SAFETY & TOURNAMENT INTEGRITY: Safe boating conduct must be always observed. Boaters are always solely responsible for the safe operation of their vessel, and responsible for the safety of all passengers. Participants must abide by all local navigation laws and always avoid restricted areas. All participants are required and agree to wear a Coast Guard-approved type III or greater CHEST TYPE personal floatation device anytime the boat is on plane. Officials may restrict tournament waters and reserve the right to delay or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors.

In the event of lightning, severe weather, limited visibility or any unsafe condition, participants should remove themselves from competition and seek safety or shelter until it is safe to continue. Participants may not leave their boats during tournament hours except in case of emergency. Each boat must have a U.S. Coast Guard rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer if required. The horsepower rating of the outboard engine must not exceed the rating specified on this plate. Changing or altering standard factory motor parts to increase horsepower over factory rated horsepower is forbidden. All SVWC qualifying tournaments will have published days of competition, unless delayed, or shortened due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. Any boundaries or restricted zones will be announced at the rules meeting and may be further altered if needed, blow days may or may not be used at the discretion of officials. 

SPORTSMANSHIP: Participants will conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike, courteous, safe, and ethical manner always maintaining professional demeanor in public and in communication with officials. Any unfavorable conduct, speech, or action by a participant in our efforts to promote sportsmanship, clean waters and conservation can be grounds for disqualification. Each competitor is expected to participate in the marshaling of the field to help maintain the highest integrity of competition. Any incidents observed during tournament hours should be reported to tournament officials for investigation. Any violation of these basic sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification.

Registration: Payments may be made through our website at www.svwalleye.org. Payments must be received no later than 1 days prior to an event (i.e. 5pm on Saturday prior to a Sunday Qualifier) SVWC online registration includes a processing fee.  Big Fish and Side pot entries will be accepted the morning of the event, however. Entries may also be mailed or dropped off at Hennepin Marine. All members must be in good standing with SVWC membership. Membership may be paid online or in person with entry.  All payments other than cash or check will be subject to a 2.9% processing fee.

Participation: The SVWC reserves the right to refuse entry or participation to any team or team member. Reasons include but not limited to suspension, disqualification or a ban from another tournament series, violation of game, local, federal, or state regulations and laws and unsportsmanlike or criminal behavior. Participants will always conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner; any unfavorable conduct by a participant may result in disqualification (DQ) or rejection of entry. Any person under the age of 18 must be teamed with a parent or guardian.

TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: Participants must possess all necessary fishing licenses and commit to following all regulations. All state rules regarding fishing will be observed unless more stringent regulations are specified at the rules meeting. A maximum of 6 rods can be used (PER TEAM) and no more than 2 presentation per rod. While trolling in Illinois a Maximum of 3 rods per angler is permissible and acceptable in a two-person team. However, a three-person team would be limited to 2 rods per person or a total of 6 MAX. Only fish caught on hook and line in a normal and usual manner will be accepted. Live bait and artificial lures are permissible in SVWC events, except for any special laws or tournaments announced and defined by SVWC.

Boat Inspection:  Inspections will take place at the launch area beginning 1.5 hours prior to take off. All teams must have their compartments open and are responsible for making sure they are inspected and have receive a boat board. All teams fishing the tournament are required to have an identifying ribbon attached to the front of the boat. Any boat entering competition without first being inspected may be disqualified. Any boat not inspected and checked in prior to 6:45 am, will have to be inspected after the 7:00 am take off is complete. All tournament boats are required by law to have in their possession Coast Guard and state/local/federal required safety equipment and be in proper working order. In addition, a functioning bilge pump or bailing device is required. Contestants must wear a coast guard approved PDF and use the engine kill switch while the main engine is operated above trolling speed. Tournament boats may be inspected at any time for compliance.

BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each boat MUST be given, prior to each day's start, a live well and SAFETY INSPECTION check by a tournament official, also a boat board, which MUST remain in or on the boat and turned in during check-in at the end of each day. SVWC reserves sole discretion to assign boat numbers in any manner. Any catch attempted to weigh-in without designated boat board will not be weighed until the “boat board” is brought to the scales.

