I'd like to announce the Heroes on the Water Kayak Fishing Benefit Tournamnet.

Sponsored by Bass Pro Shops of Grapevine & Mariner Sails.

Date:
April 16, 2011

Location:
Lake Ray Roberts
Johnson Branch State Park (Oak Point)
Google Maps

Hours:
Check-in: 5:45 am
�Road Runners� depart : 6:45 am
Tournament Starts: 7:00 am
Tournament Ends: 2:00 pm
Results Announced: 3:00pm (tentative)

General Rules:
Two Divisions: Bass & Crappie
Catch & Photo
Must provide your own DIGITAL camera & measuring stick
Artificial lures and homemade flies only
Kayak & canoes only (Kayaks with pedal drives are allowed)
Bass Division will comprise of the longest total length of 5 fish
Crappie Division will comprise of the longest total length of 7 fish
A Liability Release must be signed
Anglers under the age of 18 must have a signed release from a parent(s)
Lifevests must be worn at all times
You are going to be assigned a number at check-in and must be present in all photos along with a score card.
No alcohol may be consumed during tournament hours.
Anglers have the option to launch from other PUBLIC launches located on the lake. They must pay any launch fees (if any) associated with the launch sire. They will be allotted 15 minute head start in the morning, but must be in line for check-in by 2pm.


Entry Fee:
$40 for either divisions ($20 donation to HOW, $20 for payout)
$60 for both divisions ($30 donation to HOW, $15 for Bass Division, $15 for Crappie Division)
Payout will be determined by the number of participants. Anglers fishing in both divisions have the opportunity to place in both divisions.

A $5 Big Bass and Big Crappie side pot will pay out 100% for each side pot.
Anglers that choose to fish both divisions have the choice to participate in the side pot of their choice or both. If they choose to fish both the fee will be $10 ($5 for both pots).

Official Rules to follow.

Also that day, Mariner Sails and Bass Pro of Grapevine will be bringing kayaks for anyone to paddle. We'll also hold smaller competitions and have a mudbug boil. Families are encouraged to participate.

General Rules for Heroes on the Water
Kayak Fishing Benefit Tournament

1. This tournament series is open to all anglers! Those under of the age of 18 years of age must have a signed liability release by their parent(s) prior to the tournament start time. Each angler MUST have a valid Texas freshwater fishing license or be exempt under TPWD regulations and, complete/sign the liability release PRIOR to participating in the tournament.
2. Each angler MUST have paid the entry fee BEFORE fishing.
3. Only human powered boats may be used. This includes; kayaks and canoes. NO gasoline or electric motor propelled boats, sail boats, float tubes, rowboats, paddle boats, inflatable boats, or poled boats may be used. One paid entrant per boat. NO pier, shoreline, wade, jug, trot line, hand line, cast or drag net, bow fishing allowed.
4. This tournament is designated as a �Road runner� event, boats may be launched at any legal, public, launch site on the boundary waters of that events particular lake. Transporting boats/fishermen on the water via power driven boats (including towing) is prohibited except in case of emergency as determined by the tournament director. Anglers choosing to launch within Johnson Branch State Park must launch at the designated launch located near the check-in at Oak Point Overflow C.
5. NO live or dead bait may used. Commercially available artificial baits or hand tied flies only.
6. Safety equipment must be on board and used in accordance with TPWD regulations. PFD to be worn at ALL times when in the kayak (boat).
7. Only large mouth, small mouth, spotted, or Guadalupe bass (caught using a rod and reel or fly rod) qualify for your total. No down riggers allowed, but trolling baits under human power IS ALLOWED. All fish must be caught during tournament time.
8. All anglers must turn in their scorecards and photos by 2:00 P.M at the designated area. Anglers will not assist in the judging process. You turn in your scorecard, memory card (or camera and cord) and walk away until called. No score will be given for any angler after 2:00P.M. The judge(s) will tally the results, declare the winners, give out awards, and the tournament will be declared complete.
9. Rescheduling, cancellation, and non-attendance. In event of in-climate weather, the tourney director may delay, reschedule or cancel the event. The reschedule date will be 1 day after the event (ie-the next day, same time, same launch points, etc). IF canceled or rescheduled, prepaid entrants have the option of a full refund of their entry fee. Sorry but No refunds for prepaid entrants will be given for nonattendance regardless of the reason.

