The Northern Ontario Walleye Trail (NOWT) strives to ensure and maintain ethical angling practices and fair competition by establishing and enforcing rules.  Many of these rules are common among angling events globally, regionally and locally.

The NOWT Board of Directors, in consultation with event organizers and angler feedback, have been working to establish standardized rules which apply to all NOWT sanctioned events.  The goal is to ensure compliance with Federal and Provincial laws, angler safety, natural resource conservation, and fair competition at all NOWT sanctioned events.

The NOWT rule set acts as minimum criteria for all NOWT sanctioned events – meaning organizers and participants are can expect adoption of these rules as a minimum.  Sanctioned event hosts may develop event specific rules in addition to the NOWT rules.

The topics addressed in the rules include:

  • Tournament Format and Eligibility
  • Orientation and Rules Review
  • Live Release of Fish
  • Equipment Inspections
  • Fish Weighing and Scoring
  • Sportsmanship and Courtesy
  • Rule Violations, Protests, and Appeals
  • Safety
  • Tackle and Equipment
  • Tie Breaking
  • Levels of Disqualification

It is expected that all organizers and anglers review and understand these rules clearly prior to hosting/participating in any NOWT sanctioned event.

Please see our newly added Tournament Rules page for the published rules.  A downloadable version is also available.