2024 FISHERMAN’S CHOICE LLC. - RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. RULES AND REGULATIONS: These guidelines as set forth, whether on this page or on the entry form, must be followed by all contestants. It is each contestant’s responsibility to read and fully understand these rules because entrants can be disqualified for noncompliance and will be required to forfeit all prize money and entry fees if they fail to comply with these rules and regulations. Each contestant agrees that by signing the entry form, the decisions by manager, are final including matters not covered by these rules. All Federal, State and Local laws apply to all contestants.
2. ELIGIBILITY: Anyone 18 years or older is eligible. Minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian or an adult and a release signed by legal guardian on file. The manager(s) may deny any entry or enrollment without explanation.
3. SUBSTITUTE: A team may have two (2) substitutes during regular season. Each substitute is required to pay a $75.00 membership fee. There is no limit to how many times a substitute may be used. Substitutes must have fished one (1) regular season tournament to qualify for the Championship. Substitute can only fish for the team they represented during the regular season in the Championship. Substitutes cannot make a new team for the Championship.
4. ENTRY FEE(S) & MEMBERSHIP: Entry fee is $160.00 per boat, per event with $10.00 per boat going to Big Bass payout. Championship entry fee will be $250.00 with $20.00 ($10.00 each day) going to Big Bass payout. A $75.00 membership fee will be collected from each angler. Membership fee is a one (1) time per year fee. All applicable entry and membership fees must be paid in full and a waiver / release form must be signed before you will be allowed to enter any of the tournaments. Minors not required by law to purchase an Oklahoma fishing license will not be required to pay membership fee.
5. ENTRY FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS: Mailed entries must be received no later than the Thursday prior to the tournament event. Pay-Pal entries must be received on-line no later than the Friday at 5:00 p.m. prior to the tournament event. Payment at the ramp is Cash ONLY. A $20.00 charge for any late entries the morning of the tournament, no exceptions. Returned checks will result in a $50.00 service fee and checks not cleared within 10 days will result in disqualification from future events.
6. PAY BACK: Payback is 80% of paid entries, 100% Big Bass, one (1) in every seven (7) boats, at the ramp.
7. RAMP FEES, LAKE PERMITS AND TAXES are the responsibility of contestant(s).
8. QUALIFY FOR CHAMPIONSHIP: You must fish at least four (4) regular season tournaments and place in the top seventy-five percent (75%) of teams by total weight or fish all five (5) regular season tournaments and your team will automatically qualify. Teams can buy 1 (one) tournament if needed.
9. DEPARTURE AND RETURN: Boats must launch from public access ramps only. Boats may be trailered as many times as needed. The number of flights will be determined by the number of entries. Fisherman’s Choice LLC, reserves the right to assign flights and hours deemed necessary. Flight start times will be in fifteen (15) minute intervals and return in fifteen (15) minute intervals. Official time will be set with GPS (cell phone) time.
10. WEIGH-IN PROCEDURES: The check-in official will have all team numbers. You must check in before the designated time to avoid a late penalty or disqualification. Once your team has checked-in all fishing must stop and each team will proceed to the weigh-in area. YOU MUST check-in with the designated check-in official before you will be allowed to weigh your fish. Each team will receive an official weigh-in bag. The official weigh-in bag is the ONLY method used to transport fish to the staging tank area, no other method is allowed 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 your official weigh-in form then sign your copy. Once signed, no changes will be made.
11. SCORING: Five (5) fish limit, 14 inch minimum length on Texoma & Eufaula and 12 inch minimum length Murray only or in accordance with the state law. Bass measurement is with the mouth closed and any way to get the tail to hit mark. Only Largemouth, Spotted, Kentucky and Smallmouth bass will be weighed. Each team’s total weight will determine place of finish. All fish must have been caught alive. Any dead fish will result in the deduction of one (1) pound of live weight. If dead fish is big bass the weight will be deducted from big fish. Any frozen or iced fish presented for weigh-in will result in immediate disqualification. If more than five (5) fish are brought to the staging tank area they will be culled down to five (5) fish starting with the largest fish. Any fish shorter than the minimum length requirement will not be weighed.
