| TOURNAMENT FORMAT: This is a team event, requiring two persons. If a person cannot arrange for a “team”, single entrants will be accepted, though will pay the full team entry fee. All tournament fishing must be done from a boat, no bank fishing allowed. Each team will select one primary category (species) of fish to compete in, which includes Bass, Walleye, Catfish, White bass and Crappie. Teams do have the option, with an increased entry fee, to select and compete in more than one category. MIKE AHEARN SCHOLARSHIP FUND: Founded in 1964, the Fund’s primary objective is raising money from the private sector for athletic scholarships and capital improvements. With scholarship and operational costs constantly rising, the Athletic Department is more dependent than ever on gift income to maintain the athletic program at its current level. Each year through the support of Kansas State fans everywhere, we are able to provide financial aid to over 450 male and female student-athletes. As a participant in the Cabela’s Ahearn Scholarship Fishing Tournament, you are contributing to the education of young minds and preparing them for the future. You are playing a direct role in the continuing success of Kansas State University and ensuring the advancement of its strong traditions. ENTRY FEE and PAYBACK: The entry fee for this tournament is $150.00 per team. Any team wanting to compete in more than one category is allowed to do so, as long as they pay an additional entry fee of $100.00 per additional species. Example - A team wanting to compete in two categories, Bass and White bass, would pay a $250.00 entry fee. A special “Falcon Rod” entry fee is available. All teams wanting to enter the Falcon Rod category will pay $250.00, with each team member receiving a limited edition KSU Falcon Rod. Entries must be turned-in or postmarked by April 8, 2005 to avoid paying a late fee. Entries will be accepted after this time period, though will pay a $50.00 late processing fee. The KSU Athletic Department will not be responsible for mailed entries that are not delivered by the postal service or other means of delivery. NO REFUNDS: The payback will be based on a 50 boat per tournament species category. Each category with a minimum of 50 boats will have five (5) payback positions, starting at $1,000 for 1st, adjusted based on more or less boats. A total of 5 paying places can be paid, once again, depending on number of entries per category. All federal, state, and local taxes are the winner's responsibility. NO ENTRY FEE WIPER PRIZE: The Geary County Visitor and Convention Bureau is offering a $500 prize for the largest (by weight) wiper of the tournament There is no entry fee required. TOURNAMENT PRE-MEETING: At least one-person per team must attend a mandatory pre-meeting on April 22, 2005. The pre-meeting will be conducted at the Junction City Convention Center, 333 S. Hammons Dr., Junction City (adjoins Courtyard Marriott). The meeting will began at 7:00 PM.The Courtyard Marriott will be hosting a complimentary buffet dinner at the convention center from 5:30 to 7:00. OFFICIAL HOST HOTEL: The Courtyard Marriott in Junction City, Kansas( just off I-70 at exit 298)will be the official host hotel for the Cabela’s Ahearn Scholarship Fishing Tournament. A special room rate of $89 per night will be offered to all participants and their families. To make reservations please call 785-210-1500 and specify the “Cabela’s/Ahearn” block of rooms. Room block expires March 20th. The Courtyard will also be providing a complimentary buffet to all registered participants prior to the mandatory rules meeting on April 22, 2005. The buffet will be served from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the Courtyard’s attached Convention Center. |
| RULES: The following rules will be used for the 2005 Cabela’s Ahearn Scholarship Fishing Tournament. It's each contestant's responsibility to read and fully understand these rules as entrants will be subject to disqualification for noncompliance and forfeit all prize money, prizes and entry fees. All entrants agree by signing the Declaration, Waiver, Release and Hold Harmless Agreement that the decision of any presiding Cabela’s Ahearn Scholarship Fishing Tournament official or the tournament committee will be final in all respects. THE KSU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY ENTRY.
PARTICIPANTS: Each tournament participant 18 years of age or older must read, fully understand, and sign a Declaration, Waiver, Release and Hold Harmless Agreement prior to participating. Contestants 16 and 17 years of age may enter and fish only after having their parent or legal guardian read, fully understand, and sign the Declaration, Waiver, Release and Hold Harmless Agreement. To compete in the tournament, a 16 or 17-year-old contestant must also read, fully understand and sign the Declaration, Waiver, Release and Hold Harmless Agreement. Contestants under 16 years of age may compete as long as the other team member is an adult and approved by child’s parent or legal guardian.
PROTEST: ALL PROTEST MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AFTER THE OFFICIAL CHECK-IN TIME. The tournament committee will make all protest decisions. ALL DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO ANY GRIEVANCE OR LEGAL PROCEDURES. A verbal protest will not be heard, a protest must be in writing.
TACKLE, EQUIPMENT and TROLLING: All methods of allowable fishing techniques, according to Kansas’s laws and regulations, are allowed. No tracking, bugging, or other devices implanted in fish may be used. All fish must be caught and reeled in from inside the boat. Tournament participants are not allowed to leave the boat to land a fish. No two-way radios, cell-phones, or other electronic communication devices may be used to transmit fishing information to other tournament participants during tournament hours.
BOATS, MOTORS, and SAFETY: Any boat 15 feet or longer, if powered by a motor of 40 horsepower or more, may be utilized if it meets all state, federal, and local legal requirements and laws. All boats must meet Coast Guard requirements. EACH CONTESTANT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER ACTIONS, INCLUDING SITUATIONS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. It is your personal decision to travel to and/or fish in this tournament, regardless of weather conditions.
