LUNKERBOWL RULES + REGULATIONS
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.
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 CSFL, 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 2021 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.
Media. To uphold the integrity of the sport, the CSFL, 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 organization. Reasonable expressions of legitimate disagreements with CSFL 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 within 8 days prior to the tournament.
Event 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.
Lunkerbowl Fish Limits during weigh in and while traveling: Big Bass = 2 Largemouth BASS and 2 Smallmouth BASS / Big Pike = 2 PIKE. A team may possess one less the legal limit for culling purposes while fishing in a spot but is not allowed to travel with more than the event limit, doing so will result in disqualification.
Anglers can target both smallmouth and largemouth throughout the event day, but can only weigh in the specified species of the hour.
Event Fish Limits. Teams may weigh in more than 1 eligible fish within the hour, cancelling their initial hourly weight. (A team is only allowed one pay spot per hour)
Fish Clips. Only non-invasive clip type (i.e. non-piercing) culling systems may be used.
Live well. You must have an operating live well.
All Fish must be live and releasable.
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 pre-fish or obtain any information from non-competitors who have been on the tournament body of water within 8 days prior to the tournament and any cut off times. Nor is it 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.
Cell Phones are for emergencies and communicating with the CSFL only.
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 Officials' decision will stand). PRO must provide an AM/Non Boater with 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. (Conservation licenses are acceptable for Lunkerbowl’s only). A boaters license is required by the 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 boaters 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 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 teams fish. Tagging systems are not acceptable and if fish are combined accidentally or otherwise both weights will not be accepted. No fishing 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 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 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 Tournament Officials.
All Participants, by entering this Event, hereby agree to allow their boat to be boarded and inspected by Event Officials at any time prior to, during, or following the Event, to include, but not limited to, their boat registration, horsepower rating plate, live-well, rod boxes, closed storage compartments, tackle boxes, life jackets, personal floatation devices, and safety equipment.
Pre-Fishing. CSFL Competitors must be off the water by 8:00 pm the night prior to the events during the months of May, June, July and August, 7:00 pm during the month of September and 6:00 pm during the month of October.
The Lunkersbowl’s official start time is 7:00 am (if time changes are required, notification will be given).
Hourly weigh-ins are as follows: 7:00-8:00 am, 8:00-9:00 am, 9:00-10:00 am, 10:00-11:00 am, 11:00 am -12:00 pm, 12:00-1:00 pm, 1:00-2:00 pm, 2:00-3:00 pm. Big Fish prizes will be determined every hour, on the hour.
Rotating Hourly Lunkerbowls. Each Bass Lunkerbowl event will begin with an Official live streamed coin toss at approx. 5:30 am to determine the first hour’s weigh-in species rotating to species specific for the hour revolving thereafter on the hour.
CSFL Anglers will be notified accordingly, should a team not receive their notification by 6:00 am they should not hesitate to call the Tournament Director 416-802-2277.
Check In. All Teams must report to the designated Check-in Boat or location prior to entering the holding area.
Fish will be considered eligible for weigh-in during the hour in which the competitor arrives at the check-in area/check-in boat and verbally confirms with a tournament official of the intent to weigh a fish. Tournament officials at the check-in area will assess and confirm with the team the official hourly window. In the event of a dispute, the time noted by the tournament official will govern.
For reasons of conservation, all Bass or Pike brought to the official weigh-in station must be in the official CSFL weigh bag which will be provided at the check-in area/check-in boat.
Bass or Pike must be live to be weighed-in
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 cancelled. Competitors will be notified at check in or via social media.
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.
Boat Size. Boats must be 14’ or greater and canoes are not permitted.
Insurance. 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. Kickers are permitted. The CSFL 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.
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.
Any artificially weighted fish will be disqualified and the Participants may be subject to prosecution and shall be disqualified from all future CSFL events. Any questionable fish will be subject to inspection by a marine biologist or similarly qualified expert.
Lunkerbowl Ties. Overall big fish tie will be determined by time, earlier weighed fish wins. Other ties will combine payback spots, splitting the money equally.
Each person in the boat must be a registered contestant of the Event and abide by the Rules and Regulations.
Maximum of three (3) anglers per boat. No team member replacements are allowed during the tournament.
No fishing shall occur within fifty (50) yards of a marina, all marinas are off limits.
No fishing within fifty (50) yards of CSFL Live Release Areas from a day’s prior event. These areas will be disclosed the evening before and/or the morning of.
There is no formal launch site for the Lunkerbowl events. Participants may launch from any site, however not permitted to travel prior to 30 minutes before sunrise to the official Tournament Site, for a mandatory boat check in the morning for all participants before proceeding to their angling location for a 7 am official start.
Electronics may be used for navigational purposes only prior to 7:00 am of the event day.
Electronics and/or other devices (including lights) are prohibited for the purposes of finding fish the morning prior to the start of the event.
Trailering Bass or Pike to a weigh-in site is prohibited.
Paybacks. The CSFL is solely responsible for the provision of the percentage paybacks and not responsible for sponsored prizes.
Payment Options Available. Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard & American Express), E-Transfer to victoria@csfl.ca, Bank Draft, Money Order, and Cheques payable to CSFL.
Orientation Meetings. All orientation meetings will be a virtual platform. Participants will be notified. Meetings will commence the Friday or Saturday prior to the event.
Rules & Regs. The CSFL reserves the right to amend the rules and regulations as it sees fit.
Right to Refuse. 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.
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