MLF CANADA TEAM SHOWDOWN RULES
Official Pre-Fish ends Sunday, July 30th at 11:59 pm
Official Scouting (no rods or tackle on deck) begins Monday, July 31 and ends Tuesday, August 1 at 8:00 pm.
BLAST OFF/WEIGH IN TIME: First Half Timeframe is 7:00 am to 11:00 am - any time adjustments will be addED to the end of the half. Second Half Timeframe is 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm - any time adjustments will be add to the end of the half
EVENT FISH LIMITS: BASS 6. Teams are permitted to travel with a maximum of 5 fish during the First Half and a maximum of 3 fish during the Second Half. The penalty for retaining more than the event limit stated above is as follows whether you are running or you are weighing-in. You will be asked to cull down to the event limit, based on the First or Second Half. Then the Tournament Director will cull the same amount of fish you are over starting with the biggest fish. If you have retained more than double the event fish limit, this will result in disqualification.
NO SIZE RESTRICTION
Teams may weigh-in up to 3 fish in the First Half and hold back 2 fish for the Second Half.
The Win is based on the combined weight of a maximum of 6 fish. (3 fish per Half)
Over 80% Pay-Out of event entries, payout outline is available on www.csfl.ca
CSFL pays out 1 pay spot per every 5 teams up to 50 teams, plus 1 additional pay spot per every 10 teams thereafter.
Registration for the MLF CANADA Team Showdown closes on Monday, July 31 at 12:00 pm, noon.
The heats will be determined by the size of the field divided by two with a 15 minute window between each heat.
Start positions are determined based on time/date of registration.
The MLF Team Showdown is restricted to a 60 boat field size.
The way each team finishes in the First Half is their starting number for the Second Half.
The Mandatory Anglers Orientation Meeting will be Tuesday, August 1 at 8:00 pm via Zoom.
2024 REGISTRATION: At the end of the MLF CANADA Team Showdown teams may retain their finish position for the following year's event until Friday, August 18. As of Monday, August 21, 2023, at 9:00 am pre-registration for the 2024 MLF CANADA season events will open to the public. 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 2024 season.
Qualifying & Eligibility for the MLF Toyota Series Championship
Should the Winning Team choose not to attend the MLF Toyota Series Championship the opportunity will be extended to following team and so forth until the positions are filled.
Should one of the Winning Team members choose not to participate in the MLF Toyota Series Championship, their position, Pro or Am will be offered to the next eligible Angler and so forth until the position is filled.
Eligibility I: MLF Bass Pro Tour, MLF Invitationals and BASSMASTER Elite Anglers may participate in MLF CANADA events (Canadian Open of Fishing and MLF Team Showdown) however are not eligible to advance to the MLF Toyota Series Championship. MLF Bass Pro Tour, MLF Invitationals and BASSMASTER Elite Anglers are welcome and encouraged to qualify for the MLF Toyota Series Championship directly through the MLF Toyota Series.
Eligibility II: Anglers participating in the MLF Toyota Series Championship must be 16 years of age or older at the time of the event. Any person under the age of 18 years entering the event must also have the signature of a parent or legal guardian.
ACTIVE CSFL RULES
Entry fees and deposits are non-refundable or transferable however can be used for future events.
Legal Age: At least one competitor must be 18 years of age or older. Competitors under the age of 18 must have written parental consent from both parents/guardian(s).
Lie Detector Test: If in question, any competitor 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.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 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 Competitive Sport Fishing League (CSFL), Canadian Pro Bass Tour (CPBT), MLF CANADA (MLF), sponsors, the sport of fishing and the CSFL/CPBT/MLF’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 2023 season of the CSFL/CPBT/MLF.
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/CPBT/MLF 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.
Media: To uphold the integrity of the sport, the CSFL/CPBT/MLF, the event sponsors, the officials and the reputation of competitive sport fishing, it is an obligation of competitors to refrain from comments to news media that unreasonably attack or discredit the integrity of tournaments, tournament officials, sponsors, fellow anglers or the CSFL/CPBT/MLF organization. Reasonable expressions of legitimate disagreements with CSFL/CPBT/MLF policies are encouraged as opposed to attacks upon the integrity of rules or officials. Doing so will result in disciplinary actions.
