rules

BIG CRAPPIE CHALLENGE – OFFICIAL RULES:
1. The Event director and/or Event staff shall make the final decision on all matters relating to the Big Crappie Challenge.
2. These Rules and regulations are the Official Rules (“Rules”) of the Big Crappie Challenge (“Event”).
3. Participants acknowledge and agree that they have reviewed, understand, and will abide by the Rules as posted on our official website. Participants willingly agree to comply with the Rules for participation in the Event.
4. By signature on the online/print entry form and/or participation in the Event, angler agrees to the Participant Agreement, Release, & Acknowledgement of Risk associated with the Event.
5. All Local, State, and Federal laws shall apply at all times including, without limitation, the penal code.
6. All Local, State, U.S. Coast Guard, Parks & Wildlife, and Federal boating and fishing regulations shall apply at all times.
7. In the event there is a discrepancy between the printed version of the rules and the digital version of the Rules, the Rules posted on the official website at the time of the Event shall prevail.
8. The Big Crappie Challenge reserves the right to have an observer/camera boat follow a competitor(s) boat or place an observer in a competitor(s) boat at any time during the Event. Refusal of this will result in disqualification.

EVENT PARTICIPATION & ELIGIBILITY:
1. Each person in the boat must be a paid contestant of the Event and abide by the Rules. An exception could be made for a non-paid person to ride along for medical/safety reasons (must have director’s approval). The number of anglers per boat must not exceed the U.S. Coast Guard capacity rating set for the boat.
2. Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times during the Event, minors cannot fish alone. Parent/guardian signature release is mandatory on the entry form for anyone under 18 years of age.
3. Anyone who has failed a polygraph/cvsa examination and/or been disqualified for fraudulent actions in connection with any fishing tournament may not be eligible to compete.
4. Any participant who enters this Event, and is determined to be ineligible, will be removed from competition immediately and will forfeit the entry fee (or entry fees).
5. If you have provided guide service or instructional fishing for any species, for pay, on the tournament lake within 1 year prior to the start of the tournament, you are ineligible to fish.
6. Use of or fishing with a professional guide is prohibited during the week (7 days) prior to the starting time of the Event.
7. If you have made more than $12,000 in crappie tournament winnings (including cash, incentive money, and/or prizes) within one year prior to the start of the tournament, you are ineligible to fish. Big Crappie Challenge winnings and Draw Boat prizes are excluded from this rule.
8. If the majority of your income derives from fishing related videos, instructional videos, or internet content, you are ineligible.
9. Boat owners must carry a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance on their boat (kayaks would be excluded from this rule) Proof of insurance may be asked for at any time.
10. Kayakers are eligible to fish. You must use proper fish care utilizing a livewell/stringer.
11. Event officials reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone in their sole discretion. If you have a question regarding your eligibility, please contact us for the final decision.

REGISTRATION & ENTRY FEE:
1. A completed entry form with paid entry fee must be received prior to fishing this Event.
2. There will be no refunds or transfer of the entry fee unless an Event is cancelled in advance. Tournament will be held regardless of weather. Should conditions threaten safety, please use caution and seek safety on or off the water if need be.
3. Registration will close one (1) hour after the start of the tournament each day of the Event.
4. Checks will not be accepted when registering at the lake, cash or credit card only.
5. All participants must complete and submit a Check Claim Form prior to receiving any prize money.
6. If the participant registered for the Event online, the participant is not required to attend onsite registration prior to the Event. There is no meeting to attend prior to the Event.
7. Payment of the entry fee constitutes a representation by each Participant that he/she has read and understands the Rules and the participant will abide by such Rules and the decisions of the Event director and/or Event staff.

INTERPRETATION & DISCIPLINE:
1. Participants agree to abide by the Event Rules and any decisions of the Event director and/or Event staff.
2. Interpretation and enforcement of the Rules shall be left to the sole and exclusive discretion of the Event director and/or the Event staff. In the event a participant violates any rule set forth in the Rules or, at the discretion of the Event director, other rule not specifically codified herein, the Event director and/or Event staff may impose a penalty and/or sanction on the participant (including but not limited to any other participant competing from the same boat). Such penalties and sanctions may include disqualification from the Event and future events, reduction of competition hours, loss of one or more fish, loss of catch of the day, disqualification from a specific time slot, disqualification from the Event, disqualification from future events which may include a specific number of events, a specific time period, or a lifetime disqualification, loss of entry fee, forfeiture of Event winnings and/or prizes, and any other penalty determined by the Event director or his/her designee and/or the Event staff.

