Event Title: 16th Annual Denny Palmer Memorial Walleye Classic

Date: 06-13-2026

Time:

Registration for the 2026 Denny Palmer Memorial Walleye Classic is NOW OPEN!!

Click the link below to REGISTER TODAY!!

Denny Palmer Memorial Classic - Intellistack

Mobridge Chamber “Denny Palmer Memorial” Fishing Tournament

Rules, Participation Agreement and Release of Liability

 

Saturday, June 13, 2026 (rules meeting June 12 th   @ The Scherr-Howe Event Center)

 

1.Participation/Eligibility

All participants must have completed, signed, and returned the official “Denny Palmer Memorial” entry form along with proper entry fee (see below). All participants must have a valid fishing license, produce it upon request and follow all state and federal regulations for the waters they fish. All participants must be 18 years of age, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Team Registration: online registration by 5:00 pm on June 11 at https://mobridge.formstack.com/forms/denny_palmer

Entry Fee: $350.00/Two or three person team prior to May 31, 2026 @ 5:00pm

Entry Fee: $400.00/Two or three person team after May 31, 2026 @ 5:00pm   

There are no refunds once confirmed in an event, no exceptions. All entries will be based on date/time they were marked completed and paid.

Rules Meeting Attendance: It is mandatory that at least one team member must attend rules meeting.  Each contestant will receive entry verification with dates, times, and location for rules meeting. Contestants who are not present at rules meeting may forfeit their entry fee and not be eligible to fish the tournament.

The Mobridge Chamber reserves the right to refuse participation, to anyone for any reason including, but not limited to, suspension, disqualification or banning from this or other events, criminal behavior, felony convictions, or any unsportsmanlike behavior that would reflect dishonorably on our sport.

2.Safety

All tournament boats must adhere to any regulations put forth by the U.S. Coast Guard and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.  Any boat not adhering to these regulations is prohibited from launching for the tournament until safety requirements are met.  Each contestant is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard approved type III or greater chest type personal flotation device anytime the boat is on plane. 

Inclement Weather: Officials may restrict or alter tournament waters and reserve the right to delay or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. In the event of lightning, severe weather, limited visibility or any unsafe conditions, participants should remove themselves from competition and seek safety or shelter until it is safe to continue.  If weather conditions prevail and the tournament day is deemed unfishable, the tournament will be moved to Sunday.  If Sunday is deemed unfishable, place prizes will be drawn for.  Ther will be no refunds on entry fees.

3.Fish Limits, Permitted Waters and Permissible Equipment

Fish Limits: Each boat may possess 8 fish.  MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT: 14”

 MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT:  Two walleyes 20” or longer will be allowed per boat. 

 Each boat is allowed to weigh SIX (6) fish.   Absolutely no culling or high grading is allowed as per state law.

Permitted Waters: All waters on Lake Oahe including the Grand River and Moreau River tributaries within stated boundaries.

North Boundary: ND/SD State Line

South Boundary: Highway 212 Bridge

Fishing Equipment: All fish must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner on hook and line. All methods must be legal according to SD Game, Fish, and Parks State law.  All fishing must be done from a tournament inspected boat.

Each contestant in a walleye/sauger specific tournament will be allowed a maximum of two (2) lines in the water at any time. Spare rods and equipment may be carried in the boat

 Communication Equipment: CB or marine radios are allowed for emergency use only. Transmitting information over a cell phone or radio concerning any aspect of taking fish during the tournament is prohibited.

Transmitting information for the purpose of taking fish will result in disqualification from the event. Communications deemed for emergency purposes are not subject to any penalty.

 

 

4. Fishing Hours

All Contestants must be off the water by 4:00pm the day of the rules meeting.  No exceptions.

Tournament Hours: Tournament fishing hours will be Saturday, June 13 starting at 8:00am. The tournament field will be divided into flights according to the number of contestants. Each boat in each flight will go out single file, 15-20 seconds apart with 15 minutes between flights.   Your number will be called by the lead boat at the starting line, and you must advance at no wake 40 yards past the start boat before going to full throttle. 

Contestants will be given SEVEN (7) hours of fishing from the launch of the first boat in their flight.  Contestants who return later than the assigned flight times or who leave in an earlier flight will be disqualified. No exceptions and no excuses.

5. Scoring

Prizes will be awarded to teams based on total weight caught during the day of the tournament.  Contestants are allowed to weigh a maximum of SIX (6) walleye/sauger of which TWO (2) may be 20” or over. 

