2023 LUNKERBOWL Rules
Entry fees and deposits are non-refundable or transferable however can be used for future events.
Each person in the boat must be a registered contestant of the Event and abide by the Rules. Maximum of three (3) anglers per boat. A registered team member may join or leave the team at any time of the event at the tournament site; no team member replacements are permitted once the tournament has begun.
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/guardians.
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, Canadian Pro Bass Tour , 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 2023 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 unfavorably 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 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, 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 organization. Reasonable expressions of legitimate disagreements with CSFL/CPBT policies are encouraged as opposed to attacks upon the integrity of rules or officials. Doing so will result in disciplinary actions.
There is no formal launch site for the Lunkerbowl events: Participants may launch from any site on Balsam Lake, Bay of Quinte and Sturgeon Lake on event day prior to 5:00 am, however, you may not leave the immediate launching or dockage area until ½ hour before sunrise. All boats must be checked at the tournament site and then may proceed to their fishing spot and start at 7:00 am. Lunkerbowl events’ official time is 7:00 am - 3:00 pm. Please note, extreme weather may delay start time, competing anglers will be notified via social media.
Rotating Hourly Lunkerbowls: Bass Lunkerbowl event only will begin with an Official live streamed coin toss at approx. 6:00 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 6:20 am they should not hesitate to call the Tournament Director 416-802-2277.
Electronics and/or other devices (including lights) are prohibited for the purposes of finding fish, during off limits time. Electronics may be used for navigational purposes only before 7:00 am on competition day.
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 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 is no size restriction for Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth or Pike.
Event Fish Limits: You may weigh in 1 fish per hour up to 7 fish during the event (based on teams of two or three anglers). Anglers participating individually must adhere to their daily limit. While fishing the team may possess up to 3 fish in the livewell which may be culled to upgrade. The penalty for retaining more than the event limit while traveling or entering the weigh in station will result in disqualification. When competing in the Lunkerbowl you must only possess that event fish.
Walleye Fish Size, Bay of Quinte: In accordance with the MNR’s Zone 20 regulation each angler of a team may legally possess one walleye greater than 63cm (24.8”) during the Walleye Lunkerbowl in their livewell which may be culled for the purposes of upgrading. Each angler of the team is limited to weighing in only 1 fish over 63cm (24.8”). The livewell provision only allows for the exchange of fish while angling. Any fish entered into the tournament is considered by the MNR to be part of the individual angler's daily limit and possession limit (which is 1 fish over 63cm/24.8”, 3 fish under or 4 fish under).
Bay of Quinte Walleye Lunkerbowl - Overall Big Pike Prize: Teams may weigh in/upgrade Pike throughout the event for the Overall Big Pike prize. The prize is based on weight not length.
Live bait is permitted for the Walleye Lunkerbowl, Bay of Quinte event only.
Teams may weigh in more than one (1) fish per hour while maintaining their daily limit.
Hourly weigh-ins are as follows: 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, beginning at 8:00 am.
Fish will be considered eligible for weigh-in during the hour in which the competitor arrives at the check-in area/check-in boat/proceeds past the “commitment line” or verbally confirms with a tournament official of the intent to weigh a fish, in doing so commits the team to weighing in a fish during that time. 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.
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.
Trailering fish to a weigh-in site is prohibited.
For reasons of conservation, all fish 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. Fish must be alive and 100% releasable to be weighed-in.
Fish entered throughout the hourly windows do not carry forward from hour to hour. The team's biggest fish is registered into the final overall standings.
Communication: There shall be no advantageous third party communication during the event with competing or non-competing individuals. Doing so may result in disqualification.
Culling: Only non-invasive clip type (i.e. non-piercing) culling systems may be used.
Live well: You must have an operating livewell.
Cell Phones are for Emergency Use Only, communication with the CSFL 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).
License: A fishing license is required and you may be asked to produce it at any time. Please ensure you have a Sport Fishing License, a Conservation License is not accepted. Please ensure it is on your person at all times during the tournament. Failure to produce your license will not allow you to fish. A boater’s 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 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. No fishing shall occur within fifty (50) yards of a marina, all marinas are off limits. For Bay of Quinte Lunkerbowl the boundaries are from the mouth of the Murray Canal of Quinte West to the Adolphustown-Glenora Ferry.
Event Identification decal must be affixed on the motor or outside windshield 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 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.
Pre-Fishing ends and participants must be off the water by 8:00 pm the Friday before the weekend event.
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.
Boat Size: Boats must be 14’ or greater, 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.
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.
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.
Temperature Rule: PIKE/WALLEYE: 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 24 degrees celsius. BASS: 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.
Protest: Any protest of violations must be made to the Tournament Director prior to the end of the event. 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: All ties within hourly and overall pay spots will be resolved by combining the two positions or more and splitting the money equally.
Paybacks: The CSFL 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.
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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