Hey Crew,
Hougie and I met over the phone today to talk about how to make everything go fast, fair and smooth for Saturday’s FTR tourney. We came up with a few ideas that will hopefully accomplish this.
Tourney Sign Up: In order to be fair to everyone participating, you must check in and sign up. (Real name or FTR handle) You must be signed up to qualify for a prize. This will be real easy! If you are putting in a Everts look for me in a Red Chevy / Red Yarcraft on back. If you come by boat, pull up to a dock and holler. We will get you on your way in a hurry. We want to get all the names in the computer so when you show up to weigh in all we need to do is type the weight. Makes things a lot faster. If you really want to speed things up, just hand me a piece of paper with your name (or FTR handle) on it. Actually, if everyone could do that, sign up would really be a breeze!! (Remeber last year? Getting started in a morning downpour!! That sucked!)
Weigh in: Just pull up to the big dock. This is the one with an Arched Bridge over to the dock. Tell me your name or handle. I will weigh the fish, register the weight give you back the fish and you are done. If I can see your boat, you are on time. Just line up down stream of the dock. We should be able to get two boats along the dock at a time. Should go quickly. Remember, each person weighs one fish.
Catfish Guys: See me with your measurements when you wake up and get there!!
Questions, please post.
J.
Official Rules Below. Remember, the goal is to have fun!
Fish The River Open
Overview
Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. Failure to comply with any rule may result in disqualification. The decision of the tournament director shall be final in all matters. Contestants and members also agree that no litigation against Fish The River Staff may take place. All rules have “loopholes”. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded that the spirit of the rule will prevail in all judgment cases.
Only one fish may be brought to the scale. You may however posses a legal limit of fish aboard your boat.
PARTICIPANTS & ELIGIBILITY
Participation is open to the public. Tournament officials reserve the right to deny participation for any reason. Mainly an unsafe boat or no safety equipment aboard, or drunkenness.
AGE LIMITS
Any person 18 years or under must be a team partner with a parent or legal guardian.
ENTRY FEE
Zero. The contest is free and open to the public.
CHECK-IN
Please check in with one of the FTR tournament staff the morning of the contest.
BOAT INSPECTION
No boat inspection. Please have all required navigational and safety equipment aboard before launching your boat. Including one wearable life jacket for each person aboard and one throwable device.
SAFETY
Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant should wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device at all times when the combustion engine is operating above idle speed.
WEIGH-IN, CHECK-IN
Teams must check in by the official check-in time to qualify for the free prizes. Boats within line of sight and off plane at the official time are considered on time. You may check in early.
SPORTSMANSHIP
All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Drunkenness at any official tournament activity will be considered a violation of the rules.
TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT
Live bait and artificial lures may be used. Trolling as a method of fishing is permitted. All fish must be caught live and in a conventional manner. Contestants must possess applicable state fishing licenses.
BOAT AND MOTOR
Each boat must have all state and federal safety equipment. Each boat must have properly aerated or recirculating live well space to maintain a live catch. All outboard motors used during official tournament hours must not exceed the horsepower limitations as indicated on the manufacturers rating plate affixed to the boat.
PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS
Contestants may fish anywhere on the tournament waters accessible by boat except areas designated OFF LIMITS by the tournament director or marked on the water. In case of an emergency/disabled boat, at least one partner may return (by boat) with the catch by the official check-in time. Above all, the safety of the competitors is priority.
OFF LIMITS
When water is put off limits, all members must abide by the off limits period. Off limits means not on the water. Any fishing, boating, canoeing or any kind of water travel is forbidden on the off limits waters.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Tournament officials will only begin tournaments during acceptable and usual weather conditions. It is solely the responsibility of the contestants to be aware of changing weather conditions. If conditions change during tournament hours to unsafe conditions, the contestants are required to seek safe shelter until the weather conditions pass. Remember, you may weigh in early.
BAG LIMITS
Tournament bag limits will be One fish per team member with a minimum length of 15 inches. State size and bag limits will always take precedence over tournament rules. Species that will be weighed are walleyes, sauger and saugeyes. Scoring will be in pounds/ounces. Culling of fish is not legal. Short fish will not be weighed, but returned to the water immediately. This is a Catch and Keep Tournament. Each angler will weigh one fish.
TIES
In case of a tie, positions shall be resolved by a coin toss.
LIABILITY
Fish The River Staff, officers and employees, promoters, tournament directors, sponsors and organizations assisting in the tournament operation, their agencies, etc., are not responsible for deaths, injuries, damages, liability, theft, fire, or any loss of any kind to entrants.