Entry fees and deposits are non-refundable or transferable.

At least one competitor must be 18 years of age or older. Competitors (including AM’s) under the age of 18 must have written parental consent from both parents.

If in question, any cash winning competitors must agree to take a lie detector test and pass before receiving their prize. The cost of the test will come out of the payback structure. If a team is protested and wins, the protesting team will pay the cost of the test.

Zero tolerance for unsportsmanlike conduct. Automatic disqualification will result without refund (ethics are different, do not confuse). All Competitors are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to the CSFL, the CSFL sponsors, the sport of fishing and the CSFL’s efforts to promote the sport. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following: Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the 2018 season of the CSFL. Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure. Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances. Suspension/disqualification or ban from any tournament or fishing organization. Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavourably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. In case of any conduct not complying with the standards outlined above, the CSFL shall have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete by returning the entry fee (minus deposit) or to disqualify a Competitor.

No live bait allowed (artificial lures only). Fish regurgitation will not be permitted.

You are not allowed to have the species of fish you are competing for in your live wells during pre-fish.

When competing in a CSFL event you must only possess that event fish. Any other species of fish must be released. Other species of non-releasable fish must be reported at the check-in boat.

There shall be no advantageous third party communication on or off the water during the event with competing or non-competing individuals. Doing so may result in disqualification. Competitors are not permitted to obtain any information from non-competitors who have been on the tournament body of water up to 8 days prior to the tournament and any cut off times. Additionally, competitors are not permitted to pre-fish with noncompetitors who have been on the body of water within 8 days prior to the tournament or during any cut off time. It is not permitted to pre-fish during this time with an angler who has won a significant tournament on the body of water within 2 years. Competitors are not permitted to hire guide services; doing so will result in disqualification.

Event Fish Limits: BASS 5. The penalty for retaining more than the event limit is as follows whether you are running or you are weighing-in. You will be asked to cull down to the event limit. Then the Tournament Director will cull the same amount of fish you are over with a maximum of 5 fish starting with the biggest fish. If you have retained more than double the event fish limit, this will result in disqualification.

Culling: Only non-invasive clip type (i.e. non-piercing) culling systems may be used. When culling you must possess one less the legal limit. No traveling with more than the event fish limit. Immediate disqualification will result if found doing so.

You must have an operating live well.

Minimum sizes: BASS 13”. Short fish will not be weighed and a 1 lb penalty will be applied for each short fish. A 0.50 lb penalty per dead fish.

A dead fish may be “Big Fish” (if a “Big Fish” is dead, the penalty already applied for a dead fish would be deducted directly from the “Big Fish” and if remains “Big Fish” it will stand as “Big Fish”).

Cell Phones are for emergencies and communicating with the CSFL only.

You must wear an approved flotation device while the outboard is running. Manual Suspenders/vests or manual inflatable life jackets will not be acceptable. Automatic Sospenders/vests or automatic inflatable life jackets are acceptable however they will be inspected for expiration at the time of check in. If you choose to wear, at your own risk, an automatic Sospender/vest, automatic inflatable life jacket or a U.S. COAST GUARD approved life jacket you must have an approved Department of Transport Canada life jacket within your vessel (if in question, Tournament Official’s decision will stand). PRO must provide AM/Non Boater with DTC approved life jacket.

A fishing license is required and you may be asked to produce it at any time. Please ensure it is on your person at all times during the tournament. Failure to produce your license will not allow you to fish. (Conservation license not accepted).

All Federal and Provincial fishing, boating and criminal laws must be obeyed at all times.

No fishing within 100 yards of a ministry net.

No locking allowed.

Boundaries are any water accessible by boat except when legally marked “no trespassing” or “sanctioned”.

Identification numbers must be affixed on motor, outside windshield or flag post and made clearly visible.

You must maintain 50 yards of another competitor’s boat. However in circumstances where there are two teams on river systems less than 50 yards, they may cross one another on opposite sides and sportsmanlike conduct will apply in this situation and other situations where there is less than 50 yards.

Do not board or approach another vessel during the event unless there is an emergency.

If in need of fuel or repairs, one competitor is to remain with the boat at all times and a receipt must be kept to show officials if required.

If your boat is deemed no longer functional you may acquire tow by another vessel (competitor or noncompetitor). If the towing team feels for any reason that they cannot tow you as it may jeopardize their standings, you must respect their decision and either abort your fish and seek a ride back or wait for another boat.

Fish can be transferred to another competitor’s boat only, one of the downed team members must stay with the fish. If you choose to transfer your fish into a competitor’s live well, the live well must be separate or you must use an approved fish friendly perforated sack complete with draw string ensuring your fish cannot be combined with the rescuing team’s fish. Tagging systems are not acceptable and if fish are combined accidentally or otherwise both weights will not be accepted. No fishing allowed while rescued competitor is in the boat and you must proceed directly to the check-in point where fish will be transferred to the check-in boat for weigh-in show Once your fish have been transferred, the downed boat must be brought back directly to the tournament site for inspection. If, after inspection the boat is found tampered with then disqualification may result and the rescuing team questioned. If in payout position, prizes will be held until boats are inspected. Your team is responsible in making sure the rescued angler(s) is wearing a DTC approved life jacket, failure to do so will result in disqualification. Make all efforts in using the CSFL emergency number (416-802-2277) in keeping the officials informed.

