2008 Mille Lacs Tournament Rules

1. All tournament teams must inspect their boats and trailers before and after launching, remove all aquatic plants as well as draining live wells and bilges to prevent the spread of exotic species.
2. Start positions will be determined by a drawing from all entries postmarked by May 15, 2008. The first round of drawings will be from teams depositing $500 to fish the entire tournament trail. The second round will be from the teams registering (and paid in full) for individual tournaments. Remaining positions will be filled on a first come basis.
3. Teams fishing the entire tournament trail shall deposit $500 and pay the remaining $300 balance no later than 30 days prior to each tournament. Late payment will result in the loss of start position.
4. A team is considered one or two anglers who are fishing from the same boat. No more than two anglers per boat.
5. All tournament participants MUST attend one of the rule meetings at the designated location the eventing prior to the kickoff of that event between 5 pm and 9 pm. Each team will also be required to attend the free dinner at the end of the first day of competition for a tournament update.
6. Tournament hours are DAY ONE: 7 am to 5 pm, DAY TWO: 7 am to 2 pm. No fishing is allowed outside of tournament hours.
7. All Minnesota angling and boating laws MUST be observed.
8. Artificial lures only, no dead or live bait.
9. All tournament participants must wear life jackets with the motor kill switch attached any time the gas motor is running.
10. Tournament boats are prohibited from entering stands of Eurasian Water Milfoil marked with yellow buoys.
11. All teams must have both an operating cell phone and a digital camera with a corresponding USB cable in the boat at all times during tournament hours. (A marine band radio is recommended as a backup form of communication.)
12. All boats must be inspected each morning at which point they will be issued a measuring board sticker for that day's fish verification.
13. Only live-released muskies 40" or over can be entered.
14. All qualifying fish must be photographed using a digital camera as follows:
    a. Fish must be positioned on the tournament-issued measuring board with its nose at the head, belly facing out.
    b. The date decal, as well as the enitre board must be in clear view.
    c. Angler must be kneeling behind the fish, holding it securely on the board.
15. After each qualifying fish is photographed and released, team must summon judges for photo verification and re-inspection of boat.
16. At the end of each day, teams will have one-half hour to bring fish verification photos to the designated location to be downloaded. Measurements will then be certified.
17. No alcohol is allowed in tournament boats.
18. Unsportsmanlike or unethical behavior is grounds for disqualification.
19. The decision of tournament officials is final.
20. First through third place winners may be subject to a mandatory polygraph test at the judges' discretion.
21. The dollar amount payment advertised is based a full field of 50 teams for that event. If the tournament does not fill, payouts will remain proportionally the same.
22. These tournaments are organized as a team format. If a tournament participant chooses to fish with multiple partners, points earned will be split equally between partners at the end of each event.
23. Team finishing place is determined by the number of points scored, based on the following system:

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