RULES

Notice: All anglers entering a tournament are subjected to the rules and by entering the tournament you are agreeing that you have read the rules, accept the rules and will abide by the rules.

INFORMATION

   All tournament rules, live updates during the tournament and awards presentation information can be obtained through the official Crazy Crappie Cash Facebook page.

RULES

   By your participation in this Tournament, you agree to comply with the following rules, and agree, if determined by tournament official to submit to and pass a

POLYGRAPH TEST or similar truth test in order to qualify for the receipt of any prize. Tests will be given to registered angler at tournament directors’ discretion.

   PARTICIPANTS: 

  This is an individual’s tournament, but multiple registered anglers can fish from one boat. No one other than paid contestants or tournament officials are permitted in a competitor’s boat during tournament hours. There will be an exception to this rule if registrants want to have a media person on the boat with them. ANYONE DESIGNATED AS MEDIA WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO FISH OR ASSIST IN FISHING FOR WHAT EVER REASON. IF THIS OCCURS, ALL REGISTERED PARTICIPANT IN THE BOAT WILL BE DISQUALIFIED AND ENTRY FORFOITED. Boat occupancy must follow state and federal laws.

   INFORMATIONAL MEETING: 

  A informational meeting will be held the night prior to tournament to review tournament layout, rules and discussions. Participants are not required to attend this meeting, if paid online/pre-registered, but must check-in prior to fishing to be issued anglers number chip/tag/voucher.  Anglers must know the rules and abide by them no matter what. 

   WEATHER:

  In the case of extreme weather/water conditions or National emergencies, Crazy Crappie Cash tournament directors shall have the right to postpone or cancel

any tournaments with the return of entry fees by mail.

   FISHING HOURS: 

  Fishing hours will be posted on the Tournament Facebook Information Page and will be announced at the Information Meeting.  Normal hours are from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm; scales will open at 7:30 am, but must be across the commitment line before 4:00pm.

   ENTRY FEES/REFUNDS:

 Tournament entry can be done by mail, PayPal, or at Registration/Informational Meeting. Anglers can register up to the day of the tournament prior to 5:45am. Crazy Crappie Cash directors will not refund or forward entry fees for lake conditions, fishing condition or bite. Registrants must request refund for personal, family or work emergencies in writing or electronic mail stating the reason for the request. A $25.00 admin fee for refunds will be charged.

   STATE LAW: 

  Teams must comply with all State and boating regulations during tournament, including the use of P.F.D.’s and kill switches. Fishing, boating regulations, and licenses are the responsibility of team members. State fishing laws and boating regulations supersede tournament rules. Violation of State or Lake laws is grounds for disqualification.

   MINORS:

  Any minor (under 18) who participates, must make arrangements to have a parent or guardian sign a release form or have the release on the entry form signed

prior to the tournament fully stating their consent for minor to participate in the tournament and to allow a polygraph examination if required by the tournament director. No one under the age of 18 will be allowed to enter the tournament unless parent/guardian has signed a consent/release form. Any minor entering this tournament below the age of 18, must have a guardian above the age of 18 as a registered participant in the boat with them. 

   BIG FISH:

  Big fish can be weighed in hourly. Only 1 fish per registrant can be weighed in on each hour. Fish weighed each hour will be controlled by tournament officials released back into the water after weigh in.

   PRIZES:

  Prizes will be given after the tournament. The registered angler must be present to receive prize. Each hourly place prizes will be announced after the hour is completed but prizes will not be awarded until the final weigh in and tournament ends. Grand prize will be based on top weights of hourly. Only top weighing fish from hourly weigh ins of registered angler will be entered for grand prize. 2lb Fish Prize: A prize will be awarded to the first exact 2.00 lb fish weighed in during the tournament. Tournament scales will be the only scale used to weigh and determine if the fish is exactly 2.00 lbs. Scales will be rounded to the nearest hundredths of an ounce.  

   OFF LIMITS:

  Tournament waters are off limits at 4:00 pm the day prior to the start of the competition. Anglers must stop fishing at 4:00 pm the day prior to the start of competition, then exit the tournament waters immediately. If utilizing a personal boat ramp or boat house, boat must be lifted out of the water by official off-limits times.

   FISHABLE WATERS:

  Fishing within 50 feet of a Marina gas pump or within 50 feet of a competitor’s boat, which is first anchored, is prohibited (Trolling motors must be in up position and anchor rope visible or any shallow water anchoring device must be deployed to be considered anchored). A safe and courteous distance (50 feet) should be maintained when trolling motors are in use. Fishable waters are areas that tournament officials can access the fishing team via a John boat with a gasoline propelled tiller handle with lower unit.