SAFETY:
1. Participants are aware that they are participating in a physical activity in the sport of fishing that may be dangerous and can cause injury. These activities may involve severe cardiovascular stress and possible violent contact. Participants understand and acknowledge the activities involve certain risks including, but not limited to, death, serious neck and spinal injuries resulting in complete or partial paralysis, brain damage, and/or serious injury to virtually all bones, joints, muscles and internal organs, and property damage. Although particular Rules, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce the risks associated with participating in the Event, the risk of serious injury does exist and cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of significant weather conditions during competition, please use caution. Seek cover or leave the water if need be. The Event director, Event staff, Event sponsors, officers, employees, host weigh-in locations, etc. will not be responsible for boating or water accidents. Each tournament contestant will be solely responsible for his/her actions with regard to inclement weather or any other potentially dangerous situation which may arise. The contestant assumes the risk of any and all damages or injury of any nature which may result from any source during the Event. Should any contestant be a minor, a parent/guardian shall grant such release on the part of the minor.
2. During Event hours, no alcoholic beverages, marijuana (recreational or prescribed), controlled substances  or medication (other than those purchased over-the-counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) are to be consumed by participants or allowed in participants boat until the final bi-hourly weigh-in is complete and/or polygraph or cvsa examinations are complete.
3. All boats must be equipped with some type of emergency ignition cut-off device (kill switch) on any remote steered outboard while main engine is in use. Ignition cut-off device (kill switch) must operate properly, which means when the kill switch is activated the outboard main engine must stop running immediately. The ignition cut-off device (kill switch) must be attached to the boat operator at all times while the outboard main engine is in use.
4. U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets are required for each person on board a boat during competition. Life jackets must be worn and strapped, snapped, or zippered
securely, and maintained in that condition until the combustion engine is out of gear or shut off. Participants shall check inflatable life vest indicators daily during the Event. Any participant in violation of this rule will receive one (1) warning and may be prohibited from weighing in during that respective time slot. Any subsequent violation of this rule may result in the participant(s) being disqualified for the remainder of that day of competition.
5. Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by all participants.
6. No boat shall have a motor of higher horsepower than the approved Coast Guard maximum.
7. Running lights are mandatory and must be on and functioning if you are on the water before daylight. If Participant is on the water prior to the official start time of the Event, idle only speed and safe conduct must be observed at all times until safe light conditions are present.
8. Each participant is responsible for determining whether they can safely launch, navigate, and operate their vessel based on weather conditions, visibility, and other factors affecting safe boating. Any activity or vessel operation is undertaken entirely at the participant’s own risk. 

PERMITTED FISHING AREAS & HOURS:
1. The Event off limit times “FROM FISHING” are from 7pm prior to each tournament day and ends at official start time each morning.
2. There is no formal launch site for the Event. Participants may leave from any launch site on the tournament lake on the Event day, at any time; however, the participant may not begin casting until the Event has officially started.
3. All fish must be caught on and within the official designated Event waters during official Event hours. Permitted fishing areas are anywhere on the tournament waters available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas designated as “off limits” or “no fishing” by Local, State, or Federal officials, or within 50 yards of a competitor’s boat that was first anchored.
4. No fishing is allowed inside the buoys at the Grand Glaize State Park (PB#2) at Lake of the Ozarks.
5. No fishing shall occur within fifty (50) yards of a marina gas pump.
6. No participant may leave his or her boat to access a fishing location or to land a fish.
7. No participant can have a fishing location held for them.

WEIGH-IN RULES & REGULATIONS:
1. All crappie weighed-in will become the property of the Event and will be released back into the lake alive, if possible.
2. You cannot trailer your boat once you launch in the morning (excluding safety/health/mechanical issues). You must come to the weigh-in by water. Bank or dock fishing is not allowed in this Event.
3. When weighing in, you must be past the marked banners and in line at the holding tanks to be included in that time slot. You may leave the weigh in tanks and return to your boat if you decide not to weigh in a respective time slot.
4. All crappie brought to the official weigh-in stations must be in a weigh bag with adequate water. If a participant does not have a weigh bag, one will be provided by Event staff.
5. A dead fish will not be weighed in.
6. No participant may weigh more than one (1) crappie per time slot. Crappie entered into a bi-hourly time slot do not carry over from time slot to time slot. The biggest (heaviest) crappie per participant will go towards the final overall standings, meaning you can only win one (1) of the top overall prizes.
7. Crappie must be weighed-in by the participant who originally caught the crappie and it must be in said participant’s actual physical possession in the weigh-in line. (The only exception to this rule would be if one of the tournament participants is disabled. In this case, we will allow another participant to bring the fish to the weigh-in scales).
8. No participant can have more than one (1) fish in their weigh-in bag when weighing in. No sharing of fish is allowed, although you can help net a fish.
9. Each participant may have no more than three (3) crappie in their possession at any time during official Event hours (culling is allowed). Participants must start each tournament day with an empty (free of fish) livewell/stringer. Crappie must be weighed in the same day they are caught.
10. All crappie must be a minimum of 9 inches in length, a short fish will not be weighed in.
11. A crappie will only be weighed one time, then turned over to Event staff for release. Tournament officials and/or weigh masters could reweigh if deemed necessary.
12. Any artificially weighted crappie will be disqualified and the participant may be subject to prosecution and shall be disqualified from all future events. Metal detector wands will used at all weigh-in stations. The top 3 overall crappie weighed in at this Event may be filleted and checked for any foreign objects. Any questionable fish may be subject to inspection by the Event director/staff, Park/Wildlife agent, marine biologist, or similarly qualified expert.

