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RULES
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DECISIONS:
All decisions of the Tournament Director and committee are final. All
protests must be registered in writing with the Tournament Director within
15 minutes of the conclusion of tournament weigh-in.
Any and all announcements concerning emergencies or tournament will be
broadcasted over the public announcing system at the weigh-in site.
ELIGIBILITY:
- All state and federal penal codes will apply at all times.
- All State, Coast Guard, Federal Park & Wildlife regulations shall
apply at all times.
- This Tournament is an open-entry Tournament.
- Contestants must have a valid fishing license for Tournament lake
on their persons unless exempt.
- Each person in boat must be a paid contestant of official
Tournament, unless appointed by tournament official.
- Any contestants found to be in violation of any Tournament rules
and regulations will be subject to disqualification from this Tournament and
all future Tournaments.
- All Catfish caught by contestants fishing together will be
disqualified if any of the said contestants are found to be in violation of
any Tournament rules and regulations.
- Tournament officials have the right to refuse ANY ENTRY.
- Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a
parent or adult with written parental permission.
REGISTRATION AND ENTRY FEE:
- Entry form with complete entry fee must be received before
fishing.
- NO REFUND OR SUBSTITUTION OF ENTRY FEE FOR ANY REASON!
- Registration. See web site for times and locations of each site.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES:
No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed by Tournament
contestants nor are alcoholic beverages allowed in contestants' boat during
official Tournament hours; unless Tournament contestant is finished
fishing/has had their boat inspection and polygraph for that Tournament day.
SAFETY:
- All boats equipped with emergency ignition cut-off device (kill
switch) should be attached to boat operator at all times while boat is on
plane.
- Boat operator must show proof of valid registration.
- US Coast Guard approved life jackets and floatation devices are
required for each person in boat. Life Jackets should be worn for your
safety while boat is on plane.
PERMITTED FISHING AREAS & HOURS:
- All Catfish caught during Tournament hours each Tournament day,
may only be weighed in during official Tournament weigh in hours on that
day. 8:00 a.m. scales open. HOURLY EVENT 6:00 a.m. official start time, 4:00
p.m. tournament ends. TEAM EVENT 6:00 a.m. official start time, 3:00 p.m.
official stop time. Contestants must be in weigh-in line by 4:00 p.m.
- Contestants may leave from any launch site on official Tournament
lake or river within event boundaries. NO casting after 12pm midnight until
official start time. No casting after official stop times. Although
catching bait is permitted. See web site for each event boundaries.
- No fishing within 50 yards of a marina gas pump.
- No chumming within 48 hours prior to the Tournament dates.
- All tournament boundaries should be observed during tournament hours. Check
each tournament listing for special boundaries that would apply for that
event.
TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT:
- All Catfish must be caught by use of casting with rod and reel.
No foul hooked fish will be accepted. Contestants may use as many rods and
reels as state law allows. All catfish must be caught alive in a legal and
sporting manner. No snagging, limb lines, set lines, jug lines, trot lines,
fish traps, telephoning or nets of any illegal manner may be used to catch
catfish. However, hand-held landing nets are permitted to land a fish caught
by casting a rod and reel.
- Bank fishing is permissible.
WEIGH IN, SPORTSMANSHIP AND CONSERVATION:
- Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation are expected
from every participant.
- All Catfish weighed in will become the property of the Tournament
and will be released, alive if possible.
- All contestants shall be required to bring their boat and
respective partner(s) with them to the weigh in site when weighing in
catfish.
- Trailoring is permissible.
- No Catfish on ice. Catfish must be alive to be weighed in.
- Contestant or teams who originally caught the Catfish must have
physical possession in the weigh-in line.
- Any artificially weighed or preserved Catfish will be
disqualified and that contestant will be subject to prosecution under
federal laws.
- Any questionable entry will be subject to inspection by a marine
biologist or similarly qualified expert from the State or Federal Wildlife
Department.
- Minimum length of Catfish to be weighed in is 12 inches. All
species of Catfish may be weighed.
- This is a mandatory catch and release program during Official
Tournament hours. When Tournament is officially over each day all Catfish,
including those that were not weighed in during Tournament hours, must be
released back into Tournament waters.
- Contestants are to be attentive to litter and should make ever
effort to maintain their trash in their boat and dispose of it properly.
HOURLY EVENT:
No contestant may have more than three Catfish in possession at any time
during official Tournament hours. One Catfish only is allowed to be weighed
in during Tournament hour per participant.
No contestant may weigh in more than one Catfish per Tournament hour.
Catfish entered in the Big Catfish of the Hour contest do not carry forward
from hour to hour. Your biggest Catfish is registered into the final overall
standings.
TEAM EVENT:
Tournament teams are comprised of two persons fishing.
2-person teams or individuals may participate in team event tournaments.
Team may consist of one or two persons with one exception. A third person
may accompany the team provided the third person is 17 years of age and
under, or over 65 years of age. Only (2) two 34-inch+ catches may be weighed
per team regardless of third-person participation in Tennessee tournaments.
No contestant may have more than six Catfish in possession at any time
during official Tournament hours. Only five fish will be weighed-in at
tournament weigh-in and bringing more than five fish to scales will result
in team disqualification.
POLYGRAPH/VOICE STRESS TEST:
- Each contestant, by signing the entry form, agrees to submit to
the polygraph or stress test.
- Polygraph test will be given on a random basis and must be
passed.
- There will be random polygraph tests given as soon as possible
after the conclusion of each Tournament. All contestants who have placed,
their respective partners and boats - if any - must remain at the official
Tournament site until said winners are declared official. If not present
contestants will automatically be disqualified.
- Any contestant determined by the polygraph examination/voice
stress test or other Tournament officials to be intoxicated or on any type
of illegal drugs at the time said contestant is required to take the
polygraph examination, or in violation of Tournament rules, will be
disqualified from this and all future Tournaments.
- Any contestant found to be in possession of any illegal substance
will be subject to disqualification and prosecution.
BOAT INSPECTION:
All contestants, by entering this Tournament, hereby agree to allow their
boats to be boarded and inspected by Tournament officials at any time during
said Tournament, to include, but not limited to, their boat registration,
Coast Guard horsepower rating plate, and boat, contents to include live
well, rod boxes, closed storage compartments, tackle boxes, life jackets,
PFD's and public safety equipment.
All contestants must complete and sign an official entry form before
competing officially in any Ken Freeman Outdoor Production. This year we
will be filming every event on our trail for a national broadcast. Please
present yourself in a professional manner. No alcohol or tobacco will be
allowed in the weigh-in line or while on the stage. All tournaments will be
held regardless of weather. Should conditions threaten safety, please use
caution.
These mentioned rules are for your own safety as well as others.
Click HERE to download registration form (pdf) to register for this tournament.
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