2017 FLW Tour Rules and Entry Dates
Seven regular-season events on tap for 2017
The season will consist of a 160-boat field competing in seven regular-season events and culminating with the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, to be held on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina.
“We are riding the momentum of a fantastic 2016 FLW Tour season and look forward to carrying that over into 2017,” says Kathy Fennel, FLW President of Operations. “As previously announced, we added another qualifying tournament to the schedule for a total of seven regular-season events plus the Forrest Wood Cup next year. We’ve also made some minor adjustments to the rules and eliminated the Invitationals in favor of the extra regular-season tournament. Our FLW Tour pros are among the best in the world, and we look forward to showcasing them next season on some of the finest fisheries in the United States.”
Pro anglers will compete for up to $125,000 and co-anglers will be vying for up to $25,000 in each tournament including Ranger Cup contingency bonuses. With a full field, the paybacks will be $10,000 through 50th place on the pro side and $1,000 on the co-angler side. Entry fees are unchanged for 2017 at $4,500 per tournament for pros and $800 per tournament for co-anglers. Pros must commit to fishing all seven qualifiers while co-anglers can fish individual tournaments.
The Entry Dates
Registration is now open for the top 100 pros and co-anglers from the 2016 FLW Tour, the top 10 pros and co-anglers from each division of the 2016 FLW Series, the 2016 TBF National Champions, and the 2016 BFL All-American champions. These anglers have until Dec. 5, 2016 to secure their priority entry. Entries from Ranger boat owners and FLW Tour sponsors will be accepted beginning Dec. 6, 2016 followed by TBF members Dec. 7, 2016. All other entries will be accepted beginning Dec. 8, 2016. All other entries will be accepted beginning Dec. 8, 2016. Qualified anglers can register by calling 270.252.1000 or online at FLWFishing.com.
The Format
FLW Tour Qualifiers:
Days 1 & 2: Professionals and Co-anglers
– The full field of professionals and co-anglers compete
– Winning co-angler determined by the heaviest cumulative weight from days 1 and 2
Day 3: Professionals – Buck Knives Cut
– Top 20 professionals based on cumulative weight from days 1 and 2 continue competition
Day 4: Professionals – Buck Knives Cut
– Top 10 professionals based on cumulative weight from days 1, 2 and 3 continue competition
– Winning professional determined by heaviest cumulative weight from all four days
Forrest Wood Cup:
Days 1 & 2: Professionals
– 53 professionals compete
(Top 35 pros from the 2017 FLW Tour, winning pro from each of the two 2016 FLW Tour Invitationals, highest finishing pro from each of five U.S. divisions and the International division at the 2016 Costa FLW Series Championship plus the top five pros not already selected as the highest finisher in a division at the 2016 FLW Series Championship, 2017 BFL All-American boater champion, 2017 TBF boater champion, 2017 FLW College Fishing champion, 2016 Forrest Wood Cup pro champion and 2016 FLW Tour Angler of the Year)
Day 3: Professionals – Buck Knives Cut
– Top 10 professionals based on cumulative weight from days 1 and 2 continue competition
– Winning professional determined by heaviest cumulative weight from all three days
Contingency Awards
Ranger Cup
Ranger awards $25,000 to the winning pro and $5,000 to the winning co-angler in each qualifying tournament if they meet Ranger Cup guidelines. Additionally Ranger awards a Z518C with a 200-horsepower outboard to the highest finishing pro in the FLW Tour Angler of the Year standings that meets Ranger Cup guidelines. Anglers must be registered with Ranger and meet all Ranger Cup clothing, decal and boat year model requirements to receive a Ranger Cup bonus. The decision of Ranger Boats is final in all matters regarding Ranger Cup bonus eligibility. Visit the Ranger Cup page at RangerBoats.com or call 870.453.2222 for additional information.
Visit FLWFishing.com for a complete list of contingency awards.
