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Rules for the Fat Bass Challenge

Fat Bass Challenge has compiled a set of rules that have been compiled from the laws of the State of Missouri, Missouri Department of Conservation and standard rules set forth by the bass tournament fishing industry.

The laws State of Missouri and boater safety regulations can be found at http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/WaterPatrol/. The Missouri Department of Conservation fishing regulations can be found at http://mdc.mo.gov/.

ELIGIBILITY

All individuals, 18 years of age or older and meet the boater certificate requirements set forth by the State of Missouri with a paid entry fee and a current paid membership to MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series are eligible to fish. MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series reserves the right to reject any entry that is not in the best interest of the tournament.

CHECK-IN / PRE-TOURNAMENT MEETING

Each angler must check in the morning of each tournament. A pre-meeting will take place on the water approximately five (5) minutes prior to the official start. Idle by live well checks may take place at any time either on or off the water.

LOCATIONS

Anywhere on tournament waters available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas designated as “off limits” or “no fishing” by the Corp of Engineers, local, state, or federal officials. You cannot fish within 50 yards of a contestant's anchored boat. Any additional off limits will be announced at the pre-meeting prior to take-off. There are no off-limit days for qualifying tournaments, except for the Championship, which is stated below.

BOATS and MOTORS

Any boat, 14 feet or longer, meeting B.I.A. and Coast Guard requirements with a functional kill switch and functional bilge pump and properly aerated live well will be accepted. No over-powered boats.

INSURANCE

Boat owners must have at least $100,000 of Boating Liability Insurance. Proof of insurance may be asked for at any time and may be a question on the polygraph test.

TACKLE and EQUIPMENT

Only artificial lures and pork style baits are allowed. All bass must be caught on a rod and reel. Only one rod and reel in use at any time by any one angler.

Umbrella Rig: Accepted. Missouri rule states only 3 hooks can be used at one time. Check your local state for official regulations.

SCORING

Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass will be scored, five (5) fish limit. A short fish will result in a one (1) pound penalty plus the loss of the fish. A dead fish will result in a one (1) pound penalty per fish. A dead fish is not allowed to be weighed as big bass. No more than five (5) fish are allowed in live well (in possession) at any time. Anyone bringing more than five (5) fish to the weigh-in scales will not be allowed to weigh in ANY fish. All fish MUST be brought to the scales in a Solo Pro Series official weigh-in bag. Culling of dead fish is prohibited.

LATE PENALTY

An Angler will be penalized one pound per minute for up to ten (10) minutes, then disqualification for not being checked in by the tournament officials or their representatives by the prescribed times.

TIES

All ties will be broken by 1) big bass, 2) most fish weighed in, 3) by earliest entry.

POINTS

Each angler will receive 25 show-up points. Points will start at 200 for 1st place and descend 1 point for each place dropped. Each angler will also receive 1 point for each pound of bass weighed in, and will be rounded to the nearest whole number.

PROTEST

All protests must be submitted in writing to the tournament director within fifteen (15) minutes of the weigh-in completion. The appointed Tournament Advisory Board will handle all protests. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final in all matters.

QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTING

By contestant(s) signature on entry form and/or participation in these tournaments, the contestant(s) agree to any quality assurance tests if required by the Tournament Director. They may include all or part of the following: CVSA, Polygraph test, Urinalysis, or Blood test. Refusal of an angler to submit to a test or failure of a test will result in loss of winnings, immediate disqualification, plus subsequent disqualification from future tournaments. Quality assurance tests will be conducted as soon as possible at the conclusion of official tournament hours.

SAFETY and SPORTSMANSHIP

Safe boating must be observed at all times. Contestants may not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Contestants must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat. No tournament boat may be loaded on the trailer before weigh-in except with the permission of the Tournament Director or announced as a trailered weigh-in. Life jackets and kill switches must be used any time the combustion motor is gear and moving (recommended during idle). All contestants are required to follow the highest degree of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conservation. At the discretion of the Tournament Director, tournament days may be shortened or cancelled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. No alcohol or controlled substance can be used or allowed in the boat during tournament hours. No hole-sitting allowed.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Cell Phones: We encourage all contestants to have a cell phone in their boat for emergency use only.

Breakdown: In the event of a boat breakdown, an angler must contact the tournament director and then may transfer their fish to another contestants boat for transport to the weigh-in site, meeting the following conditions; The fish must be placed in a segregated live well, and the breakdown angler must accompany those fish at all times to the weigh-in site.

Early Departure: Any angler departing prior to weigh in from the tournament lake must contact the tournament director or appointed staff member. Failure to do so will result in the loss of any points earned at that tournament.

Audio/Video Recording of Events

When you participate a MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series event, you will be participating in an event where photography, video and audio recording may occur. By participating in the MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series event, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on web sites, or for any other purpose(s) that MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series, its vendors, partners, affiliates and/or representatives deems fit to use. You release MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series, its officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication of interviews, photographs, computer images, video and/or or sound recordings.

By entering the event premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such exhibiting, broadcasting, webcasting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series Board or the person or entity designated to do so by MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series Board.

You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before participating in the MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series event

KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RULES IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH CONTESTANT

Failure to read these rules or ignorance of them is no excuse. The Director reserves the right to reject any entry if he feels that it is not in the best interest of MoBassFishin’ Solo Pro Series. Any announcements made by the Director at the tournament site take precedent over written rules. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final in all matters.

MOBASSFISHIN’ SOLO PRO SERIES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO HAVE AN OBSERVER / VIDEOGRAPHER RIDE ALONG WITH COMPETITOR(S) AT ANY QUALIFYING EVENT OR CHAMPIONSHIP. REFUSAL TO HAVE AN OBSERVER WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION

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