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Rules and Regulations The Rules & Regulations set forth are to guide all catfish Nation Chapter tournaments and events. All content is copyrighted and cannot be used or reproduced without the written consent of Tim Hagan Outdoors, P O BOX 45, Walkersville, Maryland 21793 301-524-7486 Catfish Nation Goal It will be the goal of Tim Hagan Outdoors and all Catfish Nation Chapters to run a quality catfish tournament trail. Open to all who enjoy fishing for catfish and at the same time offer the highest possible payout. While uniting Catfish angler all around the country into one big family of anglers who love and enjoy the outdoors. And by teaching others as well to respect and enjoy all that is there for us to enjoy in the great outdoors. **A few Rules have been added for 2009 they are in red read them** 2009 MARYLAND CHAPTER RULES Membership 1. The cost of a Catfish Nation membership will be $25.00 per person Annually and will start on the date your payment is made. 2. All Children 16 years of age and under can join for free with a paid member. Chapters will need to sign them up as well. 3. 100% of membership fee will go to Catfish Nation Headquarters. 4. Membership is subject to approval by Chapter Officers & Catfish Nation Headquarters . 5. Membership is purchased with the understanding that all chapter rules will be obeyed at all time. Tournament Entry Fee's & Payout 1. All tournaments will have a $40.00 entry fee with an 80% payback of entry fees. The 20% will go to championship tournament Payouts for Chapter Champs & Angler of the year to the top 3 places. 2. All entry fees must be paid prior to the start of the tournament. 3. Only cash will be accepted at the tournament site . 4. No credit will be extended to any team. 5. Chapter Championship tournaments will be one day tournaments and will be the same as a season tournament with $40.00 & $10.00 but will have 100% payback of entry fee‘s. 6. You must fish in 60% of that chapter tournaments as a member for that season to fish in the championship tournament for that chapter to fish for Chapter Championship prize money. All other members and guest may fish in a guest class tournament that will be run along with the championship tournament. This will have a 100% payout base on the entrys in that class New teams or members that join after the season has started and have not fish in a catfish nation tournament in the last 12 months will need to fish 60% of the tournament that are remaining for that chapters season to fish in the championship 7. All regular season tournaments will payback 80% of entry fees. 1-4 teams 1st place 5-8 teams 2 places 9-15 teams 3 places 16-30 teams 4 places 31-45 teams 5 places 46-60 teams 6 places 61+ teams 7 places 8. Biggest fish jackpot will be $10.00 per team with 100% payback. Big fish jack pot will be slip as followed. only one fish per team 1-8 teams 1 place [100%] 9-16 teams 2 places [70 /30 ] 17-24 teams 3 places [60/25/15] 25 + teams 4 places [50/25/15/10] Chapter Tournament Awards Certificates will come from Catfish Nation Headquarters that will be awarded to 1st thur 4th places for all chapter tournaments to members only, and will be send to each chapter right before their championship tournament along with Championship & Angler of the year awards. Chapters may also buy Plaques if they like Angler Of The Year 1. All tournament will be run on a 100 point system with 100 points for 1st , 99 for 2nd ,98 for 3rd etc..... Chapters will count 60% of there tournaments for angler of the year points 2. The angler or team with the highest point total at the end of the season will be awarded Angler of the year . 3. Angler of the year will pay money to the top three places for that season. 4. If it is won by a team they will split that place prizes money. 5. If two Anglers or teams end up tied for Angler of the year award. The money will be slip Teams 1. A limit of no more than 4 anglers per boat. [this will be for all chapters] as our goal is to draw more anglers into the sport. The rod limit per boat will keep all teams fishing at the same level. Rod limits will be set by each chapter for their state limit. Limits will be set based on a 2 angler Team , if your state has a 3 rod per person limit then you team limit will be 6 rods. Chapters where no limit is set by law we will fish with no more than 10 rods per team. 2. Non-members may fish in the tournament but will not be awarded tournament points or a spot in the championship tournament. 