The Payouts
FLW Tour Qualifiers:
Place Pro Ranger Cup Co-angler Ranger Cup
1 $100,000 $25,000 $20,000 $5,000
2 30,000 7,500
3 25,000 5,000
4 20,000 4,000
5 19,000 3,000
6 18,000 2,500
7 17,000 2,000
8 16,000 1,800
9 15,000 1,700
10 14,000 1,600
11-20 12,000 1,500
21-50 10,000 1,000
Big Bass – Day 1 500 250
Big Bass – Day 2 500 250
Entry Fee Pro: $31,500 for seven events Co-angler: $800 per event
Forrest Wood Cup:
Place Pro
1 $300,000 + 2018 Forrest Wood Cup entry
2 60,000
3 50,000
4 37,500
5 30,000
6 24,000
7 23,000
8 22,000
9 21,000
10 20,000
11-20 15,000
21-53 10,000
Angler of the Year
$100,000 + 2018 Forrest Wood Cup entry
Co-angler of the Year:
Place
1 Ranger Z518C with 200 HP outboard
2 $10,000
3 9,000
4 8,000
5 7,000
6 6,000
7 5,500
8 5,000
9 4,500
10 4,000
The top pro and co-angler from the point standings after the seven FLW Tour qualifiers (ties resolved by total weight) win the FLW Tour Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year titles.
Rookie of the Year:
The top pro from the point standings after the seven FLW Tour qualifiers (ties resolved by total weight) who has never fished an FLW Tour (Major) or B.A.S.S. Elite Series tournament as a pro before this season wins the FLW Tour rookie of the year trophy.
The Rules
2017 FLW Tour Rules:
FLW expects strict adherence to the following rules by all contestants. Additionally, FLW suggests that co-anglers share fuel expenses with their pro partner each day of competition to help offset the high cost of boat operation. FLW also recommends the use of nonpuncturing culling clips like the new TH Marine G Force Conservation Cull for marking fish and livewell additives like G-Juice to help promote the healthy release of bass. FLW discourages sharing a partner’s phone number with anyone without the partner’s consent. In the event of an emergency, please call 911 first and then notify the tournament director. The tournament director should be notified as soon as possible prior to weigh-in if you use a mobile communication device for any purpose other than GPS, mapping, weather, power generation, tidal charts, personal fishing notes and related data as outlined in rule 11.
1. INTERPRETATION & ENFORCEMENT
These rules will remain unchanged during 2017. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director. Decisions of the tournament director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. Each contestant agrees to report any rule violation to the tournament director immediately upon discovery of the violation. Failure to report violations (pro or co-angler) may be cause for disqualification. The violation of a tournament rule may result in, but is not limited to, weight loss, the loss of weight up to a particular time in the tournament day, the loss of weight for the entire day, the loss of the heaviest one-day catch, the loss of the heaviest bass for the day, disqualification from the entire tournament or ineligibility to participate in future FLW tournaments. Protests are to be made in writing within 30 minutes of the check-in time of the final flight of each tournament day.
2. PAYBACK & PARTICIPATION
Payback is based on the number of paid entries for each tournament. Participation is open only to members of FLW who are 16 years of age or older. Any person under the age of 18 (19 in Alabama and Nebraska) entering a tournament must also have the signature of a parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the entry form. Any person’s participation in any tournament is at the sole discretion of FLW officials. Any person who, in the judgment of the tournament director, is disabled or handicapped in such a manner as to unfairly hinder his or her pro or co-angler partner or compromise his or her safety or the safety of his or her pro or co-angler partner may not be eligible to participate. All contestants must have a valid fishing license for the waters they fish. Random checks will be conducted at each tournament. Failure to provide proof of a valid fishing license within a reasonable amount of time when requested by the tournament director will result in disqualification for that day and any preceding days in which the license was required for the tournament.