HOURS: Tournament hours on April 23 are from 6:10 am or first safe light to 2:00 P.M. or at the time designated by a tournament official. The tournament ramp is the South Boat Ramp, Milford State Park.
STARTING ORDER: The entry form must be mailed directly to the KSU Athletic Department, Attn: Lon Floyd, Bramlage Coliseum, 1300 College Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502. The tournament starting order will be determined by the post-marked date of the completed and signed entry form which must also include the appropriate fees. A starting position will not be given to a team that submits a incomplete entry/waiver form, not correctly signed by both team members, or incorrect entry fee. The start will be a staggered start and under the control of a tournament official. Starting procedures will be discussed at the mandatory pre-meeting.
TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS: Will be the South Boat Ramp, Milford State Park.
PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE: Milford Lake is closed (off-limits) to all tournament participants starting at 5:00 PM on April 22, 2005, and will remain closed until the start of the tournament.
PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS. All areas on Milford Lake that can be legally fished from inside a boat are open to contestants. All current local, state, and federal laws concerning allowable Kansas fishing locations will be followed. ANCHORED BOATS WILL BE GIVEN A 25-YARD CLEARANCE ON ALL SIDES. An anchored boat is a boat that has its trolling motor in the stored position, its combustion engine turned off, a rope or other type of material tied to an anchor, with the anchor resting on the bottom of the lake. A boat tied to a tree or other type of object is not considered an anchored boat. Contestants should use common courtesy and judgment when approaching or fishing around other boats. Any announcements made at the tournament site by a tournament official take precedence over written rules.
SPORTSMANSHIP: Anyone displaying poor sportsmanship, breaking local, state, or federal laws, or violating any of the rules of this tournament will be subject to disqualification and the loss of any entry fees or prize money. The tournament committee will make any decisions concerning disqualification.
CHECK-IN PROCEDURES: Each team will be issued a numbered card or paddle during the mandatory pre-meeting. The number on the card or paddle will be the starting position. Every team should try to arrive at least one-hour prior to the start of the tournament. Remember, the tournament will start at 6:10 am or first safe light, as determined by an on-site tournament official. In case of mechanical boat failure, or other emergency situation, a team may transport their catch to the weigh-in site by way of another contestant's boat. One team member must remain with the fish until weigh-in. Each team MUST turn-in their numbered card or paddle prior to the actual tournament ending time of 2:00 PM. The turn-in procedures will be discussed at the pre-meeting. A LATE PENALTY OF .10 OF A POUND, PER MINUTE WILL BE USED AFTER THE DESIGNATED OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT ENDING TIME. After five minutes, the team or teams will be disqualified. Teams may start to weigh-in at 11:00 am, though a team is only allowed to present fish for weigh-in two-times during the tournament. If a team weighs-in two bass at 11:30 am, they can only weigh-in two more bass, for their total weight. The on-site tournament officials will make all decisions concerning any team that reports an emergency or other event that causes them not to follow the standard check-in procedures and remedies.
LIVE-WELLS: All teams entering the Bass, Walleye or Crappie category must have live-wells capable of holding the appropriate tournament limit of fish. The KSU Athletic Department encourages the constant use of the aeration system once fish are put in the livewell. A PENALTY OF .10 OF A POUND, PER DEAD BASS, WALLEYE, CRAPPIE OR CATFISH WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE TEAM'S FISH THAT ARE WEIGHED IN.
KILL SWITCHES: All boats that operate in this tournament must have a properly working kill switch. The kill switch cord must be attached to the driver whenever the combustion engine is running.
LIFE JACKETS: Coast Guard approved life vests MUST be worn and fastened while the boat is on plane. ALCOHOL: ALL CONTESTANTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM CONSUMING OR USING ALCOHOL DURING THE TOURNAMENT.
ALLOWABLE FISH and LIMITS: Allowable tournament fish are Bass, Walleye, Catfish, Crappie and White bass. State of Kansas, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Milford Lake length limits will be used. The tournament possession weigh-in limit is as follows: Four Bass per team, Four Walleye per team, Four Catfish per team, Ten Crappie per team, Ten White bass per team. No culling at the weigh-in area is allowed. The total weight of a team's fish, per individual species, will determine finishing places. All ties will be broken by big fish, then by number of fish, then by flip of coin. Any team may bring one Wiper, with a minimum length of 20” to weighin, as to determine a special bonus prize of $500. All fish will be measured with their mouth closed and on a flat measuring board. Every attempt will be made to obtain the longest measurement possible. Team members are not allowed to touch the fish once they are presented for weigh-in. Any team presenting a fish that does not meet the minimum length requirement, as per Kansas law, will lose .10 of a pound per short fish from their total weight. No short fish will be weighed. A penalty of .10 of a pound will be deducted for each dead fish, in the following categories: Bass, Walleye, Crappie and Catfish. It is your responsibility to make every effort to keep your fish alive. No frozen or iced fish will be allowed and any brought to the weigh-in will disqualify the team from the tournament. Each team presenting fish for weigh-in must have caught the fish being weighed-in. Kansas State officials have invited the area K.D.W.P. Law Enforcement Officers to the tournament and contestants can be subject to penalties from a K.D.W.P. Officer for state violations. ALL LIVE FISH WILL BE RELEASED. FAILURE TO READ THESE RULES OR IGNORANCE OF THESE RULES IS NO EXCUSE. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE RULES WILL BE GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION FROM THIS and FUTURE TOURNAMENTS. KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RULES IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL FISHING AND BOATING LAWS WILL BE FOLLOWED. |
