2026 McDonald’s Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular
Rules and Regulations
GENERAL
1. The MCDONALD’S OWEN SOUND SALMON SPECTACULARTM runs from 12:01 a.m., Friday, August 28, 2026 to 12:00 Noon, Sunday, September 6, 2026.
2. All participants agree to abide by the Regulations of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, The Fisheries Act, The Department of Transport “Small Boat Safety Regulations,” and the Rules and Regulations of the MCDONALD’S OWEN SOUND SALMON SPECTACULARTM.
3. A contestant may only enter the number of fish permitted by the daily creel limit in any one day (no matter when caught).
4. Each contestant, upon registering to compete in the MCDONALD’S OWEN SOUND SALMON SPECTACULARTM agrees to hold the sponsors, organizers, their agents and employees harmless from any liability of any nature and kind for any injuries and or damages suffered during or after the period of the contest by entrants.
5. Derby Ticket purchases can be made at any of our retail outlets or online at https://www. sydenhamsportsmen.com/the-derby/online-ticket-sales. All online Derby tickets can be printed at the time of purchase by the person ordering the Derby Ticket. Single registration tickets are $30.00, and Family registration tickets are $70.00. Methods of payment online are: VISA, MasterCard and PayPal. PLEASE TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR COMPLETED DERBY TICKET.
We will not be looking for lost tickets. There are no REFUNDS!
6. Tickets purchased during the Derby are not valid for participating in the Derby on the day of sale. (A Derby ticket becomes valid the day after it is purchased)!
7. Family tickets are available for all members of the immediate family, including children 17 years of age and under. (Children’s age is determined on the date of ticket purchase). The Family Derby Ticket does not include grandparents, older brothers and sisters, grandchildren, as well as other relatives. The participant agrees that the decision of the Officials is to be final on all matters.
FISHING
8. Participants must angle only in the waters of Georgian Bay stretching from the downstream side of 10th Street bridge on the Sydenham River and the walking bridge on the Pottawatomi River at Kelso Beach, the Sykes S. bridge on the Big Head River, the mouths of Beaver River, Indian Brook, Indian River, Bothwell’s Creek and inside the boundary extending to a point 10mi (16km) directly north of Delphi Point, then north to the Cabot Head Provincial Nature Reserve boundary point. (Boundary Map on Page 174)
9. Fish caught only after legal derby registration, and caught within the boundaries per rule #8, and caught during the McDonald’s OWEN SOUND SALMON SPECTACULARTM (see Rule #1) may be entered.
10. Only fish that are whole (not gutted) may be entered. Fish with a snag or foul hook mark, gaff or gill net mark, even if caught legitimately, will not be accepted. Previously frozen fish may not be entered.
11. Entrants fishing from boats must ensure that all other occupants of their boat, regardless of age, are entered in this event, and be eligible to enter fish (refer to Rule #7). Entrants must fish with only one rod per person at any time.
12. Participants agree to allow Official Representatives of the Derby to inspect their boats to ascertain that all occupants are entered, and that all persons in the boat are holding a valid ticket.
13. Participants agree that the organizers may, at their discretion, hold any fish for biological examination and testing.
14. All participants with contending fish agree that the organizers, at their discretion will examine any fish by physically cutting the fish open. This will be done by the organizers to ensure no fish has been tampered with during the event.
FISH ENTRY (WEIGHING IN)
15. Fish will only be weighed at the Official Weigh-In Station at the Georgian Shores Marina. The weigh-in station will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, except the last day of the Derby, when it will close promptly at 12:00 Noon. Fish will not be weighed outside of the times indicated, except for those entrants who are waiting in line by closing time will be allowed to have their fish weighed after closing time.
16. Salmon and Trout (Rainbow, Brown, and Lake Trout) must weigh a minimum of three (3) pounds (1.36 Kg), to be eligible for entry in the MCDONALD’S OWEN SOUND SALMON SPECTACULAR™. A printed receipt will be issued for each fish entered.
17. All participants entering a fish must sign the official entry book at the end of the weigh-in station. By signing the entry book, you are stating that you agree with all the . To prevent re-entry, each entered fish will have its gill plate punched.
19. Owen Sound provides the angler with clean water and edible game fish. Any angler found guilty of wasting his catch will be disqualified from the MCDONALD’S OWEN SOUND SALMON SPECTACULARTM. Any angler disqualified for this reason will have all prizes forfeited.
PRIZES
20. One Random Daily Prize will be drawn for each of the categories (i) male, (ii) female, (iii) child (age 17 and under). The weigh-in station computer will draw by random selection for each fish entry.
21. The Derby has various random draws throughout the event for prizes.
22. Grand Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest Salmon, the heaviest Rainbow Trout, the heaviest Lake Trout. The heaviest Brown Trout will have a separate prize. A complete prize list is posted at the Derby Headquarters and on our website at www.sydenhamsportsmen.com
23. All Prizes must be accepted as awarded. The Grand Prizes must remain decaled as presented for at least one year from presentation.
24. Each of the winners of the heaviest Salmon, the heaviest Rainbow Trout, the heaviest Lake Trout will receive a replica mount. The winners, in accepting these prizes, agree to allow the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association unlimited use of said mounted fish for promotional purposes until the conclusion of the subsequent Derby Awards Ceremony. (Sunday, September 6th, 2027).
25. Prizes will be awarded daily for the ten heaviest Salmon, and five prizes will be awarded daily for the heaviest Trout.
26. In the event of a tie, prizes in question will be awarded on the basis of the earliest fish entered.
27. All participants agree, upon winning a major prize, that they will submit to validity tests, if required, and will sign an affidavit confirming the fact that their fish was caught within the rules of the contest.
28. Prizes not picked up by October 31, 2026 will become the property of the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association.
29. Any participant guilty of an infraction of the rules will be disqualified from the contest and any prizes will be forfeited.
30. Early Bird Prizes 1st Prize Sportspal Canoe, 2nd Prize Sit-In Kayak and 3rd Prize Lowrance Graph will be awarded from all Derby Tickets purchased up to and including Saturday, August 8, 2026. Early Bird Prizes will be awarded along with all other derby winners on Monday, September 7, 2026.
31. Grand Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest Salmon, the heaviest Rainbow Trout, the heaviest Lake Trout, the heaviest Brown Trout, the boat for all derby ticket entries on the final awards day Sunday, September 6, 2026 between 2 pm and 5 pm. The Boat and Recreational draw will take place at 4:00 pm.
32. All Prizes will be handed out Monday September 7, 2026 at the
Stow-it Self Storage1960 20th Street East Owen Sound, ON N4K 5P1
For more information, please see the schedule of prizes and pick-up times on our website at www.sydenhamsportsmen.com
Boat Draw locations at Owen Sound Stores