12. PERMISSABLE FISHING AREA: Boats must be launched from public access ramps only. You may fish any area of the tournament lake as long as your fishing area is open to the public and accessible by boat from the host ramp on the day of the tournament. All fish must be caught from your boat. You are not allowed to leave your boat to gain access to a fishing area. You are not allowed to leave your boat to visually spot or locate fish, land or catch fish.
13. OFF LIMITS & DEAD TIME: A 50ft radius of the host ramp(s) will be deemed OFF LIMITS during tournament hours. Also areas that are deemed OFF LIMIT or NO FISHING by Federal, State and Local laws are off limits. Championship, Lake Eufaula will be off limits starting Tuesday, Sept. 3rd thru Thursday, Sept. 5th, 2024. Pre-fishing is allowed on Friday, Sept. 6th, 2024 (ONLY). Championship tournament hours for Saturday are 7am-3pm & Sunday hours are 7am-1pm.
14. NO ALCOHOL will be consumed during tournament hours. Tournament hours are from start time until your polygraph is complete.
15. POLYGRAPH: Test may be given to any contestant of the tournament by a qualified examiner. If so, contestant(s) must take and pass it. If contestant(s) refuses to take test or does not pass test, all monies are forfeited. If polygraph is inconclusive the test may be taken at a later date but all monies will be held until polygraph test is completed. If contestant refuses to take or does not pass polygraph test, all monies are forfeited and the cost of the polygraph test will be the responsibility of that contestant.
16. TIES: In the event of a tie, the money associated with the tie(s) will be combined and split equally.
17. PROTESTS: Protests must be made in writing and submitted within fifteen (15) minutes of the closing of weigh-in. Decisions will be made by the manager, consulting with tournament director(s). Decision(s) rendered are final (See rule one).
18. LATE FOR WEIGH-IN: One (1) pound per minute will be deducted from total weight. After ten (10) minutes zero weight no exceptions. One member of each team must check-in before the official designated time and check-in person to avoid any penalties.
19. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Artificial bait only, pork rind baits permissible. Only one (1) rod can be used at a time. Fish must be caught on conventional rod and reel. No trolling.
20. RUNNING OF BRIDGES: Regardless of your understanding concerning the law about running under bridges, the rule in this tournament is ALL BRIDGES ARE NO WAKE.
21. BLOCKING FISHING AREA: Contestants with a later starting time will not be allowed to sit or block a fishing area to take advantage of another contestant from fishing a particular fishing area that has an earlier starting time. If contestants are in the same flight the ruling will be who arrived first. All fishing areas must be open to the public.
22. SPORTSMANSHIP: Poor sportsmanship such as threats to other contestants, improper handling of fish, throwing or exchanging of fish between competitors will result in disqualification. No boat may fish within twenty-five (25) yards of another boat that is a competitor of the same tournament. If trolling motor is up and boat is anchored/tied or use of shallow water anchor system a minimum is fifty (50) yards. Note: Trolling motor must be up. You will conduct yourself, in any and all meetings in a professional manor. Unnecessary interruptions/disorderly conduct may be subject to disqualification, discretion is up to tournament manager or director(s).
23. SAFETY: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times. Fishing will be no more than two (2) contestants per boat. Tournament can be called off or delayed at any time by the tournament manager due to hazardous weather or lake conditions. Tournament manager recommends that all boats be equipped with kill switches. Life jackets will be worn anytime boat is on plane. The tournament manager or tournament director(s) are not responsible for any accidents. Everyone fishes at their own risk.
24. CANCELLATION: Should the manager cancel any tournament each team’s entry fee will be applied to the next tournament.
NOTE: It is each team’s responsibility to tell manager if they do not want it applied to the next tournament.
25. BOATS AND MOTORS: Any safe boat with a working live-well, ten (10) ft. or longer if powered by an engine five (5) horsepower or more. Excessively overpowered boats can be refused participation at the discretion of tournament officials. No tube fishing allowed.
