(2) Participation & Eligibility: Participation in the tournament is by invitation only. The tournament is open only to members of the Texas BASS Federation Nation who have qualified through the 2010 Regional Tournament Trail (see Rule #20). Only tournament contestants or an appointed observer are allowed in the boat during tournament hours. A 2010 Championship registration form must have been completed, signed and sent with the $75 entry fee and postmarked by midnight August 14, 2010, to be eligible to participate. DURING THE OFFICIAL PRACTICE AND COMPETION DAYS, NO CONTESTANT MAY OPERATE A BOAT UNLESS THEY HAVE PROOF OF BOAT LIABILITY INSURANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 OR MORE EFFECTIVE DURING THE PRACTICE AND TOURNAMENT DAYS.

(3) Alcoholic Beverages & Drugs: No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are allowed in the boat or may be consumed during tournament hours and then, only after an angler signs his/her weigh slip.

(4) Sportsmanship: All contestants are expected to follow and display the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates the rules of any Federal, State or local law, or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing will be disqualified and shall forfeit all entry fees and/or prize monies. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times--especially in the vicinity of a non-competitor’s boat.

(5) Boat & Motor: All boats and motors must meet all U.S. Coast Guard and State regulations. No motors shall exceed the BIA rating for that boat and no horsepower shall exceed 250 HP. All boats must have a working kill switch and an adequate aerated live well to maintain both anglers daily limit of fish. All boats will be inspected by a tournament official prior to the start of the tournament.

(6) Safety: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by tournament competitors. During official practice and tournament days, a U.S. Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver must be worn and fully fastened by all boat members and the kill switch must be attached to the operator any time the combustion engine is in operation. Tournament officials have the right to delay or cancel the start of an official tournament day due to inclement weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors.

(7) Emergency/Leave Early: If a contestant wishes to leave the lake prior to weigh-in, that contestant MUST NOTIFY the regional director, a tournament official or another tournament contestant that WILL BE PRESENT at the weigh-in. This is a safety requirement--all MUST adhere.

(8) Tackle & Equipment: Dip nets are allowed. No protests will be allowed related to netting of a partner’s fish. Dip nets cannot exceed 6½ feet in overall length. B.A.S.S. recommends the use of a rubber or vinyl-coated net. All fish must be caught in a legal and sporting manner on artificial lures. No trolling with the combustion engine or snagging of fish is permitted. No live or prepared bait is permitted with the exception of pork rind. Only one rod may be used at one time. A cast must be fully retrieved before another rod is picked up. Only rods less than 8 feet in length may be used. The use of electronic tracking equipment is not allowed at any time.

(9) Protests: All protests must be submitted in writing, including name or TX number of alleged offender, to any tournament official within 15 minutes of the close of that day's weigh-in.

the non-boaters. A full discussion between partners must be held prior to the morning departure regarding the schedule of boat operation. This schedule must permit each partner equal time to fish from the front of the boat and operate the trolling motor and also allow each partner the opportunity to fish his selected water an equal number of hours. Distance traveled to fishing locations must be considered in order not to deprive either partner fishing time. If a contestant waives the above rights, the contestant shall retain the right to select the fishing water for one-half the tournament day. In an effort to promote fairness and sportsmanship, a draw partner who shares or divulges a previous partner's fishing locations with other competitors will be disqualified along with the person utilizing this information. Any contestant, in the judgment of the tournament official(s), who operates the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap his partner, shall be disqualified. In view of the large expense in operating and maintaining a tournament boat, it is suggested that the boater/non-boater come to an agreement regarding operational expenses and that the non-boater share, at the very least, in the cost of gas and oil for the competition day.

(11) Polygraph: All contestants are subject to a polygraph examination at the request of the tournament officials. The administration and interpretation of the polygraph test shall be solely the responsibility of the tournament officials. The Regional Director shall select the location, the individual(s) to conduct the testing and the scope of questions. The contestant(s) shall make themselves available for said testing. All expenses for said polygraph examination shall be the responsibility of the contestant. Failure to submit to or pass a polygraph examination will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of any entry fees and claims to any prizes.