OFFICIAL SAFETY CHECK POINT: There shall be an official safety checkpoint for checkout in the morning/ check in in the afternoon and this point shall be designated at the tournament briefing. At the time of checkout/check-in all competitors and their boats shall be in full compliance with all set forth by officials. At check-in, all boats shall identify themselves to the check in official and proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in area. YOU MUST CHECK-IN EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FISH. Failure to go through boat checkout in the morning or failure to check in at the check-in point in the afternoon may result in disqualification. It is each angler’s responsibility to know what time they are due in. All fishing must cease upon check-in. Weigh-in time will be at 3p.m. Central timeunless otherwise specified for all events!

LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not at the official safety check in point as described above at the appointed return time shall be penalized at the rate of one pound per minute to be deducted from the total weight of their catch that day, including any "Big Fish Award". Any competitors more than fifteen (15) minutes late shall lose all credit for that day’s catch. There shall be no excuse for tardiness and in no case will a competitor be allowed to make up "lost time." Return time shall be defined as off-plane and plainly visible by the official timekeepers.

SCORING: Scoring shall be determined by the pound/ounce weight of each team's 5 fish limit during the one-day tournament. Each team's total weight will determine the final standings. Walleye, sauger and saugeye, will be weighed – all fish must meet the state minimum length limit of 14”. Any fish brought to the scale that does not meet the minimum requirements, will result in loss of smallest and largest fish in your bag! All fish weighed must be kept in aerated live wells to keep fish alive and as fresh as possible for release. Any fish mauled, mashed, frozen, on stringer, containing foreign or unnaturally placed matter to add weight or showing white gills, soft flesh, or other signs of decomposition in tournament official’s sole discretion will result in disqualification. All balancing weights, markers, buoys, or attachments must be removed before fish are presented at the bump tank. This also includes, but not limited to adding shad and minnows to your catch for additional weight. If shad and or minnows are added to your basket you will be asked to return with you catch clean and free of any added items.

POINTS: Teams earn points, which are awarded from each qualifier tournament fished. Teams’ top 4 (including Championship)scores will be used to determine points and standings. The team with the highest point total will be awarded “Team of the Year” prizes. Points are distributed to teams and may not be transferred in the event of partner changes. Points are awarded as follows: 400 points to the 1st place team, Points decrease in two-point increments by place of finish for teams weighing fish. Entered teams that do not weigh fish are awarded 100 show points. Should a team get a DQ, they will lose all points for the event. Team of the Year will be determined by best of 3 out of the 4 qualifying events. (So, you can throw out your worst finish.)

Championship: The Championship will be a 2-day event with the cumulative weights being scored. If you win a Qualifier and fish at least 2 events, you will earn an automatic invite into the Championship. The field will consist of the top 20 teams in the standings, plus any teams that won a Qualifier that fall outside the top 20 that competed in at least 2 events. So, it is possible to have a 24-boat field if no teams inside the top 20 win a Qualifier.

Ties: In case of a tie, positions will be determined as follows: 1. Most number of legal fish weighed at that event. 2. Largest fish of that Event. 3. Heaviest total weighed of all events to date of that season. 4. Current Points Standings. 5. Any other means selected by tournament officials.

CATCH & RELEASE: An 8-ounce deduction will be made for each legal fish presented to the bump master for weighing that is determined to be dead. Every boat must have adequate live well space, properly aerated, to sufficiently maintain, in a healthy condition a limit catch by competitors using the boat. The recommends the use of live well additive such as G-Juice and ice, in warmer water months to improve oxygen levels and promote a healthy release of fish into natural habitat. Tournament Officials shall have the sole responsibility for accessing any penalty points or for determining whether aeration and capacity is "proper and adequate." All fish will be returned to the River immediately after weigh-in. No Exceptions.

PAYOUTS:  All tournaments will be paid out at 100% of entry fees less tournament expenses.  Tournament expenses include but are not limited to trophy fees, travel expenses, state tournament fees, and any other fees approved by the SVWC Board.

Payout checks will be made payable to the team captain unless otherwise speciified.  You can request payout checks be made to any 1 team member.  Any person receiving a payout for winnings for a tournament will be required to complete a form and provide Spring Valley Walleye Club your complete name, address, phone number and social security number for tax purposes.   You will be REQUIRED to provide this information before you receive your winnings check. Any individual winning over $600 thru the course of the year will receive a 1099 from the Spring Valley Walleye Club. No Exceptions!