Boats may fish anywhere except areas designated as “off limits” or “no fishing” by Local, State or Federal officials or as posted on the Tournament Information page or announced at the Seminar. Any violation of off-limits water will result in disqualification. Participants are not allowed to exit the boat to gain access to fishable waters. Registrants may enter tournament lake’s fishable waters at any boat ramp within those fishable waters. Trailering is allowed.

   ALCOHOL:

 Alcohol beverages are not allowed during the tournaments or during the weigh-in. Use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during tournament hours is prohibited and will result in disqualification.

   COMPENSATION: 

  No one can be hired, compensated, or offered compensation in any way to give the registered angler a competitive advantage.

   BOATS/BANK/DOCKS/KAYAKS: 

  You may fish by any means, example, bank fishing, dock fishing, motorized boats, kayaks and canoes. Registrants must stay at least 50 feet away of each other and any gas pumps at marinas while fishing.  Bank/Dock fishing only on permissible property.

  POLES:

  Limit of eight (8) poles per registered angler during tournament applies except where a state limit is set at a lesser number. Registered anglers may use rod and reel combos, hand-held pole and reel combos or hand-held poles or limited by State Regulations if less than 8.

  BAITS:

  A maximum of two baits per pole may be used during tournament hours if in accordance with Local and State laws. Live and artificial bait may be used unless announced differently on the Tournament Information Page or at the Information Meeting.

  OTHER EQUIPMENT: 

  Binoculars and other magnifying devices are not allowed during tournament hours. Under water cameras during competition is not allowed. The use of mobile communication devices such as cellular phones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CB’S, etc. to communicate fishing information other than official tournament updates during tournament hours is prohibited.

  SPOTTING:

  During tournament hours no one may spot fish for you or mark fishing spots for you.

  LANDING FISH: 

  Crappie must be hooked and landed with a rod or pole by participant(s). Crappie must be hooked through the lip or in the mouth. Landing nets may be used.

  HOLE- SITTING: 

  No hole sitting by a competitor or non-competitor boat during the tournament will be allowed.

  LIFE JACKETS:

  Life jackets or personal floatation devices must be worn at all times while your combustion engine is operating. Life jackets must be worn at all times while in the boat if vessel is less than 16 feet in length. Life jackets must be properly secured and maintained secured until the combustion engine is turned off. Kill switches must be properly attached at all times when the boat is on plane. Less than 16' according to State law for kill switch. All State and Local rules and regulations supersede tournament rules.

 WEIGH IN CHIP/VOUCHER: 

  An angler number/weigh-in chip/voucher will be issued to each registered angler at the Registration/ Information Meeting sign-up or morning prior to tournament if pre-registered. If you do not attend the informational meeting/registration, you will be responsible for obtaining the angler number/weigh-in chip/voucher prior to tournament start time. No one will be issued a angler number/weigh-in chip/voucher after the start of the tournament and entry fees will be forfeited. The angler number/weigh-in chip/voucher must be presented back to the tournament official at the weigh-in.

  LIVE WELL CHECKS: 

  Live Well checks will be on the honor system. All anglers are subject to polygraph tests by random selection and will be disqualified if polygraph determines live well was not empty prior to tournament start.

  SCALES/WEIGH IN: 

  Competitors are allowed one (1) weigh-in PER HOUR on tournament day.  Scales will open at the start of the tournament and will remain open until the official end of the tournament. 

  FISH: 

  All fish must be brought to the official weigh-in line in a cooler or weigh in bags. Failure to bring your fish to the weigh-in line in a cooler/bag will result in disqualification. The top weight for that registered angler will be recorded. Registered Angler’s official crappie entry per hour must be alive when entering the official weigh-in line, your fish will be counted and be verified dead or alive by the tournament official. Dead fish will be removed and you will have the option to enter a different fish if able or continue fishing. Once your fish have been verified alive and entered on the weigh-in voucher/chip, you will then be allowed to weigh that fish, even if it dies before reaching the scales.  The tournament official has sole responsibility for the declaration of dead or alive crappie. No mutilated fish may be weighed. Mutilation is defined as any damage that impairs the fish’s fighting ability. All decisions regarding mutilation will be made by tournament officials. Fish weighed in will be checked and  released by Tournament.

   WEIGH-IN SITE: 

  Crappie must be weighed at the official Crazy Crappie Cash Tournament Weigh-In site. You must check in at the official Weigh-In Line by the announced time on the Tournament Facebook Information Page or as announced at the Rules Meeting and present your Angler  Number/Weigh-In Voucher/Chip. Example: Must be in the Weigh-In commitment line by 4:00pm. If you make it to the official Weigh-In commitment line at 4:00:01 or later, you will not be allowed to weigh your fish.

