2010 Season Official West Texas Team Trail
(WTTT) Tournament Rules
Violation of any rule can result in disqualification
and the loss of entry fees and any prizes. WTTT reserves the right to enforce and/or
change any rule for safety or fairness, as determined by the director. WTTT is a
private organization and only paid members can compete. WTTT reserves the right
to accept or refuse entry to anyone. The tournament director has final decision
in all matters concerning WTTT tournaments and concerning exactly who is allowed
to join and/or compete. The WTTT is owned and operated by Hagler Fishing Opportunities,
LLC.
1). Any team member that is found by the tournament
director to be excessively complaining about a rule, a lake choice or the way the
trail is run, may be asked by the director to not fish the remainder of the season.
2). All rules interpretations and decisions made
by WTTT directors are final in all WTTT tournament matters. These rules have been
set for honesty and fairness to all accepted members and contestants. Ignorance
of and/or not reading the official rules in their entirety are no excuse for misunderstandings
and/or disputes. Contestants can be asked to take a polygraph and/or disqualified
by director, whether protested or not. All contestants are expected to display high
standards of honesty, safety, courtesy, conservation and sportsmanship. Any contestant’s
conduct that is deemed detrimental or unsportsmanlike will not be tolerated. Any
contestant caught attempting to cheat will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of
the law and will be immediately disqualified without recourse. Polygraphs will be
given and all entrants agree to submit to one or more polygraphs by our polygraph
professional. Refusal to submit to a polygraph or failure of the polygraph is grounds
for immediate disqualification.
3). All contestants agree to hold 100% harmless
and without liability; the West Texas Team Trail, its owners, sponsors, agents,
directors, contestants and staff in the event of any accident or dispute at any
WTTT tournament.
4). Anyone who has failed a tournament administered
polygraph examination for cheating or for a major rule infraction, has been found
guilty of cheating in a tournament or has been disqualified for refusing to take
a polygraph examination will not be allowed to join. One team member must be at
least 18 years of age or older, all contestants must sign a release waiver to compete
and all contestants must grant all publication, photo, video and audio rights from
all WTTT events for zero percent compensation to the WTTT and Hagler Fishing Opportunities,
LLC. Any contestant that has paid a single tournament entry fee higher than $2,500.00
is not eligible to compete in the WTTT.
5). The membership fee in the WTTT is $25.00 per
person, per year. The entry fee is $150.00 per team, per event. This is a two person
team tournament. A teams’ first event of the year may be fished solo, but a set
partner must be established before the next event. The tournament director must
be notified prior to any team fishing solo. No partner substitutions or changes
in the team are allowed, except in special situations and only with a 3 day notice
and approval by the director. All subs must be pre-approved by the director, pay
a membership fee and obey all rules. Any team who has a substitute can win any money
winnings, but substitute teams will be penalized 10 points in the Angler Of The
Year title race.
6). The on site tournament payback is 70% of all
entry fees collected, (less a $300 polygraph fee if applicable). 20% of all entry
fees from each tournament is placed in a championship fund and is awarded at the
championship tournament. 90% of the entry fees at the championship tournament are
paid back at the championship tournament. All teams must provide social security
numbers to receive any monetary winnings. There will be one (1) place paid per every
five (5) paid teams entered. Teams must be present to collect any winnings, unless
the director is notified and permission is given to not be present. The payback
for the largest bass of each tournament is one (1) place for 1 through 40 teams
and two (2) places paid for over forty (40) teams. All ties, including multiple
places, split that prize and the next lower place(s) monies.
7). There will be no refund or transfer of membership
or entry fees, except in emergency situations that are approved by the director.
8). Safety is very important to us. All state,
federal and local laws must be obeyed. The boat owner must have sufficient liability
insurance on the boat that is used in the competition. A U.S. Coast Guard approved
chest-type life vest (PFD) must be worn securely by all contestants when boat is
traveling faster than safe idle speed. An engine kill switch is mandatory and the
switch lanyard must be attached to the driver. There is no horsepower limit. However,
no engine shall exceed the attached crafts BIA “HP” rating. All boats must meet
state & federal safety regulations.
9). No alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or illegal
substances are to be consumed or allowed in the boat during event hours. Do not
consume alcohol before any event. Do not consume any alcohol at the weigh-in, if
there is a chance you will be given a polygraph. Anyone taking prescribed medication
that could alter polygraph results must tell the director prior to the event.
10). Tournament Lake Off Limits Period: You are
not allowed to be on the water of any tournament lake during the off limits period.
