Rules

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2018 BLACKFISH CLASSIC TOURNAMENT RULES We respectfully ask that all contestants read, abide, and fully understand the rules. All rules are made with the intent to safe guard the highest in sportsmanship, fair play, safety, and integrity. Please acknowledge that you understand the following rules by submitting a signed signing the Release and Waiver of Liability form at the time of registration. The following materials are due at the time of registration: 2018 Registration form signed and dated Release and Waiver and Liability form from each participant, and their registration fee of $350.00. Proof of boat insurance must also be submitted before one is able to participate in the tournament. This can be submitted at the time of registration or up until the morning of the tournament at check in on July 30th, 2018. CONTESTANTS ENTRY Contestants are completely responsible for having the entry form completely filled out and signed in order to fish the Blackfish Classic Tournament. All contestants agree that by paying the entry fee that they have read all the following Blackfish Classic contest rules and choose to abide by them to the highest standards. All contestants agree that by participating in a Blackfish Classic tournament that they are completely responsible for knowing and following the rules of the event. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY Blackfish Classic reserves the right to deny any entry which is not in the best interest of the organization. Kids are encouraged to fish this tournament. Kids under 18 years of legal adult age must have the waiver signed from parent and guardian and be accompanied by adult at all times during the event. Parents or guardians are completely responsible for children's safety participating in the Blackfish Classic. Kids are disqualified from event if fishing the event without the written consent of a parent or guardian. Parents must be able to show written consent for the kid to fish the event at all times during and after the event. ENTRY FEE Entry fees are $350.00 per team which also includes “big fish” prize money. Entry fees for all tournaments should be submitted online at the time of registration, or delivered Clam Corporation along with other registration documents. All entries and required documents must be submitted by Monday July 23rd, 2018 12 pm. In the case of a bounced payment, all incurring fees will be assessed along with an additional $50 fine. INCLEMENT WEATHER In the event that there is a delay in the tournament due to fog, lightning or high winds or any other conditions that may be of life threatening conditions during the tournament, all competitors are expected to take whatever actions are necessary to ensure safety. After the threat has been cleared, the tournament either will continue or will be at the discretion of the Blackfish Classic Tournament Director. There will be no refunds for delays of the tournament or tournament finishing early due to inclement weather. CANCELLATIONS In the event that the tournament is cancelled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, participants will be notified of this decision from the Tournament Director before the day of the tournament and will be refunded the total registration amount. PRIZE PAYOUT The following prizes will be awarded for the Blackfish Classic Tournament following the weigh in: 1st Place will be $10,000*. Trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Big Fish. Payout will be at a rate of 100% of the entry fee’s taken in for that tournament, and will be designated to one place paid in cash and prizes for every five boats entered in the tournament. Big Fish will be paid out to each winning team of the heaviest fish. 1

At the time of prize payout, winners will be asked to complete and submit a W-9 taxpayer form before the transfer of prizes/money occurs. Failure to submit this information will result in the winner not receiving their prizes. Winners are fully responsible for picking up checks and trophies at weigh-in conclusion and after event has occurred. If these items are not picked up by winners, Blackfish Classic does not assume responsibility of winner’s trophies or checks. Prizes will be distributed at the completion of the tournament. All contestants are subject to polygraph test at any time before receiving any winnings at Blackfish Classic event. In the extremely rare case of no fish being caught during the tournament no refunds will be awarded or cash back since no one placed in the money. In the extremely rare case where no team catches a fish no payout will occur. NO FISH DECISION PRIZE MONEY Prize money will be given to the highest finishing contestant or contestants for each specific event. If only one or a few teams officially weigh fish the remaining places and prize money will be given and divided by the highest placing team or teams. In the case of one or a few teams officially weighing fish, prize money will be given only to the teams that have officially weighed fish. The other empty spots will remain empty and prize money divided by the highest finishers who weighed fish. In the rare event that absolutely no team officially weighs any fish prize money will NOT be refunded to participating teams since no team placed in the money. In all rule and prize money decisions, contestants agree that the Blackfish Classic Tournament Director makes all final decisions. Contestants will not be awarded or refunded based on not catching a fish. It is the team’s goal and responsibility to catch fish and not Blackfish or the tournament directors. Therefore, no payout or refund will be given for a team that has not caught a fish during the tournament. CONTINGENCY BONUSES If participants of the Blackfish Tournament wear a Blackfish branded shirt or hat during weigh in and place in one of the top ten finishers of the tournament they will receive a $250 Blackfish gift certificate that will be valid for redemption of their choice of Blackfish apparel on BlackfishGear.com. Winners will receive a gift certificate code for $250 off a one-time online purchase. This is an individual based award, but if both team members who place in a top ten spot wear a mentioned Blackfish apparel item they will both receive a $250 Blackfish product credit. BOAT NUMBERS AND TAKE OFF Teams that register before June 15th will be entered into a random draw for their boat number for take off position. Teams that register after June 15th will be assigned a boat number in the order that their registration was received in. Those boat numbers will begin after the boat numbers that were chosen randomly for teams that registered before June 15th. Registration closes on Monday July 23rd at 12 pm. Teams will be notified of their boat numbers the week prior to the tournament after registration has closed. During check in, teams will receive a sign with their boat number that will need to be displayed during takeoff and check in. Teams will also receive a colored yard tape for their tolling motor to signify that they are part of the tournament and it should not be removed anytime throughout the tournament. The Blackfish Classic Director has the authority to change boat numbers. Changes in boat order from Blackfish Classic Tournament Director could incur due to safety, weather, tardiness of contestants, and avoidance of rules, missing boat check, and unsportsmanlike conduct. Take off will occur in sequence of boat numbers given out the morning of the tournament. Take off will begin promptly at 7 am. Boats will idle by takeoff in numerical order and use the utmost safety when leaving on Directors signal. If contestants leave in order not in sequence of boat number, that team may be disqualified at 2

