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Rules

The Tournament Rules Committee shall have the complete and sole discretion to make all decisions concerning this tournament, including but not limited to the determination of prize winners, forfeiture of prizes, entry fee, rulings concerning protests, the disqualification of any entrant and the interpretation and application of any rule. Protests must be made in writing and turned in to a Tournament Rules Committee member within 30 minutes after the last fish is weighed.

Permitted Fishing Methods & Locations
All bass must be caught live in a conventional sporting manner. When fishing bedding fish, they must be hooked inside the mouth. Snatching fish is strictly forbidden. Only artificial lures may be used with the exception of pork trailers. Only one fishing rod (not to exceed 8 feet in length) may be used at a time. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Fishing on tournament waters is permitted anywhere except within 50 yards of a refueling dock of a marine or within 50 yards of another competitor's boat anchored with the trolling motor up. No such anchored boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within a 50-yard circle claimed by him/her to the exclusion of any other competitor. No fishing is allowed in areas that are designated as "Off Limits" or "No-Fishing" by local and state officials. Competitors must return to the official check point by boat. Competitors must remain in boat at all times except in case of emergency or an act of nature.

Polygraph Test
Tournament officials reserve the right to require a polygraph test to be taken before any points or prizes are awarded. Competitors who have failed a polygraph screening in a previous tournament or been disqualified or barred from a fishing tournament may not compete.

Scoring

The winners will be determined by the team's total weight. The limit shall be 5 fish per team. If more than 5 fish are brought to the scales, the largest fish will be culled. Fish will be measured on a flat (golden rule) measuring device with mouth closed and by moving tail side to side. Largemouth Bass must be at least 15 inches long, smallmouth bass must be at least 18 inches long, and Kentucky bass must measure at least 12 inches. There will be a 1 pound penalty assessed for short fish and the short fish removed from the creel. . There will be an 8-ounce penalty deduction for each dead fish. The 8-ounce dead fish penalty will also apply to the big bass competition. Only one big bass prize awarded per team. All fish must be caught between the announced start and finish time in the permitted fishing locations by the partners of each boat. Fish caught by either partner in each boat will be combined for weigh-in. Individual boat totals will determine the order of finish. A maximum of two people may be in each boat. No individual who is not an official entrant in the tournament may be in any boat. Livewell check prior to the tournament is required. All boats must check in both before and after the tournament. For each minute competitors are late checking in, a 1 pound penalty will be deducted from the catch of that boat. Any boat more than fifteen (15) minutes late will be disqualified. NO EXCUSES. The Tournament Rules Committee will keep official time. Do not load boat on trailer until fish are weighed. Ties will be resolved by combining the awards and dividing them equally.