1. Teams will consist of one or two persons with two exceptions. A third person may accompany the team provided that person is 16 years of age or younger, or is 65 years of age or older. Members of the media will be allowed to ride with the teams in the performance of their job duties. However, the tournament organizers must approve this situation in advance. The four rod limit still applies in these situations.
2. In case of extreme water or weather conditions, TCCA reserves the right to cancel or postpone an event up to tournament time with a refund of paid money for that event.
3. Tournament sign-up will begin one hour prior to the scheduled fishing time.
4. Teams must compete from a boat and remain in the boat during tournament hours.
5. Fishing within 50 yards of a previously anchored boat is prohibited.
6. All fish weighed in must be caught by rod and reel during tournament hours.
7. Teams must comply with all federal and state regulations concerning fishing and the use of PFD’s, kill switches, navigation lights, etc.
8. Any legal, commercial or natural bait will be allowed. No chumming or fishing baited holes.
9. Fish must be at least 14 inches in length and alive to weigh. DO NOT BRING DEAD FISH TO THE SCALE, THIS WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.
10. Blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish may be weighed. ALL WEIGHED FISH MUST BE RELEASED.
11. Fish must be kept in an aerated live well. ABSOLUTELY NO STRINGERS OR WIRE BASKETS.
12. Tournament limit is six fish per boat. Big Fish will count towards the team’s total weight. DO NOT BRING MORE THAN SIX FISH TO THE SCALE, THIS WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.
13. The use of mobile communication devices to communicate FISHING information is prohibited.
14. In case of a tie; a coin flip will determine the winner, or the teams may mutually decide to pool the prize money and split the total 50/50.
15. Any protest must be submitted, in writing, to the tournament organizers within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the event. A protest must state and explain the rule numbers that may have been broken. The tournament committee will then investigate the situation and render a final decision.
16. Arguing and fighting between participants before, during or after an event will result in one verbal warning for the behavior to stop. If that warning is not heeded then the parties involved will be disqualified from current and future events.
17. Fishing will be allowed on the Illinois River and any tributaries or backwaters that are legally accessible by boat.
18. TOURNAMENT PARTICIPATION IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. TCCA. IT’S AGENTS, COSIGNS, AND HEIRS ASSUME NO RESOONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENTS OR BOATING VIOLATIONS.
19. Boats will be released to start fishing from the boat launch, by either a “shotgun” type start or by boat number. Boat numbers will be chosen by random draw of all involved teams. Tournament organizers will determine the method by the number of boats entered in the event.
20. Have fun and catch some fish.