QUALIFIERS – PRO ENTRY: Entry in the FLW Tour Qualifiers requires a $7,000 deposit for the season. Pros are expected to fish all seven qualifying tournaments. A pro may be permitted to miss a tournament for proper cause with prior approval from the tournament director. Missing a tournament without prior approval will result in ineligibility to participate in future 2017 FLW Tour events. The top 100 pros and the top 10 co-anglers from the 2016 FLW Tour, the top 10 pros from each division of the 2016 FLW Series, the 2016 TBF National Champion from the boater division and the boater champion from the 2016 BFL All-American must pay their deposits by December 5, 2016 in order to secure their priority entry position. For Ranger boat owners (Ranger owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat order who will use their Ranger boat in FLW Tour competition) and sponsor entries (FLW may reserve sponsor spots in each qualifying tournament), deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time December 6, 2016. For TBF members, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time December 7, 2016. For other entries, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time December 8, 2016. Entry priority will be assigned by the date and time of entry and will be final once full payment of the 2017 deposit is received. Entries may be made either by mail, phone or on the Internet at FLWFishing.com. Do not make entry by more than one method. A maximum field of 160 pros will be set prior to the first tournament (sponsor entries will not count toward the maximum field size), at which time pros not accepted into the field are eligible for a full refund or participation in a reserve pool to be called up for competition should a member of the original field drop out at any point during the season. Once called up to the FLW Tour, pros are expected to fish all remaining tournaments. If a reserve pool angler declines an invitation to compete, he or she will be dropped from the pool for the remainder of the season. Reserve pool anglers will receive a $1,000 deposit refund following each tournament they are not called up to fish. DEPOSITS ARE NONTRANSFERABLE AND NONREFUNDABLE ONCE ACCEPTED INTO THE FIELD. Any entry balances not received by the entry balance deadline (excluding reserve pool anglers called up after the deadline) will be charged a $100 late fee.
QUALIFIERS – CO-ANGLER ENTRY: Entry into individual FLW Tour events is permitted and requires a $300 deposit per tournament. The top 100 co-anglers from the 2016 FLW Tour, top 10 co-anglers from each division of the 2016 FLW Series, the 2016 TBF National Champion from the co-angler division and the co-angler champion from the 2016 BFL All-American must pay their deposits by December 5, 2016 in order to secure their priority entry position. For Ranger boat owners (Ranger owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat order) and sponsor entries (FLW may reserve sponsor spots in each qualifying tournament), deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time December 6, 2016. For TBF members, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time December 7, 2016. For other entries, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time December 8, 2016. Top entry priority goes to co-anglers who enter all seven qualifying tournaments by January 3, 2017. All other entry priority will be assigned by the date and time of entry. Entry priority will be final once payment of deposits is received. Entries may be made either by mail, phone or on the Internet at FLWFishing.com. Do not make entry by more than one method. Deposits are nontransferable and nonrefundable once accepted into a tournament. Co-angler entries received after a tournament has filled will be placed on a waiting list. Those placed on the waiting list and not accepted into the tournament will receive a full refund after the tournament. CONFIRMED ENTRIES ARE CONTINGENT UPON COMPLETE ENTRY FEE BEING PAID BY THE ENTRY/BALANCE DEADLINE DATE. Entry fees (minus the deposit) may be transferred or refunded if FLW is notified prior to the entry/balance deadline. Entry fees will not be transferred or refunded after the entry/balance deadline. Any entry balances not received by the entry balance deadline (except those called up from the waiting list) will be charged a $100 late fee.
QUALIFIERS – PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Pro entry fees for the seven qualifying tournaments total $31,500, and co-angler entry fees are $800 per tournament. Pros must pay a $7,000 deposit upon entry for the season followed by payments for the season according to the schedule outlined below. Co-anglers must pay a $300 deposit per tournament upon entry followed by payment for the balance of the entry fee according to the schedule outlined below.
