Thread: Big Sandy/TN River FJ series Coming Feb. 2015

DTG .... we tweaked the Crappie USA rules to use for our Fruit Jar tournaments. You're more than welcome to use them, either as is or with further tweaks that ya'll deem necessary.

Here's the rules we used :

Fruit Jar Tournament Rules (final draft):


1- You may enter alone or with the partner of your choice. But, you must have at least one Crappie.com member on the team, to fish in these tournaments. Practice is allowed at events until midnight the day before the tournament. Disqualification of a team, for any reason, will result in the forfeiture of their entry fee/Big Fish fee for that tournament event.

2- Tournament waters shall be defined as areas open to all participants of the event and accessible by normal navigational means only. Fishing within 50 feet of a marina gas pump or within 25 feet of a competitor’s anchored, tied off, or stationary boat is prohibited. A safe and courteous distance should be maintained when trolling/main motors are in use. Any violation of off limits water will result in disqualification. No wake & no fishing area laws must be obeyed.

3- In the case of extreme weather/water conditions, we reserve the right to postpone or cancel a tournament. Advance entry fee payments will be fully refunded.

4- Teams may launch anywhere within the boundaries of the lake being fished, & start fishing (line in water) anywhere on the lake at (time to be determined) and may continue fishing until (time to be determined). Any fishing by a team member before or after preset tournament hours, on the day of the tournament, will disqualify the team. Tournament hours will be listed when tournament date & lake are listed.

5- Teams must remain in boat while fishing. Nature calls are allowed, but all fishing must cease until team member returns to boat. Third partner must be under the age of 16.

6- Teams may use rod and reel combos, hand held pole and reel combos or hand held poles. Eight- (8) pole limit per team (2 hooks or baits per pole, maximum), even if only one angler constitutes a "team". Live and/or artificial bait may be used, as long as it's legal to possess/use on the lake being fished.

7- Crappie must be hooked and landed with a rod or pole by team member(s). Landing nets may be used. Crappie must be hooked through the lip or in the mouth ... foul-hooked fish must be immediately released. No stringers or fish baskets may be used.

8- Teams must comply with all state fishing and boating regulations. PFDs must be worn anytime boat is under power of big motor. Fishing/boating licenses and insurance are the responsibility of team members. Tournament officials/Crappie.com will not be liable for any accidents or litigation. Tournament Officials/Crappie.com liability is waived by all participants upon entry into these tournaments.

9- Crappie must be weighed at the official weigh-in ramp/site. Both team members must be present at the time of weigh-in to be eligible for prizes. Fish may be brought to weigh-in site by boat, or vehicle (if you launched from a different site or your boat is moored at another marina or private dock). No team will be allowed to join the weigh-in line after (TBD). Angler(s) must be in line with fish by (TBD). (*TBD= to be determined)

10- A team may not weigh-in more than 7 crappie and those 7 crappie must be alive when entering the official weigh-in line. Any team presenting more than 7 crappie will be disqualified. Once you have entered the weigh-in line, your fish will be checked for count (7 crappie) and size limit compliance. All dead crappie will be removed from your creel and only those fish that are alive will be weighed. Once your fish have been verified alive, you will then be allowed to weigh-in those fish, and only those fish, even if one or more die before reaching the scales. The tournament weighmaster has sole responsibility for the declaration of dead or live crappie. All crappie brought to the scales for weigh-in must have been caught during the tournament hours, from tournament waters, by the team bringing them to the scales. Once weighed & noted, Crappie are yours to keep or release.

11- All crappie presented for weigh-in must meet state/lake length requirements for the state/lake in which they are being weighed and may not have any weight enhancements. Any team bringing an illegally weighted crappie to the weigh-in line will be disqualified. On lakes with no size limit, a mandatory 9" size limit will be used. Fish will be checked for size limit compliance, by being measured "mouth closed & tail pinched" to achieve maximum length. Measurement by Tournament Officials will be done on a Golden Rule measuring device. Fish not making the mandatory size limit will be removed from your catch, and a 3oz penalty will be assessed to your remaining weight. In the case of a tie weight between teams, a coin flip conducted by the weighmaster will decide the placing of that team.

12- Big Fish entries are optional. Big Fish Entry Fee will be $10/boat. Only one Big Fish entry per team. Team must designate their big fish entry at time of weigh-in. Big Fish winning team will be paid 60% of the Big Fish pot. 2nd biggest Big Fish weighed in will be paid 40% of the Big Fish pot. Big Fish weight tie will pay a 50/50 split pot.

13- The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited during tournament hours & failure to follow this rule will be cause for disqualification of the entire team.

14- Protests must be made in writing to the tournament weighmaster within 30 minutes following the end of the official weigh-in. All protests must site the rule(s) allegedly broken. All protests will be decided by the weighmaster and his decision will be final.

15- NO ONE can be hired or compensated in any way to fish with you or for you at these events.
Instances of poor sportsmanship may be grounds for disqualification if circumstances require.
The use of mobile communication devices such as cellular phones, marine radios, walkie talkies, CBs, etc. to communicate fishing information during tournament hours is strictly prohibited. No hole sitting by competitor or noncompetitor boat during the tournament. The use of underwater cameras is prohibited.


Payout scheme will be :
8 boats or less will pay 1st/2nd place @ 60/40%
9-12 boats will pay 1st/2nd/3rd place @ 50/30/20%
13-16 boats will pay 1st/2nd/3rd/4th place @ 50/25/15/10%
17 boats or more will pay 1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th place @ 45/25/15/10/5%
Entry Fee will be $30 per boat ... whether one, two, or three anglers constitute a team. Entry Fee must be paid to Weighmaster prior to tournament launch time. (this must be done in advance if not launching from weigh-in site)

.... cp

We are thinking everybody is in big fish so you have to weigh one. Helps in case of tie for any paid spots.

111 views in one day. Must be some interest here.

What's the best way to do registration. Don't really wanna have money before tourn. , in case bad weather.

will tournaments just be at bigsandy

No, tn river included. Weigh in sites will vary

The ones I fish here in Arkansas we register and pay the morning of the tourny. Registration opens an hour before start time

Does the state park charge a fee to use the canopy?