TACKLE & EQUIPMENT:
1. Artificial and live bait may be used in this Event.
2. Spider rigging, trolling, and forward facing sonar are allowed (max of 3 rods per angler).
3. No electronic tracking device (implanted microchips) may be used to locate fish for Event purposes.

SPORTSMANSHIP & CONSERVATION:
1. Any artificially or preserved crappie will be disqualified and that Participant will be subject to prosecution under federal law.
2. Participants must have an operating livewell to keep their crappie in. (An aerator in an ice chest or stringer is acceptable).
3. Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation are required from every participant. Participants shall demonstrate professionalism and integrity in support of the sport of fishing. This includes any and all social media content that may be shared now or in the future. Any participant found compromising the integrity of the sport and/or the Event may be subject to disciplinary action and/or disqualification.
4. The favorable public reputation of the Event, the sport of fishing, the Event director, Event staff, sponsors, partners and officials is of paramount importance. Accordingly, participants shall refrain from making unreasonable attacks, accusations, and comments that disparage the integrity of the Event, the sport of fishing, the Event director, Event staff, sponsors, partners and officials. This includes but is not limited to the participants social media accounts and digital sites.
5. Participants shall act in a courteous manner at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of other participants and non-participants who may be on Event waters.
6. Any participant attempting to manipulate the outcome of the Event or defraud the Big Crappie Challenge will be disqualified and may be subject to prosecution.

BOAT INSPECTION:
1. All participants, by entering this Event, hereby agree to allow their boat to be boarded and inspected by Event officials at any time prior to, during, or following the Event, to include, but not limited to, their boat registration, U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate, live-well, rod boxes, closed storage compartments, tackle boxes, life jackets, personal floatation devices, and safety equipment.
2. The Event cooperates with local law enforcement, park rangers and fish/wildlife officers. If any participant is found to be in violation of local, state or federal laws during Event hours, participant(s) will be disqualified and unable to compete in future tournaments.

TIES:
1. All ties will be broken by the participant who weighed in first (earliest weigh-in time documented on weigh-in slip). If weigh-in times are the exact same a tie breaker will be determined by earliest application entry. In the event that two tied winners enter on the same day at the same time (possible by entry at different locations accepting entries) winnings will be split evenly between the two participants.

POLYGRAPH AND/OR CVSA EXAMINATION / PRIZE MONEY:
1. Participant agrees to submit to a polygraph/cvsa examination and agrees to provide truthful and honest responses as to be determined by the polygraph/cvsa examiner.
2. Refusing to take a polygraph/cvsa examination for any reason will result in immediate disqualification.
3. Any participant taking medication should notify the polygraph/cvsa examiner prior to the examination.
4. Any participant determined by the polygraph/cvsa examiner and/or other Event officials to be intoxicated and/or under the influence of any type of illegal drug(s) at the time said participant is required to take the polygraph/cvsa examination, may be disqualified from the Event.
5. Participants acknowledge and agree that Event may disclose the results of the polygraph/cvsa exam. Whether disclosure occurs is at the sole discretion of the Event director/staff.
6. By his/her signature on the Event entry form and/or other required documents, by entering the Event online/mail, or by participation in the Event, each participant agrees to submit to a polygraph/cvsa examination. Each participant shall abide by the conclusion reached by the examination administrator and, specifically, whether the participant provided honest and truthful responses. Participants must pass the polygraph/cvsa examination or be removed from competition and forfeit any winnings.
7. At the sole discretion of the Event director, Event staff, or his/her designee, random polygraph/cvsa examinations may be administered during the Event. The top overall winners at each Event must be present at the awards ceremony to receive their prize money and submit to and pass a polygraph/cvsa examination, if not already taken. Any participant who takes a polygraph/cvsa exam must successfully pass the exam at the tournament site to receive prize money.

PROTESTS & DISPUTES:
1. All protests or disputes relating to any matter involving the Rules and/or the Event must be registered in writing with the Event director and/or Event staff within fifteen (15) minutes of the official closing of the scales at each tournament day. Protests made after the deadline will be disregarded and the protesting participant may be subject to disqualification. Failed polygraph/cvsa examinations are non disputable and the results are final.
2. Any protest filed by a participant shall be heard by the Event staff. After reviewing the protest submitted, the Event director shall inform the protesting participant of the Event staff’s decision. The Event staff’s decision is final and not subject to further appeal.
3. The interpretation and enforcement of the Rules will be the sole responsibility of the Event director and, if protested, the Event staff. The Event director has the right to cancel the Event for any reason. Shall this occur, a refund will be given to each contestant. The tournament could be postponed and date of tournament rescheduled due to reasons beyond our control. The Event director reserves the rights to waive any violation of these rules that are disclosed to him before the polygraph/cvsa exam, in his sole and absolute discretion.
The Event Director and/or Event Staff shall have the final decision on all matters relating to the Big Crappie Challenge.