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"VIPER 2" End 22 Fishing Tournament
Join our mission to end veteran suicide with fishing tournaments.
Registrations
Sign up for the 2026 fishing tournament
Empowering Veterans Through Fishing
Our Mission
At Viper2 End 22, we are dedicated to helping veterans through the healing power of fishing. Our mission is to reduce veteran suicide rates by providing a supportive and community-driven environment where veterans can connect and share their experiences.
About "VIPER 2" End 22 Fishing Tournament
VIPER 2
On June 5, 2006, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 (NMCB 25) suffered the loss of two Seabees, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jaime S. Jaenke (29, Bay City, WI) and Petty Officer 1st Class Gary T. Rovinski (44, Roseville, IL) in Anbar Province, Iraq, when their Humvee was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during convoy operations, a significant incident highlighting the dangers faced by reserve units supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. "Viper 2" appears to be a personal call sign or team identifier, notably associated with Petty Officer 1st Class Gary T. Rovinski, a fallen hero who gave the "ultimate sacrifice". The phrase "Viper2 lives forever" appears in his memorial. At Viper2 End 22, we are starting this Veteran fishing tournament to make sure that these heroes never are forgotten.
Lets End 22 veteran suicide.
Rules
PHAT Hawg Hunters Fishing Club
“Viper 2” End 22 Fishing
TOURNAMENT RULES
The primary mission of this tournament is to be a day of fun for both the Boater and the Warrior. The competitive nature of the tournament shall always be secondary to a day of enjoyment on the water. The tournament will be a team format with either a team consisting of a Boater and Warrior or a Boater and Warrior pair. All fish submitted for the weigh-in shall be caught by rod and reel only and by boat. Weigh-in will consist of the boat’s largest three (3) live fish in the catfish and bass divisions. Legal species are Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in the Petty Officer 1st Class Gary T. Rovinski Memorial Bass Division. Flathead, Channel, and Blue Catfish in the Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime Jaenke Memorial Catfish Division. Any Warriors that have special needs or participation requests are asked to identify these at tournament registration so that their needs may be met where possible.
The following divisions will be in effect, please note that each Division is separate and does not compete against other divisions:
Petty Officer 1st Class Gary T. RovinskiMemorial Bass Division
Weigh-in @ Braidwood Lake south ramp.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime Jaenke Memorial Catfish Division
Weigh-in @ Braidwood Lake south ramp.
Memorial Veteran Home Division
Weigh-in @ Illinois Veteran Home Pond.
Rules
Interpretation of these rules shall be the exclusive domain of the Tournament Director. Protests must be made in writing not more than 15 minutes after the conclusion of the weigh in. The decisions of the Tournament Director shall be final.
1. ELIGIBILITY: All tournament participants must be 18 years of age or older.
2. ENTRY FEES/DEADLINES: There is no entry fee for either Warrior or Boater for this event. Warrior registration ends Apr 1 or when we reach 60 registered Warriors.
3. REGISTRATION AND PARTNER ASSIGNMENT: Registration will be conducted via the on-line registration portal at viper2end22.com website. A tentative pairing FOR CONFIRMED ATTENDEES ONLY will be conducted approximately 2 weeks prior to the event. At this time the Warrior will be provided with the contact information for his/her Boater. The Warrior can then contact the Boater for advance planning if he/she desires. For security reasons Boaters will not be provided with the Warrior’s contact information prior to the event – please do not make this request of tournament officials. Whenever possible, tournament organizers will attempt to honor pairing requests that are made in a timely fashion. All participants must check in at the registration table prior to the tournament unless alternate arrangements have been made with the Registration Committee. Accommodation for those unable to attend the pre-tournament meeting will be made where practicable.
4. BOATS AND MOTORS: Boat minimum size shall be 16 feet in length with a minimum horsepower motor of 25HP. All boats must meet the B.I.A. and Coast Guard requirements as well as the requirement of the state or state boundary waters in which it is operated. No boat may be powered with a motor, that is more than the posted horsepower rating on that craft. Each boat must have a LiveWell with proper aeration and space capable of keeping the tournament limit of fish alive. No boats or live well will be allowed in the Veteran Home division. All fish will be weighed and photographed at catch and released back into the pond.
5. INSURANCE: Boat owners must have a valid insurance policy with a minimum $100,000 “Boating Liability Insurance” and have a copy of said policy available in the boat during the tournament.
6. SAFETY AND SPORTSMANSHIP: Safe boating and ethical fishing practices must always be observed. Life Jackets must be worn and fully fastened when the combustion engine is operated. The Boater shall have life jackets of sufficient size and quantity on board and readily available for all occupants of the vessel. Each contestant is expected to follow the highest standards of fairness, courtesy, safety, and conservation at all times. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are allowed in any boats during tournament hours, and no participant shall be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during tournament hours. Violation of this section shall result in immediate disqualification. A properly attached and functional kill switch must be utilized by the boat operator any time the combustion engine is operated above idle speed. Each Boater is expected to operate his/her boat in a manner that does not jeopardize the safety of the public, the boat occupants, or property. Boat operators are reminded to be cautious about creating a hazardous wake or wash with their boat and to adhere to all posted No Wake Zones and operate his/her craft at No Wake speed within 150 feet of any public boat ramp.
