A permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources is required to conduct a fishing tournament on public waters under the jurisdiction of the state. Fishing tournaments are defined as any organized fishing event with six or more boats or twelve or more participants or where an entry fee is charged or prizes or other inducements awarded. Fishing clinics and youth fishing days are excluded. The purpose of this permitting procedure is to reduce conflicts between tournament anglers and the general public or other tournament groups. Fishing tournament applications may be obtained from your local fisheries biologist.