Scoring

Each registered angler will be assigned a unique identifier and given a scorecard the day of the event at sign-in.
When measuring a fish, the fish's mouth must be closed. If a fish's mouth is open a penalty of 2� will be assessed.
The angler with the highest total score in each division is the winner; next highest score is 2nd place, and so on.
Bass Division
Your 5(five) LONGEST verified lengths will make your total score.
Crappie Division
Your 7(seven) LONGEST verified lengths will make your total score.

Photo Criteria

Each fish photo MUST include ALL of the following criteria:
1. the whole fish, tip to tail,
2. laying with the head towards the start of the ruler,
3. tip of the lip at the beginning of the ruler,
4. demonstrating visible length marks,
5. on your measuring device,
6. with your assigned number showing,
7. in ONE OVERHEAD PHOTO FRAME (that is not angled down the
length of the fish)

No hands or devices over, on, or stretching the mouth or tail
fins

Cameras

Camera phones are specifically NOT ALLOWED. Disposable cameras are NOT ALLOWED (due to the time constraints of developing the pictures). Anglers must provide their own digital camera and devices (cords, software, etc) to download the pictures via a USB port to the judge's laptop.

Measuring Devices

Anglers must use their own measuring device(no sharing) which MAY be checked by the judge(s). Your device can be either store bought or homemade. The Tournament Director recommends Check It Stik. If your ruler does not clearly show measuring marks, it is recommend that they are darkened with a black Sharpie, etc. If the judge can not clearly see the measurement, that fish will not be scored.

Impairment Disqualification

No drugs or alcohol use during the tournament is allowed and no angler may be under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. Any violation of this rule may result in disqualification and a score of �0� will be given.

Rules Interpretation and Protests

All rules will be interpreted by the tournament director and his decision will be final. Any protests should be registered with the tournament director immediately after the results being posted. Once the awards presentation begins, the results are official and will not be changed even if there is an error.

Ties

In the event that one or more anglers tie (have the same total score), this is the criteria used to determine the placement;
a) go to the biggest fish,
b) then the 2nd biggest fish, 3rd biggest fish, etc,
c) if there is still a tie, then the winner of a best of 3(three) rock-paper-scissors throwdown.

Example:
Joe and Bob both had a total of 60� and tied for 2nd place, Joe had the biggest fish so he is placed at sole owner of 2nd and gets 2nd place money. Bob goes to 3rd place and gets 3rd place money.

Payout

Entry for either division will be $40. $20 will go towards Heroes on the Water and the other $20 will go towards payout. Entry fees will remain in each division.

Anglers have the option of paying $60 to fish both divisions. In which case, $30 will be donated to Heroes on the Water, $15 will go towards the Bass Division, and $15 will go towards the Crappie Division. Anglers that choose this route have the potential to place in both divisions.

Example:
30 anglers fishing the Bass Division, 20 anglers fishing the Crappie Division, and 10 anglers fishing both divisions. Total payout for the Bass Division would be $750 (30 anglers x $20 + 10 anglers x $15). Total payout for the Crappie Division would be $550 (20 anglers x $20 + 10 anglers x &15).

The cash prize pot will be divided as follows:
55-30-15% payout for 0-29 anglers (in your division),
50-30-15-5% payout for 30-39 anglers(in your division),
45-25-14-10-6% payout for 40+ anglers(in your division).

Example:
25 anglers x $20 = $500
1st place= $275 (500 x .55)
2nd place= $150 (500 x .30)
3rd place= $75 (500 x .15)

Sponsor prizes (determined later) will also be added to places.

