2023 Benefit Tournament

Official Tournament Rules

QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTS (POLYGRAPH TESTS) WILL BE ADMINISTERED AT THE KANSAS

STATE FISHING CLUB FIVE FISH BENEFIT TOURNAMENT EVENT

By contestant(s) signature on entry form and /or participation in this tournament, the contestant(s) agree to any

quality assurance tests at any time, if required by the Tournament Director. Quality assurance will include a

Polygraph 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.

DECISIONS:

The following rules for the Kansas State Fishing Club Five Fish Benefit Tournament will be interpreted solely by the tournament

director. The director reserves the right to reject any entry he feels is not in the best interest of the Tournament. Any

announcements made by the tournament director at the tournament site take precedent over written rules. All decisions of the

tournament director are final.

SAFETY:

Safe boating must be observed at all times. Life jackets and kill switches must be used any time the combustion engine is running

above idle speed. At the discretion of the Tournament Director, tournament days may be shortened, re-scheduled, or canceled

due to unsafe weather or water conditions. If the tournament would be canceled, then the following day would be tournament

day. During the event hours, no alcoholic beverages or drugs (other than those purchased over the counter or prescribed by a

licensed physician) are allowed in the boat. Running Lights must be on and working, unless tournament director decision is

otherwise. If they do not work, the tournament director will release the boat that doesn’t have functioning lights when they feel it

is safe enough. Boat owners must carry boating liability insurance. Proof of insurance may be asked for at any time.

ELIGIBILITY:

Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or adult.

Each boat may have up to 3 contestants. Only paid contestants are allowed in a boat. Non contestants are not allowed unless

authorized by the Tournament Director. We reserve the right to refuse any entry we feel is not in the best interest of the

tournament. Any person who has been disqualified from any prior tournament may be subject to being refused entry into

tournament. If a contestant is disqualified for rules violations, all other contestants in his/her boat will be disqualified.

Contestants must have a valid fishing license and (an optional black bass pass) for the tournament lake in their possession

unless exempt. License and black bass pass may be asked for at the time of weigh-in.

REGISTRATION, ENTRY FEE, & RECEIVING PRIZES :

Entry form with complete entry fee must be received before fishing. No refunds or substitution of entry fees will be allowed..

Checks WILL NOT be accepted at the boat ramp (Cash Only)

Pre-registration will end September 6th

Payouts for Wilson/Melvern Five Fish tournament will be determined on the number of boats. Number of Boats will be

 announced at the pre meeting. Payout matrix is included below.

PERMITTED FISHING AREAS & HOURS:.

All boats must launch from State Park boat ramp

Permitted fishing areas are anywhere on tournament waters available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas

designated as “off limits” or “no fishing “ by local, state, or federal officials, or within 50 yards of a competitor’s boat that was

first anchored. No fishing within 50 yards of a marina gas pump. No contestant may leave a boat to land a fish.

TACKLE & EQUIPMENT:

Alabama Rig Rules:

All anglers must abide by the state regulations set for the number of hooks allowed. Anyone caught throwing an illegal Alabama

(Umbrella) Rig will face disqualification. All fishing will be done with a rod and reel and artificial lures only. The use of pork

rinds is acceptable. No trolling with the combustion engine. No electronic tracking device (implanted microchips) may be used to

locate fish for tournament purposes. However, depth finders and graph charts are acceptable.

WEIGH IN RULES & REGULATIONS:

Anglers over 16 must show valid photo ID, fishing license, and black bass pass (if used).

No trailering of boats to weigh-in. You must come to the weigh-in by water.

All bass caught during the tournament hours must be weighed in on the day of the catch. All fish must be a minimum of 18

inches(15 inches with optional Kansas Black Bass Pass) in length at Wilson Lake, and Melvern Reservoir. Only largemouth,

smallmouth, and Kentucky spotted bass (Black bass) will be eligible to be weighed in. Tournament weigh-in bags will be

provided, but you may use your own to transport to the bump tank.

SPORTSMANSHIP & CONSERVATION:

Participants are expected to show sportsmanship, safety, courtesy, and conservation during tournament hours.

Any artificially or preserved bass will be disqualified and that contestant will be subject to prosecution under federal law. All

boats must be equipped with an operating live well. (An aerator in an ice chest is acceptable).

No bass allowed on ice. Bass must be alive when they are brought to the weigh-in. Dead fish will not be weighed-in.

No hole sitting allowed, which means you cannot have another angler/boat holding a fishing spot for you. Tournament boats may

be inspected by tournament officials at any time. Non-penetrating Cull Tags required

TIES:

All 5 fish bag ties will be broken by a toss of a quarter that will be called in the air by the team that weighed in first. Ties for big

bass will be broken by whomever weighed first.

PROTESTS:

All protests must be submitted in writing to one of the tournament Directors within fifteen (15) minutes of the designated weigh-

in.

LEGAL CONCERNS:

The tournament sponsors, officers, employees, etc. will not be responsible for boating or water accidents. Each tournament

contestant will be solely responsible for his/her actions with regard to inclement weather or any other potentially dangerous

situation which may arise. The contestant assumes the risk of any and all damages or injury of any nature which may result from

any source during the tournament. Should any contestant be a minor, a parent/guardian shall grant such release on the part of the

minor.

If you have any questions, please call/text/email:

Thomas Neal  Jack Stoerman

1(229) 726-7620 1(913) 233-6678

tpneal@ksu.edu jkstoerman@gmail.com