FLW question - Walleye Tournament HQ - Walleye Tournament HQ

The information below was cut and pasted from the FLW Walleye Leaque website. Hopefully this will provide the answers that anyone may have about fishing the FLW Leaque events. I wish you ALL good luck. Its a great circuit.

2009 Walmart FLW Walleye League rules

1. Rule changes

These rules will remain unchanged during 2009. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director. Decisions of the tournament director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. Each competitor agrees to report any rule violation to the tournament director immediately upon discovery of the violation. Failure to report violations may be cause for disqualification. The violation of a tournament rule may result in weight loss (late penalty, dead-fish penalty and short-fish penalty), the loss of weight up to a particular time in the tournament day (eligible for a restart), loss of weight for the entire day, disqualification for the entire tournament or, in an extreme circumstance, ineligibility to participate in future FLW Outdoors events. Protests must be made in writing within 30 minutes of the check-in time of the final flight of each tournament day.

2. Participation

Participation is open only to Gold Advantage members of FLW Outdoors who are 16 years of age or older. Any person under the age of 18 (19 in Alabama and Nebraska) entering a tournament must also have the signature of a parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the entry form. All contestants must have a valid fishing license.

ENTRY: For Ranger boat owners (Ranger owners with current registrations who will use their Ranger boat in FLW Walleye League competition) and sponsor entries (FLW Outdoors may reserve sponsor spots in each qualifying tournament), entries will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time, February 3, 2009.

For Champion and Stratos boat owners, entries will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time, February 4, 2009.

All other entries will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time, February 5, 2009.

Boaters entering by the priority deadline for each tournament and providing co-anglers (with membership numbers) will be given priority. Co-anglers entering by the priority deadline for each tournament and providing boaters (with membership numbers) will be given priority. Boater and co-angler priority are granted when matching boater and co-angler entries (listing each other’s name and membership number) are received by the priority deadline and are contingent on both anglers competing in the tournament entered.

Entries may be made either by mail, phone or on the Internet at flwoutdoors.com. Do not make entry by more than one method.

Each qualifying tournament will be limited to 100 boaters and 100 co-anglers. Late entries will be accepted through registration the day before a tournament when a field is not yet full and are subject to a $25 service charge. Entries received after a tournament has filled will be placed on a waiting list. Waiting list anglers not accepted into a tournament will receive a full refund after the tournament.

Entry fees may be transferred or refunded if FLW Outdoors is notified by 5 p.m. Central time the Tuesday prior to a tournament. Entry fees will not be transferred or refunded after Tuesday. Each refunded entry fee is subject to a $10 service charge.

3. Point standings

100 points are awarded to the winner of each qualifying tournament, 99 to 2nd, 98 to 3rd, etc. All anglers who receive weight credit receive points.

The top 30 boaters and co-anglers from the point standings after three tournaments in a division (ties resolved by total weight) qualify for the 2009 Walmart FLW Walleye League Finals. If a top-30 angler is unable to attend the FLW Walleye League Finals, the next person in the point standings may be invited. Anglers who qualify for the FLW Walleye League Finals from more than one division will represent the division in which they placed highest.

The top boater and co-angler in the year-end point standings in each division qualify for the 2009 Walmart FLW Walleye Tour Championship.

The top 10 boaters and co-anglers in the year-end point standings in each division receive priority entry into the 2010 Walmart FLW Walleye Tour.

4. Off-limits, practice and competition

There will be no practice period or off-limits period prior to the pretournament meeting. Contestants may not enter tournament waters to locate fish or potential fishing waters after the start of the pretournament meeting except during tournament hours.

Once competition is under way, contestants may not obtain fishing patterns or locations from noncompetitors or follow a noncompetitor’s boat or participate in the practice of “hole sitting” or the placing of markers by anyone. In the FLW Walleye League Finals, anglers eliminated after each round of competition are considered noncompetitors.

Co-anglers who share a boater partner’s fishing locations with another competitor will be disqualified along with the competitor utilizing the information.

During competition hours from takeoff until check-in, all on-water communication by contestants (excluding partners) pertaining to method or type of presentations being used, lure selection or color and location of fish or type of water being fished is strictly prohibited.

The purchasing of, or bartering for, information or the hiring of services will not be permitted after the entry deadline for each qualifying tournament or September 3, 2009 for the FLW Walleye League Finals.

Flights over tournament waters are not permitted at anytime after the entry deadline for each qualifying tournament or September 3, 2009 for the FLW Walleye League Finals.