Anglers have the option to enter a Big Bass and Big Crappie side pot. All money paid for the Big Bass and Big Crappie pots will go to the anglers who entered their division pot and catches the longest fish on the day. Ties for side pots will be determined using the Rock/Paper/Scissors rule. Each side pot is $5 per pot. Anglers who chose to fish both divisions have the option to participate in one side pot or both. If the angler chooses to participate in both pots, he must pay $5 for each side pot; $10 total.

Tournament Hours

Anglers may launch their kayak at 7:00A.M. Anglers choosing to launch elsewhere will be allowed to leave at 6:45. The tournament will end at 2:00P.M., and anglers not in line at the check-in will not have their score card judged. The tournament director will hold a brief meeting at 6:30A.M. to answer final questions and to describe the check-in location. Tournament results will be announced after the judging process has been completed.

Amendment to the Rules

General Rules #3: Children under the age of 8 may fish with their parent. Kayaks or Canoes designed for two or more occupants must be used; this includes �Gator hatches�.

Crappie Division
1. Crappie anglers are allowed to use two rods with a maximum of two jigs per rod while fishing.
2. Crappie anglers are allowed to use live bait. Anglers fishing both Bass and Crappie Divisions may only use live bait for Crappie fishing. Any Bass caught using live bait will not be allowed.

Sounds awesome.

Now I have 2 months to learn how to catch bass.......

are you going to need a head count or anything like that sometime soon?

Sounds awesome.
Now I have 2 months to learn how to paddle a kayak..
LOL

A head count fort he G2G is more important than the tournament, but, I'll probably modify the original thread with the number of participants.

cant wait. now to get out there and start some prefishing

Why are camera phones not allowed? If it has a memory card you can pull out that seems kind of odd to me.

I understand camera phones can take high quality photos. However, not all camera phones have removable cards; iPhones for example. Most camera phones also use microSD, which my card reader won't read. From my position it's easier for me to not allow camera phones, then to start allowing exceptions fro certain phones.

ok, you're the boss LOL. just seems to me if brought up a memory card it shouldn't matter what took the picture. I will have to find a digital camera before the GTG i guess. or just fish for fun. No trying to cause a fuzz, just trying to understand the logic.

My original thought of this get together was so I could spend time getting to know other yakkers and paddle a little with them as well. Now with it being a tourney, noone is going to want to paddle together and spend a day fishing together.

Let me know if the interest in not fishing the tourney is more than a few folks. Maybe I could paddle with them and have a relaxing day fishing. I plan to donate to the HOW anyway just may not enter the tourney. I get skunked most days I fish, was looking forward to the opportunity to learn a little from some folks on the water.

If you want to go out and fish with people you could spark interest on the Official G2G Thread and see where that leads. Someone in the tournament might let you tag along, too.

I know these rules make this tournament seem serious. The rules are in place to make sure things go smoothly. Photo tournaments are a relatively new thing up here, but have been ran successfully elsewhere. It's important that everyone has fun if they choose to participate in the tournament.

One reason for the 2:00 pm end time was to allow everyone to mingle, share knowledge, etc. I know it's not the same as being on the water, but hopefully new ideas get shared.

I understand, and I'll consider it when I hold another tournament. At this point, not everyone has the latest phone that can take a high enough quality picture that is suitable to be blown up so that I can accurately measure the fish for judging. My rules are based off the same rules ran by the longest running kayak tournament in Texas. It's worked for them, and I like the rule too.

Fair enough, good explinations and i am planning on being there. thanks for taking the time to help me understand

I plan on fishing the tourney myself TexasSteve, but I'm mainly there for the fun and the chance to meet people since I'm new to the area. I am more then happy to have somebody I can paddle with and fish along side too. Ill be trying to place well in the tournament but that doesn't mean I cant have a few people to chat and fish with. I know its a way off still but I'm game for it.

A lot of us are planning to prefish the day before in groups and camp there Friday night. On tournament day I will tell you this, if you come up on me and have not caught a fish I will give you the bait I am using and you can fish right along side me. There is some competition but most important is the camaraderie and knowing that some of the proceeds go to a good cause.