2010 MSW Tournament Rules and Regulations

1. Participation & Eligibility: Participation in MID-SOUTH WALLEYES tournaments will be by application and will be limited to one person or two person teams only. Any person under the age of 18 must have written permission from his/her legal guardian and must fish with an individual over the age of 18.

2. Entry Fee & Deadline: $150.00 per boat for MID-SOUTH WALLEYES members. Non-members will pay an entry fee of $175.00 per boat. Both team members MUST be MID-SOUTH WALLEYES members for the reduced entry fees. All entries postmarked 7 days prior to the tournament date will receive a 10% discount.  Late entries will be accepted at the launch site prior to the pre-tournament briefings. Note: Any last minute entries MUST meet with the tournament director prior to leaving to fish. Failure to do this could lead to disqualification of the tournament for that day. No mailed entries will be accepted after the mail entry deadline of one week prior to tournament date. Entry fee payment may be made by check (no post-dated checks please), cashiers check, or money order (please do not send cash). Pre-Tournament headquarters will be MID-SOUTH WALLEYES, LLC, 3440 State Hwy KK, Rogersville, MO 65742.  Office: 417-753-5141.  80% CASH PAYOUT, paying up to 10 places based on a 60-boat field. Additional places may be paid at the rate of one place per six boats if the field exceeds 60 boats.

3. Scoring Rules: . The scoring method to be used for the 2010 season is as follows:

A. For the 2010 MSW tournament year, teams will be awarded up to 50 points per tournament toward NTC qualification, AIM qualification, and Team of the Year.  The first place team will receive 50 points.  The second place team will receive 49 points.  The third place team will receive 48 points and so forth down the standings.  Each team that weighs in fish will receive a minimum of 10 points.  Each team that participates but doesn't weigh fish will receive 5 points.

B. All four tournament scores will be accumulated for the final standings.

C. In case of a tie in the final standings, the higher placement will go to the team with the highest accumulated weight for the season.

D. Each team member MUST be a member of MSW to earn points toward NTC qualification and AIM qualification,  NO EXCEPTIONS.  If you fish with a non-member, no points will be awarded toward NTC qualification or AIM qualification.

E. One substitution per team member is allowed per season.  Note: the substitute must be a MSW member to earn points toward NTC qualification and AIM qualification.  If both team members of an established team are fishing a tournament, they can not split the team and use substitutes or fish as substitutes for others.

F. If a team cannot attend the NTC or AIM Championship, MSW may substitute the next team lower in the point standings.

G. If one member of the team is unable to make the NTC or AIM Championship, a substitute, which is a MSW member and has fished at least one tournament during the qualifying season, may be taken.  MSW must approve the substitute.

H. The top teams in the point standings at the end of the year will receive the invitations to the 2011 NTC based on the number of teams allocated to MSW by Cabela’s.

I.  Although we are not guaranteed any set number of NTC invitations, this is the order that they will be allocated.  The first NTC invitation will go to the team with the highest overall score.  Any subsequent invitations will go to the highest scoring teams fishing all four tournaments.

J.  Teams competing for the Overall Team of the Year must fish all four tournaments to be eligible for the NTC invitation.

K. Teams competing for the AIM International Walleye Championship must fish all tournaments for 2010.  The invitation will go to the top team in the overall standings.

4. Big Walleye Pot: Each tournament will have an OPTIONAL Big Walleye Pot.  The Big Walleye Pot entry will be $20.00 per team. The amount of the Big Walleye Pot will be dependent upon the number of entries in the Big Walleye Pot. In case of a tie, the Big Walleye Pot will be divided equally.

5. Departure: The earliest postmark will determine starting positions.  All late entries will depart in the order of registration the morning of the event.  Prior to the start of any tournament each team will be given a departure order number. Contestants who leave earlier than their assigned flight time may be disqualified for that day. We reserve the right to assign flights and hours if deemed necessary.

