"Wavier's" are available for nearly everything, even on the tournament application, it asks if this is a "live release tournament". I would assume though that you are talking specifically about having water in your livewell when leaving the lake when they transport boat/fish to weigh in area. Keep in mind also, a very large "forced donation" is made to get tournament approval.

This will be interesting with the new ANS rules in effect.  FLW will want to put on a good show for TV and all the people who attend and will not want to show a bunch of pale dead walleyes.  Like Walynut said they are probably working on a waiver to see if they can keep water in their live wells and then maybe get an ANS inspection done at the Civic Center parking lot after they are weighed in.  It will be interesting to see the weights that come in with the river going down.  I do wish there was still a way to do live release (which we all know won't happen), Its just hard to see all those nice 21-24 inch fish being taken out of the system.

Walynut, can you expound a little more on the "forced donation" for the tourney?  Does the FLW (and the old PWT) pay a fee or payola to fish the ND waters? 

measure-it Said:
Walynut, can you expound a little more on the "forced donation" for the tourney?  Does the FLW (and the old PWT) pay a fee or payola to fish the ND waters? 

All tournaments, regardless of size, are required to donate 10% of the gross proceeds towards something to help the fisheries or access in ND. They do however "recommend" the donation just be made to the G&F Dept however you can also donate to someone like a county waterboard to help access.

http://www.gf.nd.gov/licenses/docs/sfn-6392.pdf

 

Here is the application, about half way down the page you will be able to see what I am talking about. 

Dont get me wrong, i'm not saying it's a bad thing because it does "hopefully" help with ND fishieries and access.

Reason why I say "hopefully" is because I have not seen in a financial statement where the money goes too, never have asked either.

walynut Said:

http://www.gf.nd.gov/licenses/docs/sfn-6392.pdf

 

Here is the application, about half way down the page you will be able to see what I am talking about. 

Dont get me wrong, i'm not saying it's a bad thing because it does "hopefully" help with ND fishieries and access.

Reason why I say "hopefully" is because I have not seen in a financial statement where the money goes too, never have asked either.

The G&F makes sure the "conservation fee" is paid.  Usually it goes to a local entity rather than the G&F itself.  On Devils Lake, most all go to the Lake Access Committee and are used to help pay the 25% match that's required on landing improvements and to also help pay for maintenance of the area's public landings. 

what about migratory birds, heck they spread ANS more than a livewell ever will.