1. SAFETY: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times. Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard-approved life preserver whenever the combustion engine is operating. All boats must be equipped with an ignition kill switch. A lanyard is to be attached to the boat kill switch and operator any time the combustion engine is operating. Violation of this rule shall be a reason for disqualification. Contestants must idle pass the start boat, please DO NOT swamp the call boat!!!

2. SPORTSMANSHIP: Besides Safety, Sportsmanship is the absolute most important rule for any IL Bass Blasters angler. This is a simple rule, treat everyone competing as you would want to be treated. If an angler is determined to not be using good sportsmanship and is proven to have done something intentionally against what would be deemed common decency during an event, the tournament committee will vote on whether to disqualify and possibly ban the angler. If an angler is going down a shoreline Anglers should try not to pull in front of those anglers if at all possible. Buzzing a fishing angler is prohibited, use common courtesy, and do not run your boat at high speed within 50 feet of another angler if at all possible. You cannot fish within 50 yards of an angler who is anchored (Power Poles and Talons are anchors with trolling motors in a stowed position). If an angler anchors after an angler is within the 50-yard radius, they must not get closer. If an angler is stranded or needs help you are encouraged to help that angler. If an angler is broken down or experiencing mechanical issues, we want you to help and tow a competitor into the dock. Please contact the tournament director immediately if leaving your boat to help a fellow competitor.

3. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. (No live or prepared bait will be allowed with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Commercial fish attractants are allowed) Only one casting or spinning rod may be used at any time. Any competitor found to have in his possession equipment or baits not permitted will be disqualified.

4. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: Only Boats and Motors that are in compliance with the B.I.A. horsepower rating will be allowed to participate.

5. BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment, in addition to a live-well properly aerated to adequately maintain a live five-bass team limit.

6. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Fishing on tournament waters is permitted anywhere except those areas designated off-limits on the day of the tournament or within 50 feet of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored (Power Poles or any other type of anchoring system and trolling motor must be stowed so other anglers can tell you are anchored, the use of spot lock does not count as being anchored). All angling must be done from the boat. Contestants may not depart the boat to retrieve a fish. The boat must remain in legal tournament waters on tournament days. Both team members must remain in the boat at all times except in the case of a dire emergency.

7. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one (1) official point for check out in the morning and check-in for the afternoon. At the time of check out, all boats are expected to be within full compliance of the rules.

8. SCORING: Tournament standing, and final winners shall be determined by the pound and fraction of a pound of each teams catch during the day. Only largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass will be weighed. All contestants are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the various states in which they fish. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Any fish deemed caught foul hooked will not be weighed. (Culling of dead fish is not permitted) (Only non-puncture cull tags are allowed). Points are determined by the following method: Weight X 10 + Place. Place points start at 100 and decrease by 5 points per place. 1st - 100, 2nd - 95, 3rd - 90, etc. A team must weigh in a fish to earn points. 

9. POSSESION LIMIT: At no time shall a contestant or team have more fish in their possession than the designated limit for that team event. Example, if the limit is 5 fish, it doesn't matter that the law allows a team to possess 10 fish, you must immediately cull back down to 5 fish every time you catch another fish!!! You must immediately cull down to the designated limit. If any team is caught possessing more than the limit designated for that event, that team will be disqualified for that event. No culling of dead fish, if a fish dies while in your possession, you are stuck with it, if caught culling a dead fish, you will be disqualified for that event!!!

10. CULLING: The culling of fish is allowed unless otherwise prohibited by state law. No culling of dead fish. Only non-puncture culling tags will be allowed. Any team found to be using piercing culling tags will be disqualified from that event.​

11. DEAD FISH PENALTY: A penalty of one-half (1/2) of a pound will be deducted for each dead fish brought in at the time of weigh-in. We will allow a dead fish to be weighed for big bass - but you will lose 1/2 pound from weight of big bass.

12. SHORT FISH PENALTY: Any fish presented for weigh-in by a contestant that fails to measure the minimum size limit designated for the event shall not be counted in the day's totals. In addition, the largest fish of that days catch for that team shall also be culled.

13. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who have not arrived at the appointed time shall be penalized one pound per each minute that they are late. Any team over ten minutes late will lose credit for that day's entire catch.

14. TIES: In the event of a tie, big bass will break stringer ties and heavy stringer will break big bass ties.

15. ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open to anglers of either sex who are members of IL Bass Blasters. One member of each team must be eighteen (18) years of age or older. BASS Elite Series, FLW and Major League Fishing Touring Professionals (both current and retired) are not eligible to participate (meaning touring professionals at the highest level). Example, fishing the Toyota Series does not make you a professional.

16. REGISTRATION: An official IL Bass Blasters entry form must be filled out and signed by both participants for each event they fish (Please print clearly). At least one (1) member of the team must be present for the registration.

17. STARTING POSITIONS: Starting positions will be drawn at the pre-tournament meeting before each event.

18. SUBSTITUTION: To be considered an established team, both members must fish together in at least 50% of all events. A team may substitute during the season. A substitute is to be identified on the entry form. If two (2) members from different teams pair up, the member listed on the entry form as member one (1) will receive the points and member two (2) on the entry form will be treated as a substitute. Member two (2) will not get credit towards the 5 Events required to qualify for the Championship.

19. PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE: Practice or Scouting of fish will be allowed with the following exceptions. No fishing or boating will be allowed on the tournament waters on the day of the event from 12:01 AM. until the start of the event.

20. TROLLING: Trolling with the use of a combustible engine as a method of fishing is prohibited. A team found to be trolling would be disqualified for that tournament and put on probation for the remainder of the season.

21. NO WAKE ZONES: All no-wake zones and areas are NO PASS zones unless the boat being passed is fishing, gives permission to pass, is inoperable or multiple boat lanes permit a different route to be taken. Running on plane or violating no wake areas will result in being disqualified, or if multiple day tournament, being disqualified for that day.

22. RULINGS: The tournament director and his designated appointees shall reserve the right for rules interpretations and rulings thereof. Furthermore, the tournament committee reserves the right to change dates or sites of any given tournament. Any protest must be in writing, signed by the protester, and filed in writing within 5 minutes after weigh-in, it's recommended that the protester have proof, pics or some other means, to prove another contestant violated the rules. The decision of the tournament officials in all rulings shall be final. Any and all contestants are subject to a truth verification exam (polygraph test), at the discretion of the tournament director or official. Failure to take and successfully complete this test is a reason for disqualification and forfeit of all prizes from this and all future IL Bass Blasters events.

23. REFUSAL OF MEMBERSHIP: We reserve the right to refuse membership or entry into any IL Bass Blasters events.

24. CHEATING: Anyone caught cheating in any tournament event will be immediately banned from fishing in any IL Bass Blasters events and publicly posted on social media as well as inform all other circuits.

25. INSURANCE: All members will carry liability insurance on any boat they might use during any IL Bass Blasters tournaments. Failure to do so or reporting of false information will result in disqualification.

26. UNFORSEEN EVENTS: If a rule or issue that needs attending to, pops up at an event or throughout the season, it's up to the director to make the final decision.

27. COMPLIANCE: It shall be the sole responsibility of all entrants to comply with the said rules and regulations.