Rules

Collegiate and High school / Jr. series

All Collegiate and High School / JR Series teams will follow their rules in addition to our rules with one exception. The size limit is 14" on all fish.

Cancellation

If the tournament is canceled for any reason, entry fees will be refunded by Pat McDonald and Special Olympics Cleveland County. Checks will be mailed to the address you've submitted with your entry form. Please make sure to use your correct mailing address.

Rules Interpretations

Interpretation of the rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director and the tournament committee. Decisions of the tournament director are final in all matters and aren’t subject to appeal. We shall have the right to refuse an application to compete, or deny a confirmed application to compete by returning entry fee or disqualify a contestant.

Eligibility of Participates

Eligibility of Participates: Tournament is open to anyone who hasn’t failed, refused or not taken for what ever the reason a polygraph or voice stress analysis test.

Boat and Motor Regulations

Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Boats must be equipped with a properly aerated or recirculation live well space capable of maintaining alive a limit of bass. All boats must have a clearly legible Coast Guard Approved horsepower rating plate from the manufacture attached to their boat. The engine horsepower must not exceed that plate rating.

Permitted Fishing Methods

All bass must be caught live in a conventional manner. Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers. Only one fishing rod may be used at a time. Trolling or long lining as a means of catching fish is prohibited. Chumming in any manner is prohibited.

Scoring and Weigh-In

Scoring will be determined by the pounds and ounces of each teams catch during the tournament. Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass will be accepted species. The limit will be (5) bass per team and all bass must be 14 inches in length on a Golden Rule (mouth closed and tail closed). A one pound penalty for each short fish will apply plus the loss of that fish. A one pound penalty per dead fish will be deducted from total weight. All fish will be transported to the scales in bags, no exceptions. If you come to the scales with fish in anything else you’ll be disqualified. At no time shall any team possess more than a 5 fish limit. When you catch your sixth fish you must cull if necessary. Culling fish at the ramp is not permitted. Any infraction of the last two rules of Scoring and Weigh-In will result in the DISQUALIFICATION OF THAT TEAM NO EXCEPTIONS.

Check Point and Late Penalty

If you’re weighing in fish and you failed to be checked off at blast off or checked in at your weigh-in time you’ll be disqualified. Failure to report to the official check-in point on time will result in a (1) pound per minute deduction from the total weight up to 15 minutes, after 15 minutes that team will be disqualified.

Safety

Safe boating will be observed at all times. EACH CONTESTANT IS REQUIRED TO WEAR A FASTENED U.S. COAST GUARD APPROVED LIFE JACKET ANYTIME THE COMBUSTION ENGINE IS RUNNING. All boats must be equipped with a lanyard type emergency ignition shut off device attached to the driver whenever the combustion engine is running. Non lanyard type shut off devices must be approved by the tournament committee. It’s the responsibility of the contestant to make this known to the officials. The tournament may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to Covid, unsafe weather or water conditions.

Sportsmanship

All participates are required to follow the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation. No consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during tournament hours will be permitted. Conduct reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and tournament rules are grounds for disqualification. All boats must be operated in a safe and professional manner at all times.

Polygraphs

Each contestant agrees to submit, by their name appearing on the official entry form, whether filled out by them or someone else, to our polygraph examination and will abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass Our Polygraph Examination will result in disqualification. The determination of the meaning of the results will be made by the tournament committee. Their Call Will Be Final With No Appeals.

Protest

All protest must be made verbally, in writing, signed and with proof, video, photo etc. within (30) minutes of the last flights weigh-in time to the tournament director.

Ties

In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken by the weight of the big fish of each team involved. (It’s your responsibility to weigh your largest fish. If no big fish is weighed by either team both teams will split equally the purse for the place they’re tied for.)

Permitted Fishing Areas

Anywhere the lake is not posted by the NCDNR or Duke Power. No fishing within 50 yards of a competitors anchored boat with the trolling motor in the stowed position. It’s your responsibility to ask anchored boat if they’re in the tournament. All fishing must be done from the confines of your boat. All waters fished must be accessible by your boat no exceptions.

Off Limits and Hole Sitting

The lake is off limits from midnight Sunday night 10-27-2024 until 5 A.M. 11-2-24 for all contestants. Contestants may not receive any information from a family member, friends or anyone else that might fish during the off limits. Hole sitting for a contestant and all of the above will be grounds for disqualification.

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