3. Non- members may join the same day of the tournament after the tournament has ended and will be awarded points for that tournament. But must join the day at the tournament to be awarded points for that tournament. Pre-Fishing 1. Pre-fishing will be allowed at all tournaments BUT MUST STOP 12 hours before the start time of any tournament. 2. Anglers maybe on the water to catch bait for the tournaments only with in the 12 hours before that tournament set start time. Guides 1. Guides are welcome to fish any tournament on a body of water in which they guide. But may not have fished that body of water in the last 12 hours Protest 1. All protest must be brought to the Chapter President or Vice President in writing within 10 minutes after weigh in with the $50.00 protest fee. if you protest and win you get it back if you don't it will stay with the chapter money. A protest need to be looked at and voted on by all officers who are their at that time LOGO The Catfish Nation and it's Logo are the property of Tim Hagan /Catfish Nation and are copyrighted. No unauthorized use of the Catfish Nation name and or Logo is allowed without written consent from Tim Hagan * Alcoholic Beverages* 1. NO Alcoholic beverages may be consumed during tournament hours. 2. NO Alcoholic beverages may be in the possession of any team during tournament hours. 3. No Possession and Consumption of illegal drugs will be allowed. Tackle 1. A limit of 10 rods per boat where no limits are set buy the state, Chapter with rod limits will set their rod limit based on a 2 angler team. 2. All tackle must meet state laws to be used in that chapters tournaments 3. Any bait maybe used unless it is restricted by law. 4. No Stringers maybe used at any time for any Tournament fish. You must have a live well or decoy bag . This must be able to handle the amount of fish for that tournament( if a tournament is on a place that can bring 50 lbs of fish all live wells or decoy bag must handle them) or that boat may not fish in that tournament. THIS IS A MUST AND NEEDS TO BE CHECKED. When you do a live well check this needs to be one thing you look at as well. Weigh in Procedures 1. Each team will take off in the order they signed up. This can be done at the last tournament, by phone or on the discussion forum. This is done to let the chapters have your paper work done ahead of time. 2. Once a tournament has started it will end at the scheduled time. 2. A members of each team must check in with a tournament official before the tournament deadline. If it’s 4:00 YOU ARE LATE AT 4:01 3. Fish must be moved from the boat to the scale in plastic tubs. Each Chapter will have them at the tournament for you to use. 4. Not more that two teams maybe at the scales with fish at the same time. 5. Any catfish over 12" maybe weighed in Channel, Blue, Flathead etc... 6. No dead fish will be weighed in at any tournament. A fish must swim away on its own within 10 min after it has been weighed in to be counted as alive fish. A officer needs to be where the fish are returned to see that this happens. All fish will be put back into to water at the boat ramp or weigh in site. 7. ALL FISH must be caught on rod & reel within tournament hours and from the body of water set for that tournament or feeder creeks for the body of water. 8. The number of fish or kind of catfish for a tournament may very. Always check to know what tournament you are fishing. Total weight, target weight etc… Boat & Bank Fishing 1. All Boats must meet State boats regulations to enter a tournament 2. All boats will be checked by a tournament official 3. ALL BOATS MUST HAVE A WORKING LIVE WELL OR DECOY BAG TO HANDLE FISH FOR THAT TOURNAMENT to enter that tournament. 4. Life vest must be worn at take off 5. Bank fishing will be allowed in some tournaments check with your chapter first before you enter to fish. Bank fishing most be done from the weigh in site, angler may walk to there fishing spots only. You may not drive to a fishing spot to fish. 6. Boat anglers must fish from there boat at all times. 6. Boats need to be 100 yards apart when fishing at all times on big rivers. 50 yards apart on smaller rivers. 7. No Trailering of boats will be allowed at any time in any Catfish Nation Tournament on a river. Some chapters may allow trailering on smaller lakes check with the chapter first 8. All anglers must sign a waiver in order to fish in any Catfish Nation tournament. |