1. RULE CHANGES: Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the ( TOURNAMENT RULES COMMITTEE ) The decision of the judges and tournament officials shall be final.

2. PARTICIPANTS & ELIGIBILITY: Participation in this tournament is open to sportsman who are 16 years of age or older, participants under 16 years of age must be fishing with a parent or guardian as partners. A properly completed and signed official application form and the entrance fee should be received at tournament headquarters' no later than 10:00 PM of the dead line. Also the committee reserves the right to extend the acceptance date. Refund or transfer of the entrance fee will be made only if proper notification is made to tournament headquarters' prior to the dead line date with a $5.00 refund/transfer fee.

3. LATE ENTRY'S: A 5.00 late fee will be assessed at the launch the morning of the tournament for teams entering after the dead line date. A late entry will receive a blast off # according to receipt of entry (NO LOTTERY DRAW) i. e. (If there is 35 registered entry's the first late entry will receive a blast off # of 36 next late entry will receive # 37 and so on.) CASH ONLY for teams entering at the launch, call in advance to confirm available spaces, pre registered teams receive blast-off number s the morning of the event by a lottery.

4. LEGAL FISH: Largemouth and smallmouth bass, minimum length of 14 inches or more on the longest straight line with mouth closed. BASS PRO SHOP'S KEEPER COUNTER AND GOLDEN RULE TOURNAMENT BOARDS WILL BE THE OFFICIAL MEASURING BOARDS.

5. SCORING: Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be determined by the POUNDS and HUNDREDTH'S weight of each team's catch during the tournament. The limit shall be (3) three of the above species per angler, And may vary per day and state or country's limit. Tournament officials will conduct checks. If limit violations are found the largest bass shall be culled first, down to the limit described. Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure 14 inches or more shall result in the heaviest and undersized fish being disqualified (2) undersized fish disqualify (2) heaviest fish ect.

6. DON'T KILL YOUR CATCH: Each competitor is expected to keep their catch alive by use of a proper live-well. THERE IS A ONE POUND (1.0) PENALTY FOR EACH DEAD FISH WEIGHED IN. All fish must be brought to the scale in official weigh in bags. A penalty of one pound will be deducted form that teams total weight for violating this rule.

7. TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures will be used; no trolling will be allowed. only (1) one casting, spin-casting or spinning rod and reel may be used at any time. All other types prohibited.

8. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Fishing on the tournament water is permitted anywhere except; Within 50' ft. of any marina gas pump or within 50 ft. of another competitor's boat which was first anchored. A boat is considered anchored only if it's tied to an object or has anchor line over it's side with trolling motor out of water. No such anchored boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within 50' ft. claimed by him to the exclusion of any competitor. All angling must be done from the boat. Contestants must leave and return to official check point by boat. Partners must remain in sight of each other's catch to be scored in that days tournament. Except in case of emergencies.

9. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Will be allowed in the boats. Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification.

10. BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each boat must be given, prior to start , an inspection check by a tournament official as well as a numbered plate which must remain with your boat until turned in at the weigh-in. This plate must be displayed upon the request of the tournament official

11. SAFETY: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by all tournament competitors. EVERY COMPETITOR IS REQUIRED TO WEAR COAST GUARD APPROVED CHEST TYPE LIFE PRESERVERS. It must be worn any time the combustion engine is running. The preserver must be strapped, snapped or zipped securely and maintained in that condition until the competitors arrive at their fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off. ALL WAKE LAWS MUST BE OBEYED. VIOLATION of the RULES SHALL BE REASON FOR IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION.

12. FOUL WEATHER: As each lake and weather condition is different the tournament committee will address each on a individual bases. Rules will be announced at each tournament when foul weather is predicted. A minimum of (3) three hours of tournament fishing must be accomplished before a tournament can be considered official and prizes be awarded. The tournament committee requires any competitor that feels that conditions are unsafe to seek safe shelter immediately. YOUR LIFE IS NOT WORTH THE RISK.!!

13. OFFICIAL CHECK POINT: There will be only one (1) official point for check-out in the morning and check-in in the afternoon.

14. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not in the official check-point area as described previously at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of (1) pound per minute to be deducted from the total weight of there catch that day, including any weight to be counted towards a "LUNKER AWARD" for each one (1) minute they are late. Any competitor more than (5) minutes late shall lose all credit for that day's catch. There shall be no excuse for tardiness; in no case shall a competitor be allowed to make up for lost time

15. PAIRING OF CONTESTANTS: Two (2) contestants per team. It shall be the responsibility of each partner to appear at a mutually agreed upon time and location. tournament officials shall bear no responsibility for locating missing partners.

16. BOAT & MOTOR: Fishing Fishing boats may be used that are 14' ft. or more in length. A small motor, gas or electric, may be used for slow maneuvering, No "barge" or similar
cumbersome craft will be permitted. Every boat must have all required coast guard safety equipment as well as a kill switch that must be used. In addition, every boat must have a
live-well space to adequately maintain alive a limit catch of bass by both fishermen using the boat.

17. TIES: Moneys will be determined accordingly, as decided by the tournament committee.

18. PROTEST: Any protest must be filed with the tournament director prior to weigh-in.

19. CAMERA RELEASE: Contestants grant Oakland Bass Masters of Michigan., and the Tournament sponsors, the unconditional right to use their name, voice, photographic likeness and biographical information and fishing tips and instructional in connection with Oakland Bass Masters Tournaments, video/audio production, promotions and/or articles and press releases, and shall not be entitled to receive any royalties or other compensation in connection with such use.

20. NONE OF THE ABOVE RULES: Shall prohibit designated tournament officials from approaching or boarding any competitors boat at any time during the tournament.

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