6. Safety & Sportsmanship: High standards of sportsmanship, safety, courtesy, and conservation are expected of all contestants during tournament hours. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED DURING TOURNAMENT HOURS. Drunkenness by a competitor during this function will not be tolerated and shall be cause for disqualification from this and all future walleye tournaments put on by the MID-SOUTH WALLEYES.  No illegal drugs are permitted in the boat at any time. U.S.C.G. approved life jackets must be worn any time the combustion engine is above idle or trolling speed, including at departure and arrival into the cove to conclude the day. All boats must meet U.S.C.G. and State Water Patrol regulations.  All boats with electronic ignitions should be equipped with kill switches. Tournament officials may cancel, delay, or restrict tournament waters and/or hours in case of severe weather. In the event of severe weather, contestants are allowed to pull into the nearest shoreline until it is safe to navigate and resume fishing. Safe boating conduct and all safety precautions must be observed at all times. Each contestant must comply with applicable laws and rules of the State Water Patrol and the Dept. of Conservation. Behavior not becoming of the sport may result in disqualification.

7. Tackle & Equipment: Applicable state fishing regulations will apply to all fishing methods. Radio and cell phone communications during the tournament hours (except for emergencies) are prohibited. All fish must be caught in a conventional manner on hook and line with rod and reel. Live bait and artificial lures ARE permissible. Trolling is ALLOWED. Contestants must possess applicable state fishing licenses or permits. This is a CATCH & RELEASE TOURNAMENT; ALL live fish caught during the tournament will be released at the weigh-in site.  All fish must be kept in aerated live wells. The use of stringers, boat bags, wire baskets, etc., is prohibited.

8. Fish Size & Limits: Only walleye, sauger, and saugeye are eligible for weigh-in. Minimum length of any eligible fish is determined by minimums set by the applicable state for each lake. The daily tournament limit will be five (5) fish per boat per day, unless you are fishing as a one-man team, in which case it will be four (4) fish per day. Since this is a catch & release tournament, every effort must be made to keep walleye alive. Teams weighing in dead walleye are entitled to the dead fish. Any dead fish not claimed will become property of the MID-SOUTH WALLEYES. Any fish that are trophies may be kept for taxidermy purposes.

9. Scoring: Prizes will be awarded based on the total weight in pounds per team, including the BIG WALLEYE POT. Prizes will be awarded following the tournament weigh-in. Any walleye under the minimum length presented for weigh-in will cause the loss of the weight of the largest fish from the total basket weight, plus the loss of the short fish. Up to five (5) walleye per boat will be weighed-in. There will be NO PENALTY for DEAD FISH. There will be a bonus weight of 1/10 lb. per live released walleye awarded each day of the tournament. Any fish presented for weigh-in that is frozen, mauled, mangled, iced, stringered, or fish injected with water or have any other added weight or fish showing white gills, soft flesh, or sunken eyes will result in disqualification at the discretion of the tournament director. All live fish will be returned to the lake. The “Judge” Tournament Ruler will be the official measuring device for all tournaments.

10. Ties: In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by the earliest postmarked entry.

11. Tournament Boundaries & Hours: Permitted fishing areas are anywhere on the lake except (a) within 50 yards of a public dock and (b) within 10 yards of another contestants anchored boat. No contestant is permitted on the waters after 6:00 PM the night prior to the tournament. Tournament hours will be announced in Tournament Flyers and Brochures and at the pre-tournament briefings. It is expected of each entrant to know the tournament hours.

12. Boat Launching: All boats must be launched in time for live-well inspection and start of departure. There will be only one official checkpoint for boat & live well inspection, at the launching ramp at the start and conclusion of each day of tournament.

13. Tournament Briefing: There will be a pre-tournament briefing at 6:00 PM the evening prior to the tournament and 30 minutes prior to start time on the mornings of the tournaments. Times for each will be listed in Tournament Flyers and Brochures and it is expected that you become familiar with those times. At least one member from your team should be present at the meeting. We will distribute numbers for the order of departure at this meeting. If you are not able to attend the meeting due to extenuating circumstances (travel, etc.), then you will need to become familiar with rule changes and any other information pertinent to the tournament. KNOWLEDGE OF THIS INFORMATION IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU ARE NOT IN ATTENDANCE AT THE TOURNAMENT BRIEFING.

