RULES

  1. 1. RULES. The following rules will be interpreted by the tournament director and/or committee and all decisions are final.
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  3. 2.ELIGIBILITY. Participation is open only to members of GotBass! Team Trail who are eighteen (18) years of age or older. Any person entering a tournament under the age of majority must also have the signature of his or her parent or legal guardian on the entry form.
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  5. 3. ENTRY FEES. See applicable entry schedule in the brochure. If check is returned from bank for any reason, entrants will be charged $25.00, no refund. Checks will no longer be accepted as payment from said individuals and returned checks must be made good prior to fishing any other events. Entry fees are non-refundable once launch positions are assigned.
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  7. 4. DEPARTURE & RETURN. The number of flights will be determined by the number of entries. Flights will leave and return in timely intervals. We reserve the right to assign flights and hours deemed necessary. Boats may not be trailered during a tournament, (safe light to weigh-in time).
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  9. 5. SCORING. Five (5) fish limit, minimum length announced at tournament meeting. Bass measurement; mouth closed anyway to get tail to hit mark. Only largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass will be counted. Total stringer weight per team will determine place. Any bass not within legal limits will cause two pounds to be subtracted from total weight plus loss of short fish. Any frozen or iced fish presented for weigh-in will result in immediate disqualification. One pound will be deducted from live weight for each dead fish. Ruling will be final. Weigh slips will be printed and given to the member who weighs in fish before exiting weigh-in trailer. All fish must be caught during the day of the tournament, 5 fish per team measured on flat board. (State law has precedent.) NOTE: OFFICIAL MEASUREMENT ON WIL-E-GO FLAT BOARD.
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  11. 6. TACKLE & EQUIPMENT. Only artificial bait or lures may be used. Pork-style baits are allowed. No trolling, must be caught on rod and reel.
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  13. 7. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATION. Anywhere on the tournament lake, except 50 yards of another contestants anchored boat. Launch ramp area is off limits. Partners must be insight of each other during tournament hours and until they have weighed in. Fishing from boat only, cannot leave boat in order to enter shallow areas, or to land fish. No seeding of fish and waters must be accessible by boat to be legal fishing areas.
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  15. 8. BOATS & MOTORS. Any safe boat 10 feet or longer if powered by an engine 10 horsepower or more. There are no minimum horsepower restrictions. Any brand of boat may be used in tournament. BOAT OWNERS MUST CARRY LIABILITY INSURANCE AND PROVIDE PROOF OF SUCH TO TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.
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  17. 9. SAFETY & SPORTMANSHIP. Safe boating and fishing practices must be observed at all times. Life jackets must be worn when boat is on plane.
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  19. 10. FISHING ALONE. Contestants may elect to fish without a partner and pay full entry fee.
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  21. 11. TIES. In case of tie, the winner will be the team with the most fish. If both teams have the same number of fish, money will be divided equally.                                                                                       
  22. 12. TRUTH DETECTOR (POLYGRAPH) TEST. The test will be given. By signature on entry form and/or participation, contestants agree to a polygraph test by a qualified examiner. Refusal to submit will result in immediate disqualification.
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  24. 13. SUBSTITUTIONS. Each team may have one (1) person substitute, no limit to times used.
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  26. 14. PROTEST. Protest must be in writing and filed with the tournament officials within 15 minutes of conclusion of weigh-in. NO PHONE CALLS ALLOWED.
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  28. 15. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES or DRUGS may be in your possession during tournament, immediate disqualification applies.
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  30. 16. TOURNAMENT PROCEDURES. Each day a number will be given to the check-in boat official (A.M.). Boats not checked prior to tournament will be disqualified. The same boat number will be given to the check-in boat official that evening at the designated time to avoid a late penalty or disqualification. Once this has been done at check-in, all fishing must end and the team will proceed to weigh-in and will be considered checked in. At weigh-in, an official bag will be furnished for your fish (no baskets, stringers, or nets may be used to transport fish). Present your team number to the weigh master for correct posting of weight. Once your fish are weighed, make sure your weight is correct on official weigh-in form. Once you leave weigh-in trailer, no changes will be made.
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  32. 17. THERE IS NO DEAD WATER TIME.
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  34. 18. LATE PENALTY. One pound per minute up to ten minutes will be deducted, then disqualification. NO EXCUSES. (NO EXCEPTIONS)
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  36. 19. CULLING FISH. No team may have more than five (5) fish in the live well at any time, must cull immediately.
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  38. 20. ENTRY DEADLINE. Entry deadline is ten (10) days prior to tournament date for checks and credit card entries. Cash entries will be accepted at pre-tournament meeting until 6:00 P.M. Sunday morning entries will be assessed a $10.00 late fee and entrants will leave with the last flight and return with the first flight.
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  40. 21. POINTS. Points are won by the team and become property of each original team member. Teams may fish as many events as they want but must fish four (4) events to make the classic. Their best five (5)scores will be used for Angler of the Year points.

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  42. 22. POINT SYSTEM. First place=400 points; Second place=399; etc. All teams failing to weigh a fish at an event will receive 10 points less than the last team to weigh a fish.
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  44. 23. IF A PROBLEM OCCURS with your boat or motor you may change boats as long as the boat you changed into is checked by a tournament staff member or another competitor.

Tournament Director
Kelly Cooper
Email~gotbass@alltel.net
Cell~(918)649-4749