1. Lake Guntersville: $4,900 pro and $500 co-angler due January 16, 2017.
2. Lake Travis: $4,900 pro and $500 co-angler due January 30, 2017.
3. Harris Chain: $4,900 pro and $500 co-angler due February 20, 2017.
4. Lake Cumberland: $4,900 pro and $500 co-angler due March 20, 2017.
5. Beaver Lake: $4,900 pro and $500 co-angler due April 10, 2017.
6. Mississippi River – La Crosse: $500 co-angler due May 1, 2017. Pro paid in full based on payments listed above.
7. Potomac River: $500 co-angler due May 29, 2017. Pro paid in full based on payments listed above.
3. POINT STANDINGS & FORREST WOOD CUP ADVANCEMENT
200 points are awarded to the winner of each qualifying tournament, 199 to 2nd, 198 to 3rd, etc. All anglers who receive weight credit receive points. The top pro and co-angler from the point standings after the seven qualifying tournaments (ties resolved by total weight, then total number of fish, then total number of live fish) win the FLW Tour Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year titles, respectively. The top 35 pros from the point standings after the seven qualifying tournaments (ties resolved by total weight, then total number of fish, then total number of live fish) qualify for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup. If a top-35 pro has already qualified for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the next person in the pro point standings will be invited. The 2017 FLW Tour Angler of the Year and 2017 Forrest Wood Cup champion qualify for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup provided they compete in the pro division of all the 2018 FLW Tour qualifiers. If the 2017 FLW Tour Angler of the Year or Forrest Wood Cup pro champion does not compete in 2018, their entry in the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will go to the 2018 FLW Tour pro with the highest point total who is not already qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup. The top 100 pros and co-anglers from the 2017 FLW Tour receive priority entry for the 2018 season. The top 10 co-anglers in the final point standings in the 2017 FLW Tour have the option of moving to the pro side in 2018.
4. PURCHASING OF INFORMATION
The purchasing of, or bartering for, information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters, including but not limited to GPS waypoints (other than through commercially available sources) and the hiring of fishing guide services is not permitted by pros after January 1, 2017. The sharing of tournament winnings with noncontestants in exchange for information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters is strictly prohibited and will be cause for disqualification from the entire tournament. The purchasing of, or bartering for, fishing locations from another contestant is strictly prohibited and will be cause for both contestants to be disqualified from the entire tournament.
5. RESTRICTED ACCESS
Thirty (30) days prior to the first practice day until the start of the off-limits, pros are only permitted on tournament waters alone or accompanied by a contestant in the tournament, a member of their immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild or spouse), approved sponsor representatives, approved youth age 18 or younger or approved media representatives. With prior approval from the tournament director, pros may participate in FLW, B.A.S.S. Elite Series, B.A.S.S. Opens, and other pro/am tournaments featuring random partner draws during this period. With prior approval from the tournament director, pros may also serve as boat captains in FLW High School Fishing tournaments during this period. Starting 30 days prior to the first practice day pros may not follow a noncontestant or receive on-the-water instruction from a noncontestant. A list of contestants confirmed in each tournament will be posted at FLWFishing.com.
Tournament Restricted Access
1. Lake Guntersville Dec 30, 2016 – Jan15, 2017
2. Lake Travis Jan 13, 2017 – Jan 29, 2017
3. Harris Chain Feb 3, 2017 – Feb 19, 2017
4. Lake Cumberland Mar 3, 2017 – Mar 19, 2017
5. Beaver Lake Mar 24, 2017 – Apr 9, 2017
6. Mississippi River – La Crosse Apr 14, 2017 – Apr 30, 2017
7. Potomac River May 12, 2017 – May 28, 2017
8. Lake Murray – FWC Jul 7, 2017 – Jul 23, 2017
6. OFF-LIMITS, PRACTICE & COMPETITION
Tournament waters will go off-limits to pros 13 days prior to the first practice day in all tournaments. Pros, including pros in the reserve pool, may not enter tournament waters to fish, test equipment, sightsee, or for any reason without FLW permission during the off-limits period. During the off-limits period, practice and competition days, pros may not solicit and/or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except pros confirmed in the tournament and through publicly available sources (quasi-public websites, blogs and/or social media pages, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram and Periscope, set up for the specific purpose of sharing information with individuals or a small group of individuals are NOT publicly available sources). Beginning with practice and extending through competition, contestants may not place brush or other physical fish attractors, including chum of any kind, in tournament waters. Beginning with practice and extending through competition, pros may not obtain information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from co-anglers or information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from noncontestants or follow a noncontestant’s boat or participate in the placing of markers, brush or other fish attractors by noncontestants or the practice of “hole sitting” by anyone. Anglers eliminated after each round of competition are considered noncontestants. Pros in the top-20 cut (top-10 cut at the Forrest Wood Cup) after the close of weigh-in on day 2 may not solicit or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except other top-20 pros (top-10 pros at the Forrest Wood Cup). Pros in the top-10 cut after the close of weigh-in on day 3 at qualifiers may not solicit or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except other top-10 pros. Co-angler contestants who share information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters with pro or co-angler contestants will be disqualified from the entire tournament along with the pro or co-angler requesting and/or using the information. Tournament waters will reopen for practice three days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) prior to registration day (Wednesday) at qualifiers. Tournament waters will reopen for practice four days (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) prior to registration day (Thursday) at the Forrest Wood Cup. Pros and co-anglers (pros only at the Forrest Wood Cup) may practice alone, with another contestant or with a member of their immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild or spouse), approved sponsor representatives or an approved youth age 18 or younger, provided the practice companion has also observed the off-limits period and procedures. Pros and co-anglers (pros only at the Forrest Wood Cup) may also practice with an approved media representative. Flights over tournament waters, including drones, are not permitted beginning with the start of the off-limits period, extending through practice and competition days. Tournament waters will be closed to all contestants on registration day (Wednesday at qualifiers and Thursday at the Forrest Wood Cup).
