Perch Festival

The Orillia Perch Festival

Tagged Fish

Tagged Perch will be released by the Orillia Perch Festival Organizers prior to the event, all tagged fish can be claimed up until 4:30 pm on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Tagged fish caught during the Orillia Perch Festival (7:00 am April 24 through 4:00 pm April 26) must be brought to the Official Orillia Perch Festival Headquarters Weigh Station located at the Port of Orillia (50 Centennial Drive, Orillia) to be claimed. All tagged fish caught following the Orillia Perch Festival (April 27 through May 10) must be brought to Trombly’s Tackle Box (595 West Street South, Orillia) during their business hours in order to be claimed.

Weigh-In Fish

Perch caught during the Orillia Perch Festival (April 24 through April 26) must be weighed at one of the Official Orillia Perch Festival Weigh Stations, Port of Orillia (50 Centennial Drive, Orillia) or Lankin/Victoria Bridge to be recorded. A Live Leaderboard will be available on www.csfl.ca for all participants to view to keep track of all fish brought to scales. Participants may upgrade their leaderboard standing for one of the top 10 prizes.  Participants who weigh in during the Festival will be eligible for the Grand Prize.  

Competitors Draw

All participants, whether they weighed in or not, are eligible and must be present for all Competitor Draws which take place during the Closing Ceremonies (April 26 at 4 pm).

Social Media Picture Fish

All participants of the 2026 Orillia Perch Festival are eligible to participate in the Social Media Picture Fish.  Pictures and videos can be submitted through Facebook and/or Instagram. Please ensure you are following the Orillia Perch Festival Account Pages and be sure to tag the account and include “#2026orilliaperchfestival” within the caption! Participants can upload multiple photos throughout April 24 through May 9. Contest closes at 11:59 pm on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

2026 Orillia Perch Festival Rules & Regulations

1. All ticket sales are final, non-refundable, non-transferable, no exceptions.

2. All participants must be registered in the Orillia Perch Festival prior to commencing fishing. Tickets may be purchased online or at participating retailers.  Purchasing deadline is 11:59 pm on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

3. The official Orillia Perch Festival Weigh Stations will be located at Port of Orillia and the Lankin/Victoria Bridge, the stations will be open Friday, April 24, 7:00 am through 7:00 pm, Saturday, April 25, 7:00 am through 7:00 pm; Sunday, April 26, 7:00 am through 4:00 pm. From 4:01 pm on Closing Day (Sunday, April 26) all tagged fish caught must be brought to Trombly’s Tackle Box (595 West Street South, Orillia) and will be eligible for pro rated cash prizes (from 4:01 pm April 26 to 4:30 pm Saturday, May 9, 2026).

4. The Orillia Perch Festival and CSFL assume no responsibility for tagged perch from previous years. Such tags carry no cash value. Previous year Orillia Perch Festival tags may be redeemed for one (1) 2027 Orillia Perch Festival entry ticket. To redeem, participants must contact Tournament Director Andrew Pallotta at 416-802-2277 and submit photo evidence of the tag.

5. All eligible fish must be caught by the ticket holder.

6. Participants must be in possession of their ticket at all times and must retain their ticket to qualify and verify for the collection of prizes.

7. The eligible fish species is perch.

8. A fish shall be entered only once and shall be marked at the weigh station. A tagged perch may also be entered for the Weigh In Prize and the Social Media Contest.

9. A clipped fish is not eligible to be weighed in.

10. Live or artificial baits may be used. All fish entered must be legally hooked. Any evidence of net, gaff, snag marks, frozen, badly deteriorated, gutted, artificially weighed, excessive internal water, or in any way tampered with shall immediately be disqualified. 

11. All fish, regardless of size, are eligible for prizes. Anglers are encouraged to practice Catch & Release.

12. A fishing license is required and you may be asked to produce it at any time, unless otherwise exempt. Please ensure it is on your person at all times during the tournament. Boaters are required to attain a boater’s license, Boaters may be asked to produce it at any time. Please ensure it is on your person at all times during the tournament

13. All Federal and Provincial fishing, boating and criminal laws must be obeyed at all times. Participants agree to abide by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Game and Fish Act and regulations, the Small Vessel Regulations and the Rules and Regulations of the Orillia Perch Festival.