5. Registration and pretournament meeting

Each contestant must register in person at the designated site or send a person who is 16 years of age or older to represent them. Noncontestants can represent one person; contestants can represent themselves and one other person. This representative must attend the pretournament meeting to record flights, takeoff time, check-in time, off-limits areas, size and creel limits, etc. This representative must also attend the partner draw immediately following the pretournament meeting to receive the contestant’s boat number, meet the contestant’s partner, and record the partner’s lodging information, phone number and exact location for the contestant and partner to meet prior to takeoff.

Registration hours are 4 – 6 p.m. local time the day before each tournament. Contestants registering between 6 – 6:15 p.m. will pay a $25 late fee that will be donated to the FishAmerica Foundation. Contestants more than 15 minutes late for registration may forfeit their entry fee and not be entered in the tournament.

It is mandatory that all contestants or their representatives attend the pretournament meeting that will be held at 6:30 p.m. local time the day before each tournament. Being late for the pretournament meeting will result in a $25 late fee that will be donated to the FishAmerica Foundation. Contestants not present or represented for partner pairings may forfeit their entry fee and not be entered in the tournament.

6. Pairings

Partners will be paired by draw. All contestants or their representatives must meet with their assigned partners during pairings at the pretournament meeting. Partners should advise each other of their respective lodging and phone numbers and establish a meeting time and place for the following morning’s takeoff. The tournament director, at his sole discretion, may reassign partners prior to takeoff.

7. Safety

Safe boating must be observed at all times.

Each contestant is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device anytime the primary combustion engine is in operation from boat check until weigh-in each day of the tournament.

All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition-shutoff device that must be securely attached to the driver’s body whenever the primary combustion engine is in operation.

All boats must be equipped with a fully functional marine band radio.

At the discretion of the tournament director, tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.

8. Sportsmanship

All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to FLW Outdoors, FLW Outdoors’ sponsors, the sport of fishing and FLW Outdoors’ efforts to promote the sport. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the 2009 Walmart FLW Walleye League.

Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration, the pretournament meeting or during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure.

Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances.

Conviction of a felony within the past 36 months.

Suspension/disqualification from any tournament or fishing organization.

Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of paragraph 8.

In case of any conduct not complying with the standards outlined above, FLW Outdoors shall have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete by returning the entry fee or to disqualify a contestant.

9. Boat operation

Boaters will have control of boat operation and waters to be fished.

Boaters must provide all presentation equipment such as downriggers, planer boards, side planers, rods, reels, bait, line and terminal tackle for their own use and the use of their co-angler partners. Co-anglers are not permitted to bring tackle into their boater’s boat.

The use of mobile communication devices, including but not limited to, cell phones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, etc., during tournament hours is strictly prohibited except in an emergency (severe weather, etc.) or to communicate with lockmasters about locking or with the tournament director.

Contestants are expected to compete every day for which they are qualified; failure to do so may result in ineligibility to compete in future FLW Outdoors events.

10. Boat and horsepower regulation

All boats must be propeller-driven and a minimum of 16 feet in length.

All boats must be equipped with wheel or tiller steering; no other steering device will be permitted.

No barges or similar cumbersome crafts will be permitted.

Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment.

Boats must contain a properly aerated livewell space to maintain alive a limit catch of fish.

Maximum horsepower for outboards used in tournament competition will be 250-horsepower, not to exceed the horsepower capacity set forth on the “Maximum Capacities” placard described below.

Each boat must have a clearly legible “Maximum Capacities” (or comparably titled) placard that includes a maximum horsepower rating affixed to the boat by the manufacturer.

The horsepower of the primary outboard engine must not exceed the maximum horsepower capacity specified on this placard or the 250-horsepower maximum set by FLW Outdoors.

Each contestant agrees to submit their boat and/or motor to an inspection by FLW Outdoors personnel.

Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating placard will be cause for disqualification from the tournament and may result in ineligibility to compete in future FLW Outdoors events.

Fishing platforms must be factory-installed equipment. No portable platforms may be used in tournament competition.

Fuel may be carried only in factory-installed (built-in) fuel tanks. Optional remote engine fuel tanks must be factory- or factory-authorized-dealer installed and be strapped or otherwise secured. Any additional fuel used during the tournament day must be purchased from a retail facility open to the public and pumped through a hose with a nozzle.

11. Permitted fishing methods

All fish must be caught in a conventional sporting manner.

