A summarized set of rules and ideas for the online virtual tournament.

[Slab]

The first event will be a single member event that lasts 3 weeks. We have some time before everyone is thawed out before we actually start it, to get these rules ironed out.

Submit only one set of 3 fish Prior to midnight of the last day of the tournament, overall length of the three fish will be the winner.
Prizes will be supplied solely by Crappie.com sponsors. I will show you what they are at the time of the contest. There will be plenty of good stuff.
I'll need someone to put together sample pictures.
Crappie.com Online Virtual Fishing Tournament Rules Summary

• 1. Become a member of Crappie.com.
• 2. Get the control code posted on crappie.com at the start of the tournament.
• 3. Go to your favorite fishing spot and fish.
• 4. Take 2 pictures of your catch according to the detailed rules below.
• 5. Email your pictures to [email protected]
• 6. When the tournament is complete, crappie.com validates the photos and posts the results. Prizes will be shipped out shortly thereafter.

Before you compete, please read the detailed rules below. If you have any questions, email us at [email protected]
1) General

Fish must be caught by the “Registered Crappie.com Member”. All materials submitted, unless noted otherwise, become the property of crappie.com.
Each winning entry is validated by crappie.com and all decisions are final. Participants may be required to provide additional information if requested by crappie.com (including, but not limited to, additional images from the same camera that was used for your tournament photos). Crappie.com reserves the right to reject or accept any entry. Any falsification of information provided by the registered member will lead to disqualification.
2) Fish

• Only your longest fish, per species is eligible for prizes.
• You are judged on the LENGTH of the fish and NOT the weight.
• All fish must be caught alive using legal angling methods, from bank, boat, pier or wherever is legal.
• Anglers must abide by all federal/state/provincial rules and regulations.
• Absolutely no fish caught in fish hatchery waters, fish culture stations, "Fish & Pay" Lakes, private ponds, aquariums or fishing preserves may be submitted. Furthermore, no fish captured using unconventional methods are eligible.
• Fish showing signs of improper handling will be disqualified.
• You may not submit the same fish more than once.

3) Control Code

The Control Code is a unique, seven digit alpha-numeric code which is randomly generated at the start of the contest, and will be provided when the contest is started. The Control Code must be clearly visible in your photos.
4) Photos

• Minumum of 2.5 Mega Pixel photos.
• No Image manipulation whatsoever is allowed.
• Images must be emailed to crappie.com in the unedited JPEG format in which they were originally captured. No cropping, no image adjustments at all.
• All images must be clear and of good quality. Crappie.com reserves the right to reject and/or disqualify images of poor quality.
• Your catch (the live fish) must be alive when measured and photographed.
• Your photo should include the date it was taken, use the date and time feature all digital cameras have. A newspaper front page with date will also work if your camera does not happen to have the date/time feature.

Using your digital camera, you are required to take 2 photographs, using the same camera.

Photo 1 - FISH and Ruler - The fish lying flat with a measuring tape/device below the fish, clearly indicating the length of the fish and clearly displaying the Control Code

• You must take the photograph from directly above and centered on the fish.
• All photographs must be clear.
• The fish must be lying down on a flat surface.
• The fish must be visible from tip to tail.
• The measuring tape/device must be clearly visible and must be placed below the fish. You should not try to line up the tip of tape/device with the tip of the fish. We want the tape to go beyond both ends of the fish. We will do the math and subtract whats necessary.
• Only a valid ruler, tape measure or measuring board will be accepted by crappie.com for measuring the length of the fish. This device must be displayed clearly in your photo.
• Total Length is measured from the most forward point of the head, with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail while the fish is lying on its side. The tail may not be pinched or squeezed in any manner.

Photo2 - Fish and Angler - The Crappie.com member holding your catch (the live fish) chest high and as close to your body as possible.

• The picture must be close enough to ensure the fish fills most of the frame.
• You must be facing forward.
• Also include the control code in this picture as well. The control code can be placed/pinned/held anywhere in the picture.

5) Prizes

As a member of crappie.com, you hereby acknowledge and agree that crappie.com makes no representations, warranties, terms, conditions, understandings or collateral agreements, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, with respect to the Prizes.
6) Fishing Regulations and Safety

All participants are required to abide by all federal/state/provincial laws and game regulations. All fish must be caught alive in a legal manner.
Fishing presents hazards. As a condition of entering the Tournament the participant fully indemnifies crappie.com, it's sponsors and it's owners. Follow general practice safe fishing guidelines at all times.
7) Protest

All protests must be submitted via email to [email protected] within 24 hours after the final tournament standings have been posted. All claims and/or disputes will be examined, and all decisions rendered by Crappie.com will be final. Crappie.com reserves the right to disqualify any application. Participants that refuse to cooperate will be disqualified.
8) Changes

These Rules may be amended or modified by crappie.com in its sole discretion at any time.
Crappie.com reserves the right to add, delete, or modify, change, alter, or terminate the tournaments at any time.

[Slab]

Please provide feedback so I can make changes. This is going to be fun.

Also, I seen on other contests where they exclude certain states, TN being one of them. I'm thinking it's possibly because there is an entry fee. That's kinda why, at least for now, I'd just assume Crappie.com and it sponsors provide all the prizes. I got lots of good stuff, so I think I'll be able to provide a nice prize package. And maybe, just maybe, I ask for simple donations, not mandatory. I figure there can't be too many laws preventing just giving away stuff. Does anyone know about any of this, entry fees and such?

[badbrad]

Sounds like a well thought out game plan Ed, I'll be eager to give this a try.

[hunter7711]

I will be fun, but, how can anyone compete with the people that fish MS?????? How can you compete with a fish that is 2" thick?

[STUMP HUNTER]

Catch one 3'' thick!!:D LOL it will be hard to beat them boys from MS. but we will get it a try.
Rules look good Ed. Thumbs Up

[AgriHawg]

Only your longest fish, per species is eligible for prizes.

We're only doing CRAPPIE right? :D

[AgriHawg]

Also, are the e-mail addresses different for a reason?

[AgriHawg]

And just to clarify, the ruler needs to be BELOW the fish in the picture, not UNDER the fish correct?

[gabowman]

Once April gets here it's starting to get sorta warm down here in Ga. The ones of us without livewells generally use coolers with ice once the weather warms up to around 80 degrees. Gonna be hard keeping fish alive all day for a picture.:o I'm looking forwards to the contest though.

[CrappieWhisperer]

Sure would like to see the pictures of at least the top 10 qualifiers. Half the fun of competing is seeing the fish that get caught. Not sure what your plans were on this, just saying...we all love seeing the big slabs.