The designated off limits period is from 8:00 pm on the Sunday proceeding the tournament
until safe light the morning of the Saturday prior to the tournament scheduled date
on Sunday. It is against the rules to send anyone out on the lake during the official
off limits period to find fish for any team. Absolutely no "hole holding” will
be tolerated in practice or on tournament days. Contestants may not ask someone
or accept an offer from someone to hold a hole or fishing spot for them or another
contestant. Any contestant caught entering into any potential financial agreements
in regards to WTTT tournaments with other contestants or “locals” will be immediately
disqualified.
11). Official Practice Day: The Saturday prior
to the tournament is the official practice day for each tournament. Fishing can
begin at safe light and last thru 5:00 pm. All practice fishing must cease at 5:00
pm and all teams must be off the water and/or heading in to the ramp. Absolutely
all teams must be completely off the water by 5:30 pm on the Saturday prefishing
day.
12). Any team that did not fish 4 of the 6
tournaments of the preceding season must pre-pay for the next tournament at their
first tournament. Example: If you wish to fish the first tournament and did
not fish at least 4 tournaments in our 2009 season, you must pay the entry fees
for the first tournament and the next scheduled tournament in order to compete.
This rule applies only to the first tournament fished by a team that didn’t fish
4 tournaments in 2009.
13). At least one member of every team must check
in with the director or his staff at every tournament for the official registration
process. The official tournament registration process will allow the team member(s)
to view the official time clock, learn the start time and weigh-in time(s), turn
in their registration forms, receive their boat number and pay any monies not paid
prior to registration. We do not announce these fishing times prior to the tournament
registration because every team must view the official clock and draw a boat number
at each tournament. It is each team’s responsibility to view the clock and learn
the start time and weigh-in information.
14). Trailering to other ramps is allowed for
safety, but fishing is permitted only on navigable waters of the event lake. You
may launch from any public ramp on the host lake waters no earlier than one hour
prior to the official start time on tournament day or as determined by the tournament
director. The use of private boat ramps must be cleared by the tournament director
prior to any contestant using that ramp on tournament day. All teams must declare
which ramp they will launch from at the official registration. If you launch at
a ramp other than the designated weigh-in ramp, you can not go back and load your
boat prior to weighing in your fish after checking in. You may load your boat at
any ramp prior to weighing in your fish, trailer to the weigh-in site and weigh
your fish. You must be in the weigh-in line prior to the designated deadline for
that tournament.
15). Fishing cannot start until the official start
time.
16). Only artificial lures may be used. Pork &
legally recognized fish attractants are approved for use. But, no live, dead, frozen
or “prepared” baits may be used.
17). No trolling of any kind with the outboard
engine is allowed. “Strolling” or “Spooling” of crankbaits, plastics, or swim baits
with the trolling motor will be allowed. If you have a question as to the
definition of the words “trolling”, “strolling” or “spooling”, please ask the WTTT
director for clarifications. Ignorance of the director’s interpretation of these
methods is no excuse for failure of the polygraph.
18). All bass must be caught in a legal and sporting
manner. There will be no snagging of bass in any way. Only one rod may be used at
a time. Each cast and retrieve must be completed prior to using or casting another
rod. No video camera device may be used in an attempt to locate fish on tournament
day. No team member can leave the boat to land a fish. Landing nets are acceptable
for use. All fish must be caught from a boat, by contestants, and no one other than
the contestants of WTTT are allowed in the boat unless under emergency situations
or preapproved by the director. No tubes, wading, kayaks or fishing from the shore.
All boats must have an operational livewell system. Teams may fish anywhere accessible
by boat, except designated as off limits by the director or the ruling lake authority.
Teams can not fish waters that are not navigable by boat. No team is allowed to
fish within 30 yards of another team's boat, whether anchored or not, unless
permission is given by the team already fishing that area. Any team that allows
any other team to fish within 30 yards of the team's boat has suspended the
30 yard rule for that area and has opened the water to all other WTTT competitors.
Encroachment on another team who was first on a spot is considered unsportsmanlike.
All protests must be in writing with “TX” boat numbers of the accused party and
presented to the director no later than 5 minutes after close of the weigh-in scales.
Polygraphs may be used in any disputes.
19). Unless special TPWD limits apply, the total
team limit is five (5) bass total per team per event, 14 inch minimum length. Kentucky
“Spotted” bass minimum length is 12 inches. Check with the director and make sure
you are aware of any special length or slot limit exceptions. Only largemouth, smallmouth
or Kentucky/Spotted bass and their sub-species will be weighed. We strive for a
100% live release. So, please take care of your catch! All limit culling must be
done shortly after catch. There will be no culling in the weigh-in line, or in the
host marina area. If you are found to have more than five (5) bass in your possession
for an extended period of time or attempt to bring more than five (5) bass to weigh-in,
you will be zeroed and/or disqualified. Each short bass is a 1 lb. penalty and the
loss of that fish. Dead bass are weighed only at the director’s discretion and are
a 1/4 pound penalty each. No dead bass may be discarded and/or replaced with a live
bass at any time during WTTT tournaments. This is a law set by the TPWD and is grounds
for disqualification. No iced, or white gilled bass will be accepted. All teams
must check in at the official clock table prior to the official weigh-in time. All
bass must be brought to scales in a weigh bag filled with enough water to properly
give room for the fish and facilitate the healthy return of the fish to the lake.
