Interpretation and enforcement of the following rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. In the event of a rule violation, the tournament director may impose such sanctions, as he deems appropriate.

 1.  There is a one-time yearly membership fee of $20.00 per person.  This must also be paid by all subs.

 2.  Entry fee is $100.00 per boat, fishing team or single.  Payback is 90%.  The Classic fund will receive $20.00 per entry.  The payback will be $70.00 per boat.  We will pay back 1 spot for every 5 boats.  On a field of 50 boats or more, we will guarantee $1,150.00 for first place.

 3.  Entries will be received as a team entry or single entry.  If you enter to fish singly, you must do so for all 5 Classic qualifiers to retain your points.  If you enter as a team, you will be allowed to use one sub per season per team, or you may fish alone.  Everyone must check in prior to the pre tournament meeting.  You must decide on your team or single classification on your first entry.

 4.  There will be a 5 fish limit of bass, largemouth or smallmouth, whether you are fishing as a team or singly.  Fish must be 14" or longer, mouth closed.  Short fish are thrown back along with your biggest fish.  Dead fish are penalized 4 ounces (.250 in hundreths).  You must cull down to 5 fish before moving with your combustion motor.

 5.  Total weight determines the winning team.  We will use Big Bass as a tiebreaker for total weight, and total weight as a tiebreaker for Big Bass.

 6.  Lake Michigan will be open water as long as weather permits.  Off limits will be set at the pre tournament meeting.  You may not fish within 50 yards of a gas dock or of a competitor’s boat if it is anchored (trolling motor up and anchor down).

 7.  We will use a 100-point system.  First = 100 points, second = 99 points, etc.  Total points as the end of the 5th Classic qualifier will determine the final standings.  We will average the entrants in the 5 classic qualifiers and the top 25% will be invited to the classic. Any boat that fished team or single in all 5 Classic qualifiers will go into a drawing for the wildcard team to attend the Classic.  The #1 team of the year will draw that boat #.  Any team fishing all five Classic qualifiers will receive 20 bonus points.

 8.  The Classic location will be announced at the end of the 5th qualifier.  This body of water will be off limits until the day prior to the Classic date.  The day prior to the classic will be an optional practice day (safe conditions until 3:00 PM), with an optional big bass pot.

 9.  Anglers must practice a high level of sportsmanship, safety and courtesy during tournament hours.  No alcohol or drugs are to be used during tournament hours (until after paychecks are awarded).  This is an automatic disqualification.

 10. Any violation of Federal, State or Local Laws is an automatic disqualification.  Observation of no wake zones and having proper safety equipment are your responsibility.  NO WAKE NO PASS

 11.  At least one member of each team must be 18 years of age and have a valid driver’s license.  Each team member or single angler must complete and sign the entry form and pay the entry fee.

 12. Big Bass is optional and will be paid back 100%.  60% to first place and 40% to second place.

 13. Approved life vests must be worn while moving with the combustion engine.                                              

 14. Kill switches must be used when the combustion engine is running.

 15. Only one rod & reel (8 ft. Maximum length) may be used at a time.  Artificial lures only - except pork strips.  No trolling.

 16.  The horsepower of the outboard motor must not exceed the boat (bia) rating.  All boats shall have the required Coast Guard safety equipment, functional kill switch, live well with aeration system.

 17. You must leave and return to the tournament site by boat.  If you break down, one person from the team may return in another contestant’s boat with the fish to be weighed in.

 18. MANDATORY - all boats must check in at the end of each tournament.  It is your responsibility to find the check in person.  You must check in by 3:00 P.M. , first flight, 3:15 P.M. second flight, not after you load up or while you are weighing in even if you have no fish to weigh.  If you do not check in on time, you are disqualified for that event and forfeit your 20 bonus points.  Do not bring up fish to be weighed until called for.