RULES: The following rules will be interpreted by the tournament director and/or committee and all decisions are final.

We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone.

ELIGIBILITY:

Terms by definition must be composed of one Male Gender and one Female Gender to participate in the Nitro Couples Trail.  Any contestants under the age of (18) must have written permission from Parent or Legal Guardian.  All contestants when required must have valid Oklahoma Fishing License.

REGISTRATION & ENTRY FEES:

Membership fees are $50.00 per person, ($100.00/team) for 2010.  All Contestants must be a member to fish the Couples trail.  Team is allowed to have one substitute for the year for each gender.  They must also pay a $25.00 substitution fee unless they sub more than one event then it will be a full $50.00 Membership fee.  Entry fee per Tournament will be $150.00 per team, except for the championship and it is $200.00.  A $50.00 fee will be charged for all returned checks for non-sufficient funds. Flights will be determined by order entry fee is received.  Once entry fee is received you are not required to check in prior to start of tournament, but you are responsible for obtaining flight times.  Your start fishing time will begin at Safelight (determined by the tournament director and will be given at pre-tournament meeting) and additional flights will be in 15 minute increments.

1^st flight – 1-40 weigh-in at 3:00

2^nd flight – 41-80 weigh-in 3:15

3^rd flight – 81- 120 weigh-in 3:30

SAFETY AND LAWS:

Life jackets (Coast Guard approved) and a Kill switch must be worn when the boat is on plane.  All Nitro Couples Trail, Federal, State and Local Laws Must be Obeyed and its The Contestants Responsibility To Know and Understand These Rules and Laws.  Breaking any of the mentioned rules in this brochure is grounds for Disqualifications.

BOATS:

No pontoons allowed. Allowed is any brand of boats of 16’ minimum length, powered by a minimum of forty (40) horsepower. Working aerated live wells are required.

METHOD OF FISHING & TACKLE:

Only artificial baits or lures may be used. Pork style baits used as a trailer will be allowed.  Only one rod and reel in the water may be used per angler at a time.  No trolling or snagging will be allowed.  All fishing must be from the Contestants boat.  No seeding of Bass will be allowed.

SCORING:

5-fish limit, 14-inch minimum (state law has precedent) measured on flat board in a relaxed manner with mouth closed and tail lobes pressed together swept in any manner necessary to hit the mark.  Only largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass will be counted. Total weight per team will determine place. Ties will be broken by number of fish. Any bass not within legal limits will result in a two (2) pound penalty deduction, plus loss of said fish. Frozen or iced fish presented for weigh-in will result in immediate disqualification. Any dead fish will be weighed upon discretion of officials. There will be a one-half (1/2) lb. deduction for each dead fish.  Rulings will be final. Weigh slips must be signed by one team member. All fish must be caught during tournament hours.  BIG BASS: For those who weigh-in for the Big bass award, those fish must be tagged for ID and the person, man or woman must be present at the time of weigh-in.

PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Fishing allowed from boat only, cannot leave boat in order to enter shallow areas or to retrieve a hooked fish and fishing is confined to waters specified in the tournament. No fishing within 50 yards of another contestants anchored boat with trolling motor in up position, without permission of the first boat to arrive.  Partners must remain in sight of each other during tournament hours. In case of emergency or mechanical failure, one or both contestants may return to weigh-in by means of another boat and must immediately notify the director.

MEETING:

A non-mandatory meeting will be held the night preceding the tournament at 7:00 pm.  Rules and other information will be discussed at the meeting.

FISHING ALONE:

A Contestant may fish ONE (1) Tournament alone.  The full entry fee must be paid in these circumstances.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

The Nitro Couples Trail will allow substitutes for the year.  These substitutes must be the same gender that they are substituting for. Each gender is allowed one substitute.

NO DEAD WATER:

There is no restriction for time on the water before tournaments.

TAKE OFF:

The Tournament will start the first flight at safe-light which will be given at the pre-tournament meeting. The additional flights will start in 15 minute increments.  Once you have paid your entry fee you will not have to check in prior to start of the tournament or attend the non-mandatory meeting.  You are responsible for obtaining your flight times. The team can only launch one (1) time from any ramp that is accessible by water at normal conditions during tournament hours. Teams will be assigned official start times by order entry fee is received.

WEIGH-IN: The official weigh-in will begin with 1st flight at 3:00 PM at each tournament. Each team must check in with the Check-In boat or Tournament weigh trailer (if you trailer) no later than their assigned flight time. Teams without fish need to check in for safety purposes. Weigh-staff will accept only those fish brought to the scales in the tournament provided bags.

LATE PENALTY: One (1) pound per minute up to ten (10) minutes will be deducted, then disqualification. No excuses or exceptions.

CULLING FISH:  No team may possess more than five (5) fish in the livewell at any time.  You Must cull immediately.

RESTRICTING OR SEEDING BASS: Restricting bass by any method which disallows natural movement or travel throughout the entire impoundment is prohibited.  Seeding bass from one impoundment to the tournament impoundment is prohibited.

POINTS SYSTEM: The team with the lowest point total will be Anglers of the Year. Anglers of the Year will receive Free Entry fees for the following year.  Points will be accrued from each of the regular tournaments as well as the Championship. Points from the Championship will be based on final day results only. First Place = 1 point, Second Place = 2 points, etc. throughout all teams that weighed fish. Teams at the event not weighing any fish will receive last place points plus 10 additional points. No-Shows will receive 50 points more than the teams without fish.  TIES, will be broken by the total number of fish weighed in, if a tie still exists then that place and next place will be added together and divided equally and both teams will receive the same number of points and winnings.  If a tie exists for Angler of the Year than total number of fish for the year will be used, if a tie still exists than the team with the highest finish at the championship will be AOY.

CHAMPIONSHIP:  A team must be registered in three of the four regular events in order to qualify for the Championship. Each team will be allowed a one time qualifying exception for a no show provided the team has a paid entry prior to the pre-tournament entry deadline assuring that the team’s entry fee is included in the day’s payout.  The entry fee for the Championship will be $200.00.

POLYGRAPH: By signature on entry form/waiver form, contestants agree to a polygraph test by a qualified examiner. Refusal to or failure of a polygraph test will result in disqualification and banishment from all future Nitro Couples Trail events. First, second, and Big Bass award winners must be present at conclusion of weigh-in for the polygraph unless prior arrangements are approved directly from the tournament director. Any contestants not present for a requested polygraph will not receive winnings until test has been administered which will be provided and administered at the next scheduled tournament. Any contestants requiring any other arrangement for a polygraph will be administered the test at the contestants own expense of $250.00.

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS:

No Alcohol or Illegal drugs or illegal use of prescription drugs are allowed during tournament hours and/or prior to taking polygraph.

BAD WEATHER:

On extreme weather conditions, or sickness of a contestant (at the Tournament Director’s Discretion) that contestant may be allowed to join there partner at 10:00 a.m. of that Tournament day, but must be in the boat by 10:00 a.m.

PAYOUT:  All payout checks will be made payable to both partners.  Teams will be responsible for handling the division of payment concerning 1099’s.  The captain will receive the 1099 for yearly winnings.