   TOURNAMENT HOURS:

  All crappie brought to the scales for weigh-in must have been caught during the tournament hours from tournament waters by the registered participant bringing them to the scales. Tournament hours are posted on the Tournament Information Facebook Page and announced at the Rules Meeting. No fishing can occur before official tournament start.

   LENGTH:

  All crappie brought to the scales for weigh-in must meet State length requirements for the State in which they are being weighed (according to State rules and regulations) and may not have any weight enhancements. Any team bringing in illegal crappie to the weigh-in line will be disqualified.

    TIES:

  IN CASE OF A TIE FOR ALL PAYING POSITIONS, TIME OF WEIGH IN WILL DETERMINE WINNER. FIRST FISH WEIGHED IN WILL BE DECLARED THE WINNER.

SPORTSMANSHIP

  Tournament Anglers are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, honesty, courtesy, safety, conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, Crazy Crappie Cash Tournament, Crazy Crappie Cash sponsors, the sport of fishing, and local entities’ efforts to promote the sport. Examples of conduct not complying with those standards include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Violation of or failure to comply with any of the official rules. 

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration or during tournament hours.  

• Permanently banned from any tournament or fishing organization for cheating, refusing or failing a polygraph. 

• Any other words, conduct or actions (including and not limited to discussion forums and internet sites) reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with the tournament rules, or which fail to comply with these standards set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph.

CONDUCT: 

  In case of any conduct not complying with the standards, tournament directors shall have the right to refuse any entry application, deny a paid entry application, or revoke a registration by returning the entry fee of a previously accepted application, or to disqualify a team. Unsportsmanlike conduct can be grounds for disqualification if circumstances require and will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director.  

PROTEST: 

  Protest must be made in writing to the Tournament Director within 15 minutes following the end of the Official Weigh-In. Protests must cite the rule allegedly broken. Protests must be given to the Tournament Director. Protest must be deemed a legitimate protest by Tournament Director. Both parties may be subjected to a polygraph. All parties involved and all grievances, protests, and complaints shall be handled in house with confidentiality. The Tournament Director’s decision is final in all matters. 

COMPLAINTS: 

  May be received 30 minutes after official weigh in results. Complaints must be in written format and deemed valid by tournament director. Complaints will be reviewed by tournament directors and addressed within 30 days of receipt of complaint

SPOTTERS/OBSERVERS: 

  Crazy Crappie Cash tournament officials shall have the right to place a spotter boat/and/or an observer in the boat with any competitive registrant at any time during the competition, from the start of competition to the finish. Any refusal will be grounds for disqualification.

BOAT/LIVEWELL/STORAGE:

  Crazy Crappie Cash tournament officials shall have the right to at random, board and inspect the boat of any competing angler, at any time from Registration until the end of the tournament. Refusal to allow inspection is grounds for disqualification.

HOUSE KEEPING:

  Contestants are to be attentive to litter and should make every effort to maintain their trash in their boat and dispose of it properly.

POLYGRAPH: 

  By your participation in a Crazy Crappie Cash tournament, you agree to comply with the rules, and agree to submit to and pass a polygraph test or similar truth test in order to qualify for the receipt of any prize. Crazy Crappie Cash directors shall have the right to polygraph any competing angler, at Crazy Crappie Cash director’s discretion. Any registered angler who has failed or refused to take a polygraph test or was disqualified or denied a prize because angler failed or refused to take a polygraph or who has ever been denied a prize because he or she misrepresented compliance with a tournament rule or because of unsportsmanlike conduct may be disqualified. A registered

angler who failed to pass a polygraph or whose condition does not permit the administration of a test because of use of alcohol or drugs will be disqualified. The use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during tournament hours is prohibited.

RELEASE

  Contestants agree to release Crazy Crappie Tournament officials, its staff and all sponsors from any liability arising from the administration of the test and/or the decisions made in result of the test. ANYONE PARTICIPATING IN THIS TOURNAMENT, EITHER AS REGISTRANT OR MEDIA MUST SIGN A RELEASE OF LIABILITY PRIOR TO

ENTERING TOURNAMENT WATERS. All decisions regarding compliance with these rules and the interpretation of these rules will be made by the Tournament Director,

which reserves the right to make additional reasonable rules for the conduct of its tournaments if circumstances require. All decisions are final and all matters are not subject to appeal. A pre-tournament Seminar is held for the review of the rules. You are liable to abide by the rule changes made during the Seminar, whether you attend or not.