1. Tournament Director: Shall have final say on all decisions on any and all rules concerning this tournament. The following rules will be the standard and official rules throughout the tournament series. The director reserves the right to refuse any questionable entry application. The director reserves the right to cancel any tournament due to persistent and extreme weather conditions. In the case of cancellation, all registered entrants will receive a full entry fee refund.
2. Each team consisting of no more than 2 persons per boat will be assigned a boat number and weigh in time in the order of in which their registration and entry fee is received and will be sent out in that order. Each team is required to leave from and return to the designated check in point. Any team returning to the check in point after their appointed check in time will be assessed a 1 pound penalty per minute up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the team will be disqualified from weighing in their fish. Participation and Eligibility: Participation is open to all fishermen who are 18 years old and older. Any person entering a Reel Money Team Trail Tournament under the age of 18 years must also have the signature of their parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the official entry form. Teams may use one substitute for one qualifier in a division. Teams may back pay $100 for a missed qualifier and qualify for the championship providing they fish the remaining four tournaments in that division. No substitutes allowed for the championship. A team consists of two partners, each partner must physically compete in a minimum of two qualifiers to qualify for the championship.
3. Live wells will be checked during blast off. As your boat number is called, teams need to have live wells open, aerator running, life jackets zipped, and kill switch attached.
4. Sportsmanship: any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship and/or violates any of these rules will be disqualified. Disorderly conduct at any official tournament or event meeting/seminar will be grounds for disqualification.
5. All regular season events are team events. A team shall consist of no more than two anglers; although a Contestant (and official observer, if required by Reel Money Team Trails) may fish alone as a single person team (in such event Reel Money Team Trail reserves the right to place an observer in such Contestant’s boat for the tournament day). Only registered Contestants may be in the boat during official tournament days.
6. Safety: Safe boating practices must be observed at all times. All contestants MUST wear a Coast Guard approved chest type life preserver any time the boat is on plane. All boats must be equipped with an ignition kill switch. This kill switch must be attached to the drivers’ body while combustion engine is operating. (Violation of this or any other rule will result in immediate disqualification).
7. Boat and Motor: The tournament director reserves the right to prohibit any boat from participating in the start if such boat is considered unsafe or the operator unqualified. Boats equipped with motor horsepower in excess of factory or BIA rating will not be allowed in tournament competition. A functional kill switch must be hooked up and operational at any time the main motor is running. No jet drive boats or engines allowed.
8. Checkpoints: Contestants must check in and out at the official checkpoint. Contestants’ boats will be assigned a boater’s number.
9. Partners must remain together: throughout the fishing day and may not leave the boat unless approved by a tournament official (exception: use of restroom).
10. Permitted Fishing Areas: Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament water available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas designated as “off-limits” or “no fishing” by Federal, State or Local Officials.
11. Fish Size/Culling: Fish will be measured flat mouth shut on a Golden Rule measuring board. Length limit on Lake Eufaula and Blackshear will be 14 inches. Length limit on Lake Seminole will be 12 inches. Teams may not possess six bass at any time. When you catch the sixth fish, you must cull before either person makes a cast. Culling dead fish is not allowed!!! Bass will be measured with mouth closed, tail compressed and swiped to achieve overall greatest length.
12. Breakdowns/Emergencies: Anglers are not permitted to leave their boats nor touch another boat, with the exception of an emergency or major equipment failure. In this case, it is permitted to be towed either to safety or back to the weigh-in by another tournament boat participating in the same event. At least one person must stay with your fish at all times and neither angler is permitted to fish while under the assistance of another boat during the breakdown period.
13. Scoring & Penalties – SCORING: Each team may weigh in five fish with a minimum length of 14 inches on Lake’s Eufaula and Blackshear and 12 inches on Lake Seminole. A dead fish penalty of 1/2 pound per dead fish will be subtracted from the total weight. Any team weighing in more than five fish will have their creel culled down to five fish, starting with their largest fish. Any team weighing in a fish shorter than minimum legal length will be assessed a one (1) pound penalty plus the loss of that fish. Contestants are urged to witness their weigh in.
