2026 Printable  Updated Rules and Regulations  - CLICK HERE

Eligibility & Registration

1. All persons are eligible to enter the National Championship Musky Open on August 21, 22 & 23 2026. All persons under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Due to safety issues, children under the age of 8 at the time of the tournament are not eligible for this tournament.
2. Entries for pre-registration must be postmarked no later than August 1, 2026 in order to be received as a pre-registration. Contestants whose entries are received prior to May 15, 2026 will be eligible for an Early Bird Drawing – a two night stay at an area lodging facility in Eagle River, WI.  All pre-registration entry fees are $75 per person.
3. No entries will be accepted after an August 1, 2026 postmark. After August 1, 2026, entries need to be done at on-site registration at the tournament headquarters—Vilas County Fairgrounds.  All on-site entry fees are $80 per person and must be paid in cash.
4. Cancellation. No refund can be given should you need to cancel your entry into the tournament after August 1, 2026. Credit for entry can be transferred to the 2027 tournament.
5. Registration is available on-line at www.muskyopen.com

Requirements

1. Each boat and contestant will be required to abide by all of the State of Wisconsin’s boating and fishing laws.
2. Each entrant must personally sign their own attached insurance waiver form along with the registration form.  A parent/guardian must sign for a minor. No exceptions
3. All partners must be listed on the registration form
4. All contestants must register in person at the tournament headquarters and must attend one mandatory tournament rules briefing before fishing.  Report your attendance of a briefing to your lake family.

Boats & Equipment

1. All boats must meet U.S. Coast Guard and State of Wisconsin boating rules and safety standards and must be registered in accordance with regulations of the home state of the contestant owning the boat.
2. All boats must be clean and free of Aquatic Invasive Species prior to leaving and entering another lake.
3. Cameras/digital cameras are recommended.
4. Forward Facing sonar-live sonar and all other real-time imaging-like technology, will not be allowed to be used during the tournament and will be banned from use 2 hours before the start of the 1st day of the tournament, until the end of the last day of the tournament. these units do not have to be removed from the boat, just the “live” feature on unit cannot be used during the tournament. other screens such as regular sonar, non-live version of side and down imaging, GPS mapping and such can still be used on these units. We believe this is a family-fun tournament and want to keep it fair to all.

Fishing

1. Registered participants who immediately release muskies which are 34” and over will be counted and scored on ALL tournament lakes. Measure to the nearest 1/4”.
2. No fishing from bridges, piers, docks or the shore.
3. Only muskies caught legally on a hook and line will qualify for scoring.
4. Each person fishing is allowed only one (1) line in the water at any time. No live bait allowed.
5. Row trolling is permitted. No motor trolling allowed.
6. There shall be no less than two (2) registered contestants per boat at all times while fishing and all people in the boat during fishing hours must be registered tournament anglers.
7. Tournament hats MUST be worn while fishing.
8. Only muskies caught and released on Friday, Saturday or Sunday during tournament hours will be accepted for scoring.  Verification catch slips will be issued to each contestant.
9. All muskies caught must be verified and released immediately. Verification catch slips may be done by fellow contestants from a different boat or the nearest person not in your boat.  All slips must be turned in to Tournament Headquarters as soon as possible.  Fish caught and released on Friday or Saturday MUST be registered by 8pm on Saturday night and fish caught and released on Sunday must be registered by 12:30pm on Sunday.  Failure to do so will result in the fish being disqualified from scoring.
10. This is a total catch & release tournament. Contestants may resume fishing upon successfully verifying and releasing their musky.  If a musky is killed, the contestant must cease fishing for that day. As the legal bag limit is one (1) fish per day.
11. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by earliest fish registration time on verification slip. Any disputes will be settled by the Official Tournament Committee and their decision is final and binding.

Alcoholic Beverages

NO alcoholic beverages may be consumed while fishing by contestants or tournament officials.  Please note due to licensing, no carry-ins are allowed at the Vilas County Fairgrounds. 

Bring a “New Angler” Form

Any prior angler of the National Championship Musky Open who gets a NEW Angler to enter the 2026 tournament, can enter their name into a special drawing for a musky rod.  The more people you have entered, the more chances you have to win this great musky rod.  You do not have to fish with this person(s), just recommend our great event and have the new angler register to be in the tournament. 

HELP FIGHT HUNGER

Get a chance to win a musky reel and several other musky and non-musky related prizes by donating a non-perishable food item or cash.  For each food item you donate, you will receive one chance.  For each dollar you donate, you will receive two chances in the Help Fight Hunger drawing.  Non-perishable food items and cash donations can be donated on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at the Help Fight Hunger Tent located at tournament headquarters. (Food donations will not be accepted with expired expiration dates.)  All food donations will be donated to the Vilas County Food Pantry and must be received by 7:00pm on Saturday evening.  Cash donations are encouraged as this allows the Vilas County Food Pantry to purchase specifically needed items for their shelves.  

Door Prizes and Raffle Prizes

The Grand Door Prize: 2026 Model 895 DC Recon Boat with 115 Mercury Outboard Motor and Trailer

Other prizes have been supplied by Fittante Taxidermy/Replicas, Diawa, Mercury, H3O Polarized, St. Croix Rods, Enticer Tackle, Suick Lure Company, Eagle River Inn and Z Leaders Fishing Rigs.

Early Bird

To be eligible for the Early Bird Drawing, you must register before May 15, 2026. Our Early Bird Prize is two nights lodging in the Eagle River Area. (subject to availability).