Catfish Nation Goal

It will be the goal of all Catfish Nation Chapters to run a quality catfish tournament trail.
Open to all who enjoy fishing for catfish members & non members, and at the same time
offer the highest possible payout. While uniting Catfish angler all around the country into one
big family of anglers who love and enjoy the outdoors. And by teaching others as well to
respect and enjoy all that is there for us to enjoy in the great outdoors.


Membership

1. The cost of a Catfish Nation membership will be $25.00 per person
Annually and will start on the date your payment is made.
2. All Children 16 years of age and under can join for free with a paid
member. Chapters will need to sign them up as well.
3. 100% of membership fee will go to Catfish Nation Headquarters.
4. Membership is subject to approval by chapter officers & Catfish Nation
Headquarters .
5. Membership is purchased with the understanding that all chapter rules
will be obeyed at all time.


Tournament Entry Fee's & Payout
1. All tournaments will have a $40.00 entry fee with an 80%
payback of entry fees. The 20% will go to championship tournament
Payouts for Chapter Champ’s & Angler of the year to the top 3 places.
2. All entry fees must be paid prior to the start of the tournament.
3. Only cash will be accepted at the tournament site .
4. No credit will be extended to any team.
5. Chapter Championship tournaments will be one day tournaments and will
be the same as a season tournament with $40.00 & $10.00 but will have
100% payback of entry fee‘s.
6. You must fish in 50% of that chapter tournaments as a member for that
season to fish in the championship tournament for that chapter to fish for
chapter Championship prize money.
7. All regular season tournaments will payback 80% of entry fees.
1-4 teams 1st place
5-8 teams 2 places
9-15 teams 3 places
16-30 teams 4 places
31-45 teams 5 places
46-60 teams 6 places
61+ teams 7 places
8. Biggest fish jackpot will be $20.00 per team with 100% payback. Big
fish jack pot will be slip as followed.
1-8 teams 1 place [100%]
9-16 teams 2 places [70 /30 ]
17-24 teams 3 places [60/25/15]
25 + teams 4 places [50/25/15/10]

Chapter Tournament Awards
Certificates will come from Catfish Nation Headquarters that will be awarded to 1st thur 4th
places for all chapter tournaments to members only. and will be send to each chapter right
before their championship tournament along with Championship & Angler of the year
awards. Chapters may also buy Plaques if they like



Angler Of The Year
1. All tournament will be run on a 100 point system with 100 points for 1st ,
99 for 2nd ,98 for 3rd etc....
2. The angler or team with the highest point total at the end of the season
will be awarded Angler of the year .
3. Angler of the year will pay money to the top three places for that season.
4. If it is won by a team they will split that place prizes money.
5. If two Anglers or teams end up tied for Angler of the year award.
6. If a 2 way tie for any place they will split the money for that place and the
next place down.
7. If two anglers or tied that have fished as a team they will only count as
one angler in a prize money split.

Teams
1. A limit of no more than 4 anglers per boat. [this will be for all chapters]
as our goal is to draw more anglers into the sport. The rod limit per boat
will keep all teams fishing at the same level. Rod limits will be set by
each chapter for their state limit. Limits will be set based on a 2 angler
Team , if your state has a 3 rod per person limit then you team limit will
be 6 rods. Chapters where no limit is set by law we will fish with no more
than 10 rods per team.
2. Non-members may fish in the tournament but will not be awarded
tournament points or a spot in the championship tournament.
3. Non- members may join the same day of the tournament after the
tournament has ended and will be awarded points for that tournament.
But must join the day at the tournament to be awarded points for that
tournament.


Pre-Fishing
1. Pre-fishing will be allowed at all tournaments BUT MUST STOP 12
hours before the start time of any tournament.
2. Anglers maybe on the water to catch bait for the tournaments only with in
The 12 hours before that tournament set start time.

Guides
1. Guides are welcome to fish any tournament on a body of water in
which they guide. But may not have fished that body of water in the last
12 hours

Protest
1. All protest must be brought to the Chapter President or Vice President in
writing within 10 minutes after weigh in with the $50.00 protest fee.

LOGO
The Catfish Nation and it's Logo are the property of Tim Hagan /Catfish Nation and are
copyrighted. No unauthorized use of the Catfish Nation name and or Logo is allowed
without written consent from Tim Hagan


* Alcoholic Beverages*
1. NO Alcoholic beverages may be consumed during tournament hours.
2. NO Alcoholic beverages may be in the possession of any team during
tournament hours.

Tackle
1. A limit of 10 rods per boat where no limits are set buy the state, Chapter
with rod limits will set their rod limit based on a 2 angler team.
2. All tackle must meet state laws to be used in that chapters tournaments
3. Any bait maybe used unless it is restricted by law.
4. No Stringers maybe used at any time for any Tournament fish. You must
have a live well or decoy bag . This must be able to handle the amount of
fish for that tournament( if a tournament is on a place that can bring 50
lbs of fish all live wells or decoy bag must handle them) or that boat may
not fish in that tournament. THIS IS A MUST AND NEEDS TO BE
CHECKED. When you do a live well check this needs to be one thing
you look at as well.

Weigh in Procedures
1. Each team will take off in the order they signed up. This can be done at
the last tournament, by phone or on the discussion forum. This is done to
let the chapters have your paper work done ahead of time.
2. Once a tournament has started it will end at the scheduled time.
2. A members of each team must check in with a tournament official before
the tournament deadline. If it’s 4:00 YOU ARE LATE AT 4:01
3. Fish must be moved from the boat to the scale in plastic tubs. Each
Chapter will have them at the tournament for you to use.
4. Not more that two teams maybe at the scales with fish at the same time.
5. Any catfish over 12" maybe weighed in Channel, Blue, Flathead etc...
6. No dead fish will be weighed in at any tournament. A fish must swim
away on its own within 10 min after it has been weighed in to be counted
as alive fish. A officer needs to be where the fish are returned to see that
this happens. All fish will be put back into to water at the boat ramp or
weigh in site.
7. ALL FISH must be caught on rod & reel within tournament hours and
from the body of water set for that tournament or feeder creeks for the
body of water.
8. The number of fish or kind of catfish for a tournament may very. Always
check to know what tournament you are fishing. Total weight, target
weight etc…

Boat & Bank Fishing
1. All Boats must meet State boats regulations to enter a tournament
2. All boats will be checked by a tournament official
3. ALL BOATS MUST HAVE A WORKING LIVE WELL OR DECOY
BAG TO HANDLE FISH FOR THAT TOURNAMENT to enter that
tournament.
4. Life vest must be worn at take off
5. Bank fishing will be allowed in some tournaments check with your
chapter first before you enter to fish. Bank fishing most be done from the
weigh in site, angler may walk to there fishing spots only. You may not
drive to a fishing spot to fish.
6. Boat anglers must fish from there boat at all times. 6. Boats need to be 100 yards apart
when fishing at all times on big rivers.
50 yards apart on smaller rivers.
7. No Trailering of boats will be allowed at any time in any Catfish Nation
Tournament on a river. Some chapters may allow trailering on smaller
lakes check with the chapter first
8. All anglers must sign a waiver in order to fish in any Catfish Nation
tournament.