The following rules for the 2008 season will be interpreted solely by the tournament director. The Director reserves the right to reject any entry if he feels that it is not in the best interest of SUPERBASS. Entry forms must be completely filled out and signed by BOTH contestants. Any announcements made by the Tournament Director at the tournament site take precedent over written rules. KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RULES IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH CONTESTANT. Failure to read these rules or ignorance of them is no excuse. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final in all matters.

• RULES: The following rules are for this 2008 tournament series. These rules will be interpreted by the Tournament Officials and all decisions are final. Any violation of these rules, Dept. of Conservation or State Water Patrol regulations shall be reason for disqualification and possible rejection from all future events. Failure to read these rules is no excuse. Knowledge of all SUPERBASS rules is your responsibility, and by signing this entry form, we hereby waive our legal venue and agree with all SUPERBASS director decisions.
• ELIGIBILITY: All individuals, 18 years of age or older with a paid entry fee and a current paid membership to SUPERBASS Tournaments are eligible to fish. A parent or legal guardian must accompany any one under 18 years of age. Membership is required to fish any SUPERBASS tournament and each contestant must be a member in good standing. Anyone fishing with an expired membership or no membership will be reason for both contestants to be disqualified. Teams consist of 2 members who fish together. If one (1) member cannot fish, the other team member may use an alternate or fish by themselves; points will be awarded to the original team. A team may use two (2) alternates during the season.
• ENTRY/MEMBERSHIP FEE: Entry fee is $120.00 per team, which includes Big Bass. Entries will be accepted by mail or may be paid at the ramp with NO LATE FEES. There will be a yearly membership fee of $25.00 per angler. Memberships expire at the end of the annual season. You can reserve your boat number for any event or for the entire season by pre-paying $50.00 per event. Paid entry fees may be transferred to another tournament only with approval from the SUPERBASS Tournament Director. No refunds will be given.
• BIG BASS: $20.00 of the entry fee goes toward a 100% payback Big Bass Pot. Two (2) Big Bass places will be paid at each event.
• PAYBACKS: SUPERBASS will pay one (1) place for every six (6) teams with a paid entry into the tournament with a maximum of twenty (20) cash places being paid regardless of the number of teams entered. A minimum 75% payback of all paid entries.
• CHECK-IN and PRE-MEETING: One team member must check in the morning of tournament. Failure to do so will result in possible disqualification. A pre-meeting will take place on the water approximately ten (10) minutes prior to the official start. Idle by live well checks may take place at any time either on or off the water.
• TAKE-OFF and CHECK-IN: Take off will be in order in which entries are received. The launch site will be the official check-out and check-in area. At the end of the tournament, All Teams must check in regardless of whether they have fish to weigh in or not. If you must leave the lake early you must notify the tournament director. If you have boat problems, notify the tournament director as soon as possible of the situation. Failure to check in will result in loss of all tournament points from that tournament and a search being conducted for the missing team when warranted. Team will have to pay a $50 fee before fishing another tournament.
• POINTS: Upon completion of the tournament, each team will automatically receive 10 show up points in addition to their tournament points. Tournament points will be dispersed according to placement, first place will receive 100 points; second place 99 points, and so on. All teams below 60th place or teams not weighing any fish will receive 50 points. Failure to check in at the end of the tournament will result in loss of all tournament points from that tournament. Each team must select one division to fish. The division selections must be noted on all tournament entry forms. All points earned will be assigned to the selected division and points may not be transferred to any other division other than the open division, and then only at the discretion of the SUPERBASS Tournament Director. Position ties will be awarded equal points.
• JOINT TOURNAMENTS: Joint tournaments are tournaments that are fished in unison by more than one division. Points will be issued just like a regular tournament except for those teams, which are fishing both divisions, in which the team will receive their points in both divisions. Only during Joint tournaments will points be distributed between two divisions. Entering a joint tournament only counts as one tournament toward classic qualification unless an entry is paid for both divisions, where as you will acquire 2 tournament entries toward classic qualification. Teams fishing the Open division and those fishing for Team of the Year will only receive points for one tournament (i.e. if you win the tournament you will only receive 1 - 110 point position toward your 5 or 6 tournaments.
• DIVISIONAL POINTS CHAMPIONS: The divisional points champions will be decided by the best five (5) of the six (6) regularly scheduled tournaments in a division. The Open division will be decided by your teams best five (5) tournaments overall, ties will be broken by 1) Big Fish 2) Biggest Stringer. The Divisional Points Champions will receive trophies at the classic along with four (4) free team entries toward the next season. Free entries have no cash value and cannot be transferred to another team.
• TEAM OF THE YEAR CHAMPIONS: The Team of the Year champions will be decided by the teams best six (6) regularly scheduled tournaments during the season and classic points. Classic points will only be awarded to those teams in contention for AOY (have fished atleast 6 tournaments with their best 6 tournaments meeting or exceeding 610 points) using our regular 110 point system. The Team of the Year Champions will receive trophies at the classic along with six (6) free team entries toward the next season. Free entries have no cash value and cannot be transferred to another team.
• CLASSIC QUALIFICATION: INVITATIONS TO THE CLASSIC WILL BE DETERMINED BY: First by Divisional Points Champions, Second by TOY contention, Third by top "x" boats of each division & lastly by SUPERBASS determined wildcard teams to fill the field as necessary. All teams that fish a minimum of four (4) qualifying tournaments during the year will be eligible for wildcard invitation to the classic. Each member of the team must fish a minimum of four (3) tournaments together to be eligible. ALTERNATES MAY NOT FISH IN THE CLASSIC.
