Eligibility
C & R Bass Series is open to all persons. All rules and regulations listed are subject to each angler and are strictly enforced.
Any person who operates the combustion engine must be 18 years of age or older. Minors are welcome to participate only under the full responsibility of an adult partner. All competitors MUST have a valid fishing license. All State and local laws apply.

Interpretation of Rules
The Tournament Director (s) is responsible for interpretation of all rules and regulations. In any event, the Tournament Director (s) shall have the final decision in all matters. The Tournament Director (s) may impose, but is not limited to, disqualifications, forfeiture of prizes and or entry fee and can prohibit competitors in future tournaments as deemed necessary. The Tournament Director (s) reserves the right to refuse any angler registration for the tournament trail.

Sportsmanship and Rules of Conduct
All Contestants shall conduct themselves professionally at all times toward all persons and are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, safety and conservation. All contestants must keep the waters clean and bring trash back for proper disposal. All competitors shall not act unfavorably on the sport of bass fishing.  Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol is strictly prohibited. Any competitor who violates such rules will be disqualified. Issues of misconduct should be immediately brought to the attention of the Tournament Director.

Boat Equipment and Safety
Extreme caution must be exercised at all times. Contestants understand that fishing in an open boat can be dangerous and that safe boating conduct is vital for competitors and non-competitors alike. Each competitor is required to wear a fully fastened U.S. Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver while the combustion engine is running. In addition, safety equipment adequate to pass U.S. Coast Guard regulations must be in the boat at all times and all boats must not exceed BIA Horsepower rating and/or Coast Guard rating. Each boat must be equipped with an aerated livewell that is spacious enough to safely maintain the tournament limit of bass. Each boat operator must have an attached, functional, safety-stop switch (aka Kill Switch) at all times when the combustion engine is operating. It is highly recommended that participants carry liability insurance coverage on their boat. All boats, drivers, and passengers will accept full responsibility for any and all personal injury and all property damage that may occur. Failure to abide by these rules will result in disqualification.

Registration
Competitors may register by mail, telephone, online, or in person at the tournament site 10 minutes prior to boat launch. Boat numbers are determined using the "first in, first out" method according to when registration entries are received.  Anglers may choose to fish individually. All boats will be checked prior to the rules briefing. Competitors who do not check in will be disqualified. Tournament fees are payable by cash, check, or money order and must be paid at time of registration. Checks must be received 7 days prior to tournament date. Competitors who choose to register at the ramp can do so with cash only.  Refunds will be given only in the event of a canceled tournament. Returned checks may disqualify anglers from future tournaments. Returned Check fees of $35.00 will be enforced.

Alternates
In regards to the SWC Standings, each team is allowed one alternate per series. The alternate may fill in for either angler.  For the yearly standings, each team is allowed 1 alternate per series.  The same alternate does not have to be used by a team when competing  in different series or divisions.  If the first tournament being fished by a team in a series is being fished with an alternate, the tournament director must be made aware of this at the time of registration.  If a team exceeds the number of alternates allowed, this will be counted as a new team toward the standings.  Anglers can elect to fish alone to maintain their current team.

Emergencies
During tournament hours, all competitors shall remain in their boats at all times with the exception of severe weather, other such hazards, and emergencies. One team member is allowed to exit temporarily for the purpose of refueling, sickness, call of nature, lure retrieval, and boat repair. Competitors may not exit the boat to land a fish or make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Failure to abide by these rules will result in disqualification.

Off Limits
Areas marked "No Fishing" by local or state governments shall be off limits to fishing.   Any additional off limits areas will be established before blast off. 

Tournament Hours
Hours of competition will be from safelight, conditions permitting, until weigh in beginning at 3:00pm. Weigh in will be held in flights of 20 with 10 minute intervals starting at 3:00pm.

Check In
Check in will begin an hour and a half before the tournament. Competitors registering in person at the tournament site must do so at least 10 minutes prior to blast off.
Tournament check in will follow this order...
1) All anglers verify registration at check in
2) Boats will then be inspected and each team will receive their
"boat number" card.
3) Pre-Tournament briefing will be held before blast off.

Launch Sequence
Boats will be released in numerical order and grouped in flights of 20. The numerical order of the boat will correlate with order of entries received. 

Tackle and Fishing Methods
Only artificial lures may be used. All bass must be caught in a legal, live and conventional manner using a rod and reel. Only one rod and reel combination may be used at one time. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited.  When sight fishing for a bedding bass, the fish must be hooked in the mouth or released immediately. 

Permitted Fishing
Fishing on tournament waters is not permitted within 50 yards of another competitor's boat, if it is anchored with the trolling motor up.  Fishing is also not permitted within 50 yards of an angler’s designated waters marked with dropped markers. Tournament competitors may drop up to 3 markers, each 50 yards apart, in order to designate their protected waters. The competitor must remain inside the placed markers. Markers must not block any entrance to any cove, creek, canal, etc. No competitors will have anyone "hole sit" or protect any fishing area. The Tournament Director shall establish any known Off-Limits during the morning briefing.

