2008

Lake Fork Open 2008 RULES:

1. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final and are not subject to appeal. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to the Tournament Director in his sole and absolute discretion.

Protests must be made in writing within 10 minutes after the official closing of the scales at each tournament, as announced at each tournament.

2. Participation and Eligibility:

Participation is open to any persons 18 years old and older. Any person entering this event under the age of 18 years old must also have the signature of their parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the official entry form.
This event is open to all anglers except professional anglers. A professional angler is defined as any angler that has entered more than one bass tournament that required an entry fee greater than $2,500 in the six months prior to the date of this event being entered.
All contestants must have a valid Texas fishing license.

3. Off-Limit Period:

Contestants may not be on Lake Fork between the hours of 8:00pm Friday, March 14, 2008 thru 4:00am Saturday, March 15, 2008

4. Fishing Times:

Competitors may launch from any ramp on Lake Fork anytime after 4:00am. Fishing will begin at 6:30am competition day. The weigh-in line will open at 2:00pm.
All contestants to weigh fish must be in line no later than 3:00pm.

5. Registration Times:

Each contestant must register in person at Lake Fork Marina during the official registration hours, 12:00pm thru 8:00pm Friday, March 14, 2008, tournament morning beginning at 4:30am.
A completed and signed entry form must be received before the start of competition. Test ride can be taken immediately after registering.

6. Safety:

Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant is required to wear a fastened (fully zipped and/or all clips fastened), U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is in operation from boat check until weigh-in. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition shut-off device, which must be securely attached to the driver's body any time the combustion engine is in operation. The driver must be seated in the driver's seat anytime the combustion engine is engaged in gear.
Tournament days may be shortened or canceled due to unsafe weather or any conditions that would endanger the safety of the competitors at the Tournament Director's sole and absolute discretion.
Competitors are allowed to leave the boat and seek shelter in bad weather.

7. Permitted Fishing Methods:

Only artificial lures may be used. NO LIVE BAIT.
Only one fishing rod per angler may be used at any one time. Additional rods may be in the boat and ready for use; however each cast and retrieve must be completed before another cast is attempted or rod is used.
Trolling with the combustion engine as a method of fishing is prohibited.
Switching or sharing fish with other contestants is a violation of these rules and will result in immediate disqualification.
All bass must be caught alive, in a conventional, sporting manner.
Bank fishing is permissible.

8. Sportsmanship and Conduct:

All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation.

Examples of conduct not complying with those standards, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any mind-altering substance during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure.
Conviction of a felony within the past 36 months.
Actions or words which reflect unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship and fair competition.
Chemical substance abuse or addiction.
Disqualification from any other tournaments or other fishing organizations that resulted from unexplained rule violations that result in a contestant's honesty, integrity, character and qualifications for entry into this event being questionable in the Tournament Director's sole and absolute discretion.
Upon review of the circumstances by the Tournament Director, Director shall have the right to refuse any applicant, or to deny a confirmed application, by returning the entry fee of a previously accepted application, or disqualifying a contestant.
We reserve the right to place an official observer in a contestant's boat at any time during the competition hours.

9. Assistance:

During hours of competition, contestants may not receive fishing information from non-competitors or participate in the practice of "hole sitting."

10. Boat and Horsepower Regulation:

Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment.
Boats must contain a properly aerated live well space to maintain alive a limit catch of bass.
Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament competition may not exceed the horsepower limitations as set by the U.S. Coast Guard in such vessels.
Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating plate to conceal such limitations will be cause for disqualification from the tournament.

11. Permitted Fishing Locations:

Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters accessible by boat, except areas designated as "off limits" or "no fishing" by state or federal officials, or within 50 yards of a competitor's boat which was first anchored or tied up unless otherwise agreed upon by the other tournament angler.

12. Number of contestants in boat:

Boats may have up to 4 paid entrants aboard.
Non-contestants are not allowed in any competitor's boat.

13. Off-limits areas:

Such areas established and announced at the registration for each event. Contestants fishing inside the established "off-limits" area will be immediately disqualified.
Contestant's boats must remain in the tournament waters during the event.

14. Trailering is allowed:

Trailering is allowed throughout the competition day.
Anglers may launch and leave from any available location on Lake Fork.

15. Scoring:

Will be determined by the single largest bass brought in by the angler. Only Largemouth Bass are accepted species. No contestant may possess more than 5 bass at any time during the tournament.
Any contestant who possesses more than the tournament limit at any time will have their catch for the day disqualified.

16. Live Fish:

Only live bass will be weighed-in during the event.
Every effort must be made to keep bass alive through the use of a properly aerated live well.
The use of chemical live well additives which promote the healthy return of bass to their natural habitat are recommended.
NO DEAD BASS WILL BE WEIGHED.

17. Slot limits:

Lake Fork is a slot lake. No bass over 16 inches or under 24 inches in length may be presented to the scales. The "Check-It-Stick" is the official measuring board of this event.
Measuring fish length will be done in accordance with the T.P.W.D. diagram in their handbook.
There will be a tournament official available to measure the fish. His decision on the length will be final.

18. Ties:

In the event of a tie for First Place, the winner will be determined by which angler weighed-in the winning fish first.
All subsequent ties will be resolved by splitting equally all money involved in the tie.

19. BIG BASS EVENT:

THIS IS A ONE FISH PER PERSON BIG BASS EVENT. ONLY ONE FISH PER PERSON MAY BE WEIGHED-IN.

I have read and understand the rules for this event. I have voluntarily completed this application and have included my entry fee to participate. I hereby agree to be bound by and comply with all tournament, Federal and state rules and regulations. I expressly assume all risk(s) associated with each tournament event.

I hereby release the host, all sponsors and tournament officials, including, but not limited to each of their respective employees, officers, directors, managers, members, insurers and representatives (collectively releases) from all claims or injury and/or damage arising out of, or related to and/or incurred in connection with any "Lake Fork Open" sponsored event(s). I hereby agree to indemnify, defend, and hold Harmless Releases from and against any and all demands, claims, causes of action, (including, but not limited to, causes of action in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise, and specifically including, but not limited to, any claim of negligence and/or fault of any Release), fines, penalties, damages, liabilities, judgements, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with or arising out of my participation and my partner's participation in the "Lake Fork Open". I hereby grant the host of the "Lake Fork Open", the unconditional, royalty free, perpetual, right and license to use my name, voice and photographic likeness in connection with the "Lake Fork Open" promotions, television shows, and/or articles and press releases. I agree that I am not entitled to receive any royalties or other compensation in connection with such use. I further understand and agree that the Tournament director reserves the right to reject my application for any reason. By signing this application, I agree to submit to any truth verification testing requested by the host of the "Lake Fork Open", and provided by a polygraph test selected by the host of the "Lake Fork Open", and agree with the outcome of any such testing shall be final and binding.

I agree that I have sufficient health, accident and liability insurance to cover any bodily injury or property damage incurred by myself or others as a result of my participation in any "Lake Fork Open" sponsored event. If I have no such insurance, I declare that I am capable of paying for any and all such expenses or liability.

I understand that I am responsible for paying all local, state and federal taxes, title, license and registration as a result of my participation in any "Lake Fork Open" sponsored event. I agree that sole and exclusive venue for determination of any claim or controversy arising out of or related to any "Lake Fork Open " sponsored events shall be in State District Court, Wood County, TX, where principal office of the "Lake Fork Open" is located. Should it become necessary for the host of the "Lake Fork Open" or any Releasee to incur attorney's fees and costs to enforce this Release, I agree to pay for the attorneys fees thereby expended, or for which liability is incurred. If this is a team event, I agree that my partner, if absent from signing this Release, understand all statements, rules, and regulations stated above and has given me express permission to sign on his behalf. By signing this Release, I am stating that my partner and I both agree to these terms.

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