RULES AND REGULATIONS
2025 Tournament Rules and Regulations
1. Rules: State regulations have precedent. The tournament director and/or committee will interpret the following rules. All decisions are final.
2. Eligibility: You must be a member of OKC Team Fishing Trail or a substitute for an existing team member to compete. Participation is open to anyone who is 18 years or older. Any person entering a tournament under the age of 18 must also have the signature of his/her parent or legal guardian on the membership form.
3. Entry Fees: Entry fees for 2025 tournaments are $100 for single day tourneys and $150 for the 2-day Championship. Fees are to be paid by the Friday at 5 PM before the official tournament date by Pay Pal only (Pay Pal Fees will apply). In the event of a tournament cancellation all entry fees will be refunded. If a tournament is canceled from weather, the event will be rescheduled. *Fees are subject to change before each season**
4. Departure and Return: The tournament will start at the designated Take-Off time and weigh in will be posted for each tournament. One member from each team will check in and draw for their take off position on the morning of the tournament 15 minutes prior to take off time. Trailering events may be held due to weather of lake traffic. Our biggest concern will always be the safety of our anglers.
5. Tackle and Equipment: Only artificial baits or lures may be used. Pork-Style baits are allowed. No trolling with the big motor. All fish must be caught with rod and reel.
6. Permitted Fishing Locations: Anywhere on the tournament lake that is within state law or specifically stated by the director will be off limits. Exception: All commercial lake marinas are off limits if the marina has a gas pump. You must keep 50 yards from any anglers anchored boat and a distance of 25 yards on any non-anchored boat unless with their permission. Fishing is allowed from boat only and you may not leave your boat in order to enter shallow water areas or to retrieve a fish.
7. Boats & Motors: Any legal boat 10 feet or longer may be used in the tournament. There is no minimum horsepower requirement. Every boat must have a working livewell. OKC Team Fishing Trail will require all boaters carry a minimum of liability insurance while participating in tournament events.
8. Safety & Sportsmanship: All state and local laws are enforced. Life jackets must be worn when boat is on plane. Running lights must be used in accordance with State Law. Any violation will result in disqualification.
9. Fishing Alone: Anglers may elect to fish without a partner.
10. Ties: In the case of a tie the winner will be the team with the most fish. If both teams have the same number of fish, the team with the heaviest fish will be the winner. Big Bass ties will be broken by most fish, then by the heaviest stringer. Weighing of big bass will be the responsibility of the anglers.
11. Substitutions: Teams may use their designated substitute in any event. You will be allowed to list 2 substitutes on your membership forms, these will be the only anglers allowed to fish for that team.
12. Protest: Any protest must be in writing and filed with tournament officials by the end of the weigh in.
13. No Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages or Cannabis products may not be consumed until your boat is secured and you fish have been weighed in.
14. Tournament Procedures: At weigh-in an official weigh in bag will be furnished for your fish. No baskets, stringers, or nets may be used to transport fish. You must use the tournament trail bags. Do not bring your own to the scales.
15. Late Penalty: You must have your take off number chip in the bucket by check in time or you will be considered late.1 pound per minute. After 10 minutes the team’s weight will be disqualified for that day.
16. Culling fish: Culling fish is allowed. Culling dead fish is NOT allowed. Do not discard of dead fish back to into the lake. Tournament trail will have disposal means available to anglers.
17. Scoring Length Limits: All limits will be 12" on all approved species of bass. (Largemouth, Spotted, and Smallmouth) unless stated by each individual lake.
18. 5 fish limit per team. Bass measurement will be with the mouth closed and tail pinched per state regulation. Short fish or slot fish will result in a one pound penalty and loss of fish. Dead fish will result in a 8 oz penalty. with only 1 dead fish allowed per team per weigh in (to be deleted). Total stringer weight per team will determine tournament rank.
19. Championship: Teams must fish in at least 4 of the tournaments to qualify for the Championship. Payment of entry fee denotes fishing in a tournament.
20. Anglers of the year: The team with the most points at the end of the regular season will be awarded AOY. Championship is not included in the points race. To be eligible for the award a team must fish in at least 4 tournaments and the Championship.
21. Point System: 1st place=100 points plus the tournament weight. 2nd place =99 points plus the tournament weight. No entry =0 points. Ties per the tournament will receive the same points. Ties for AOY will result in a fish-off at a lake selected by the Tournament Director.
22. Returning teams that wish to have their spot reserved for the next season by Dec.31 of each tournament year must fish (or pay entry) 4 out of the 5 regular season tournaments. If you do not fish the required amount your spot for the next season will not be held and you will have to wait until the open registration begins.
23. Dead Water time: Boats must be off the water by 6pm the day before a tournament
24. Payout schedule: 100% of entry fees will be paid out for the season. 1 place per 6 boats that have entered will be paid each tournament.
25. Refusal of Service: We hold the right to refuse service to any team or team member. Any team or team member that has conducted themselves in a manner of misconduct determined by their peers will be disqualified for the year and no money will be returned.
26. Annual Payouts: Team membership will be as follows $150.00 per team until the December 31st, January 1st membership will raise to $200 per team, and will be increased after the 1st and then again, the 2nd tournaments of the year. All membership fees will go towards the championship winnings less all fees associated with the trail accrued through the year.
27. AOY and Big Bass Payouts: AOY will be awarded a bonus of $1,000.00 to be paid out at the championship. Big Bass of the year will be awarded a bonus of $500.00 to be paid out at the championship.