• THE CLASSIC: The Classic will take place March of 2009 and will consist of a pre-tournament meeting, dinner and awards ceremony the night before the tournament. Launch positions will be determined by a drawing at the pre-tournament meeting. The location will be chosen by an online vote and tournament director’s discretion. The tournament will consist of two (2) days of fishing, which will decide the Team of the Year and Classic Champions.
• PARTICIPATION and ALTERNATES: A team consists of two (2) members fishing together from the same boat. A team may use two (2) alternates within the season per division. Teams fishing the Open Division my use two (2) alternates per 6 tournaments. Members that fish alone throughout the season must fish at least four (4) tournaments to qualify for the classic but no partner will be allowed to enter with them. Alternates need not be members of SUPERBASS until they fish their second event. ALTERNATES MAY NOT FISH IN THE CLASSIC.
• SCORING: Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Kentucky Spotted bass will be scored. Five (5) fish limit. All lake and conservation rules apply; breaking such rules will be grounds for disqualification. Any frozen or iced fish presented for weigh-in will be grounds for issuance of a polygraph test and disqualification and possible denial to future events based on test results. The use of ice in a live well as a cooling agent in hot water is permitted and suggested. A short fish will result in a one (1) pound penalty per fish plus the loss of the short fish. The dead fish penalty will be one (1) pound penalty per fish. No more than five (5) fish are allowed in live well (in possession) at any time. Anyone bringing more than five (5) fish to the weigh-in scales will not be allowed to weigh in ANY fish. All fish weighed-in become the property of SUPERBASS Tournaments until the time of release.
• POLYGRAPH: All contestants, by signing the official entry form, consent to receive a voice-stress or polygraph test. Tests will be given at random at the tournament director's discretion. Anyone who fails the test will be immediately disqualified. Any accusation of cheating will be grounds for testing.
• SPORTSMANSHIP and SAFETY: Safe fishing and safe boating practice are expected during tournament hours. Life jackets and the outboard kill switch must be used any time the boat's big motor is running at above an idle. No alcohol or controlled substance can be used or allowed in the boat during tournament hours. Each contestant is expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. No alcoholic beverages, stimulants or depressants allowed in boats. No hole sitting or holding a fishing spot for another fishermen or contestants.
• PROTEST: All protests must be submitted in writing to the tournament director within fifteen (15) minutes of the weigh-in completion. The decision of the Tournament Director and staff members shall be final in all matters.
• LATE PENALTY: All teams must check in no later than 3pm to avoid penalties. One pound per minute, up to ten (10) minutes, then disqualification. Weigh-in will commence at 3:10 with all teams that checked in no later 3:10. All teams must still check in, even if they have passed the disqualification period, to ensure that all contestants are safe and accounted for. Failure to check-in will result in loss of tournament points.
• TIES: All ties will be broken by 1) big bass, 2) most fish weighed in, 3) by earliest entry.
• TACKLE and EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures and pork style baits are allowed. All bass must be caught on a rod and reel. Each angler may only have one rod and reel in use at any time. Contestants may not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters.
• BOATS and MOTORS: Any boat 14 feet or longer powered by a motor 10 horsepower or more with a kill switch will be accepted. Kill switches must be in good working condition. All boats must meet B.I.A. and Coast Guard requirements. No over powered boats. Each boat must have a functional bilge pump and properly aerated live well.
• LOCATIONS: Anywhere on the tournament lake, except 50 yards of another contestant’s anchored boat or 50 yards from any gas pump, public ramps or piers, and any designated off limits areas, state rules apply. No trailering of the boat during tournament hours without consent of the director.
• INSURANCE: Boat owners must have at least $100,000 of Boating Liability Insurance. Proof of insurance will be asked for at first tournament and may be checked spontaneously. Proof of insurance may be a question on the polygraph test.
• SPECIAL SITUATIONS:
• Restroom Breaks: In the event a member of the team requires use of a restroom facility, the team may use any commercial marina facility. The team may depart the boat individually, use the restroom facility and immediately return to the boat and continue fishing until the end of tournament hours. One member of the team must always remain in the boat to safe-guard the days catch. Team members are not allowed to solicit information from others to help in their success. No people other than the team members will be allowed in or around the boat (ten feet, 10') during tournament hours. Failure to follow these guidelines could constitute grounds for a polygraph test and/or disqualification.
• Breakdown: In the event of a boat breakdown, the team may transfer their fish to another contestant's boat for transport to the weigh-in site, with the following conditions; the fish must be placed in a segregated livewell. One member of the breakdown team must accompany those fish at all times to the weigh-in site. The team broken down must stop fishing from the time of transfer.
• Early Departure: Any team departing prior to weigh in from the tournament lake must contact the tournament director or appointed staff member. Failure to do so will result in the loss of any points earned at that tournament.
• Tournament Cancellation: If any tournament is cancelled the entry fees will be transferred forward to the rescheduled tournament. Tournaments cancelled and not able to be rescheduled to another date: all paid entry fees for that tournament will be refunded for the cancelled tournament.
• Cell Phones: SUPERBASS encourages all contestants to have a cell phone in their boat for emergency use only. Always contact the SUPERBASS Tournament director at 573-281-8735 concerning any situations affecting your tournament.

KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RULES IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH CONTESTANT. Failure to read these rules or ignorance of them is no excuse. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final in all matters.