[Tournament Rules and Frequently Asked Questions]

2011 Tournament Rules

Rule Changes:  These rules will remain unchanged.  Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director.  Failure to comply with any rule may result in disqualification.  The decision of the tournament director shall be final in all matters.

Entry Fees:  Walleye Tournament $150.00 per team/boat. Bass Tournament $150.00 per team/boat. Catfish Contest $25.00 per person.

Check In:  Check in will take place at the Mounds Beach area on Brookville Reservoir STARTING  at 7:00 am prompt on September 17, 2011  All team members must be present at check in for mandatory rules and safety briefing. YOU MAY LAUNCH FROM ANY RAMP BUT YOU MUST ARRIVE AT CHECK-IN BY BOAT.

Boat Inspection:  All teams are subject to inspection during the tournament.  Inspections may take place any time on the tournament day.  No boat may come in contact with another contestant’s boat during the tournament hours except in an emergency situation.  There will be a mandatory boat inspection prior to the tournament.

Safety:  Safe boating must be observed at all times.  Life jackets must be on and the safety switch must be attached when moving beyond idle speed.

Take off Procedures:  Walleye contestants will take off in numeric order at 8:00 a.m. Bass contestants will take off in numerical order at 8:30 a.m. Catfish only participants will take off after the last bass boat in numerical order. After you get your refreshments please start staging in numeric order the best you can on the south end of the beach. We will have a start pontoon that you must drive past. Remember, Walleye departs at 8:00 a.m. (Stage furthest to the south) while Bass and Catfish stage to the north end of the beach. Once the walleye boats depar, start staging for your take off at 8:30 a.m.

Tackle and Equipment:  Live Bait, artificial lures and trolling are all permitted. Two (2) lines only per person. Contestants must possess a valid fishing license. Cellular phones, CB and VHF radios are permitted for emergency use only.

Boat Troubles: If for some reason you break down, you may be towed in, but your fish must remain in your boat. NO TRANSFERING OF FISH FROM ONE BOAT TO ANOTHER. EVERYONE MUST ALSO ARRIVE ON TIME FOR WEIGH IN AT 4:00 p.m.

Sportsmanship:  All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation.  NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED AT ANY TIME.

Weather conditions:  Tournament officials will only begin the tournament during acceptable and usual weather conditions.  It is the sole responsibility of the contestants to be aware of changing weather conditions.  If unsafe conditions occur during the tournament hours, contestants must seek shelter until the weather passes.

Permitted Fishing Locations:  Use of the entire lake from the Dunlapsville Causeway Road Bridge south to the dam is allowed for this tournament.  Please observe other fisher people and hunters.  Walleye Fishing and Bass Fishing is conducted from boat only.  Catfish contestants may fish from either boat or bank.

Weigh-In/Check-In:  Teams must come to the official weigh-in site at Mounds Beach by water.  Teams must check in by the official check-in time or be disqualified for the day.  Boats within line of site and off plane are considered on-time. If you are late to weigh in you will count as a ZERO WEIGHT.

Walleye Takeoff: 8:00 a.m. – Weigh-in 4:00 p.m.
Bass Takeoff: 8:30 a.m. – Weigh-in 4:00 p.m.
Catfish Takeoff: 8:30 a.m. – Weigh-in 4:00 p.m.

Rules and Bag Limits:  All rules and regulations concerning this tournament are in effect during tournament hours.  Violation of any of these rules results in disqualification.

Tournament bag limits will be six (6) fish per team/boat for Walleye and Bass. Catfish participants can weigh 6 fish individually.

Example:   Walleye contestants can weigh 6 fish per boat.  Bass contestants can weigh 6 fish per boat. Catfish contestants can weigh 6 total fish individually. 

All Walleye must be fourteen (14) inches minimum length
All Bass must be fourteen (14) inches minimum length

Any short walleye or bass brought to the scales will result in disqualification of entire tournament weight.  This is a state regulation. 

Once to the scales, no swapping fish out will be allowed. 
A 1 lb penalty will be assessed for each dead fish deemed to be non-releasable.

Liability:  The Richard T. Gaston Memorial Fund, its officials, directors promoters, tournament officials, sponsors and organizations assisting in the tournament operations, their agencies, etc. are not responsible for death, injury, liability, theft, fire, damage, or loss of any kind to entrants.  Each entrant will be signing a waiver form. Disqualification from the tournament will result in loss of entry fees.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Walleye Team Tournament?
This tournament is our original event. It costs $150 for one team per boat. A team consists of two members. Anglers fish between the allotted times and then return to the beach for the weigh in. Up to six (6) qualifying fish can be weighed in.
Payment must be processed before the deadline in order to get your boat number -- NO EXCEPTIONS! 
Prize payouts can be found on the Register page.

What is the Big Fish Walleye Contest?
Each Walleye team member has the option of joining in the Big Fish Walleye Contest for $10.  It is an individual event.  All monies collected for this event are added together -- half of the money goes to the scholarship program and half goes to the participating angler with the greatest weight for a single qualifying walleye.

What is the Bass Team Tournament?

Like the Walleye, the Bass Tournament is a team event with two anglers per boat.  Anglers fish between the allotted times and then return to the beach for the weigh in. Up to six (6) qualifying fish can be weighed in.
Payment must be processed before the deadline in order to get your boat number -- NO EXCEPTIONS! 
Prize payouts can be found on the Register page.

What is the Bass Big Fish Contest?
Each Bass team member has the option of joining in the Big Fish Bass Contest for $10.  It is an individual event.  All monies collected for this event are added together -- half of the money goes to the scholarship program and half goes to the participating angler with the greatest weight for a single qualifying bass.

What is the Catfish Contest?
This is an individual event, though up to two anglers can share a boat.  Anglers can fish from boat or shore.  Anglers fish between the allotted times and then return to the beach for the weigh in. Up to six (6) qualifying fish can be weighed in.
Payment must be processed before the deadline in order to get your boat number -- NO EXCEPTIONS! 
Prize payouts can be found on the Register page.

What is the Catfish Big Fish Contest?
Just like the others, each Catfish angler has the option of joining in the Big Fish Catfish Contest for $10.  It is an individual event.  All monies collected for this event are added together -- half of the money goes to the scholarship program and half goes to the participating angler with the greatest weight for a single qualifying catfish.