MTT Tournament Rules

Rule Changes

These rules will remain unchanged. Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. The decision of the tournament director shall be final in all matters. Failure to comply with any rule may result in disqualification. Contestants are reminded that the spirit of the rule will prevail in all judgment cases.

Tournament Officials

An event official or officially approved media person may approach or board your boat at any time for any reason during the event. Refusal to allow an approved official on board or impeding their work may result in disqualification.

Age Limit

Contestants under 18 years of age must have the signature of their parent or legal guardian on the entry form, as well as the contestant’s signature.

Eligibility

All anglers must be a member of the Minnesota Tournament Trail. Tournament officials reserve the right to refund any entry fee, as well as for any reason not to accept the application for membership.

Safety

Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant must wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device at all times when any combustion engine operates above trolling speed. The flotation device must be securely fastened, and the safety-stop switch must be attached.

Boat Requirements

  • All boats must meet Coast Guard and State requirements.
  • Motors may not exceed the BIA rating established by the manufacturer.
  • All boats are required to carry a minimum of $100,000 liability insurance.
  • No boats over 24 ft 6 in.
  • All boats must have a Marine Band Radio (permanent mount or handheld).

Sportsmanship

All contestants are expected to follow high standards of safety, conservation, and sportsmanship. No alcoholic beverages or non-prescription drugs are allowed in the boat at any time. Contestants must maintain a sportsmanlike distance at all times.

Partner Substitution

Each team must declare a Captain and Partner. Substitutions are allowed. A substitute does not receive points unless utilizing an activated Premier Team Substitute. Substitutes cannot be a member of another team to accumulate points unless prior approval from the MTT is given or is an activated Premier Team Substitute. Any substitute fishing the championship must have fished at a prior event with said team.

Premier Teams

PREMIER TEAM REGISTRATION MUST BE MADE BEFORE YOUR FIRST EVENT

Premier teams are those teams that faithfully support the circuit by signing up and committing to fish FIVE (5) or more events PREIMIER TEAMS MUST BE DESIGNATED BEFORE registration closes for their first event of the season. You CANNOT sign up for premier team status after that. Premier teams are committed to paying for all events signed up for even if something happens that prohibits their attendance. There are no refunds even for NON-Premier teams, however there are some nice perks for Premier teams such as use of a predesignated substitute if needed and guaranteed spots. Premier teams WILL NOT be given preferential treatment by MTT that might give them a competitive advantage in any single event, to help them place better, start earlier, etc., as we believe strongly that the playing field should be level for all. However, MTT premier teams do have a list of benefits in exchange for their support of MTT. Premier teams (only) will be allowed to designate a substitute member to be considered for use just in case a team member is UNABLE to attend with the following restrictions; A designated substitute must be identified as your team’s substitute in advance by full legal name with MTT office PRIOR to you fishing your first event, unless otherwise approved by MTT and MUST be a MTT member or join. Your regular team member must be UNABLE to attend. If the substitute is not activated, they may not be in the boat during tournament hours in no case will more than two team members be actively fishing in any boat during tournament hours. Tournament Officials must agree that: a.) the original partner CANNOT attend and b.) The designated substitute is not a “ringer” or local expert and must
investigate and approve a substitution on a case-by-case basis IF ALL these conditions are met with official approval, an official team substitute can replace a team member who CANNOT attend an event and team points will NOT be lost. Please use this benefit as it is intended which is to help keep you fishing if your partner is UNABLE and CANNOT attend an event, it is NOT intended to give you a substitution to use anytime you wish to gain a competitive advantage and will not be allowed as such. MTT reserves the right to STOP or alter this benefit if attempts to abuse it get out of hand. Do not attempt to abuse this customer service benefit or in MTT’s sole judgment it will cease for all anglers and abusers will be identified.

Pre-Tournament Practice, Registration, and Competition

  • No restrictions on pre-fishing unless specified for special events.
  • All boats must be off the water by 4:00 p.m. before the rules meeting.

Ties

In the event of a tie, awards will be combined and divided equally among tied contestants.

Tournament Entries and Cancellations

  • Entries are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • A $50 processing fee applies for entry transfers.

Membership

All anglers must be members of the Minnesota Tournament Trail. Membership can be obtained for $65 on the Minnesota Tournament Trail website.