If a broken down team requires a tow by one of the event officials, the competitors must release their fish. The CSFL acting as the Tournament Official must keep it fair and equal to all competing anglers and therefore cannot act in individual cases as it may conflict and could possibly alter the final results.

If a broken down boat returns to the tournament site and the team manages to repair their vessel or are changing boats, prior to transferring fish the boat must be rechecked by CSFL Tournament Official.

All Teams must report to the designated Check-in Boat or location at the end of each day. Teams may check in at the tournament site up to 30 minutes prior to the check-in time otherwise you must return to the check-in point. Any boats arriving after the allowed time will be penalized 1 lb. per minute. The late penalty will be applied starting with the biggest fish.

Pre-Season Scouting: Anglers wishing to scout, navigate or pleasure boat the week leading up to either bass openers are permitted to do so with no gear on deck.

Pre-Fishing: Competitors must be off the water by 5:00 pm the Friday night prior to the weekend events. Pre-fishing for Twi-Light events ends one-half hour before sunset the night prior to the event. Competitors are not permitted to compete in for-profit organized events taking place on Kawartha Lakes including Lake Simcoe tournament waters one weekend prior to the CSFL event. Anglers competing in non-profit events week prior are not permitted to release their own fish. CSFL National Classic XXII: The lake will be closed to all pre-fishing from Monday, August 27 half hour after sunset until midnight Friday, August 31.

The official blast-off time is 7:00 am and weigh-in time is 3:00 p.m. each day (if time changes are required, notification will be given). During 2-day events, CSFL Special Events, Classic or back-to-back events, your boat must be out of the water or docked for the day within 2 hours after the final weigh in. This also applies 2 hours before check in on the morning or afternoon of all events. Fishing is also prohibited during these times.

If in case of extreme weather conditions or state of emergency, the event may be delayed, rescheduled, restricted or cancelled.

Boats must be 14’ or greater and canoes are not permitted.

All boats must carry a minimum of $1,000,000.00 insurance liability. Proof of insurance must be made available upon request.

Horsepower limits – all CSFL events are the maximum horsepower rated for your vessel, with the exception of the BM100s with a maximum of 150 horsepower plate rated or less. Kickers are permitted. The CSFL reserves the right to refuse an unsafe vessel at its discretion.

Where there is an overlapping event between the BM Tours, BMOpen and the BM100 Tour, there will be a combined purse and two performance payouts BM100 (0-150 hp) and BM200 (151-300 hp).

All motors must have a working kill switch which must be worn when outboard is running.

Any protest of violations made prior to check-in time must be made at the check-in boat. Any violations occurring after check-in can be made to the Tournament Official. Protest cost is $100.

If you witness a rule being broken it is an infraction not to report it to the Tournament Official and may lead to a disqualification.

In the event of a disqualification the competitor may be fined or required to compensate to continue to fish in other events. No refunds if disqualified.

In case there is a tie for first place, there will be a fish off and the first regulation fish weighed in wins. Combining the pay back spots and splitting the money equally will resolve ties for other positions.

Qualifying for CSFL National Classic XXII: Top 40 teams from Eastern and Western Tours and Top 10 from the BM Open and BM100 Tours will advance to the CSFL National Classic XXII. Qualification is based on combined points within the respective tour using the best four out of six events. BM100 qualifiers must use BM100 spec boat for the CSFL National Classic XXII. A minimum of five events is required to qualify for all tours. Competitors fishing with various partners in a tour may qualify as an individual. If a partner is not able to participate in one of the five qualifying events, one partner may compete as an individual and maintain the points for the team. If you qualify as a team as well as an individual, team qualification overrules the individual qualification. No double qualifying within one tour however Teams/Angler may qualify in each tour eliminating Classic positions. However should a team forfeit their lower Classic position, the position will be filled with the next eligible team within the tour.

Qualifying for CSFL National Classic XXII: Up to 100 teams from the BM Tours, BMOpen and BM100 will compete in the first and second day of the Classic at no extra cost. Top 12 teams will carry over their weigh to the final day of the Classic.

Team of the Year is based on the 6 out of 6 events in their respective tour (excluding Sturgeon Lake.) All Canadian Team title is based on qualifying field points plus the CSFL National Classic XXII points. Points for the All Canadian Team will be determined by the field size of each qualifying event. Classic Champions have an automatic qualification for the next season’s CSFL National Classic. The Champion(s) must compete in at least five qualifying events. If the Champions do not compete as a team they will lose this privilege and will have to re-qualify with their new partners.

The CSFL reserves the right to exceed the limited field and pay back accordingly.

The CSFL is solely responsible for the provision of the percentage paybacks and not responsible for sponsored prizes.

Entries will be accepted with a 25% deposit and must be accompanied by the balance of entry fees in the form of a postdated cheque dated for June 15, 2018. A 4% administrative cost will be added to all payments made by VISA & MasterCard. Full entry payments are due after June 15, 2018.

At the end of the 2018 season the CSFL will retain Team of the Year positions, and where there are cross-over conflicts the Team of the Year with the higher points will blast off first followed by the next Team of the Year. As of Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 8 am pre-registration for the 2019 CSFL season will open for all tours. In keeping it fair for all competitors, multiple entries of the same tour received on the same day, start positions will be drawn at the end of each day for the 2019 season.

The CSFL reserves the right to amend the rules and regulations as it sees fit.

The CSFL reserves the right to refuse or deny a confirmed application by returning the entry fee of a previously accepted application.

Tournament Official rulings are final. All rules and regulations apply to all CSFL anglers