26. TOURNAMENT ENTRY & TEAM NUMBERS: Tournament entry will be from 5 P.M. until 7 P.M., Friday before each tournament at the lake. Team numbers will be determined by order in which entry is received. There will be a pre-tournament meeting after sign up. It is not mandatory but encouraged to attend, in case of any changes or special conditions that might arise, it’s your responsibility to know.
2. ELIGIBILITY: Anyone 18 years or older is eligible. Minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian or an adult and a release signed by legal guardian on file. The manager(s) may deny any entry or enrollment without explanation.
3. SUBSTITUTE: A team may have two (2) substitutes during regular season. Each substitute is required to pay a $75.00 membership fee. There is no limit to how many times a substitute may be used. Substitutes must have fished one (1) regular season tournament to qualify for the Championship. Substitute can only fish for the team they represented during the regular season in the Championship. Substitutes cannot make a new team for the Championship.
4. ENTRY FEE(S) & MEMBERSHIP: Entry fee is $160.00 per boat, per event with $10.00 per boat going to Big Bass payout. Championship entry fee will be $250.00 with $20.00 ($10.00 each day) going to Big Bass payout. A $75.00 membership fee will be collected from each angler. Membership fee is a one (1) time per year fee. All applicable entry and membership fees must be paid in full and a waiver / release form must be signed before you will be allowed to enter any of the tournaments. Minors not required by law to purchase an Oklahoma fishing license will not be required to pay membership fee.
5. ENTRY FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS: Mailed entries must be received no later than the Thursday prior to the tournament event. Pay-Pal entries must be received on-line no later than the Friday at 5:00 p.m. prior to the tournament event. Payment at the ramp is Cash ONLY. A $20.00 charge for any late entries the morning of the tournament, no exceptions. Returned checks will result in a $50.00 service fee and checks not cleared within 10 days will result in disqualification from future events.
6. PAY BACK: Payback is 80% of paid entries, 100% Big Bass, one (1) in every seven (7) boats, at the ramp.
7. RAMP FEES, LAKE PERMITS AND TAXES are the responsibility of contestant(s).
8. QUALIFY FOR CHAMPIONSHIP: You must fish at least four (4) regular season tournaments and place in the top seventy-five percent (75%) of teams by total weight or fish all five (5) regular season tournaments and your team will automatically qualify. Teams can buy 1 (one) tournament if needed.
9. DEPARTURE AND RETURN: Boats must launch from public access ramps only. Boats may be trailered as many times as needed. The number of flights will be determined by the number of entries. Fisherman’s Choice LLC, reserves the right to assign flights and hours deemed necessary. Flight start times will be in fifteen (15) minute intervals and return in fifteen (15) minute intervals. Official time will be set with GPS (cell phone) time.
10. WEIGH-IN PROCEDURES: The check-in official will have all team numbers. You must check in before the designated time to avoid a late penalty or disqualification. Once your team has checked-in all fishing must stop and each team will proceed to the weigh-in area. YOU MUST check-in with the designated check-in official before you will be allowed to weigh your fish. Each team will receive an official weigh-in bag. The official weigh-in bag is the ONLY method used to transport fish to the staging tank area, no other method is allowed 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 your official weigh-in form then sign your copy. Once signed, no changes will be made.
11. SCORING: Five (5) fish limit, 14 inch minimum length on Texoma & Eufaula and 12 inch minimum length Murray only or in accordance with the state law. Bass measurement is with the mouth closed and any way to get the tail to hit mark. Only Largemouth, Spotted, Kentucky and Smallmouth bass will be weighed. Each team’s total weight will determine place of finish. All fish must have been caught alive. Any dead fish will result in the deduction of one (1) pound of live weight. If dead fish is big bass the weight will be deducted from big fish. Any frozen or iced fish presented for weigh-in will result in immediate disqualification. If more than five (5) fish are brought to the staging tank area they will be culled down to five (5) fish starting with the largest fish. Any fish shorter than the minimum length requirement will not be weighed.
12. PERMISSABLE FISHING AREA: Boats must be launched from public access ramps only. You may fish any area of the tournament lake as long as your fishing area is open to the public and accessible by boat from the host ramp on the day of the tournament. All fish must be caught from your boat. You are not allowed to leave your boat to gain access to a fishing area. You are not allowed to leave your boat to visually spot or locate fish, land or catch fish.