Any team late in checking in at the weigh-in site will be penalized one (1) pound
per minute, up to ten (10) minutes maximum. After ten (10) minutes you are given
a zero for total weight. In case of a boat breakdown, team members can accept transport
from another boat or team to bring a team member and their bass to the weigh-in
site.
20). Team Point System and Qualifying For The
Championship Tournament:
The WTTT point system and Anglers of Year title
are based on total points awarded in conjunction with the place the team finished.
There is a 5 point penalty added to the actual placing for teams who zero.
WTTT point system:
1st place = 1 point, 2nd place = 2 points, 3rd
place = 3 points, 4th place = 4 points, etc. etc., all the way down to the last
team weighing in at least one (1) bass. Teams with no fish to weigh in will receive
the placing of the last place, plus 5 points. All ties occupying the same finishing
place will receive the highest place points of the position they tied at. The next
position out of the tie will receive points equivalent to the total number of tied
teams added to the placing they were tied at. Example: 4 teams tie for 6th
place, the next placing will be 10th place and the 10th place
points will be assigned to that team. At the end of the regular tournament season,
the Anglers of the Year title will be determined by the team with the lowest total
points after fishing 5 of the 6 events. These Anglers of Year teams will receive
free membership and entry fees into any WTTT that they fish the next year. The Angler
Of The Year team can fish for free only if there is no change in the team for the
next year. The Angler of Year approximate value equals $ 1,150.00 per team. ($50
membership + 6 tournaments @ $150 each and championship @ $200)
Teams who fish all six (6) tournaments will accumulate
points based on those six (6) events towards a final WTTT points standings list.
After the 6th event, these teams will drop their worst tournament finish of the
season for a final five (5) tournament points total. Teams who only fish 5 of the
6 tournaments will accumulate points based on those five (5) events towards a final
WTTT points standings list. These teams cannot drop a tournament finish. Only teams
competing in at least 5 of the 6 events will be eligible to win the Angler of the
Year award. Only teams that fish 4 of the 6 tournaments are eligible to fish at
the championship tournament. Sorry, but absolutely no exceptions. Teams who fish
4 of the 6 tournaments will not have final point standings kept after they miss
their second tournament. But, these teams may still compete in WTTT championship,
provided they pay the regular entry fee. Any team who misses three (3) or more events
cannot compete at the championship tournament.
The number of WTTT “Free” and/or “1/2 entry fee”
championship qualifiers are determined as follows: After all regularly scheduled
events are held and for all teams who fish 5 of 6 events in one region, the top
10% in the final standings will get a free championship entry. This is based on
the total number of qualifying teams for the championship tournament and not the
total number of memberships in that year’s WTTT. The next 10% in the final standings
will only pay half of the entry fee for the championship tournament. The remaining
field who qualify can compete by paying the full championship entry fee, but only
if they fished at least 4 of 6 events.
21). The funds in the championship payback are
composed of 20% of the entry fees that are held from each tournament throughout
the year, less funds used to pay for the prize drawings or other advertised prizes
that may be given to the WTTT at a discounted price by sponsors. Also, 90% of the
entry fees collected at the championship tournament and 100% of the sponsors funds
collected for the championship tournament will be paid back.
22). All mailed in entry fee payments must be
received by the director no later than the last mail run at the director’s mailbox
on Thursday just preceding the scheduled tournament. WTTT is not responsible for
any lost, stolen or misdirected mail. All teams must pay at sign up, prior to entering
the tournament. We never charge a late entry fee. Personal or business checks are
accepted, but a $50.00 fee will apply to non-sufficient funds checks. NSF checks
are also grounds for disqualification, if not repaid promptly!! We consider this
theft by worthless check. No credit cards will be accepted. For registration info,
results, photographs or updates, please visit and bookmark our website:
www.westtexasteamtrail.com
Please email the director with any questions you
may have. You may send us an email to thagler@westtexasteamtrail.com to request your name be added to our list of those
receiving tournament news and updates. Sorry, no printed newsletters are mailed
out.
The principal office mailing address is:
West Texas Team Trial
Tommy Hagler
1416 Key Lane
Abilene, TX 79602-7610
We never share or divulge your private information
with anyone, for any reason, unless we are required to by law enforcement officials.
All WTTT customers’ personal information is kept under lock and key. We never sell
your email or mailing address, home or cell phone numbers to anyone.