Legal fish: All fish to be weighed must be over the 14” minimum limit.  Any fish deemed under 14” will not be allowed to weigh and may not be replaced by another fish.  Additionally, if a contestant has a third fish measured to be over 20” in length, they will receive no weight for the tournament.  Fish will be measured for the top of the mouth to the farthest extension of the tail on a flat surface. 

Note:  The “Golden Rule” will be used as the official tournament ruler.

Any fish mauled, mashed, frozen, injected with water or other fluids, containing foreign matter to add weight, or showing extreme loss of gill color may result in disqualification at the discretion of the tournament director.

Anglers must be present at the awards ceremony held after the final day's weigh-in to accept any prizes or awards

6. Tagging

All fish must be tagged properly (completely snapped in the mouth) when placed in a live well or cooler. All tags must be accounted for each day at weigh-in. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Each team will be issued a set of 8 tags with two being a different color for fish over 20”. Fish found not properly tagged by inspection teams will result in that team disqualification.

All tags and tag bags for each day must be presented to tournament officials during the weigh-in to register the team weight. Failure to provide tags may result in no weight.

7. Inspections

Each boat MUST be given a live well and SAFETY INSPECTION check by tournament officials prior to each day's start. You will also be given a boat board which MUST remain in or on the boat and turned in during check-in at the end of each day.

There shall be one official safety checkpoint for checkout in the morning / check-in in the afternoon. At the time of checkout/check-in all competitors and their boats shall be in full compliance with all rules set forth by officials. At check-in all boats shall identify themselves to the check-in official and proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in headquarters.

YOU MUST CHECK-IN EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FISH. Failure to go through boat checkout in the morning or failure to check in at the check-in point in the afternoon will result in disqualification.  It is each angler’s responsibility to know what time they are due in.  All fishing must cease upon check-in.

All teams are subject to on water inspection during the tournament and patrol boats may conduct inspections at any time.

Check In headquarters:  Indian Creek Recreation Area will be designated boat inspection and launch location the morning of the tournament.  It will also be the official check in location in the afternoon

Weigh in headquarters: ‘Walleye Way’ located at the south end of Main Street in Mobridge, will be the official weigh in headquarters.

8. Sportsmanship

Participants will conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike, courteous, safe, and ethical manner, always maintaining professional demeanor in public and in communication with officials.  Any unfavorable conduct, speech, or action by a participant in our efforts to promote sportsmanship can be grounds for disqualification.

Each competitor is expected to participate in the marshaling of the field to help maintain the highest integrity of competition. Any incident observed during tournament hours should be reported to tournament officials for investigation. Any violation of these basic sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification.

Contestants are not permitted to fish within (20) yards of another boat at any time. In the interest of good sportsmanship, it is expected competitors will not crowd nor impede each other. No contestant boat may pull up to another contestant boat during tournament hours.

The use of mobile communication devices, including but not limited to, cell phones, texting, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, etc., during tournament hours is strictly prohibited except in an emergency (severe weather, breakdowns, etc.) or with the tournament officials.

Patrol and safety boats will pull up and may inspect contestants at any time.

All fishing must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Contestants must leave and return to the check-in by boat. The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day.

Non tournament fishermen cannot fish with or be in the boat with tournament fishermen. 

9. Participation Agreement

By participating, I understand this is a professional sporting event governed by the rules that have been established by tournament organizers.  I acknowledge I have received a copy of these rules, read them, and understood them.  In addition to terms of entry and competition, these rules relate to the safety of all participants as well as the fair sporting conduct of this event.  The Chamber Executive Director / Tourism Committee shall act as the referee in all disputes and his/her decision based on his/her interpretation of the rules will be final and without legal appeal.  I understand there are never refunds for tournament entry fees.  The Mobridge Chamber of Commerce (MCC) reserves the right to use any photograph / video taken at any event sponsored by MCC without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph / video.  MCC may use photograph video in publication or other media material produced, used or contracted by MCC including but not limited to brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, etc.  By participating in an MCC event or by failing to notify MCC in writing, your desire to not have your photography used by MCC, you agree to release, defend, hold harmless and indemnify MCC from and all claims involving the use of your picture or likeness. 

 

Release of Liability: Under South Dakota law, no fishing tournament sponsor or

fishing professional is liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant resulting from the

inherent risks of fishing, pursuant to South Dakota Codified Laws 20-9-47 to 20-9-51.

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