Tournament Off-limits
1. Lake Guntersville Jan 16 – 28 & Feb 1, 2017
2. Lake Travis Jan 30 – Feb 11 & Feb 15, 2017
3. Harris Chain Feb 20 – Mar 4 & Mar 8, 2017
4. Lake Cumberland Mar 20 – Apr 1 & Apr 5, 2017
5. Beaver Lake Apr 10 – 22 & Apr 26, 2017
6. Mississippi River – La Crosse May 1 – 13 & May 17, 2017
7. Potomac River May 29 – Jun 10 & Jun 14, 2017
8. Lake Murray – FWC Jul 24 – Aug 5 & Aug 10, 2017
7. REGISTRATION & PRETOURNAMENT MEETING
Each contestant must register in person at the designated site. In an emergency or due to an FLW sponsor obligation, contestants may request permission from the tournament director to send a person who is 16 years of age or older to represent them. If permission is granted, noncontestants can represent one person; contestants can represent themselves and one other person. This representative must attend the pretournament meeting to record flights, takeoff time, check-in time, off-limits areas, size and creel limits, and any other relevant tournament rule information. At qualifying events, this representative must also attend the pro/co-angler draw immediately following the pretournament meeting to receive the contestant’s boat number, meet the contestant’s pro or co-angler, and record the pro or co-angler’s lodging information, phone number and exact location for the contestant and pro or co-angler to meet prior to takeoff. Registration hours are 2-4 p.m. local time the day before each qualifier’s start date. Contestants registering between 4-4:15 p.m. will pay a $50 late fee that will be donated to the FLW Foundation. Registration hours may differ for the Forrest Wood Cup and will be provided to participating contestants. Contestants who fail to notify the tournament director and are more than 15 minutes late for registration may forfeit their entry fee and not be entered in the tournament. It is mandatory that all contestants or their representatives attend the pretournament meeting that will be held at 4:30 p.m. local time the day before each qualifier. Being late for the pretournament meeting will result in a $50 late fee that will be donated to the FLW Foundation. Contestants not present or represented for pairings at qualifying events may forfeit their entry fee and not be entered in the tournament.
8. PAIRINGS
Pros and co-anglers in qualifiers will be paired by random draw and will receive a text message with their boat number, flight time and pro or co-angler’s name and phone number. All contestants or their representatives must contact their assigned pro or co-angler following the pretournament meeting. Partners should advise each other of their respective lodging and phone numbers and establish a meeting time and place for the following morning’s takeoff. The tournament director, at his sole discretion, may reassign partners prior to takeoff. Pros in the Forrest Wood Cup will be assigned marshals to accompany them on the water.
9. SAFETY
Safe boating must be observed at all times. The provisions of this rule apply during practice and from boat check until weigh-in each day of the tournament. Each contestant and any person practicing with a contestant is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is running. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition-shutoff device that must be securely attached to the driver’s body whenever the combustion engine is running. All persons must be seated and a driver must be behind the steering wheel in full control of the boat whenever it is on plane or the combustion engine is running and in gear. At the discretion of the tournament director, tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. Competitors may leave their boat and seek shelter in bad weather or when danger is eminent. They must, however, stay within sight of each other.
10. SPORTSMANSHIP
All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to FLW, FLW’s sponsors, the sport of fishing and FLW’s efforts to promote the sport. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the 2017 FLW Tour.
• Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration or tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure.
• Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances.
• Conviction of a felony within the past 36 months.
• Suspension/disqualification, probation or ban from any tournament or fishing organization.
• Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of paragraph 9.
In case of any conduct not complying with the standards outlined above, FLW shall have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete by returning the entry fee (minus deposit), to disqualify a contestant or impose any penalty outlined in paragraph 1.
11. BOAT OPERATION
On days that include co-angler competition, pros will fish from the front deck of the boat only. Co-anglers will fish from the back deck or seating area of the boat only. Co-anglers may not cast unless their pro partner has both feet on the front deck of the boat. Pros will have complete control of boat operation and waters to be fished. For safety concerns in rough water or swift current, in the event of an outboard or trolling motor breakdown or during an emergency, co-anglers may operate the trolling motor or the outboard but may not fish anytime from the front deck. Pros may not request that the co-angler not fish. Any pro that, in the judgment of the tournament director, operates the boat in such a manner that unfairly handicaps his/her co-angler and any co-angler who unfairly handicaps his/her pro may be disqualified for that day. Contestants may not use mobile communication devices, including but not limited to, cell phones, tablets, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, etc., to communicate with anyone about locating or catching fish on tournament waters during tournament hours. Mobile communication devices may be used during tournament hours to communicate with lockmasters about locking, to communicate with the tournament director or to communicate with FLW editors or producers. Pros may use smart phones and/or tablets during tournament hours for GPS, mapping, weather, power generation, tidal charts, personal fishing notes and related data. At no time during tournament hours may contestants read or discuss social media posts from other contestants. Co-anglers are not allowed to record GPS waypoints or use any type of handheld GPS during any competition day. At the request of their pro partner, a co-angler may use a cell phone for the sole purpose of assisting the pro with his or her social media updates. Co-anglers are not, however, obligated to assist a pro with social media updates. Co-anglers are not allowed to have more than seven rods, one tackle bag and one foul-weather bag in their pro’s boat on any day of competition. Co-anglers are not permitted to smoke if requested not to do so by their pro. Contestants are expected to compete every day for which they are qualified; failure to do so may result in ineligibility to compete in future FLW tournaments. If a special circumstance arises that inhibits a contestant’s ability to compete, the tournament director may allow the contestant to withdraw from competition and maintain the weight caught to that point.
12. BOAT & HORSEPOWER REGULATION
All boats must be propeller-driven, a minimum of 18 feet in length and have a rear deck (with a seat if requested). All boats must be equipped with wheel steering; no other steering device will be permitted. No barges or similarly cumbersome craft will be permitted. Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Boats must contain a properly aerated livewell space to maintain alive a limit catch of bass by both contestants. Minimum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament competition will be 150 horsepower. Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament competition will be 250 horsepower, not to exceed the horsepower capacity set forth on the “Maximum Capacities” placard described below. Each boat must have a clearly legible “Maximum Capacities” (or comparably titled) placard that includes a maximum horsepower rating affixed to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the maximum horsepower capacity specified on this placard or the 250-horsepower maximum set by FLW. By signing the entry form, contestants agree to submit their boat and/or motor to an inspection by FLW personnel. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating placard will be cause for disqualification from the tournament and may result in ineligibility to compete in future FLW tournaments. Fishing platforms must be factory-installed equipment. No portable platforms may be used in tournament competition. Fuel may be carried only in factory-installed (built-in) fuel tanks. Any additional fuel used during the tournament day must be purchased from a retail facility open to the public and pumped through a hose with a nozzle. The use of generators, other than solar or wind-powered generators, is prohibited in contestant boats during tournament hours on all competition days.
13. PERMITTED FISHING METHODS
Fishing is defined as having a lure attached to a line and a rod and reel with the rod in hand. All bass must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner. All lures must adhere to state regulations. Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers and biodegradable soft baits. Alabama rigs and similar umbrella-type rigs are not permitted. Only ONE fishing rod may be used at a time. Trolling as a method of fishing is strictly prohibited. Trolling is defined as operating the combustion engine to extend a cast or lengthen a retrieve. All bass caught while sight-fishing must be hooked inside the mouth and immediately shown to your co-angler, pro, marshal or FLW camera operator for verification.