14. Permitted Fishing Methods: Only artificial lures may be used with the exception of pork trailers. Only one fishing rod per angler may be used at any one time and that rod may not exceed 8 feet. Additional rods may be in the boat and ready for use; however, each cast and retrieve must be completed before another cast is attempted or rod is used. Trolling with the combustion engine as a method of fishing is prohibited. Switching or sharing fish with other teams or individuals is a violation of these rules and will result in immediate disqualification. All Bass must be caught alive, in a conventional, sporting manner. When sight fishing for Bass, all fish must be hooked inside the mouth to be counted as a legal fish. All angling must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a Contestant leave the boat to land a fish, or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters.
15. Ties: Prize money for tied positions will be combined and divided equally among the teams.
16. Live Wells: Adequate Live Wells are mandatory on each boat and must provide proper aeration to maintain fish in good condition, as all fish will be released alive after the weigh-in. In the case of a boat without built in live wells, a large ice chest with portable aerators will be acceptable. You will be asked to show the aerators working. We strongly recommend the use of catch and release additive to your live wells.
17. Off-limit Areas: Every lake may have off-limit areas. If no specific off-limit areas are announced, then 50 yards from any gas pumps and the host marina will always be enforced.
18. Reserved Areas: No person may “hold” or “reserve” a fishing area for a contestant at any time. Infraction of this rule will result in disqualification of all parties involved. Any boat that is first anchored with the trolling motor in the stowed position must be given 50 yards. This means that you cannot cast a lure within 50 yards of that boat. A boat cannot anchor to deny access. You may not leave your vessel to push or pull to gain access. You may leave your vessel to exit any area if needed.
19. Protest: must be submitted in writing no later than thirty (30) minutes after the last flight check in time.
20. Insurance: It is the responsibility of all boat owners to have current boat insurance to participate in this event. Failure to do so will result in not being allowed to participate in or being disqualified from the event.
21. Fishing License: Each contestant will observe State Fish and Game laws and have in his or her possession a valid state fishing license.
22. Beverages: No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed in the boat or to be consumed during official tournament hour’s prior to weigh in.
2. Each team consisting of no more than 2 persons per boat will be assigned a boat number and weigh in time in the order of in which their registration and entry fee is received and will be sent out in that order. Each team is required to leave from and return to the designated check in point. Any team returning to the check in point after their appointed check in time will be assessed a 1 pound penalty per minute up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the team will be disqualified from weighing in their fish. Participation and Eligibility: Participation is open to all fishermen who are 18 years old and older. Any person entering a Reel Money Team Trail Tournament under the age of 18 years must also have the signature of their parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the official entry form. Teams may use one substitute for one qualifier in a division. Teams may back pay $100 for a missed qualifier and qualify for the championship providing they fish the remaining four tournaments in that division. No substitutes allowed for the championship. A team consists of two partners, each partner must physically compete in a minimum of two qualifiers to qualify for the championship.
3. Live wells will be checked during blast off. As your boat number is called, teams need to have live wells open, aerator running, life jackets zipped, and kill switch attached.
4. Sportsmanship: any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship and/or violates any of these rules will be disqualified. Disorderly conduct at any official tournament or event meeting/seminar will be grounds for disqualification.
5. All regular season events are team events. A team shall consist of no more than two anglers; although a Contestant (and official observer, if required by Reel Money Team Trails) may fish alone as a single person team (in such event Reel Money Team Trail reserves the right to place an observer in such Contestant’s boat for the tournament day). Only registered Contestants may be in the boat during official tournament days.
6. Safety: Safe boating practices must be observed at all times. All contestants MUST wear a Coast Guard approved chest type life preserver any time the boat is on plane. All boats must be equipped with an ignition kill switch. This kill switch must be attached to the drivers’ body while combustion engine is operating. (Violation of this or any other rule will result in immediate disqualification).
