2009 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, 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.
Anyone who has guided on any WTTT event lake in the past 60 days will not be
allowed to fish the WTTT tournament on the lake they have guided on during that
time. Any contestant that has paid a single tournament entry fee higher than
$1,500.00 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 and/or used to pay for the prize boat and motor. 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 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 6:00 am the Friday prior to the
tournament scheduled. 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 Friday prior to 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 Friday prefishing day.
12). Pay before Practice: All teams intending to sign up and pay
their entry fee for the tournament must not have fished or practiced on the
host lake on Friday without first paying their entry fee. If you intend to
prefish on the Friday prior to the tournament, you need to mail your entry to
the director ahead of time or call and make arrangements to prepay.
13). 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
March 2009 Amistad tournament and did not fish at least 4 tournaments in our
2008 season, you must pay the entry fees for the Amistad 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 2008. This
rule is meant to discourage “jackpotters”, as we had rather not see
“jackpotters” enter the trail.
14). 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.
15). 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. No private boat ramps may be used on tournament day by any
contestant. 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, if you are in the weigh-in line prior to the designated deadline for
that tournament.
16). Fishing cannot start until the official start time.
17). 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.
18). 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.
19). 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) is allowed in the boat unless
under emergency situations. 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. 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 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.
20). 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 to 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 disqualified and 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.
21. 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.
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.
22). 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 boat 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.
23). 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 check 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, updates, 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 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: