PRAIRIELAND "EYES" INC.
Illinois Walleye Trail Tournament Rules
A. Prairieland "Eyes", Inc, tournament must be
entered and fished according to their rules and regulations. All entry fees
must be paid in full. All fees must be sent to Prairieland "Eyes",
Inc, office at
B. Contestants must enter as two-person teams. Fishing alone is allowed, if a situation arises and is approved by the director where only one member of the team is able to participate.
C. All tournament participants must posses a valid fishing license.
D. Take off position will be assigned by the date entries are received.
E. Disqualification from the tournament for any reason will result in forfeiture of entry fee.
F. A rules meeting will be held at 6:45 a.m. prior to the tournament. At least one team member must attend. Failure to show is disqualification without approval from Director.
A. All boats will be inspected by 6:30 a.m. or take off position will be lost. All contestants must start from and return to the launch site. Teams not checking in after days fishing will be disqualified for that day. All fishing must be done from a tournament-inspected boat.
B. All teams are subject to inspection during the tournament; patrol boats may come alongside and conduct inspections at any time. No other boats may come in contact with contestants' boats. No fishing information may be given to contestants during tournament fishing hours by tournament or non-tournament anglers.
A. On tournament days, contestants are prohibited from fishing except during designated fishing hours. Contestants must stay off tournament waters before and after tournament hours except to navigate to the check-in site and launch facilities.
B. All state rules regarding fishing will be observed unless the Tournament Director specifies more stringent regulations. Only those fish caught on hook and line in a normal and usual manner will be accepted. Live bait and artificial lures are permissible. Only 2 rods per person allowed during tournament hours.
C. All fish weighed must be kept in aerated live wells to keep fish alive and as fresh as possible for release.
D. Late is LATE you will be disqualified after 3:00 p.m.
E. If you breakdown on the water, one member can ride in with another tournament boat to weigh-in if acceptable to both teams.
A. Tournament will be Catch and Release.
B. Walleye, Sauger, and Saugeye will be weighed. The minimum length is 14". Teams will be allowed to weigh a maximum of six (6) eligible fish per boat (team) per day.
C. The official ruler will be "The Judge" Fish will be measured mouth closed and tail squeezed.
D. If a short fish is presented for weigh-in, you will disqualified from the tournament.
E. A .20-pound deduction will be made for each fish determined to be dead.
F. At least one team member must accompany the catch to the scale. Each team must initial the official weigh-in slip and will receive a copy for their record.
A. Each contestant must observe safe boating conduct at all times.
B. Each contestant, under penalty of disqualification for that day, must wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device and have the engine kill switch (console and tiller boats) attached to the boat operator at all times when the combustion engine is operating above idle.
C. During Tournament hours, marine radios and cell phones are to be used only for emergency or safety reasons. Any transmission of information via any communicative device concerning any aspect of fishing is prohibited during the tournament.
D. All outboard motors used in tournament competition will not exceed the horsepower limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard.
E. In the event of a thunderstorm, lightning, or severe weather, contestants may pull into the nearest shoreline until it is safe to continue fishing. Contestants may not leave their boats during tournament hours except at the official weigh-in station or if severe weather forces them ashore.
F. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs may be possessed or consumed by contestants during tournament hours.
A. Contestants will conduct themselves in a true sportsmanlike, courteous, safe, and ethical manner when fishing. Any unfavorable conduct or action by a contestant, which could negatively reflect on the tournament, will be grounds for disqualification or rejection of the entry application.
B. The Tournament Director or any participating angler
has the right to protest another team. All protests must be made in writing to
the Tournament Director within 20 minutes of the completion of daily weigh-in.
A $150 protest fee must accompany each written protest. The fee will be
returned if the protest is found valid. Following interviews with concerned
parties, a ruling will be made. In the event rules infractions are brought to the
Tournament Director's attention and investigation, indicates a violation
occurred; a penalty of daily and /or tournament weight may be made and cash
prizes and awards must be returned if so requested. A polygraph may be utilized
if so decided by the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director will
interpret rules according to the spirit and intent of the rule and his decision
in all disputes is final. If the protest is valid, the disqualified party must
pay all investigative costs, including the polygraph. If the protest is
invalid, the fee will not be returned and the protesting team must pay all
investigative costs including the polygraph.
A. Contestants acknowledge that they are participating
voluntarily in the Prairieland "Eyes" Walleye Trail. Contestants
agree to assume all risks or injury, death, damages, theft and loss to personal
property, which may result from their participation in the Paririeland
"Eyes" Walleye Trail. Contestants recognize that loss of property,
injury, or death could arise from the fishing and boats activities contemplated
by the tournament and the risk normally encountered in open water fishing from
a boat maybe enhanced exposure to the elements and other risk inherent in
outdoor competition. Contestants warrant that they in good physical and mental
health and physically capable of with standing the rigors and requirements of
professional fishing competition.
B. Verification of liability insurance. Contestants
maintain a minimum of $100,000 of liability insurance on the boat used in this
tournament
A refund will only be made if
proper notification is made to Prairieland "Eyes", Inc. up to 2 weeks
Prior to the tournaments date. A $50.00 cancellation charge will apply. The
refund check will be made Out to both parties. Entry to a tournament can be
transferred to the next event with 48 hours notice.
Each team Will identify a
Captain. The Captain will earn the points from each Tournament. Points will be
awarded, starting with 200 for 1st place, descending in one point increments,
example, 2nd place, 199, 3rd place, 198, etc., etc., the 2-day state tournament,
will be worth double points, i.e. 400 for 1st place, 399 for 2nd place, etc.,
etc. If a team catches no fish 25 show points will be awarded. The team with
the highest point total, after all 6 tournaments, will receive 80% of the
Walleye Anglers Fund. The team that has the next highest points, will receive
the balance of the fund. Points will not be transferable to another team, if a
situation arises, and the captain will not be able to fish, his team can still
earn the points, as long as his partner, has fished with him, in a qualifying
tournament, in that year. In case of a tie for the Walleye Anglers of the Year
Award and Money the tie will be broken by the largest fish weighed on Saturday.
If there is still a tie the Largest fish weigh on Sunday will be the tie
breaker
The Illinois Walleye Trail
will be recognized for the Cabalas National Championship each year.
Invitations will be allocated
to the winners of the 2-day state finals, (must have fished at least 4
qualifying events), and point leaders after that. The number of places will be
announced by Cabelas.
The number of participants
from Illinois Walleye Trail is based on the number of participating fishermen
throughout the season. The winners of the Walleye Anglers of The Year Award and
the 2-day State championship will receive the first two invitations.