Official Rules
13th Annual TuffMan Rules
Interpretation of these rules shall be left exlusively to the tournament director and weighmaster.  Failure to comply may result in disqualification and the decison of the tournament officials shall be final in all such matters.
Patricipation & Eligibility
Participation is open to all who are 18 years of age or older on Sept. 9, 2012.  Applicants under age 18 may wish in the youth division with an adult or with another youth as long as they furnish a signed permission form from their parent or guardian.  If two youth participants, then they must have a non-fishing adult observer in the boat at all times. Proof of age is the responsibility of the competitor and must be furnished when requested. A properly completed and signed entry form as approved by the tournament officials must be presented prior to the tournament.  No team that has not been assigned a team number the morning of the tournament shall begin to fish until such number is established by the director.  The tournament director reserves the right to refund/refuse any entry fee.
Registration & Checkpoint
Each contestant must register in person at the designated site, before the start of the tournament.  Start time will be at "Safe Daylight". No more than two fishermen in a boat and they must both be paid contestants (see youth division regarding observer). Registration is $250 after 6:00 PM on the Thursday preceeding the tournament.  Pre-registration is $200.  Registration includes big bass side pot.
Tournament Qualifications
Teams may fish as many qualifiers as they wish.  Once they have qualified their registration fee drops to $110. The 2011-2012 Anglers of the Year pay only $10 per tournament for the big bass sidepot. A team qualifies for the championship by 1) being last year's champions, 2) finishing in the top 12 of a  qualifier, 3) being in the top 12 in points after all qualifiers have been removed.  This results in 61 teams being able to participate in the championship.  The team with the overall highest score in the four qualifiers will become Anglers of the Year.  You must fish the championship with the same partner you qualified with.  If one partner is unable to fish then you may fish solo.
General Rules & Information
The tournament lake is off limits Sunday at midnight the week before the tournament (except for Labor Day, September 3, and Columbus Day, October 8, which off limits will be at midnight on Monday night). Licensed black bass guides that have guided on the body of water in the previous 14 days are not allowed to fish. No trailering from offsite ramps is allowed unless deemed necessary for safety purposes by the weighmaster. If you launch at the headquarters ramp, you may check in at the checkpoint and then load your boat onto your trailer before bringing the fish to the scales. There will be only one official headquarters. Flights will be 25 boats per flight starting at 3:00 PM and each flight will be in increments of 15 minutes. There will be only two flights at the championship. Teams will start based on their drawn team number. Competitors not at the official check-in point on time will be penalized one ounce per minute up to 15 minutes at which time they will be disqualified without recourse.  There will also be dead fish and small fish penalties.
Sportsmanship
All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, coutesy, safety and conservation.  Cell phones are not to be used to assist in the location of fish during the event. Violation of this rule can be reason for disqualification.  No aloholic beverages or non-prescribed drugs are allowed in the boat.  Each contestant must keep the waters and grounds clean and free of litter.  Violation of any state, local or federal laws can result in immediate disqualification without recourse.
Polygraph
Each contestant agrees to submit to a polygraph examination and to abide by its conclusion.  Failure to pass the exam will result in disqualificaiton.  Polygraphs will be used at CTMA, Inc.'s sole discretion and the determination of the meaning of the results will be made solely by CTMA, Inc.
Safety
Safe boating will be observed at all times.  Each competitor must wear a servicable U.S.C.G. approved life perserver (PFD) any time the combustion engine is in operation and until the combustion engine is shut-off.  The boat operator must have a safety-stop switch (kill switch) engaged and attached to their person when the combustion engine is running.  Boats may not have engines larger than the boats horsepower rating.

Couples Division
Shall consist of one man and one woman and both must have fished the tournament to receive the bonus payout. 

Youth Division
Shall consist of one adult (anyone who is 18 years old or older as off September 9, 2012 and one youth who is under 17 years old as of September 9, 2012.  Both must fish the tournament to be eligible for the bonus payout.  If both are under 18 years old a safety officer may be onboard but he will not be allowed to offer any suggestions regarding where or how to fish.  His duty will be to drive the boat while the big motor is in operation.  The youth must operate the trolling motor and handle the fish.

Protests
Protests must be submitted to the weighmaster within 15 minutes of the closing of the scales.

Closing of Scales
Scales will be closed 15 minutes after the last flight is due in.  It is the angler's responsibilty to verify the official scale closing time and to be in the weigh-in line by such time.
For a complete list of the rules and regulations pick up one of the TuffMan flyers at the headquarters tent before the start of the tournament.  Participants are solely responsible for understanding the rules.