Catfish Derby-Rufus

Catfish Extravaganza Rules Memorial Day Weekend 2022

Participants must register by mail or in person at Gorge Outfitters Supply (headquarters) located 

at 102 E. 1st Street in Rufus, Oregon, mailing address is P.O. Box 166 Rufus, Oregon 97050. Registration cost is $50.00 per participant, cash, check or money orders accepted. Participants may register up to and including Saturday, May 28, 2022. 

EARLY REGISTRATION BONUS - Register on or before May 20, 2022 and your $50 entry fee will include cover charge into live entertainment and dinner at the Rufus Community Center during the awards presentation on Sunday, May 29th. Participants who register after the May 20th early registration date will pay $60 for late derby entry. (Late entry fee also includes dinner) 

Dinner will be $28 (all you can eat buffet) for all non-contestants who wish to attend the awards ceremony. Non contestants will also be responsible for live entertainment cover charge of $15.00 as well. 

All participants MUST attend a 6:00 a.m. mandatory meeting at headquarters the first day prior 

to fishing. Registered participants may check in and pick up their entry packet beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 28th. Wristbands will be given to all participants. Wristbands must be presented when weighing fish, accepting prizes and attending awards presentation dinner. 

Participants must possess all required licenses; comply with all derby rules and all State and 

Local laws/regulations. Any participant cited for a regulation violation or caught breaking derby rules during the event will be automatically disqualified, their fish will be marked as disqualified, and participant entry fees will be forfeited. There will be derby representatives on the water and on shore observing all participants. They may even be fishing next to you. 

Boat camp is a first come first serve basis. Highly recommend making accommodations/reservations early as motels and campgrounds fill up fast for this event. 

Eligible fish must be caught by hook and line only during the time following the mandatory meeting at 6:00 am on May 28th and prior to the final weigh-in at 5 pm. on Sunday, May 29t". Night fishing is allowed. 

Participants must catch and retrieve their own fish. Assistance by others with landing nets is 

allowed. 

Fish must be caught on the John Day River Arm within the boundaries of the main line railroad bridge near the mouth upstream to the ODFW marker at Tumwater Falls. No fishing for derby in the Columbia River. You will be disqualified if you are seen fishing the Columbia.

Weigh-in is at Gorge Outfitters Supply. Fish may be presented for weigh-in at any time before 

7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 5 pm on Sunday. All participants must be in line for weigh-in at headquarters before the deadline on both days, No Exceptions. 

Plan your timing- late arrivals will not be weighed. Participants may catch and weigh in multiple fish per day, but only their one (1) heaviest or longest overall fish caught either day will be considered for prizes. A limit of one (1) channel catfish will be accepted each day per participant and only one (1) catfish per participant will be considered for prizes. You can win heaviest or longest, not both. 

Winners of prizes will be determined on Sunday after all fish caught on both days have been 

weighed, measured, and logged. Winning fish are based on an individual participants heaviest or longest. Prizes will be announced at approximately 5:30 pm at Rufus Community Center located at 304 w. 2nd Street Rufus, OR 97050. Participants must be present at the awards presentation to win. Prizes will be given for the top 3 heaviest fish and the top 3 longest fish. In the event of a tie, the prize award will go to the participant who weighs in first. 

Kids up to the age of 10 can also weigh in to qualify for the smallest overall fish. Only kids 10 and 

under will be considered for this prize. 

All fish weighed and measured will be logged and will have a hole punched in their dorsal fins or 

tail. Participants will not be allowed to reweigh in fish that have a hole punched. 

Individuals under 18 years of age entering the derby must have an adult co-signer. 

Entry fees for "no shows" will not be refunded. 

Interpretation of these rules is at the discretion of the Derby Committee. The Committee 

reserves the right to disqualify any participants found in violation of these rules. The committee may also disqualify any participants that, in the opinion of the committee, have behaved in an unsportsmanlike manner. All protests must be submitted to the derby committee in writing within 15 minutes of the conclusion of weigh-in. 

Gorge Outfitters Supply and its sponsors; assume no liability for theft, personal injury, act of 

God or bad judgement by any participant or competing participant. By entering the derby and paying the entry fee, participants certify that they have read and agree to abide by these derby rules and agree to hold Gorge Outfitters Supply harmless and its sponsors from any liability associated with this event. 

Prizes must be picked up by 5:00 pm on Tuesday May 31, 2022. Any prizes not picked up will go 

to the next derby. 

Decisions of the judges are final! 

Live Music by Countrified! Will be fun for sure, bring your dancing shoes!!