Boat Inspection

There will be mandatory boat inspection prior to every tournament start. All teams are subject to inspection anytime during tournament hours. THERE WILL BE NO GAME FISH OF ANY SPECIES ALLOWED IN ANY LIVEWELL DURRING TOURNAMENT HOURS. ANGLERS MAY USE THEIR LIVEWELL TO STORE BAIT. IF COMING VIA WATER TO CHECK IN, A MEMBER OF MTT STAFF WILL CHECK YOUR BOAT AT THE DOCK UPON YOUR ARRIVAL. ANY BOAT THAT MUST RETURN TO THE WEIGH IN SITE PRIOR TO THE TOURNAMENT ENDING FOR ANY REASON INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MECHANICAL ISSUES MUST CONTACT THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT THE WEIG IN SITE

  • ALL BOATS WILL BE IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED UPON ARRIVAL TO THE WEIGH IN SITE, AND WILL BE INSPECTED PRIOR TO RETURNING TO THE WATER. ALL TIME OFF THE WATER IS TIME SPENT AND WILL NOT BE RECOVERED.
  • A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MINNESOTA TOURNAMENT TRAIL MAY CHAPERONE ANY REPAIRS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE BOAT DURING THIS TIME.

Bag Limits

  • All fish must be caught live and according to local regulations.
  • Contestants may not:
    • Pass or receive items between boats.
    • Hold or reserve fishing locations for other boats.

“WEIGH-IN” and Fish Verification Via the Fish Donkey App

All tournaments are Catch Photo Release. Teams must come to the official weigh-in site by water.

  • One team member must have the Fish Donkey App Downloaded. Both team members may download the App but must share the login to avoid multiple submissions.
  • EACH FISH WILL HAVE AT MINIMUM, 1 PICTURE OF THE FISH ON THE JUDGE. MOUTH CLOSED, TAIL PINCHED WITH THE HEAD TO THE LEFT TAIL TO THE RIGHT. A HERO SHOT. ALL PICTURES ARE TAKEN “BELLY TO BELLY”
  • EACH FISH MUST HAVE A VIDEO RELEASE IN ORDER FOR THE FISH TO BE COUNTED.

    Registration and Rules Meeting

    Set times for registration and rules meetings will be determined by the tournament director and posted as such. REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO TAKE OFF

    • Any team that must register late MUST have prior approval to register, or the team will not be allowed to fish for that tournament.
    • Registration fees for 2025 are $310.00 for single day tournaments, $410.00 for 2-day tournaments and $510.00 for the Championship. A $10.00 per team, per event fee has been added to offset administrative and software fees for 2025 to protect the value of tournament payouts. AT LEAST ONE TEM MEMBER MUST ATTEND THE RULES MEETING. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE IN PRSON MEETING, YOU MUST CONTACT THE DIRECTOR TO REVIEW AND SIGN THE RULES PRIOR TO FISHING. ORIENTATION TO THE FISH DONKEY APP WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER EACH RULES MEETING. ORIENTATION WILL NOT TAKE PLACE THE MORNING OF THE TOURNAMENT!

    Weather Conditions

    • Tournaments will begin only in acceptable weather conditions.
    • Contestants are responsible for seeking shelter during unsafe conditions.

    Protests

    • Must be submitted in writing with a $2,000 check made payable to the Minnesota Tournament Trail within 15 minutes after scales close.

    Polygraph Testing

    All contestants by signing the entry form agree to submit to a polygraph-voice stress test and the possibility of having a random observer placed in their boat during competition days.
    ***THE MINNESOTA TOURNAMENT TRAIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DO RANDOM POLYGRAPH SCREENINGS FOR ANR REASON. THE REASON FOR RONDOM SCREENING IS AT THE SOLE DISCRESSION OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND WILL NOT AT ANY TIME BE MADE PUBLIC. ANY ACCUSATIONS AS TO THE REASONS FOR SCREENING MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FOR THAT EVENT AND OR ALL FUTURE MINNESOTA TOURNAMENT TRAIL EVENTS. ***

    Point StructurE

    One-day events will be worth a total of 500 points. Finishing positions will be awarded in 5-point decreasing increments. 100 Points will be awarded to any entered team not weighing fish. Two-day events will be worth a total of 1000 points with 10-point decreasing increments. 200 points will be awarded to any entered team not weighing fish. Team of the year and special awards will be based on points received at the top 5 one-day events and one two-day event plus points received during the championship. Championship points will be based on 1000 points with 10-point decreasing increments. 200 points will be awarded to any entered team not weighing fish. For special awards and Team of the Year, only points accumulated with the same partner will be used.

    Championship Qualification

    Additional teams (76-100) may be invited if the field of 75 is not filled.

    Top 75 teams by points who participate in four one-day events and one two-day event are invited.

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