Tournament Rules

1. The following rules shall be in effect for tournament and violation hereof in any respect may cause for disqualification. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules rest solely with the Tournament Committee whose decisions are final and binding.
2. Eligibility: The tournament is open to all boaters with a valid Missouri fishing permit that has paid the $150 entry fee . Minimum age of 18 is required unless partnered with parent, spouse, or guardian.
3. Entries: All mail-in entries must be postmarked by April 20, 2022. Make checks payable to Cops For Kids. Entry fee is non-refundable. 
4. Departure: Departure will be in sequence in which contestants are accepted/received into the tournament. Staring times will be adjusted due to weather and safe light conditions by tournament directors. For general purpose, first flight is 6:30am; check-in 3:00pm. Second flight starts at 6:40am; check-in at 3:10pm. Third flight starts at 6:50am; check-in at 3:20pm. Fourth flight starts at 7:00am; check-in at 3:30pm. Fifth flight starts at 7:10am; check-in 3:40pm. There will be 40 boats on each flight. (Numbers based on 200 boats, flight numbers and times may be adjusted by tournament directors based on number of entries). The tournament will be capped at 250 boats.
5. Tackle and Equipment: Only artificial bait to lures may be used. Pork style baits are allowed. No trolling. All bass must be caught on rod and reel. Only one rod at a time per person is allowed in the water.
6. Boats and Motors: All boats and motors must meet the legal requirements of the State of Missouri and will be subject to inspection by tournament officials and the Missouri State Highway Patrol-Marine Division. Boats must not be trailered during the tournament.
7. Sportsmanship: Courtesy and safety are expected from each contestant. Life jackets and kill switches must be worn during take-off and when the outboard motor is running. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the boats during the tournament. A contestant having a protest must submit it in writing to the tournament coordinator within fifteen minutes of the closing of the weigh-in.
8. Permitted fishing locations: Anywhere on the tournament lake except that is deemed off limits per Corps of Engineers rules and within 50 yards of another contestant’s boat.
9. Check-In late penalty: 1 pound of total weight per minute up to fifteen minutes, then disqualified – No Excuses. The scales will be open at 2:00 P.M. for anyone that wants to weigh in early.
10. Scoring: Scoring will be determined by the pounds and ounces of each boat’s catch during the tournament. Only Largemouth, Spotted and Smallmouth Bass will be weighed. The limit shall be 5 fish per boat. The official length for bass shall be 15″ measured by mouth closed – tail pinched on a golden-rule flat board. Bass presented for weigh-in which fails to measure 15″ will not be weighed and a 2-pound penalty will be assessed for each short fish. Any Bass that appears to have been mangled, mauled, altered, frozen or iced will result in immediate disqualification. Each team’s catch must be certified by their signature on the weigh-in slip, no excuses. One pound penalty per dead fish weighed. The scales will be open at 2:00 P.M. for anyone that wants to weigh in early.
11. In case of a tie, the earliest entry wins.
12. All prizes and money awarded 1st through 10th place winners to be awarded at the time of presentation. Winners must consent to use of their names and photographs for nonprofit promotional purposes.
13. Quality Assurance Test: 1st place, Big Bass, and 1 random quality assurance test for 2nd to 10th place, chosen by draw will be given. By their signature on the entry from the form and/or participation in this tournament, each and every team contestant agrees to submit to a quality assurance test, if deemed necessary by the Tournament Director. Refusal to submit to a quality assurance test or failing test will result in immediate disqualification for the team.
14. Failure to read these rules or ignorance of these rules is no excuse. Any extreme violation of said rules will be grounds for immediate disqualification.
15. All applications must be complete/uncompleted applications will be promptly returned.