UMBRELLA RIGS DEFINED • Umbrella rigs are determined to be any nontraditional lure or harness using wires, lines or hooks to connect multiple teasers, including but not limited to swimbaits, grubs or spinners. The use of braid or other line to attach a single stinger hook to a lure is allowed as long as the line is no more than 2 inches in length. Traditional spinner baits with a maximum of five blades, including “twin spins” with a maximum of two arms, are acceptable so long as the arm length does not exceed 6 inches from the tie point. The use of plastic trailers, pork trailers and blades is acceptable as long as they are not connected by additional wires or harnesses. The use of braid or other line to attach a single stinger hook to a spinner bait or buzz bait is allowed as long as the line is no more than 2 inches in length. Soft plastics must be molded as a single unit and are limited to a maximum of three main bodies. Traditional double fluke, front-runner, double drop-shot and popping cork rigs with a maximum of two hooks are grandfathered in and will be permitted in FLW Tour competition unless otherwise restricted by state regulations.
14. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS
Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters available to the public and accessible by boat except areas posted or otherwise designated as “off-limits,” “no boats,” “keep out,” “restricted,” “no trespassing” or “no fishing” (or similar language or markings intended to restrict public access) by FLW, commercial property owners and/or local, state or federal officials, or within 50 yards of a contestant’s boat that was first anchored. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or by a Power-Pole, Talon or similar shallow water anchor with the trolling motor in the up position. All fishing must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. The cutting of trees, bushes and/or logs after the off-limits date and/or the removal of official local, state or federal barricades at any time to make an area more accessible by boat is strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification from the tournament. The use of cables, ropes, chains or any type of block and tackle system to maneuver a boat into fishing waters is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification from the tournament. Contestants must leave and return to the check-in by boat. The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day. No tournament boat may be loaded on a trailer before the weigh-in except with the permission of the tournament director. In the event of equipment failure or emergency the tournament director must be notified as soon as it is safe to do so. There are then two permitted methods of returning to the check-in: (1) by both paired anglers (or the angler and marshal) remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or (2) with permission from the tournament director, by one or both paired anglers (or the angler and marshal) entering the boat of another tournament contestant. Under these two conditions both contestants’ catches may be counted without a penalty (except for late penalties, dead-fish penalties or other penalties pertaining to other tournament rules) provided that the co-angler’s fish are adequately marked so as to provide clear distinction of the pro’s catch and the co-angler’s catch to the tournament director. Contestants who elect to return to the check-in by any other means than cited above will forfeit their day’s catch to that point in time of the tournament day. Abandoning a boat and leaving it adrift without proper tie-off or anchoring after a mechanical failure may result in disqualification of that day’s weight. Any contestant returning to the check-in point will be eligible to restart and resume competition under the supervision of the tournament director or his designated tournament official. It is the sole responsibility of contestants to locate the tournament director to request a restart. Partners (including anglers and marshals) must remain together at all times and within sight of each other until the weigh-in verification is signed. The momentary condition of being out of sight of each other for restroom breaks is permitted.
15. CHECKPOINTS
There will be only one checkpoint for boat check in the morning and one check-in point in the afternoon. Failure to go through boat check and checkout in the morning or failure to check in at the check-in point will result in disqualification. All fishing must cease upon check-in.
16. LATE PENALTY
Contestants who are not at the check-in area at the appointed time will be penalized 1 pound per minute, deducted from the total weight, including any weight to be counted toward the Big Bass Award. Any contestant more than 15 minutes late will lose credit for that day’s weight.
17. LIVE FISH
Every effort must be made to keep bass alive through the use of a properly aerated livewell. Four ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each dead bass presented for weigh-in.
