologize for the inconvenience, and will get the fish back to you as soon as possible. Anyone who refuses to leave a fish when asked will not be considered as an entry. 

This is the seventh year of our Catch & Release derby.

This derby IS separate from our original derby. All fish eligibility will be determined by ethical release, picture, and length as a tie-breaker. Check out the regulations on the Catch & Release  page.

ANY VIOLATIONS OF THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION.

***HAVE FUN , BE SAFE, & GET OUT FISHING***