14. Rule Changes: Rule additions and revisions will be made public knowledge at the tournament briefing. It is each contestants responsibility to know these. To fail to know these or to ignore these is no excuse. It is the Tournament Directors decision to make a change where safety or cancellation is concerned. The decision of the Tournament Officials will be final in all matters.

15. Check-in Late Penalty: 3 lbs. to 5 minutes, then disqualification. NO EXCUSES. All participants must check in at weigh-in time each day, even if you did not catch any fish that day. Boats must be within the NO-WAKE buoys by the 5-minute late time limit to avoid disqualification. Participants will display their departure order number at the time of arrival into the No-Wake Buoy area.

16. Protests: Protests must be filed with the Tournament Committee within 15 minutes of the conclusion of the weigh-in. A $ 150.00 protest fee must accompany all protests. Findings of the Tournament Committee are final and may not be appealed to a higher authority. A three person Protest Committee shall be appointed by the Tournament Committee and will convene to hear both sides of any protest. If the protest is valid, the disqualified party must pay all investigative costs, including the polygraph cost. The protest fee will be returned if the protest is upheld.

17. Polygraph: By his or her signature and/or participation in this tournament the contestant agrees to submit to a polygraph test if required by the Tournament Director.

18. Fishing from the Boat: All fishing must be done from the boat. Boats must stay in the water for the entire tournament time each day. Contestants may not leave the boat unless in an emergency.

19. Tournament Officials: The Tournament Officials will consist of members of MID-SOUTH WALLEYES.

20. Disqualification: Disqualification from the tournament for any reason will result in forfeiture of the tournament entry fee.

21. Tournament Cancellation: If the tournament is canceled due to safety reasons we will refund each team or individual 80 % of that days payback unless otherwise stated. If zero (0) fish are caught at check in time, we may either refund each team 80 % of that days pay out OR we will have a two to three hour fish off to break the tie. In this case, contestants will depart in the same order of departure as in the AM  A team may choose to not fish the tiebreaker, but if the tournament director institutes a tiebreaker format, then that team or individual will forfeit their entry fee if fish are caught during the tiebreaker. If zero (0) fish are caught after the fish off, then we will refund each participating entrant in the fish off and those who chose not to fish the tie-breaker 80 % of that days payback.

22. Professionals/Guides Fishing the Tournament: Guides & Professionals ARE ALLOWED to fish the tournaments and are subject to the same rules as other anglers fishing the tournament.

23. Culling Rule:  Culling is ILLEGAL in the state of Missouri as stated by rule in the Wildlife Code of the Missouri Dept of Conservation.  For tournaments ORIGINATIING in the state of Arkansas, culling is allowed for fish caught in Arkansas waters while still in Arkansas.

24. Applicable taxes:  Contestants are responsible for any applicable taxes on any prizes won during the tournament.  1099 forms will be issued for the value of all prizes won.  A social security number must be on file before receiving any awards.

25. Cooperation with officials:  Contestants must cooperate with and allow State Water Patrol Boats, Dept. of Conservation boats, and tournament officials to pull alongside and inspect contestants and/or fish at any time. Any team found in violation of the rules of this tournament may be disqualified for either that day or for the duration of the entire tournament, and such reason for disqualification will be announced at weigh-in.

26. Loopholes:  All rules have “loopholes”. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded that the “Spirit of the rule” will prevail in all judgment cases

27. Check-in:  In the best safety interests of everyone fishing the tournament, all teams must check in with the timer and turn in their assigned boat departure number at the end of each day of fishing. Teams may be disqualified and possibly be ineligible to enter future tournaments conducted by MID-SOUTH WALLEYES for failure to comply with this rule.

28. Refusal of entrants:  We retain the right to refuse any entrant into the tournament.

Updated: December 16, 2009

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MID-SOUTH WALLEYES