13. OFF LIMITS & DEAD TIME: A 50ft radius of the host ramp(s) will be deemed OFF LIMITS during tournament hours. Also areas that are deemed OFF LIMIT or NO FISHING by Federal, State and Local laws are off limits. Championship, Lake Eufaula will be off limits starting Tuesday, Sept. 3rd thru Thursday, Sept. 5th, 2024. Pre-fishing is allowed on Friday, Sept. 6th, 2024 (ONLY). Championship tournament hours for Saturday are 7am-3pm & Sunday hours are 7am-1pm.
14. NO ALCOHOL will be consumed during tournament hours. Tournament hours are from start time until your polygraph is complete.
15. POLYGRAPH: Test may be given to any contestant of the tournament by a qualified examiner. If so, contestant(s) must take and pass it. If contestant(s) refuses to take test or does not pass test, all monies are forfeited. If polygraph is inconclusive the test may be taken at a later date but all monies will be held until polygraph test is completed. If contestant refuses to take or does not pass polygraph test, all monies are forfeited and the cost of the polygraph test will be the responsibility of that contestant.
16. TIES: In the event of a tie, the money associated with the tie(s) will be combined and split equally.
17. PROTESTS: Protests must be made in writing and submitted within fifteen (15) minutes of the closing of weigh-in. Decisions will be made by the manager, consulting with tournament director(s). Decision(s) rendered are final (See rule one).
18. LATE FOR WEIGH-IN: One (1) pound per minute will be deducted from total weight. After ten (10) minutes zero weight no exceptions. One member of each team must check-in before the official designated time and check-in person to avoid any penalties.
19. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Artificial bait only, pork rind baits permissible. Only one (1) rod can be used at a time. Fish must be caught on conventional rod and reel. No trolling.
20. RUNNING OF BRIDGES: Regardless of your understanding concerning the law about running under bridges, the rule in this tournament is ALL BRIDGES ARE NO WAKE.
21. BLOCKING FISHING AREA: Contestants with a later starting time will not be allowed to sit or block a fishing area to take advantage of another contestant from fishing a particular fishing area that has an earlier starting time. If contestants are in the same flight the ruling will be who arrived first. All fishing areas must be open to the public.
22. SPORTSMANSHIP: Poor sportsmanship such as threats to other contestants, improper handling of fish, throwing or exchanging of fish between competitors will result in disqualification. No boat may fish within twenty-five (25) yards of another boat that is a competitor of the same tournament. If trolling motor is up and boat is anchored/tied or use of shallow water anchor system a minimum is fifty (50) yards. Note: Trolling motor must be up. You will conduct yourself, in any and all meetings in a professional manor. Unnecessary interruptions/disorderly conduct may be subject to disqualification, discretion is up to tournament manager or director(s).
23. SAFETY: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times. Fishing will be no more than two (2) contestants per boat. Tournament can be called off or delayed at any time by the tournament manager due to hazardous weather or lake conditions. Tournament manager recommends that all boats be equipped with kill switches. Life jackets will be worn anytime boat is on plane. The tournament manager or tournament director(s) are not responsible for any accidents. Everyone fishes at their own risk.
24. CANCELLATION: Should the manager cancel any tournament each team’s entry fee will be applied to the next tournament.
NOTE: It is each team’s responsibility to tell manager if they do not want it applied to the next tournament.
25. BOATS AND MOTORS: Any safe boat with a working live-well, ten (10) ft. or longer if powered by an engine five (5) horsepower or more. Excessively overpowered boats can be refused participation at the discretion of tournament officials. No tube fishing allowed.
26. TOURNAMENT ENTRY & TEAM NUMBERS: Tournament entry will be from 5 P.M. until 7 P.M., Friday before each tournament at the lake. Team numbers will be determined by order in which entry is received. There will be a pre-tournament meeting after sign up. It is not mandatory but encouraged to attend, in case of any changes or special conditions that might arise, it’s your responsibility to know.