2012 National Guard FLW College Fishing Rules

INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT:
These rules will remain unchanged during 2012. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director. Decisions of the tournament director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. Each contestant agrees to report any rule violation to the tournament director immediately upon discovery of the violation. Failure to report violations may be cause for disqualification. The violation of a tournament rule may result in weight loss (late penalty, dead-fish penalty and short-fish penalty), the loss of weight up to a particular time in the tournament day, the loss of weight for the entire day, the loss of the largest one-day catch, disqualification from the entire tournament or ineligibility to participate in future FLW Outdoors tournaments. Protests are to be made in writing within 30 minutes of the check-in time of the final flight of each tournament day.

PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY:
QUALIFYING EVENTS – Participation is open to students who are registered, full-time undergraduate students at a four-year college or university on the date of the tournament they are fishing or the preceding semester in the case of tournaments held during the summer session. Students enrolled in online-only universities are not eligible. Contestants must be members of FLW Outdoors and members of a college fishing club. Anyone who has fished four or more FLW Tour events as a pro in any one season is not eligible to participate. Any person under the age of 18 (19 in Alabama and Nebraska) must also have the signature of a parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the entry form. Contestants must have in their possession a current student identification card from the college or university they are representing and a valid fishing license for the waters they fish. Contestants are required to follow all applicable federal, state and local regulations and laws. Any violation of such regulations and laws may result in disqualification from the tournament.

FLW Outdoors has established five regions in which collegiate teams will compete. Each region has four qualifying events, and each event is limited to a maximum of 40 teams. Each team will consist of two contestants. Each team must compete in the division in which their college or university is located (a division map is located at CollegeFishing.com). Fishing clubs will establish their own methods to determine the number of teams and the entry priority for each team (order in which teams will be selected, No. 1 team, No. 2 team, etc.) that will apply to represent their school in each qualifying event. Entries will be taken in order of date and time recorded on CollegeFishing.com. The number of teams accepted from each club is determined by the total number of clubs entering each event. If 40 clubs enter, each club will be represented by one team. If fewer than 40 clubs enter, each club will be represented by at least one team, and any openings remaining will be distributed among clubs entering multiple teams. Entries received after the field has filled will be placed on a waiting list. Entries may be made online at CollegeFishing.com. Entries for the 2012 season will be accepted for each qualifying tournament starting at 10 a.m. Central time December 12, 2011. Accepted teams will be confirmed and notified via e-mail at least 12 days prior to each tournament. If a team is unable to participate after being confirmed into a tournament, the team must notify the tournament director via e-mail at least 24 hours prior to takeoff or they may not be eligible to compete in future tournaments.

NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – The top five teams from each of the four qualifying events in a division (a total of 20 teams) advance to a three-day, televised National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship. The full field competes on days 1 and 2. The top five teams based on heaviest combined weight from days 1 and 2 compete on day 3. The winning team is determined by the heaviest combined weight from days 1, 2 and 3.

NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – The top five teams from each of the five National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championships (a total of 25 teams) compete in the three-day, televised National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship. The full field competes on days 1 and 2. The top five teams based on heaviest combined weight from days 1 and 2 compete on day 3. The winning team is determined by the heaviest combined weight from days 1, 2 and 3.

FORREST WOOD CUP – The winning team in the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship qualifies for the Forrest Wood Cup. The team member designated as BOATER at the qualifying tournament competes in the pro division and the team member designated as CO-ANGLER at the qualifying tournament competes in the co-angler division. Team members may not change their BOATER or CO-ANGLER status after qualifying for a regional championship.

If any team is unable to attend a National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship, the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship or the Forrest Wood Cup, the next team in rank may be invited. The invitation is at the sole discretion of FLW Outdoors.

PURCHASING OF INFORMATION:
The purchasing of, or bartering for, information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters, including but not limited to GPS waypoints (other than through commercially available sources) and the hiring of fishing guide services is not permitted within 12 days of any tournament. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

OFF-LIMITS, PRACTICE AND COMPETITION:
QUALIFYING EVENTS – Tournament waters go off-limits to all contestants five days prior to competition. There is no practice period. On competition day, contestants may not solicit and/or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except contestants confirmed in the tournament and through publicly available sources (quasi-public websites set up for the specific purpose of sharing information with individuals or a small group of individuals are not publicly available sources). On competition day, teams may not follow a noncontestant’s boat or participate in the placing of markers by noncontestants or the practice of “hole sitting” by anyone. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – Tournament waters go off-limits to all contestants nine days prior to the practice day. Tournament waters open for practice one day prior to the start of competition. During the off-limits period, practice and competition days, contestants may not solicit and/or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except contestants confirmed in the tournament and through publicly available sources (quasi-public websites set up for the specific purpose of sharing information with individuals or a small group of individuals are not publicly available sources). During competition days, teams may not follow a noncontestant’s boat or participate in the placing of markers by noncontestants or the practice of “hole sitting” by anyone. Anglers eliminated after each round of competition are considered noncontestants. Contestants in the top-five cut after the close of weigh-in on day 2 may not solicit or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except other top-five contestants and through publicly available sources. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

ON-SITE REGISTRATION:
Both contestants comprising a team must register in person at the National Guard FLW College Fishing mobile headquarters located at the designated tournament launch site 30 minutes prior to takeoff. The takeoff time, designated tournament launch site and tournament boundaries will be provided in a confirmation e-mail at least 12 days prior to each tournament.