18. SCORING
Scoring is determined by the pounds and ounces of each contestant’s catch during each qualifying tournament and the Forrest Wood Cup. It is mandatory that co-anglers mark each of their fish for identification before placing them in their designated livewell. Only largemouth, spotted, redeye or smallmouth bass are accepted species. No regurgitated forage or other foreign matter may be placed in a bass. The daily limit will be five unless the state or lake limit is less than five, in which case the state or lake limit will prevail. Pros and/or co-anglers possessing more than the tournament limit must notify the tournament director immediately upon discovery of the infraction and reduce his/her catch to the tournament limit by releasing live bass. Anglers possessing more than the tournament limit will be penalized 2 pounds for each bass over the limit. The minimum length limit for bass will be 12 inches unless the state or lake limit is more than 12 inches, in which case, the state or lake limit will prevail. Bass presented for weigh-in that fail to measure the prescribed length limit will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound for each short bass presented. Each contestant’s catch must be presented in an official weigh-in bag and verified by the signature of their pro, co-angler or marshal. Failure to have a verified pro, co-angler or marshal signature may result in disqualification of that day’s catch. Co-angler competition concludes on day 2 of qualifying tournaments with the winner determined by the heaviest combined weight from days 1 and 2. On day 3 of qualifying tournaments, the top 20 pros based on combined weight from days 1 and 2 compete. On day 4 of qualifying tournaments, the top 10 pros based on combined weight from days 1, 2 and 3 compete, and the winner is determined by the heaviest combined weight from days 1, 2, 3 and 4. On day 3 of the Forrest Wood Cup, the top 10 pros based on combined weight from days 1 and 2 compete, and the winner is determined by the heaviest combined weight from days 1, 2 and 3. No co-anglers compete in the Forrest Wood Cup.
19. TIES
QUALIFIERS: The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament, then by point standings and then by lottery. Ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings. Ties on day 4 will be resolved by day-3 standings.
FORREST WOOD CUP: The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament, then by qualifying circuit rank (with FLW Tour being first, FLW Series being second, BFL being third, TBF being fourth and College Fishing being fifth) and then by lottery. Ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings.
20. LOGO DISPLAY & MEDIA COVERAGE
During all days of competition any and all tobacco logos are prohibited and may not be worn or displayed. Contestants are expected to participate in media opportunities requested by FLW editors and producers during any day of competition. Anglers will run their own boats every day of competition. Anglers must wear their own compliant apparel with a 5-inch wide FLW logo on the upper chest every day of competition from takeoff through weigh-in. On days 3 and 4, logos on the apparel may not conflict or compete in any way with FLW or the exclusive categories listed below unless the category is not occupied by an FLW sponsor and a written exception is obtained from the FLW Marketing Department.
Exclusive Categories:
- Automotive oil
- Boats
- Marine electronics
- Outboard engines
- POV cameras
- Sunglasses
FLW reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to prohibit any angler’s apparel that it finds to be offensive. FLW also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to prohibit any angler’s apparel that in any way competes with any of the above referenced categories on days 3 and 4. Any angler wearing a nonapproved jersey may be disqualified. On days 3 and 4, anglers may wear any hat, PFD or rain suit that does not in any way compete with the above referenced categories or FLW. On days 3 and 4, contestants may not fish while using tobacco products. Smoking is not allowed in the weigh-in line during all days of competition. FLW may, at its sole discretion, place a camera operator or camera equipment in a tournament boat on any day of competition. During the 2017 season FLW reserves the right to add categories to the above list. If an angler has made FLW aware, in writing, of all his or her sponsors prior to FLW adding the category or adding a sponsor in an existing category, the angler may be allowed to display the competing logo for the remainder of the year. Confirmation of the angler’s category exception must be obtained in writing from the FLW Marketing Department. All decisions are in FLW’s sole discretion.
21. TRUTH VERIFICATION TEST
Each contestant agrees to submit, by signature on the tournament entry form, to a polygraph or voice stress analysis examination and to abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass an examination will result in disqualification from the tournament. Truth verification tests will be used at FLW’s sole discretion, and the determination of the meaning of the results will be made solely by FLW.
22. INSURANCE
Liability insurance with coverage of not less than $300,000 per occurrence is required of all pro contestants in FLW Tour events. Proof of insurance must be with the boat being used and must cover all passengers in the boat. Random checks will be conducted. Failure to provide proof of insurance when requested by the tournament director may result in disqualification.
23. CAPTIONS
The captions at the beginning of each paragraph are intended to facilitate convenience in referring to the various rules. The captions are not part of the substance of the paragraph and should not be used in construction of any paragraph or of this overall set of rules.