OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES

Please read all official BassSplashBig tournament rules and regulations before signing the entry form or participating. The following items will be inspected during boat checks after weigh-ins. Violations will result in immediate disqualification:

  • Fishing License
  • Kill Switch
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Boat Registration
  • Horsepower Rating
  • Life Jackets

Tournaments proceed regardless of weather. Exercise caution if conditions threaten safety.

DECISIONS:

  1. The Tournament Director’s decisions are FINAL.
  2. Protests must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Director within 15 minutes of the designated weigh-in.

INFORMATION:

  1. Emergencies and hourly results will be announced via the OFFICIAL radio station. Bring a portable radio on your boat.

ELIGIBILITY:

  1. All State & Federal penal code laws apply at all times.
  2. All State, Coast Guard, and Federal Parks & Wildlife regulations apply.
  3. BassSplashBig is for amateurs. Those who have fished 5+ tournaments with entry fees over $1,000 in the past 12 months or provided paid guide services on the tournament lake within 90 days are ineligible.
  4. Contestants must carry a valid fishing license or email confirmation with expiration date for the tournament lake during weigh-ins.
  5. All boat occupants must be paid BassSplashBig contestants and follow all rules.
  6. Only paid contestants or tournament officials are allowed in a competitor’s boat during tournament hours.
  7. Rule violations lead to disqualification from this and future BassSplashBig tournaments.
  8. Bass caught by co-anglers in violation of rules will be disqualified.
  9. Those disqualified from prior tournaments may be denied entry.
  10. Tournament officials reserve the right to refuse any entry.
  11. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult with written parental permission.

REGISTRATION AND ENTRY FEE:

  1. Entry forms and full fees must be received before fishing.
  2. Once submitted, entry fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES:

  1. No alcohol consumption or storage is allowed in contestants’ boats during tournament hours, except for those who have completed fishing, boat inspection, and polygraph for the day.

SAFETY (MANDATORY):

  1. Boats must have an emergency ignition cut-off device (kill switch) for remote-steered outboards, attached to the operator when the main engine is running. Kill switches must stop the engine immediately. Hand-operated engines are exempt unless factory-equipped.
  2. Boat operators must show valid registration.
  3. US Coast Guard-approved life jackets are required for all occupants and must be worn and fastened when the main engine is running.
  4. Boats must not exceed the Coast Guard maximum horsepower rating.

PERMITTED FISHING AREAS & HOURS:

  1. Bass caught during tournament hours (6am–2pm) on the Official Tournament Lake can be weighed in during official weigh-in hours (7am–2pm) that day.
  2. No fishing during “Off Limits” periods (8pm the prior day to 6am each tournament day).
  3. Contestants may launch from any site on the Official Tournament Lake. No casting before 6am, per the Official Radio Station’s start-stop times.
  4. No fishing within 50 yards of a marina gas pump.

TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT:

  1. Bass must be caught on artificial bait by casting. No trolling with the main motor. Only one rod may be used at a time; spares are allowed.
  2. Bank fishing is permitted.
  3. No electronic tracking devices (e.g., microchips) may be used to locate fish, except depth finders and graph charts.

WEIGH-IN, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND CONSERVATION:

  1. Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation are required.
  2. Weighed bass become BassSplashBig property and will be released alive if possible.
  3. Contestants must bring their boat and partner(s) to the weigh-in site when weighing bass.
  4. Trailering is allowed.
  5. Bass must be alive and not on ice to be weighed.
  6. Bass must be in a weigh-in bag with water. Only one bass per bag.
  7. Contestants may weigh one bass per tournament hour. Hourly bass do not carry over; the biggest bass is entered for overall standings.
  8. Bass must be weighed by the contestant who caught it and held in their possession in the weigh-in line.
  9. Artificially weighed or preserved bass will be disqualified, with potential federal prosecution.
  10. Questionable entries may be inspected by a marine biologist or State Parks & Wildlife expert.
  11. Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Kentucky Spotted Bass (Black Bass) are eligible.
  12. Minimum bass length: 14 inches (Sam Rayburn & Toledo Bend), 15 inches (Guntersville). Lake Fork’s slot limit is per Texas Parks & Wildlife. The CHECK-IT-STIK is the official measuring board.
  13. No contestant may possess more than three bass at any time during tournament hours. Only one bass can be weighed per hour.
  14. Mandatory catch-and-release during tournament hours. All bass must be released into tournament waters after each day.
  15. Contestants must manage litter and dispose of trash properly.

POLYGRAPH:

  1. By entering, contestants agree to polygraph examinations.
  2. Random polygraphs will be conducted and must be passed.
  3. After each hour, random polygraphs will be administered. Hourly winners, their partners, and boats must remain at the site until winners are official, or face disqualification.
  4. Contestants found intoxicated, using illegal drugs, or violating rules during polygraph testing will be disqualified from this and future tournaments.
  5. Possession of illegal substances may lead to disqualification and prosecution.

BOAT INSPECTION:
By entering, contestants consent to boat inspections by BassSplashBig officials at any time, including checks of registration, horsepower rating, live wells, rod boxes, storage, tackle boxes, life jackets, PFDs, and safety equipment. Refer to the checklist above.