MEMBER OPENS
There is a $10.00 associate member fee per person per year.

CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION
In order to qualify for the 2008 Championship the angler must fish at least two tournaments, with the exception of those in active military service that a temporary duty assignment would make fishing two tournaments impossible or due to illness, a death, or a reason the Tournament director deems is legitimate. In the event a person is fishing with a youth and may have more than one child, they may choose the youth they desire to fish with during the Championship. Providing, that the youth has already fished at least one tournament throughout the season. Teams may have two alternates per team per season.

TOURNAMENT RULES:
1. All participants will abide by all Federal, State and Local regulations. There will be no exceptions.

2. ELIGIBILITY: 18 years or older with paid entry. Contestants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Entry forms must be filled out and signed by both contestants. We reserve the right to not accept any entry we feel that is not in the best interest of the Team Tournament Trail or the Federation of Christian Anglers & Sportsmen Inc./F.O.C.A.S. No Guides are anyone presenting themselves as a guide will be allowed to fish.

3. ENTRY FEES: $120.00 Per Team through Wednesday prior to tournament, after which there is a $10 late fee. There will be an optional BIG BASS POT for $10.00.

4. PAYBACK: There will be 80% payback on $105.00 with $15.00 going into a Championship fund. Championship fund will be 100% payback.

5. RULES: The rules of this tournament will stand unchanged. If there is a question on any rule or regulation, the final decision will be left to the tournament officials. If the tournament is canceled due to reason of safety, weather, etc. the tournament will be rescheduled. In the event this is not possible the entry fee will be forwarded to the next tournament. There will be no refunds.

6. BOAT AND MOTOR/SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: All boats and motors MUST meet the State of Illinois and US Coast Guard safety requirements. The boats must be at least 14 feet in length and powered by an internal combustion engine with a minimum of 9.9 horsepower. Boat must have a kill switch attached to the driver while the combustible engine is running. Electric trolling motors are permitted for moving boat into and during fishing positions. Trolling as a mode of fishing is PROHIBITED. All boats MUST have an aerated live well capable of keeping a limit of fish alive. DISQUALIFICATION will result from the use of stringers. Approved Life Saving Devices MUST be worn when outboard engine is running on
Plane. All "NO WAKE AREAS" including oxbows must be observed.

7. TACKLE: ONLY casting, spinning or spin casting tackle may be used. ONLY one rod may be used
per team member at one time. The second, or more, may be rigged and ready for use. ONLY artificial
lures maybe used. NO live bait permitted with the exception of pork.

8. FISH: ALL live fish will be released. Any frozen or iced fish presented for weigh in will result in
automatic disqualification of team. No fish will be weighed that appears to be mangled, mauled or
bruised. The weight of the fish will be deducted from the team's total weight. ONLY Large Mouth.
Kentucky or Small Mouth Bass will be weighed. (5 FISH LIMIT per team). ALL fish MUST measure
fourteen (14) inches on an official bump board, with mouth closed (unless state, lake or river length is
different). Fish must be culled immediately; at no time will competitors have more than six fish in the
boat. Any contestant seen culling a fish after leaving their last fishing area and heading in for the
weigh in will be DISQUALIFIED.

9. SCORING: Fish will be weighed and measured by tournament officials. Gross weight (pounds and
ounces) will be posted. TIES: Ties for total weight will be broken by biggest bass. Ties for biggest bass
will be broken by total team weight.

10. PENALTIES: Penalty will be one (1) pound per fish under fourteen (14) inches in length (unless the state, lake or river length is less). Penalty for each dead fish will be eight (8) ounces. Late penalty of one (1) pound per minute will be enforced. DISQUALIFICATION will occur if 10 minutes late.

11. AWARDS: The awarding of prizes and plaques will take place after the weigh in and final tally is complete. If protest is lodged awards and prizes will be withheld until final determination of protest.

12. Pre-Tournament Meeting: There will be a pre-tournament meeting 30 minutes prior to the tournament launch. All boats must be in water prior to pre meeting, and at least one member from each team present at meeting. Boat numbers will be given and must be displayed during checkout and check in. Markers will be issued to use to write number of fish on boat number sheet to be displayed during check-in. All markers must be turned in when signing weigh-slip.

13. MORNING CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT: Live wells, kill switches and life jackets will be checked between 5am & 6am. There will only be one official checkpoint for a boat check-out in the morning and one official checkpoint for check-in in the afternoon. Failure to go through the boat check will result in DISQUALIFICATION. Boat number sheet must be displayed during check-out and displayed with number of fish during check-in. All fishing must cease upon check-in. You must check in with the tournament officials prior to trailering your boats.

14. PROTEST: A protest must be filed in writing with the tournament officials within fifteen (15) minutes after final weigh in.

15. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters accessible by boat, except areas designated as "OFF LIMITS" by local, state or federal officials, or within 50 yard of any marina gas pump or within 50 yards of any other competitor’s boat which was anchored first, with trolling motor not in the water. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish.

16. OTHER: A numbered take off will be used. Positions will be determined by the order in which the entry is received. Numbers will be assigned to each boat and must be visible on the boat at all times. Any un-sportsmanlike conduct will result in immediate DISQUALIFICATION. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN BOATS, and if seen in use by contestant during tournament will result in IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION.