1)  ENTRY:  The tournament is open to all person to participate in as a team provided they have never been disqualified from any other tournament for refusing a polygraph examination or failing a polygraph examinations, whether the results were “inconclusive” or otherwise.  Acceptance of any entry is subject to the approval of the Tournament Director and he reserves the right to take precautionary measures to protect the integrity of the tournament, other anglers, and the resource by denying registration to any angler wishing to participate.  Each person operation the combustion engine must be 18 years of age or older.  Any adult choosing a minor as a partner assumes full responsibility for that minor.  All Federal, State and Local laws will apply.

2)  SAFETY AND BOAT EQUIPMENT:  Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times.  Carelessness or unsafe operation of any boat will be grounds for disqualification.  Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved life vest during blast off and returning to weigh-in.  Safety equipment adequate to pass Coast Guard inspection must be in the boat at all times.  Each boat must be equipped with an aerated livewell adequate to hold a tournament limit of 5 bass.  For everyone’s  protection, participants MUST have liability insurance on their boat.  Navigation lights must be on after dark at all times.

3)  REGISTRATION:  Teams may register in person at the ramp that evening up until 6:45 PM.  Teams will sign-in under the Captain-Partner format.   Registration forms must be filled out completely and signed by both team members.  No partial payments will be accepted and NO REFUNDS will be given. CASH ONLY will be the accepted form of payment.

4)  SPORTSMANSHIP:  All competitors are expected show courtesy and good sportsmanship to all other competitors and non-competitors alike.  Failure to do so will result in disqualification.  Drunkenness will not be tolerated.  No littering.  Remember Pat’s rule......the only spot that is yours is the spot you are currently fishing.

5)  TACKLE & FISHING METHODS:  Only artificial lures may be used-no live or cut baits.  All bass must be caught in a legal, live, conventional manner using a rod and reel.  Each competitor may have only one rod in use at a time  Trolling is not allowed.

6)  TOURNAMENT HOURS: The hours of competition will be 7:00 PM until 11:00 PM.  The field will be divided into flights of 25.  Starting positions will be determined by when the entry fee and registration are received.  Any team leaving early will be disqualified for the entire tournament season.  Teams checking in late will be disqualified for that one tournament, whether or not they have any fish to weigh-in.  Disqualification results in loss of weight of fish and the automatic 1 pound.

7)  PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS:  The Lake is OFF LIMITS to fishing on tournament days (no pre-fishing).  Fishing is permitted anywhere on tournament waters except within 50 yards of another competitor, whether or not that competitor is anchored.  Other off-limits areas may be announced the evening of the tournament.  Competitors will not fish inside any marina posting a “No Fishing” sign.  Fishing from docks or shore is not permitted.

8)  SCORING:  Largemouth, spotted and shoal bass only will be weighed.  Limit will be 5 bass per boat.  Only 5 bass will be permitted in the livewell at any time. When sixth bass is caught, culling must be done immediately.  All bass will be measured on a Golden Rule with the mouth closed and fanning the tail.  A penalty of three  (3) pounds, loss of the short fish and loss of the biggest fish will be assessed per short fish brought to the scales.  The length limit is 12 inches for ALL species of bass, there will be no courtesy measurements.  Only one dead fish may be weighed in with a 1/2 pound penalty assessed.  All live bass will be released.  Scoring is kept by adding the poundage from each tournament, plus 1 additional pound for each tournament fished.

Eleven (11) tournaments must be fished in order to qualify for the Classic, Angler of the Year, and Big Bass of the Year.  The top 30 teams will fish the Classic.  In addition, there will be two Wild Card teams chosen by luck of the draw from teams that fished all 19 tournaments and did not make the top 30.  Tournament Director and staff (2 teams) will automatically be qualified for the Classic.

9)  PROTEST & POLYGRAPH:  Protests may be lodged at two times during the Tournament: 1) Before the actual start of the Tournament and 2) immediately following the weigh-in of the last boat’s catch and before the presentation of awards.  All protests must be lodged in person with the Tournament Director during the specified times.  After the presentation of awards has taken place, the results of the tournament will be considered final.  Any competitor found or heard accusing another competitor of a violation of the rules who has not made a formal protest will be charged with unsportsmanlike conduct and disqualified from that night’s tournament and possibly future tournaments. All contestants agree that if requested to do so by the Tournament Director, one or both team members will submit to a polygraph examination.  Contestants further agree and understand that awards will not be presented until after successfully passing the polygraph examination.  Both team members hereby waive and release any and all claims and causes of action of every kind whatsoever.

10)  RULES INTERPRETATION:  Interpretation of these rules shall be left to the Tournament Director and Staff. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be FINAL in all matters.  Infractions of any of these rules can result in disqualification.