14. All participants competing from a boat must carry adequate insurance. Proof of insurance must be made available upon request.

15. All participants competing from a boat must be within the maximum horsepower rated for your vessel. Kickers are permitted.

16. All motors must have a working kill switch which must be worn when outboard is running.

17. For anglers competing from a boat, participants must wear an approved flotation device while the outboard is running. 

18. Boundaries: All fishing must be in Lake Couchiching and/or Lake Simcoe, its harbours and adjoining rivers, shoreline participants are welcome.

19. No locking allowed.

20. All persons aboard the same boat must be registered in the Orillia Perch Festival to be eligible for prizes. Random checks may be conducted by Festival officials at any time. 

21. Participants fishing from a boat must ensure rods in use reflect the amount of ticket holders.  

22. The Orillia Perch Festival is solely responsible for the tagged fish prizes and over all cash prizes. The Orillia Perch Festival is not responsible for sponsored prizes. Advertised prizes may be substituted with prizes of equal or greater value.

23. Sponsor prizes may be delayed due to supply chain issues, prizes will be delivered upon availability.

24. Official winners will be posted within 24 hours pending verification of information.

25. Prize winners will be notified at the conclusion of the Festival. 

26. Cheques shall be mailed to the individual prize winners on or before May 24, 2026.

27. Adult Angler Ticket cost is $25.00.

28. Kid’s Angler Ticket cost is $10.00 - Kids must be 15 years of age or younger, during active event days.

29. Taxes are included in all ticket prices.

30. When purchasing tickets online be sure to print and sign the ticket immediately alternatively provide digital proof with photo ID. Falsified entries will result in immediate disqualification and prize forfeiture.

31. Proof of ticket and signing off will be required when registering a fish affirming the integrity of the catch.  All data recorded on the official weigh in form shall be final. 

32. Anyone can and should immediately report all suspicious practice or behaviour to Orillia Perch Festival officials/director and/or official weigh station.

33. All participants must produce their Orillia Perch Festival ticket when weighing in a fish.

34. Orillia Perch Festival officials may hold any fish for examination including biological examination therefore leader fish must remain intact and untampered with for 24 hours.

35. In case of extreme weather conditions, state of emergency or pandemic, the Orillia Perch Festival Official Weigh In dates/hours may be delayed, restricted or canceled.

36. All fish shall be weighed in on the day they were caught.  Fish caught after scales close can be weighed in the following day during scale hours however must be reported by email, voicemail or text message prior to midnight in order to be eligible.

37. At the discretion of the Festival officials, participants may be required to take a polygraph test. Disqualification shall result if a participant refuses to or is found to be unfit to take a polygraph test.

38. In the case of a tie based on weight, the winner shall be determined by the first fish recorded on the official weigh-in forms.

39. Participants of the Orillia Perch Festival compete at their own risk.  By paying the entry fee the participant releases The Orillia Perch Festival, Competitive Sport Fishing League (CSFL), The Spring Fishing & Boat Show, Canadian Outdoor Sports Shows and all event sponsors, weigh stations or anyone affiliated with The Orillia Perch Festival from any and all liability, claims and responsibility of any nature to the participant or his/her heirs, executors, personal representatives, and representatives for any loss or damage of properties or for any injury suffered in any way from this Orillia Perch Festival.

40. The Orillia Perch Festival reserves the right to amend the rules and regulations as it sees fit.

41. The Orillia Perch Festival officials’ decisions are final.

42. By paying the entry fee, each participant acknowledges that he/she has read, understood, and will abide by the rules of the Orillia Perch Festival and agrees that failure to comply with any of the rules will result in immediate disqualification, forfeiture of all prizes and the right to enter any future Orillia Perch Festival and CSFL events. 

43. Participants agree to allow, without charge, the Orillia Perch Festival to use their names and photographs for promotional purposes.

44. The Orillia Perch Festival reserves the right to deny any participants in its events.

45. Contact Festival Director via phone/text 416-802-2277 or email andrew@csfl.ca for any clarification of rules, after hour reporting, or suspicious activity.