Multi-Species Series Event #1
YAK-Ohio Online
March 1 - November 30, 2021
Registration
Register and pay $16 for the 2021 Multi-Species Series : YAK-Ohio event at
$16 entry fee is broken down by the following:
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$10 Top placing anglers.
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$5 - Tourney X fee.
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$1 - Multi-Species Champion prize package at end of year.
Identifier
Identifiers can be printed off HERE. The code for the identifier will be released by 9PM on Wednesday, March 31st on Facebook & Tourney X.
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An identifier with no code, the wrong code, or codes in the wrong boxes will not be accepted.
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If participating in multiple tournaments you can combine codes on a single identifier, but they must be correct and they must be in the appropriate box.
Format
We are changing up YAK-Ohio's in 2021.
This year each month will target a specific fish:
April - Black Bass
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass & Spotted Bass
May - Crappie
June - Panfish
All varieties of Bluegill, Sunfish, Rock Bass, Warmouth & Pumpkinseed. DOES NOT include Crappie or Perch.
July - Carp
Any variety of Carp, Chub, or Suckers. DOES NOT include Grass Carp or Drum.
August - Smallmouth Bass
September - Catfish
All Catfish are eligible.
October - Walleye/Saugeye/Sauger
November - Musky
All Musky are eligible.

Event Rules
Standard rules for this event can be found HERE
Remember, new for 2021, acceptable measuring boards are the aluminum Ketch Products Measuring Board, the Ketch Karbonate and the Ketch X measuring board. The Hawg Trough and Fish Stix boards are no longer an acceptable measuring board.
Additional Rules for this tournament...
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The tournament runs from 6AM on April 1st until 11:59PM on November 30th.
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It is the anglers responsibility to upload eligible photos by the November 30th, 11:59PM deadline.
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If the length of a fish exceeds the length of a Ketch board please use a measuring tape. It is highly recommended anglers purchase the longer Ketch boards (36" & 48") if you plan on targeting several of the longer species of fish eligible in this tournament.
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If a measuring tape is used the Ketch board is REQUIRED to be in the photo also.
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Measuring tapes & boards can be requested at any time to verify legality.
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Measuring devices and fish should both be laying as flat as possible. If one or both are not laying flat it could lead to deductions or DQ.
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If a clear length is unable to be determined by judges it will be measured at the shortest length the fish is know to measure out at from the photo. To be clear, the photo must clearly demonstrate length.
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You can upload multiple photos to Tourney X of the same fish if you believe they may help determine length.
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The mouth of the fish should be closed where possible. If the mouth is open and it is deemed that the mouth extends the length of the fish expect a deduction.
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While taking extreme care of the fish throughout the Catch, Photo, Release process take the best possible picture depicting length.
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The use of multiple rods is permitted in Multi-Species Tour events, but if any fish are caught while using two rods they cannot be submitted for any Tour or Online Series bass events. All Ohio fishing regulations must be followed.
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The use of natural bait is permitted in Multi-Species Tour events, but if any fish are caught while using it they cannot be submitted for any Tour or Online Series bass events. Natural bait is defined as minnows, cut bait, live bluegills, dough baits, etc. All Ohio fishing regulations must be followed.
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Unlike the Tour & Online Series events, the Multi-Species events allow harvesting fish. All Ohio fishing regulations must be followed.
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Please submit as many different photos to Tourney X of the same fish if you believe it helps determine length. This doesn't guarantee anything but may help the fish from deductions or DQ.
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Examples of fish DQ's and deductions:
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Photos that impact identifying the fish length including too bright, too dark, foggy, or blurry photos may require fish deductions and up to DQ's.
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The measuring board or tape is too light/dark to read measurements may require deductions and up to DQ.
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Photos should be taken from directly above the fish on the measuring board/tape. If a photo has been deemed to give additional length because of the photo angle expect deductions and possible DQ.
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If the entire fish is not in the picture expect a DQ.
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Since we expect some true Ohio trophies caught during this tournament we HIGLHLY ENCOURAGE anglers to not only upload their fish submission to Tourney X, but a 2nd photo of the angler holding the fish! Enter the measurement at whatever you want and the judges will remove it from the standings, but download it and use it on social media, website, etc.
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Finally, this is a fun event and we expect all anglers to police themselves. We DO NOT want to deduct length or DQ fish, but all fish must not only face our judges scrutiny but every other angler who has paid to participate. Take steps to ensure you can submit the best photo possible and do not rely on us to decipher your submissions.