BOAT ASSIGNMENTS:
QUALIFYING EVENTS – Takeoff order (boat number) is determined by random draw. Each team is paired with a tournament official (who is not permitted to fish) during on-site registration. This tournament official will provide a boat if requested when entering.

NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – Takeoff order (boat number) is determined by random draw. Each team is paired with a tournament official (who is not permitted to fish) during on-site registration, and FLW Outdoors provides boats for use by each team.

SAFETY:
Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is in operation from takeoff until weigh-in each day of the tournament. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition-shutoff device that must be securely attached to the driver’s body whenever the combustion engine is in operation. A driver must be seated behind the steering wheel and in full control of the boat whenever the combustion engine is in operation and in gear. At the discretion of the tournament director, tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

SPORTSMANSHIP:
All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to FLW Outdoors, FLW Outdoors’ sponsors, the school the team is representing, the sport of fishing and FLW Outdoors’ efforts to promote the sport. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the 2012 National Guard FLW College Fishing season.
• Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration, the pretournament meeting or during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure.
• Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances.
• Conviction of a felony within the past 36 months.
• Suspension/disqualification, probation or ban from any tournament or fishing organization.
• Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of paragraph 8.

In case of any conduct not complying with the standards outlined above, FLW Outdoors shall have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete or to disqualify a contestant.

BOAT OPERATION:
QUALIFYING EVENTS – Teams may supply, and drive, their own boats. FLW Outdoors will secure professional anglers who will provide, and drive, boats for teams who do not supply their own boat. FLW Outdoors will also supply tournament officials (who are not permitted to fish) for all teams. Contestants will determine fishing locations and operate the trolling motor. Contestants may not ask for or receive assistance or information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from tournament officials. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – FLW Outdoors will provide tournament officials (who are not permitted to fish) and boats for use by all teams. Contestants will determine fishing locations and operate the trolling motor. Contestants may not ask for or receive assistance or information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from tournament officials. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

FORREST WOOD CUP – FLW Outdoors will provide a Ranger boat and Chevy tow vehicle for use by the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship contestant fishing in the pro division at the Forrest Wood Cup.

The use of mobile communication devices, including but not limited to, cell phones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, etc., during tournament hours is strictly prohibited except in an emergency (severe weather, breakdowns, etc.) or to communicate with lockmasters about locking or with the tournament director.

BOAT AND HORSEPOWER REGULATION:
All boats must be propeller-driven, a minimum of 16 feet in length and have a rear deck. All boats must be equipped with wheel steering; no other steering device will be permitted. No barges or similarly cumbersome crafts will be permitted. Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Boats must contain a properly aerated livewell space to maintain alive a limit catch of bass by both contestants. Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament competition will be 250 horsepower, not to exceed the horsepower capacity set forth on the “Maximum Capacities” placard described below. Each boat must have a clearly legible “Maximum Capacities” (or comparably titled) placard that includes a maximum horsepower rating affixed to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the maximum horsepower capacity specified on this placard or the 250-horsepower maximum set by FLW Outdoors. By signing the entry form, contestants who provide their own boat in qualifying tournaments agree to submit their boat and/or motor to an inspection by FLW Outdoors personnel. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating placard will be cause for disqualification from the tournament and may result in ineligibility to compete in future FLW Outdoors tournaments. Fishing platforms must be factory-installed equipment. No portable platforms may be used in tournament competition. Fuel may be carried only in factory-installed (built-in) fuel tanks. Any additional fuel used during the tournament day must be purchased from a retail facility open to the public and pumped through a hose with a nozzle. No additional marine electronics, marine/automotive batteries or generators may be installed or used in FLW Outdoors supplied boats.

PERMITTED FISHING METHODS:
Fishing is defined as having a lure attached to a line and a rod and reel with the lure in the water. All bass must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner. Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers and biodegradable soft baits. Each contestant is limited to a maximum of five fishing rods and reels. Only ONE fishing rod may be used at a time. Trolling as a method of fishing is strictly prohibited. All bass caught while sight-fishing must be hooked inside the mouth and immediately shown to your tournament official or FLW Outdoors camera operator for verification.

PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS AND BOUNDARIES:
Teams may fish anywhere on tournament waters within the boundaries defined on CollegeFishing.com that is available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas designated as “off-limits,” “no boats,” “keep out,” “restricted,” “no trespassing” or “no fishing” (or similar language or markings intended to restrict public access) by FLW Outdoors, local, state or federal officials, or within 50 yards of a contestant’s boat that was first anchored. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or by a Power-Pole or similar shallow water anchor with the trolling motor in the up position. All fishing must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. The cutting of trees, bushes and/or logs after the off-limits date and/or the removal of official local, state or federal barricades at any time to make an area more accessible by boat is strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification from the tournament. The use of cables, ropes, chains or any type of block and tackle system to maneuver a boat into fishing waters is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification from the tournament. Teams must leave and return to the check-in by boat. The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day. No tournament boat may be loaded on a trailer before the weigh-in except with the permission of the tournament director. In the event of equipment failure or emergency, there are two permitted methods of returning to the check-in: (1) by both contestants remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or (2) by one contestant entering the boat of another tournament contestant. Under these two conditions the team’s catch may be counted without a penalty (except for late penalties, dead-fish penalties or other penalties pertaining to other tournament rules). Teams that elect to return to the check-in by any other means than cited above will forfeit their day’s catch to that point in time of the tournament day. Any team returning to the check-in point will be eligible to restart and resume competition under the supervision of the tournament director or his designated tournament official. It is the sole responsibility of teams to locate the tournament director to request a restart. Teams must remain together at all times and within sight of their tournament official until check-in. The momentary condition of being out of sight of each other for restroom breaks is permitted. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

CHECKPOINTS:
The National Guard FLW College Fishing mobile headquarters will serve as the only checkpoint for on-site registration in the morning. A checkpoint for the afternoon check-in will be designated prior to takeoff. Failure to register at the mobile headquarters in the morning before the start of competition or failure to check in at the designated checkpoint at the close of competition will result in disqualification.

LATE PENALTY:
Teams who are not at the designated afternoon checkpoint at the appointed time will be penalized 1 pound per minute, deducted from the total weight. Teams more than 15 minutes late will lose credit for that day’s weight.

LIVE FISH:
Every effort must be made to keep bass alive through the use of a properly aerated livewell. Eight ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each dead bass presented for weigh-in.

SCORING:
Scoring is determined by the pounds and ounces of each team’s catch during each tournament. Only largemouth, spotted, redeye or smallmouth bass are accepted species. The daily limit will be five bass per team unless the state or lake limit is less than five, in which case the state or lake limit will prevail. Teams possessing more than the tournament limit will have their catch to that point disqualified and, time permitting, are eligible for a restart from the takeoff location. The minimum length limit for bass will be 12 inches unless the state or lake limit is more than 12 inches, in which case, the state or lake limit will prevail. Bass presented for weigh-in that fail to measure the prescribed length limit will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound for each short bass presented. Each team’s catch must be presented in an official weigh-in bag.

TIES:
QUALIFYING EVENTS – Total number of fish for the tournament will break ties. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by total number of live fish for the tournament, then the earliest entry for the tournament and then by lottery.

NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by highest finish in a qualifying event, then by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament and then by lottery. Ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings.

NATIONAL GUARD FLW COLLEGE FISHING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by highest finish in a regional championship, then by highest finish in a qualifying event, then by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament and then by lottery. Ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings.

LOGO DISPLAY AND TELEVISION COVERAGE:
Anglers may wear their own jersey during qualifying events. FLW Outdoors reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to prohibit any angler’s jersey that it finds to be offensive. During National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championships and the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship, contestants must use boats, marine electronics, camera equipment and clothing provided by FLW Outdoors. No additional marine electronics, marine/automotive batteries or generators may be installed or used in FLW Outdoors supplied boats. During National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championships and the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship, no logos, patches or decals may be worn or displayed other than FLW Outdoors sponsor logos or logos representing a team’s college or university. All decisions are in FLW Outdoors sole discretion.

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO:
During all days of competition any and all alcohol and tobacco logos are prohibited and may not be worn or displayed. Contestants may not smoke or use tobacco products during tournament hours, including weigh-in, at any event.

TRUTH VERIFICATION TEST:
Each contestant agrees to submit, by signature on the tournament entry form, to a polygraph or voice stress analysis examination and to abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass an examination will result in disqualification from the tournament. Truth verification tests will be used at FLW Outdoors’ sole discretion, and the determination of the meaning of the results will be made solely by FLW Outdoors.

INSURANCE:
Liability insurance with coverage in reasonable amounts is required of all contestants operating their own boats in FLW Outdoors tournaments. Proof of insurance must be with the boat being used and must cover all passengers in the boat. Random checks will be conducted. Failure to provide proof of insurance when requested by the tournament director may result in disqualification.

CAPTIONS:
The captions at the beginning of each paragraph are intended to facilitate convenience in referring to the various rules. The captions are not part of the substance of the paragraph and should not be used in construction of any paragraph or of this overall set of rules.