1. Participants and Eligibility:
Participation in each tournament is open to Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. Hearing people may join through Deaf friends/relatives. There is no age limit. Persons under the age of 18 will receive prizes in lieu of money. Guides are not allowed to fish in any tournament. Participants must being good standing with any and all deaf fishing clubs. And sign the liability waiver form before participate any tournaments.

2. Citations:
A contestant cited by officers for violation of State or Federal fishing or boating regulations will be disqualified.

3. Tackle and Equipment:
All fish must be caught in a legal sporting manner. Intentional snagging of fish will not be allowed. Only artificial lures can be used. Liquid fish attractants are allowed. Only one (1) rod may be used at any one time. Other rods may be in the boat and ready for use, however, every cast and retrieve must be completed before another cast is made.

4. Official Boats:
Officials will be by and on the lake for boat inspections and observation during tournament hours. Each team is required to comply with all requests. Boats without proper light system cannot be in water until 15 minutes before sunrise. All boats must have floatation vests/cushions, fire exhingster, working kill-switch to motor, first-aid kit, horn/whistle, and live-well.

5. Fishing:
You may fish from bank or boat as long you are fishing in same lake where the tournament held. All boats must have no less or more than two (2) participants and no non-participants allowed in the boat.

6. Sportsmanship:
All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any team who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules or any state or local laws or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing will be disqualified.

7. Encroachment:
A "50 yard rule" is in effect at all times during competition. No contestant's boat may move within 50 yards of another contestant's boat at any time for the purpose of fishing without the consent of all contestants' involved. A boat moving from one area to another may infringe upon this zone as long and the parties that are moving do not fish and do not intentionally disrupt the area. Judging distance is very difficult on the water. As a general rule of sportsmanship all anglers should give all others enough room to make a reasonable cast to fish an area.

8. Alcoholic Beverages and Drugs:
At no time during tournament hours are alcoholic beverages or drugs other than prescription allowed.

9. Protest:
All protest must be submitted in writing before the tournament officials close the scales.

10. Individual Scoring:
Only black bass can be scored. Each individual may weigh in five (5) fish per day with NONE less than 12 inches in length, measured on a flat board, used by the weight committee, with the mouth closed and tail compressed. If anyone brings in more than five (5) bass, the largest bass will be rejected and faced a 4 oz. penalty. Dead bass will be 4 oz. penalty. Tournament standings will be determined by the total weight for the competition days of the tournament.  Any individual weighs in a fish in under 12” length will be assessed an 8 oz. penalty plus the loss of the illegal fish. Each fisherman is required to leave from and return to a specified checkpoint. Any team returning to the checkpoint late will be penalized at the rate of 1 lb. per minute up to 10 minutes. After 10 minutes no weight will be allowed.

11. Lunker Contest:
Based on the heaviest weight of a bass caught each day, a winner on a previous day will not be eligible for future competition in this category. If two contestants have the same weight at the end of the tournament, the contestant with the largest bass will be the lunker winner.

12. Team Scoring:
Each team considers two anglers combination of seven (7) bass total on a single day tournament, or first day of two days team tournament, and five (5) on second and final day of two day team tournament.  The standings will be determined by the total weight.

13. Rankings and Prizes:
The rankings will be based on total weight. If two contestants have the same weight at the end of the tournament the prize will be split. Cash and Prizes will be determined at tournament based on number of entries and sponsors. All entry fees will be 100% payback, plus 50% to 80% from all auctions/sponsors.

The event chairman and SVACCD reserves the rights to change or modify any rules/programs.  If any changes, the new changes would be announced at the meeting before the tournament.