Payouts & Prizes
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80% of the top placing angler fee's will be awarded to the angler who catches the largest fish each month:
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Largest Black Bass in April will earn $1 times number of anglers.
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The largest Crappie in May will earn $1 times the number of anglers.
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The largest Panfish in June will earn $1 times the number of anglers.
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The largest Carp in July will earn $1 times the number of anglers.
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The largest Smallmouth Bass in August will earn $1 times the number of anglers.
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The largest Catfish in September will earn $1 times the number of anglers.
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The largest Walleye/Saugeye will earn $1times the number of anglers.
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The largest Musky in November will earn $1 times the number of anglers.
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15% of top placing angler fee's will go to the angler who has the longest total length across all 8 months. For example, an anglers longest bass in April, Crappie in May, Panfish in June, Carp in July, Smallmouth in August, Catfish in September, Eye in October, and Musky in November will be added together for a total length. ($1.50 times the number of anglers)
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Similar to above, the angler with the 2nd best total length will receive 5% of top placing angler fee's. ($.50 times the number of anglers)
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Payouts take anywhere from 1-4 weeks to process.

Trail Points
Trail Points are awarded throughout the entire season after every Multi-Species Series event.
The point leader after the last event is awarded the Multi-Species Series Champion! (Additional details here)
Points for this event will be distributed by Total Length.
Total Length equals an anglers longest fish each of the 8 months added together.
1st Place - 25 points
2nd Place - 24 points
3rd Place - 23 points
4th Place - 22 points
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(all the way down to...)
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23rd Place - 3 points
24th Place - 2 points
25th Place - 1 point
To follow your progress watch the Multi-Species Series Standings all year long.

Helpful Tips
The Spring Fling coincides with several other Buckeye Kayak Fishing Trail tournaments, so be sure to double, triple, quadruple, quintuple, and sextuple dip and submit fish across multiple tournaments!
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This event spans every Multi-Species Series event and often times the month corresponds with a similar species tournament. For instance:
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In May Crappie is the eligible species for both YAK-Ohio and the Indian Lake Crappie event on May 22nd.
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On June 4-6th the Multi-Blitz takes place where Carp, the YAK-Ohio targeted species for the month, is also a fish eligible for submission.
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In September Catfish are on tap for both YAK-Ohio and the Channel Catfish Online event running September 10-12th.
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The October YAK-Ohio, Walleye/Saugeye/Sauger, is also a targeted species for the Buddy Slam on October 22-24th.
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YAK-Ohio's April fish, Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted), also is the targeted fish for the following:
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YAK-Ohio's August fish, Smallmouth Bass, also can be submitted for the following tournaments:
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Eligible Water
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At its most basic definition, eligible water is anything in Ohio that is accessible to everyone. Accessible means it is legal, open to everyone, and does not require special permission.
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Eligible water includes anything owned by the government (park system, city, township, county, state, federal, ODNR) where fishing from a kayak is permitted. This also includes Ohio waterways designated as rivers or creeks.
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Privately owned water is eligible under certain circumstances. It must be accessible BY ANYONE without restricted passes, special permissions, deals, agreements, or backdoor handshakes from the owner. Anyone should have access to fish the body of water. For example a private community that requires a landowner or guest pass is ineligible.
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NEW FOR 2021: Public and Private water that require permits are eligible if...
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If there are unlimited permits that can be acquired the same day it is going to be fished. For example, if a lake only offers 5 permits per day or a limited number of permits a day it is off limits. If a lake offers multiple permits in a day but they have to be scheduled in advance of the day it is fished it is off limits.
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We get asked several times a year if AEP is eligible water. YES, AEP is eligible. They offer unlimited permits the same day and anyone can obtain on HERE. As for any other waterway AEP rules & regulations MUST be followed.
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If you have a question about eligible water and a possible location don't hesitate to email buckeyekayakfishingtrail@gmail.com
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All laws, rules, and regulations must be followed while fishing the body of water. For example, if a body of water allows fishing only during daylight hours then any fish caught outside of that period would not be eligible and cause for immediate disqualification.

How to Measure your Multi-Species Series Fish
1. Put the approved measuring device on your lap or on deck of your kayak with the zero mark (Fence) of the board on the left side.
2. Lay your catch on the board with the mouth facing to the left and the top of the fish facing away from you (see the picture directly above this text). If the fish is larger than the board, exceptions can be made about the head facing to the left.
3. Mouth should be closed. Certain species will be difficult to close the mouth so try your absolute best when possible. If it is determined that an open mouth extends the length of a fish expect a deduction.
4. Make sure the lip of the fish is touching the zero mark (edge of bump board). When taking your picture make sure nothing covers the view of the lip touching the edge of the board including your hand, arm, identifier, etc. The lip touching the bump board and zero mark must be seen or there will be a deduction and possibly a DQ on the photo!
5. Hold the camera above the fish pointing downward and take the picture. Pictures taken at "advantageous" angles may receive a deduction or face possible disqualification.
6. Check the picture for the following:
*Lip is visibly touching the zero mark
*Total length of the fish is easily seen
*Kayak is in the picture
*All fish will be rounded down to the nearest 1/4 inch, or last visible marking.
*Be sure to take extra care when performing these steps and treat the catch with the utmost respect!
IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES LISTED ABOVE THE FISH MAY BE DISQUALIFIED!