7. TACKLE EQUIPMENT & NETS: The Boater should make available such fishing equipment, bait (Bass Division shall be artificial lures only), tackle, etc. for the Warrior’s use if the Warrior is not properly equipped. All fish must be caught by means of rod and reel only. Dip nets may only be used to land hooked fish. Snagging is not allowed. Participants in the Bass Divisions shall be limited to not more than one rod in use by each participant at one time. Participants in the Catfish Division shall be limited to two rods per participant in use at any one time. Trolling is not allowed by Bass Division participants. Drift/troll fishing is allowed for Catfish Division participants.
8. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: No boat shall enter any posted restricted zone at any time. An off-limits zone shall extend 50 feet in all directions around another participant’s anchored boat. Any other posted “No Boats” or “No Fishing” shall be off limits to tournament participants. After weighing-in, fish will be immediately released into the waters in which they were caught. The tournament director or a volunteer will give the team weight slips to bring to Heroes Hogs and Hotrods stage at the square in Manteno for entry and scoring. All teams will be introduced at Heroes Hogs and Hotrods at the square in Manteno and will pass by the stage to be recognized. All teams must check in with their tournament director at the weigh-in. Fishing shall be allowed on Braidwood Lake by boat during tournament hours. The Bass Division and Catfish Division at Braidwood Lake may use any boat ramp to access the lake but are required to weigh-in their fish at the south Boat Ramp.
9. SPECIAL SITUATIONS: Participants may depart the boat to use restroom facilities. In the event of an emergency or mechanical breakdown contact P.H.A.T. Hawg Hunters Fishing Club phone at (815) 922-2180. If there is an emergency, first dial 911.
10. TOURNAMENT TAKE OFF AND WEIGH-IN TIMES: The tournament shall begin at 0600 hours. All participants shall be on the honor system. No lines may be placed in the water, or any attempt made to fish prior to 0600 hours. All boats are to be at their weigh-in location at 1pm. The weigh in location shall be at the Braidwood Lake south ramp. All Boaters will be required to check-in with tournament staff immediately upon arrival at the weigh-in site and proceed as directed to the weigh-in. Even if the team has no fish to weigh the team must check in so the event staff knows everyone is off the water and safe.
11. WEIGH-IN: Tournament officials will provide weigh-in bags. Teams will retain fish in their LiveWell in the bags until directed to present them to tournament officials. Once presented for weigh-in all fish become the property of the Tournament Director and will be released back into waters from which they were taken or disposed of at P.H.A.T. Hawg Hunters Fishing Club staff’s discretion.
12. FISH WEIGH-IN LIMIT: The tournament limit shall be 3 fish total per team for catfish and bass. Tournament size limit will be based upon the size limit imposed by the appropriate state authority for the body of water fished. Boats or fishing teams shall not maintain more than the tournament limit of fish in the boat at any time. Teams may weigh only in their designated division as determined at check-in. All other species will be considered part of the “trash fish division”.
13. TIES: In the case of ties, winners will be determined by the largest legal fish on the stringer, if still tied the tie will be broken by a coin toss. In the case of a tie for largest fish in each division, ties will be broken by heaviest stringer, if still tied the tie will be broken by coin toss.
14. SCORING: Dead fish will not be weighed. A penalty of 2 pounds will be assessed on the team total for any fish brought into the weigh-in below tournament size minimum as announced at the pre-tournament meeting. The “Golden Rule” shall be the official tournament measuring device.
15. LATE PENALTY: You must be out of the water or in line to trailer your boat at 12 noon. Should you miss your designated weigh-in you will be disqualified.
16. WINING WEIGHT PRIZES AND AWARDS: will be presented at the conclusion of the weigh-in for such places and awards as announced at the pre-tournament meeting. Separate awards will be given for each Division, and the Divisions are not in direct competition with each other.
17. Contestants are encouraged to submit for weigh-in any unusual legal catches that are in season. Any species of fish other than the target species of your division as determined at check-in shall be eligible for the Trash Fish division. The heaviest “Trash Fish” will receive an award. Contestants are not allowed to legally retain or transport any living Asian Carp.
18. At least one member of each team must check out the team at Heroes Hogs and Hotrods stage at the square in Manteno location at the end of the tournament. Participants are strongly encouraged to come to Heroes Hogs and Hotrods stage at the square in Manteno to weigh in as a team for recognition. At 2:30 PM CST, tournament officials will be required to initiate contact or search for any participants that have not checked out.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RULES IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. ALL THE ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THESE RULES. ANY EXTREME VIOLATION OF RULES MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OR PERMANENT BANNING. THERE WILL BE AWARDS TO ALL DIVISIONS CONTESTANTS BASED UPON THE POSITION THAT THE WILD CARD PARTICIPANT FINISHES.
Participants will be introduced, and awards will be given at Heroes Hogs and Hotrods stage at the square in Manteno.
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