7. Boat and Motor: The tournament director reserves the right to prohibit any boat from participating in the start if such boat is considered unsafe or the operator unqualified. Boats equipped with motor horsepower in excess of factory or BIA rating will not be allowed in tournament competition. A functional kill switch must be hooked up and operational at any time the main motor is running. No jet drive boats or engines allowed.
8. Checkpoints: Contestants must check in and out at the official checkpoint. Contestants’ boats will be assigned a boater’s number.
9. Partners must remain together: throughout the fishing day and may not leave the boat unless approved by a tournament official (exception: use of restroom).
10. Permitted Fishing Areas: Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament water available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas designated as “off-limits” or “no fishing” by Federal, State or Local Officials.
11. Fish Size/Culling: Fish will be measured flat mouth shut on a Golden Rule measuring board. Length limit on Lake Eufaula and Blackshear will be 14 inches. Length limit on Lake Seminole will be 12 inches. Teams may not possess six bass at any time. When you catch the sixth fish, you must cull before either person makes a cast. Culling dead fish is not allowed!!! Bass will be measured with mouth closed, tail compressed and swiped to achieve overall greatest length.
12. Breakdowns/Emergencies: Anglers are not permitted to leave their boats nor touch another boat, with the exception of an emergency or major equipment failure. In this case, it is permitted to be towed either to safety or back to the weigh-in by another tournament boat participating in the same event. At least one person must stay with your fish at all times and neither angler is permitted to fish while under the assistance of another boat during the breakdown period.
13. Scoring & Penalties – SCORING: Each team may weigh in five fish with a minimum length of 14 inches on Lake’s Eufaula and Blackshear and 12 inches on Lake Seminole. A dead fish penalty of 1/2 pound per dead fish will be subtracted from the total weight. Any team weighing in more than five fish will have their creel culled down to five fish, starting with their largest fish. Any team weighing in a fish shorter than minimum legal length will be assessed a one (1) pound penalty plus the loss of that fish. Contestants are urged to witness their weigh in.
14. Permitted Fishing Methods: Only artificial lures may be used with the exception of pork trailers. Only one fishing rod per angler may be used at any one time and that rod may not exceed 8 feet. Additional rods may be in the boat and ready for use; however, each cast and retrieve must be completed before another cast is attempted or rod is used. Trolling with the combustion engine as a method of fishing is prohibited. Switching or sharing fish with other teams or individuals is a violation of these rules and will result in immediate disqualification. All Bass must be caught alive, in a conventional, sporting manner. When sight fishing for Bass, all fish must be hooked inside the mouth to be counted as a legal fish. All angling must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a Contestant leave the boat to land a fish, or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters.
15. Ties: Prize money for tied positions will be combined and divided equally among the teams.
16. Live Wells: Adequate Live Wells are mandatory on each boat and must provide proper aeration to maintain fish in good condition, as all fish will be released alive after the weigh-in. In the case of a boat without built in live wells, a large ice chest with portable aerators will be acceptable. You will be asked to show the aerators working. We strongly recommend the use of catch and release additive to your live wells.
17. Off-limit Areas: Every lake may have off-limit areas. If no specific off-limit areas are announced, then 50 yards from any gas pumps and the host marina will always be enforced.
18. Reserved Areas: No person may “hold” or “reserve” a fishing area for a contestant at any time. Infraction of this rule will result in disqualification of all parties involved. Any boat that is first anchored with the trolling motor in the stowed position must be given 50 yards. This means that you cannot cast a lure within 50 yards of that boat. A boat cannot anchor to deny access. You may not leave your vessel to push or pull to gain access. You may leave your vessel to exit any area if needed.
19. Protest: must be submitted in writing no later than thirty (30) minutes after the last flight check in time.
20. Insurance: It is the responsibility of all boat owners to have current boat insurance to participate in this event. Failure to do so will result in not being allowed to participate in or being disqualified from the event.
21. Fishing License: Each contestant will observe State Fish and Game laws and have in his or her possession a valid state fishing license.
22. Beverages: No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed in the boat or to be consumed during official tournament hour’s prior to weigh in.