No live bait allowed (artificial lures only). Umbrella type rigs with multiple hooks are prohibited. Fish regurgitation will not be permitted.
Species: You are not allowed to have the species of fish you are competing for in your live wells during pre-fish.
Event fish: When competing in a CSFL/CPBT/MLF 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.
Communication: 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 non-competitors 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.
Culling: Only non-invasive clip type (i.e. non-piercing) culling systems may be used. When culling you must possess one less than the legal limit. No traveling with more than the event fish limit. Immediate disqualification will result if found doing so.
Live well: You must have an operating livewell.
Dead Fish Penalty: A 0.50 lb penalty per dead fish. A dead fish may be a 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 it remains Big Fish it will stand as Big Fish). A Fish will be determined alive or dead at the marshall station.
Cell Phones are for Emergency Use Only, communicating with the CSFL/CPBT/MLF and onsite social media campaigns within the event.
Flotation Device: You must wear an approved flotation device while the outboard is running. Manual Sospenders/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 Suspender/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 an AM/Non Boater with a DTC approved life jacket.
License: 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. Please ensure you have a Sport Fishing License, a Conservation License is not accepted. A boater’s license is required by the Pro/Boater and 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 boater’s license will disqualify you from competition.
Laws: All Federal and Provincial fishing, boating and criminal laws must be obeyed at all times.
Ministry Net: 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 the motor, outside windshield or flag post and made clearly visible.
Distance: 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.
Fuel/Repairs: 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.
Towing: If your boat is deemed no longer functional you may acquire tow by another vessel (competitor or non-competitor). 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.
Transfer: 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 drawstring 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 is allowed while the 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 for 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/CPBT/MLF emergency number (416-802-2277) in keeping the officials informed.
Assistance: If a broken down team requires a tow by one of the event officials, the competitors must release their fish. The CSFL/CPBT/MLF 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.
Changing Boats: 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/CPBT/MLF Tournament Officials.
Check In and Late Penalty: 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.
Weather: If in case of extreme weather conditions, state of emergency or pandemic, the event may be delayed, rescheduled, restricted, merged with an existing event or canceled.
Boat Size: Boats must be 14’ or greater for CSFL and must be 17’ or greater for CPBT and canoes are not permitted.
Insurance: All boats must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 insurance liability. Proof of insurance must be made available upon request.
Horsepower Limits: All CSFL events are the maximum horsepower rated for your vessel. Kickers are permitted. The CSFL/CPBT/MLF reserves the right to refuse an unsafe vessel at its discretion.
Kill Switch: All motors must have a working kill switch which must be worn when outboard is running.
Temperature Rule: A minimum of 2 bags of ice or frozen water bottles in a cooler will be mandatory on days when forecasted air temperatures are expected to exceed 27 degrees celsius and on days when air temperatures exceed 30 degrees celsius the Tournament Director may reduce the catch limits to 4 fish.
Protest: Any protest of violations must be made to the Tournament Director prior to the awards presentation. Protest cost is $100.
Infractions: If you witness a rule being broken it is an infraction not to report it to the Tournament Director and may lead to a disqualification.
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.
Ties: 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.
Field Size: The CSFL/CPBT/MLF reserves the right to exceed the limited field and pay back accordingly.
Paybacks: The CSFL/CPBT/MLF is solely responsible for the provision of the percentage paybacks and not responsible for sponsored or contingency prizes.
Contingencies: The CSFL is not responsible for any sponsor or contingency prizes.
Entries will be accepted with a 50% deposit. Full entry payments are due after June 1, 2023. A completed entry form together with payment secures a Pro Angler or Amateur/Non Boater a spot. Entries will be accepted with a 50% deposit. Payment Options Available: Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard & American Express), E-Transfer to victoria@csfl.ca, Bank Draft, Money Order, and Cheques payable to CSFL.
Rules & Regs: The CSFL/CPBT/MLF reserves the right to amend the rules and regulations as it sees fit.
Right to Refuse: The CSFL/CPBT/MLF 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/CPBT/MLF anglers.