Weigh In
The first flight shall check in by 3:00pm and each following flight shall check in by their appointed 10 minute interval. All competitors must return to the weigh in site at their appointed time and check in using their boat number card (Ex. Flight one must be checked in by 3:00pm to be considered on time). If any competitor's boat is removed from the water prior to weigh in, that team shall be disqualified. Should an emergency or equipment failure occur, the competitor should contact the tournament director via phone and approve a water tow with their catch in their live well or be transported by an approved individual with the catch and one team member remaining with the boat. Late penalties will be enforced. Competitors who are late for weigh in will be penalized with a deduction of one (1) pound per minute late from their total weight for the day. Team members who leave the tournament before weigh in must check in with Tournament Officials using their boat number card.

Scoring
The total weight of each team's catch will determine the tournament placement and standings. Largemouth, Smallmouth, Shoal, and Spotted Bass shall qualify for weigh in with respect to length limits for the tournament's waters. The limit will be five fish per boat and culling can begin when the sixth fish is caught. Any team found having more than five fish will be disqualified. All bass will be measured using a Gator Grip Golden Rule Board. A penalty of two (2) pounds will be deducted from the total weight for each short fish and that fish will not be weighed. A penalty of 4 ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish. These rules shall apply to the Big Bass Competition as well. Culling is not permitted at the weigh in site. Competitor's caught culling at weigh in will be disqualified.

Tie
Should a tie occur at tournament weigh in, the tied place and the following place shall be combined and divided between the two tied teams.

Protest and Polygraph Screenings
By entering said tournament, contestants agree to submit to a polygraph/voice test examination should the competitor be accused of any rule violation. Protests may be registered in person after the rules briefing before boat launch or after weigh in and before awards are presented. Any person failing to successfully pass a polygraph/voice test in this or any other tournament will not be allowed entry into future C & R Bass Series Tournaments. All contestants agree that in the event of a dispute or protest of any kind, or if requested to do so by the TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, both team members will submit to a polygraph screening. The administration and interpretation of the polygraph/voice test shall be the responsibility of the Tournament Director (s) or agents. The Tournament Director will choose the individual who administers such polygraph/voice test, and the scope of the questions, which may be asked during such test and schedule a polygraph session at the place of Tournament Director's Choice. The day of polygraph examination shall be based on both team members choice and must be completed within 2 weeks following said tournament. Failure to take and pass the polygraph/voice test examination, if required, will result in immediate disqualification without recourse. Protests must be accompanied by $100.00 cash. If the protest is valid, the protester shall receive a refund of the $100.00 protest fee and will be paid a $50.00 good Samaritan award. Contestants further agree that the results of the polygraph screening will be accepted without further appeal and will be the final decision in said tournament. All contestants agree and understand that protested prizes will be held until the polygraph results are received and any differential in awards will be mailed to affected winners immediately following results. Both team members hereby waive and release any and all claims and causes of action against C & R employees, sponsors, and their agents and employees, in connection with taking such polygraph screenings. In the event of no polygraph screening, the Tournament Director's decision will be accepted. Inconclusive results on a polygraph examination will be considered to be a failure to pass and will be accepted as such by the examinee.

SWC
The SERIES WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP will be based on cumulative weight for each Divisional Series. 5% of the entry fees collected during the series will be paid out to the top three competitors in the division. Payout is as follows: 1st-50%, 2nd-30%, 3rd-20%. Percentages are of total money paid into the SWC during the season.

CLASSIC
The 2-day classic will consist of 96 qualifying teams with an entry fee of $320.   Each division will have a total of 16 qualifying teams.  A team can qualify for the classic through the following methods: 
1.  Team with the heaviest single day weight for the year within each division.
            (6 qualifying teams)
2.  Teams finishing first in the SWC for each series within each division.
            (18 qualifying teams)
3.  Top twelve teams in yearly standing for each division. 
            (72 qualifying teams)
If a team qualifies through more then one method, the order listed above will determine which method in which they qualify, and will not be counted in the qualifying rankings of the other methods. 
The payout for the classic will be 1in 5 entries.  The 19 total teams will receive winnings as follows: 1st $12000, 2nd $5000, 3rd $2500, 4th $1020, 5th $700, 6th $675, 7th $650, 8th $625, 9th $600, 10th $590, 11th $580, 12th $570, 13th $560, 14th $550, 15th $540, 16th $530, 17th $520, 18th $510, 19th $500.  The first largest bass for the two days will pay $1000, and the second largest will pay $500.   Participation in the classic is through qualification only.  Every qualifying team will be notified at least 4 weeks before the classic date.  All qualifying teams that will be participating in the classic must have their entry fees paid at least two weeks before the classic date.  If a qualifying team chooses not to participate in the classic, then their qualifying position will be passed to the next team below their ranking in their qualifying method.

Waiver of Liability
Upon entrance of tournament, all competitors release any and all sponsors, directors, officials, organizations, hosts, and locations affiliated with any C & R Bass Series tournament from liability for any occurrence resulting from tournament participation. Should a suit be filed against C & R Outdoors, or any affiliated parties, all court costs and attorney's fees shall be paid by the plaintiff (competitor). All competitors must agree to understand and follow ALL rules and waivers to be entered into said tournament.