(12) Officials: All contestants are required to cooperate with all requests from any tournament official whether on or off the water.

(13) Official Check-in: All contestants will leave from the same ramp. During the competition days, competitors must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament hours. Contestants must leave from and return to official checkpoint by water.

(14) Scoring: Final tournament standings shall be determined from the total accumulated weight of each competitor’s daily catch during competition days. Each angler may ask to have his big fish weighed. Each contestant may weigh a 5-fish limit per day with a minimum length of 14 inches (courtesy check is allowed). The Gator Grip Golden Rule will be the official tournament measuring board. For each legal length dead bass presented to weigh-in officials, the competitor shall be penalized .25 lbs/fish to be deducted from their daily score as follows: 1 dead fish .25 lb, 2 dead fish .50 lb, 3 dead fish .75 lb, 4 dead fish 1 lb, 5 dead fish 1.25 lb. Culling of dead fish is not allowed. Bass presented at weigh-in that fall short of the official length shall accrue a penalty of that angler’s big fish for the day (courtesy check is allowed). Any contestant returning late to the checkpoint will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, no weight will be allowed. Culling of fish is each contestant’s responsibility and no more than 5 fish may be kept in the live well. Only Largemouth, Guadalupe, Smallmouth and Kentucky Spotted Bass shall be weighed. Each contestant MUST SIGN their weigh-in slip. (Only exception see rule #7).

(15) Off Limits: The tournament lake shall be off limits effective from 12:01 a.m. September 27, 2010, until 6:30 a.m. October 28, 2010. Beginning 12:01 a.m. September 27, 2010, and continuing through the conclusion of the tournament, a competitor may not solicit advice or assistance from anyone, including guides, (other than another tournament competitor) for the purpose of locating or catching bass. No skin diving or scuba diving on the tournament waters during the off limits period, official practice or tournament days. No use of CB Radios, VHF marine band radio or cellular phones for the purpose of locating or catching fish. All of the above devices may be used only in case of an emergency for communication purposes. Each contestant agrees to report any violation of these rules immediately to any tournament official.

(17) Ties: In case of a tie, the following tiebreakers shall be used: (1) the individual with the largest number of legal live fish weighed in during the competition. (2) The individual with the heaviest single day catch during the competition. (3) In the unlikely event a tie still remains, the flip of a coin will determine the winner.

(18) Registration: All contestants must register by mail. To be accepted, a check and a signed entry form must be submitted and postmarked no later than midnight, August 14, 2010. Mail to: Dan Davenport, Texas BASS Federation Nation, P. O. Box 162778, Fort Worth, TX 76161. Should a full field not be filled by midnight, August 14, 2010, the Regional Director may invite anglers who fished 4 of the 6 tournaments, but did not make the initial cut.

(19) Entry Fee/Payback: Tournament entry fee is $75.00 with $5.00 going to Big Bass. Payback will be figured on 80% of the regular entry fees with one place paid per seven (7) entries. Payback for the largest bass by net weight is 100%.

(20) Championship: The North Central Region's State Team Representative (the angler who goes to the divisional tournament) will be named at the conclusion of the championship. Contestants for the 2010 Championship must have fished at least 4 of the 6 Regional Trail Tournaments during the 2010 season to qualify. The number of contestants will be determined from 60% of the largest tournament field during the 2010 Regional Tournament Trail. Additionally, any angler who fished all 6 of the 2010 Regional Trail Tournaments receives an automatic bid to the championship.

(21) Regional Top Six Team: The contestants for the Regional Top Six Team who advance to the State Championship will be selected from the Regional Championship competitors. If for any reason, a Top Six Team cannot be selected and less than six (6) members wish to participate in the State Tournament, they still must pay the required entry fee.

(22) Other Rules: The Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Tournament Rules and Regulations will be used if a rule is not specifically covered in these rules. The North Central Regional Tournament Committee reserves the right to make final decisions on any rule/issue.