Directors discretion for unsportsmanlike conduct. TIE BREAKERS All ties will be broken by the big fish. If there is still a tie then the teams will split the prize money to be awarded. BOAT INSPECTION A full interior compartment check prior to “take off” will be conducted the morning of the tournament. Please have compartments on boat open for morning boat inspection. Boats will be checked at take off location or on the water and boat take off will be determined by boat number. Teams are responsible for getting to boat inspection on time. Boat checks will begin at 6 am or earlier the morning of the tournament. All boats must be checked in by 6:55 a.m., if late for boat checks teams may be up for disqualification at the discretion of the tournament director. Teams are not allowed to leave takeoff area once boat is inspected. Teams without a boat inspection before participating in tournament are subject to disqualification. No teams fishing the event will be able to weigh any fish for prize money without being inspected. All teams must also provide proof of boat insurance prior to the start of the tournament. At the time of boat inspection participants will need to show proof of Minnesota Fishing License in order to participate in the tournament. OFF LIMITS PERIOD There will be no off limits period up to tournament day which then will be off limits right up to blast off / take off of the event. SAFETY Blackfish asks all competitors to be extremely safety conscious during all parts of the Blackfish Classic event. Each competitor fully accepts complete responsibility of their own safety while participating in all parts of Blackfish Classic event. Safe boating conduct will be observed at all times by each competitor. Each competitor will be required to wear a Coast Guard approved life vest, securely fastened, at all times while the boat is being propelled by the big combustion engine. Boats should have a kill switch attached to driver of boat when big motor is engaged. Failure to comply is grounds for disqualification. Running lights must be on if necessary and functioning properly at the takeoff of each tournament. Each competition boat must be equipped with an aeration live well or similar device capable of keeping a tournament limit alive throughout the course of the competition day. Grounds for disqualification from event will occur if competitors do not comply with local, state, federal, or Blackfish safety guidelines. Competitors are responsible for their own safety during the Blackfish event. Each competitor agrees to accept full responsibility for their personal safety by entering the Blackfish event. All contestants must completely read the rules to participate in the Blackfish event in regards especially to safety. Safety is the full responsibility of the contestant. SPORTSMANSHIP Participants in the Blackfish Classic event are expected to follow the highest standard of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conservation. Blackfish prohibits contestants from the use of alcohol or drugs during the fishing tournament. Blackfish expects participants to act in a sportsmanlike manner and obey the intent of the written Blackfish Classic rules and guidelines. The Blackfish Classic Tournament Director will have the final word and decision in all sportsmanship protests. No refunds will be given in the event of any disqualification. Unsportsmanlike conduct is the grounds for disqualification. Contestants agree that all decisions regarding unsportsmanlike conduct are final from the Blackfish Classic Tournament Director.

