How many contestants will not realize that they are breaking this rule? "Electronics may be used for navigational purposes only before 6:30am on competition day" . I understand why the rule is in place but my opinion on these big bass tournaments that bring thousands' of entries is that a big majority of the anglers don't read or understand all the rules. Heck how many slot fish will hit the scales? Some of them 22" . I have fished several of these tournaments and follow all the rules to the "T" . Another one is "Each contestant is required to wear a fastened (fully zipped and/or all clips fastened)" My life jacket has 3 buckles and a zipper. I make sure that I take the time zip and buckle before I start the big motor.

If they can't take the time to read and follow the rules. I hope they catch the winning fish and get dq'd.

Follow the rules. If you are lucky enough to catch a money fish and you know you had accidentally started the big engine without donning your PFD just tell them at the polygraph. It has happened to me several times.

Then when they hook you up to the machine they will ask you, "Other than what we have discussed prior, did you knowingly break any rules?" The polygraph person is not trying to trip you up.

I will add this. Know how to properly measure the length of a fish. EVERY SINGLE EVENT there is some goofball that was too tight to buy a Pro-Rule Stick to measure his fish. They rely on a $3 Walmart tape measure. They set the fish down on the carpet, hold one end of the tape at the fish's nose and pull the tape up & over the fish to its tail. It makes a 22" fish "appear" to be 24 inches.

Don't be that guy.

That's how i measure them. You mean i've been doing it wrong?

I hope Basschamps implements this to all of their tournaments. In a trailering tournament on Roberts this year I watched boat after boat cruise around for an hour in between leave the ramp time and first cast graphing deep spots.

I don’t get the rule (and I don’t fish there tournaments ) so before 6.30 I get but after 6.30 and during the tournament surely you can use your electronics to locate fish? Just asking.

Of course you can during the tournament. It is to prevent people from graphing spots before 1st cast at 6:30

Lol That’s what I thought .

Yep. It's just poorly worded. Instead of "Electronics may be used for navigational purposes only before 6:30am on competition day," it should say "Before 6:30am on competition day, electronics may only be used for navigational purposes."

I always enjoy the look on the guys face when the gw says "come over here for a minute".
the ones bringing up slot fish amaze me, don't know the slot and don't read the rules? buh bye

We wonder why people hate bass fishermen lol.