Fishin' Time Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Object
• Equipment
• The Game Board
• Master Fishing Card Deck
• Master Fish Card Decks
• Fishing Licenses and Life Vests
• Set Up
• Playing the Game
• Alternate Game Rules
• Ordering Information

Object

You and your opponents are freshwater fishermen in search of North American game fish (crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, northern pike, perch, smallmouth bass, and walleye). Such game fish are located throughout Americia's freshwater lakes. Each grid section on the game board that is overlayed with a picture of a game fish is a fishing "hot spot."

Your challenge is to maneuver your fishing boat onto a fishing "hot spot," and then to fish (draw a card) from the master fishing deck. If you succeed in catching a fish, you are entitled to draw a fish card from one of the master fish card decks. This card indicates the weight of the fish you have caught. The fisherman who catches the most pounds of fish in the designated time of play (30 or 60 minutes) wins the game.

Equipment

• Game board
• Master fishing card deck (75 cards)
• Master fish card decks (7 decks of 10 cards each)
• Fishing boats (8)
• Dice (1)
• Fishing license cards (8)
• Life vest cards (8)

The Game Board

Take a few moments to look at the game board before you begin.

The lake is divided into numerous sections by a large grid. Each grid section that is overlayed with a picture of a game fish represents a fishing "hot spot."

Located on the game board are 12 launch sites. One of the launch sites is your starting point, or HOME LAUNCH SITE.

Example: Pictures of game fish represent fishing "hot spots."

Master Fishing Card Deck

The master fishing card deck consists of 75 cards. Each card represents an authentic freshwater fishing situation. For example, some cards indicate that you have caught a fish. Other cards indicate that you have broken the law, had an equipment failure, or lost some of your equipment overboard.

If the card drawn indicates that you have caught a fish, it also indicates the type of fish you have caught and instructs you to draw a card from the appropriate master fish card deck (to determine the weight of the fish).

If the master fishing card indicates that you were caught fishing with two poles (for example), you are instructed to:

1. Go to DNR Headquarters
2. Return all your fish
3. Lose two turns

Master Fish Card Decks

There are seven master fish card decks; one for each freshwater game fish you are likely to catch while playing the game. Master fish card decks are:

1. Crappie
2. Largemouth bass
3. Muskie
4. Northern pike
5. Perch
6. Smallmouth bass
7. Walleye

Each card from a master card deck indicates the weight of the fish you have caught. Walleye cards, for example, indicate weights of 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 14.0, or 18.0 pounds. DO NOT let your opponents know the total pounds of fish you have caught until the end of the game.

Fishing Licenses and Life Vests

Prior to the start of a game, each player receives an official fishing license card and a life vest card. These cards are to be held throughout the game or until a master fishing card instructs you to turn in your fishing license or life vest.

Set Up

1. Each player chooses a fishing boat and places it on any unoccupied HOME LAUNCH SITE.
2. Each player is given (or may select) an official fishing license card and a life vest card.
3. Make a group decision as to the length of the game. Note that both 30 and 60 minute contests are standard.
4. Each player rolls the dice. Whoever rolls the highest number goes first. Play then proceeds, in turn, to the first player's left.
5. Shuffle the master fishing card deck and position the deck within reach of all players. (In the event all cards in the master fishing card deck are played prior to the end of the game, simply reshuffle the deck and resume play.)
6. Separately sort and shuffle each master fish card deck. DO NOT mix the master fish card decks (for example, do not mix a crappie fish card in with the walleye card deck). Place the master fish card decks within reach of all players.

Playing the Game

Before you begin, read this section carefully to understand the events that occur during the fishing contest.

1. On your turn, roll the dice. Depending on the number rolled, you can:

   • Move FORWARD or BACKWARD
   • Move FORWARD or BACKWARD, then LEFT
   • Move FORWARD or BACKWARD, then RIGHT
   • Move LEFT, then FORWARD or BACKWARD
   • Move RIGHT, then FORWARD or BACKWARD

   For example, if you roll a five, you may move your boat forward three grid sections and then move either to the left or to the right two grid sections. Remember that whatever you roll, YOU MUST move your boat that number of grid sections.

2. You cannot:

   • Move DIAGONALLY in any direction
   • Move FORWARD and BACKWARD in the same play
   • Move LEFT and RIGHT in the same play
   • Move FORWARD, LEFT, and then RIGHT in the same play
   • Move BACKWARD, LEFT, and then RIGHT in the same play

   NOTE: Grid sections that are only partially illustrated on the game board must be counted as if they were full grid sections.

   A) VALID MOVE (A four is rolled and the player moves forward two grid sections then moves left two grid sections.)

   B) PROHIBITED MOVE (The player moves forward, right, and backward in the same turn.)

3. During each successive turn, roll the dice and move the designated number of grid sections. The object is to move onto a fishing "hot spot" as quickly as possible. A fishing "hot spot" is a grid section with a picture of a game fish on it. A player may not move onto a "hot spot" that is already occupied by another player's boat.

4. Once you have landed on a fishing "hot spot," draw one card from the master fishing card deck.

Alternate Game Rules

If all players agree, the following game rules can be added:

1. If during a game a player's life vest card and/or fishing license card are turned in, that player can be reissued another life vest and/or fishing license card by returning one master fish card. This assumes, of course, that the player has a master fish card to return.

2. Fishing limits can be imposed. If a limit is set (six fish, for example), players are only allowed to have that many master fish cards in possession at any one time. If the fishing limit is exceeded, players have the option of returning the master fish card that indicates the least weight.

Ordering Information

Replacement sets of master fishing card decks and master fish card decks are available for $6.00 per set. Address your request, with payment enclosed, to Distinctive Games Inc., P.O. Box 29788, Mpls., MN 55429. Your new cards will be shipped within eight weeks.