Live bait may be used.

No more than two fishing rods with one lure each, or one fishing rod with two lures per angler may be used at a time unless the state or lake limit is more restrictive, in which case the state or lake limit will prevail.

Trolling as a method of fishing is permitted. Fishing is defined as having a lure attached to a line with the lure in the water.

12. Permitted fishing locations

Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas designated as “off-limits,” “no boats” or “no fishing” by local, state or federal officials or within a competitor’s first-marked fishing area. A “marked fishing area” is defined as a 50-foot diameter area around a marker buoy placed by a competitor. The competitor placing the buoy must remain within the marked area and may leave only to play and land a fish. When limited out or not fishing, the buoy must be picked up. A “marked fishing area” may be navigated through if it restricts access to other fishable waters.

All fishing 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.

Contestants must leave and return to the check-in by boat.

The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day.

No tournament boat may be loaded on a trailer before the weigh-in except with the permission of the tournament director.

In the event of equipment failure or emergency, there will be only two permitted methods of returning to the check-in: (1) by both partners remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or (2) by one, or both, of the partners entering the boat of another tournament contestant. Under these two conditions the contestants’ catch may be counted without a penalty (except for late penalties, dead-fish penalties or other penalties pertaining to other tournament rules). Contestants who elect to return to the check-in by any other means than cited above will forfeit their day’s catch to that point in time of the tournament day.

Any contestant returning to the check-in point will be eligible to restart and resume competition under the supervision of the tournament director or his designated tournament official. It is the sole responsibility of contestants to locate the tournament director to request a restart.

13. Checkpoints

There will be only one checkpoint for boat check in the morning and one check-in point in the afternoon. Failure to go through boat check and checkout in the morning or failure to check in at the check-in point will result in disqualification. All fishing must cease upon check-in.

14. Late penalty

Contestants who are not at the check-in area at the appointed time will be penalized 1 pound per minute, deducted from the total weight. Any contestant more than 15 minutes late will lose credit for that day’s weight.

15. Live fish

Every effort must be made to keep fish alive through the use of a properly aerated livewell. FLW Outdoors recommends the use of Rejuvenade, which promotes the healthy return of fish to their natural habitat where permissible. Eight ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each nonreleasable fish presented for weigh-in. Releasable fish must be able to swim upright in the bump tank. All balancing weights must be removed before fish are presented at the bump tank. Balancing weights in the bump tank will result in a 1 pound penalty.

16. Scoring

Scoring will be determined by the combined pounds and ounces of both contestant’s catch during each qualifying tournament and the FLW Walleye League Finals. Boaters and co-anglers will fish together for a combined daily boat weight.

Only walleye, sauger or saugeye are accepted species.

The weigh-in limit will be five fish per boat unless the state or lake limit is less than five, in which case the state or lake limit will prevail. In some cases the tournament limit may exceed five fish per boat (see schedule details for tournament limits for each tournament). Contestants possessing more than the tournament limit will have their catch to that point disqualified.

The minimum length limit will be 14 inches unless the state or lake limit is more than 14 inches, in which case the state or lake limit will prevail. Fish presented for weigh-in that fail to measure the prescribed length limit will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound for each short fish presented.

Each contestant’s catch must be presented in an official weigh-in bag.

On day 3 of the FLW Walleye League Finals, the top 10 boaters and co-anglers based on combined weight from days 1 and 2 compete, and the winners are determined by the heaviest combined weight from days 1, 2 and 3.

17. Ties

Ties in qualifying tournaments will be resolved by combining and dividing the awards equally among the tied contestants (trophy recipient determined by lottery). The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2 and 3 in the FLW Walleye League Finals. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by point standings, then by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament and then by lottery.

18. Logo usage

During all days of competition, alcohol and/or tobacco logos may not be worn or displayed. Smoking is not allowed in the weigh-in line during all days of competition.

19. Truth verification test

Each contestant agrees to submit to a polygraph or voice stress analysis examination and to abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass an examination will result in disqualification. Truth verification tests will be used at FLW Outdoors’ sole discretion, and the determination of the meaning of the results will be made solely by FLW Outdoors.

20. Insurance

Liability insurance with coverage in reasonable amounts is required of all contestants in FLW Outdoors tournaments.

21. Captions

The captions at the beginning of each paragraph are intended to facilitate convenience in referring to the various rules. The captions are not part of the substance of the paragraph and should not be used in construction of any paragraph or of this overall set of rules.