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FISHING LINES/BAIT Anglers will be required to comply with all state and local regulations regarding the number and type of fishing lines. Participants will be allowed to use only one rod per angler. No live bait is allowed. SCORING OF FISH A 5 fish limit per boat. Winners will be determined by total weight of Large and Smallmouth bass in pounds and ounces. All bass must measure at least 12” in length to count (measured with a closed mouth and the tail fanned. Short fish in all situations will not be allowed for weigh in. If a short fish is brought to weigh in, there will be a one pound penalty plus no weight added for the short fish. Dead fish will receive a penalty of two ounces per dead fish weighted. Dead fish will not qualify for Big Fish Prizes. EMERGENCIES Competitors shall remain with their partners in the boat at all times during
the tournament, except in the event of health concern, severe storm or other weather or boating or navigational hazard. Competitors may leave the boat to dislodge it but are required to return to the boat in prompt manner. If for any reason either or both team members decide to leave the tournament early, both members shall bear full responsibility for notifying the tournament director. If one team or both team members leave the water early, he/she may not return and resume fishing. Boats may not land at any point during the tournament except at the tournament base, Lord Fletchers or will be up for disqualification from the tournament. One partner may continue fishing for the remainder of the tournament if other team member has to leave. In the case of a mechanical breakdown, one partner may return with fish by another tournament boat while the other partner is permitted to stay with the non-functioning boat. It is each competitor's responsibility and not Blackfish Classic or its sponsor’s responsibility for each contestant’s personal safety. Blackfish requires that you know the rules and that you are responsible by participating in a Blackfish Classic Fishing event. WEIGH-IN Weigh in will begin shortly after 3 pm and will be on a first come, first serve basis. Once fish have been presented to a Tournament Official to be “weighed” all fish become the property of Blackfish Classic and no additional fish may be brought to the scales. All fish that are alive will be released after weigh in. Weigh bags will be limited in order to avoid overcrowding at the weigh-in tanks and to allow for efficient fish management throughout the weigh in. Teams not weighing any fish are still required to check in with tournament officials in order to account for all teams. Once a team member has checked in or left the boat for the purpose of checking in, neither team member may fish or continue fishing. It is the team’s responsibility to be at the weigh in on time and to weigh fish accordingly. Teams need to present themselves in a completely sportsmanlike, friendly manner at the weigh in to staff, volunteers, sponsors, and fans. Competitors should be aware that video, pictures, and interviews will be occurring. LATE POLICY Competitors need to be within sight of the docks at Fletcher’s and bee seen by an authorized Blackfish Classic official by 3 pm for weigh in. For every one minute late one pound will be taken from total weight of the team. PROTESTS POLYGRAPHS Any protest regarding tournament contestants must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Director within 10 minutes of the close of the weigh-in. Blackfish Classic reserves the right to require a polygraph test of any participant at any time. This test does not have to be administered on site and may be set up by the Tournament 4

Director at his/her discretion. All participants agree to abide by the results of any polygraph test administered. In the event of a protest the protesting team or individual must present, in written form, a detailed account of the complaint and a 100.00 protest fee to the Tournament Director. The letter or the acknowledgement of a letter being written must occur within the “10 minute” window of time mentioned above. The fee will be returned only upon positive verification of the protest and the tournament director has the discretion of mailing any and all checks to any teams pending the outcome. All decisions regarding protests will be made with the “spirit and intent of the rule” taken into “best context” with the director’s decision being final. COMMUNICATION Anglers shall be prohibited from using cell phones, pagers, text messaging or marine band radio contact with other anglers on the water during tournament hours, other than for an emergency. Any communication between anglers for the purpose of assisting another competitor returning to the “weigh in” due to a mechanical failure will first need to be approved by the tournament director. LIABILITY INSURANCE All members must carry a minimum of $300,000 of liability insurance on the boat they use during the Blackfish Classic event. Failure to comply or reporting of false information will result in disqualification. Responsibility to carry proper insurance is each participant’s duty. Contestants must have boaters insurance. Proof of insurance can be submitted at the time of registration up until the morning of the tournament at check in. INVASIVE SPECIES Blackfish Classic participants will be expected to closely follow local and state regulations regarding proper protocol to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plant and animal species. RULES INTERPRETATION All decisions regarding any tournament rules, matter, protest or complaint will be made with the “spirit and intent of the rule” taken into “best context” with the tournament director’s decision being final. There will be no refunds of entry fees in disqualifications. All directors’ decisions are final. The responsibility of knowing the rules is the contestant’s responsibility. All contestants by paying an entry fee into the Blackfish Classic event agree to abide by the Blackfish Classic tournament rules. Contestants are required to read the rules before participating. Contestants are required and it is their own responsibility to know all the rules of the DNR, or law ordinances, and abide by any federal, state, and local laws or regulations pertaining to event and the activities of fishing and boating. Contestants are required to know the rules including the director’s decisions and the written rules. REFUNDS Entry fees and memberships are nonrefundable. Boat/engine malfunction/equipment failure is the boaters/contestant’s responsibility and no refunds will be allowed. This would include no refund for any vehicle, boat or engine failure or breakdown of contestant’s equipment. Operation of vehicle, boat, and engine is the contestant’s responsibility along with being a safe driver of the boat. In case of any disqualification for any reason entry fees will not be given back to the contestants There will be no refund of registration fee within one week of tournament. Please contact us if there is an emergency situation. Inclement weather or rough waters during the event do NOT constitute the refund of entry from the event. Competitors are fully responsible for all safety concerns.

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*$10,000 payout guaranteed only if there are more than 50 boats registered in the tournament.

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