2026 BIG BOY BACKYARD TROUT TOURNAMENT

Scheduled for Saturday May 16, 2026.

Welcome to the 11th Annual 2026 Big Boy Backyard Trout Tournament. 

Mandatory Pre-Registration is $100

*see registration form for more information and deadlines*

 The Tournament Headquarters will again be a personal residence at

1314 Allegheny Street, Julian, PA 16844

All PA Fish & Boat Commission Rules Apply

• All registered anglers must also sign and agree to a Waiver of Liability form in-order-to be eligible to participate in this event.
• Fishing times are from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM on 5/16/26. Any registered fisherman caught fishing in the tournament identified stream section, during or after we stock the trout around 7PM on Friday evening 5/15/26 until the start time at 7:00 AM on Saturday morning 5/16/26 will be automatically disqualified from the tournament and become ineligible for prize money. Important: this would also include anyone caught fishing that is unregistered for the event for the benefit of a registered angler either before or during the event. It would also include a registered participant who is not signed up for the Big Trout contest, but gives a fish he/or she caught to another registered angler who is actually in the Big Trout contest. These actions will be monitored by fellow participant anglers and tournament organizers. We ask that you just do things the right way so we all can enjoy the event fairly.
• New for 2026  - We are stocking the trout the night before the event. All trout caught for this year’s event must be brought back in Live-Condition to the Headquarters/check-in station.  This includes the larger tagged trout (these have been pre-measured for the Big Trout Contest).  Any participant or non-participant illegally helping another angler catch and/or fish themselves for these stocked trout ahead of the event start time will be immediately disqualified and will never be allowed to participate in the event again. Others will be watching with their phones!
• NEW for 2026 Additional Big Trout Contest Information. You must elect to be registered for this part of the contest prior to 7:00AM on 5/16/26. This year you do need to bring the trout back to the Headquarters / Check-in Station in Live Condition as is the case with all of the tagged trout caught.  Even so, we have pre-measured and species identified the bigger tagged trou to make sure there is no foul play with Big Trout Contest. If any foul play is observed, you will be disqualified forever from this annual event as well as the Big Trout Contest.

• Only xxx 202x BETT colored tagged fish with numbers beginning at xxxx upwards to TBD by the start of the event on 5/16/26 have any cash value for this 2026 Big Boys Backyard Trout Tournament. Other tagged trout that may be caught from prior tournaments have no cash value for this event.
• Participants are permitted to wade the stream but are not permitted to fish from any boat or kayak.
• Participants are permitted to help with stocking the trout and/or follow along during the process.
• Participants need to be careful not to park their vehicles on private property without asking for permission to do so.
• Participants are asked to not litter and pick up any other trash you see along the stream, adjacent property, or road.
• Participants must be present for remaining uncaught tagged trout cash drawing to be eligible for remaining cash payout. No one else can fill in for you. If you cannot be there for the drawing and your name is called we will pick another name. This drawing will start at approximately 2:30 PM on 5/16/26 at the registration headquarters.
• Participants are eligible to win all of the uncaught tagged trout prize money no matter how many times their name is drawn.
• Organizers of this event are also permitted to register and participate in this event.  This has been the case since we first started the tournament in 2015! 
• Cash Payout – Possible Adjustments – This is a 100% participant funded event. As such, if there are no shows who do not pay their money as committed, the cash payouts drawing portion of the event will be reduced by $75.00 for each no show.  

Make sure you have read and understand all of these rules before participating in this event.