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Headturners Tournament (HT) Slam Oneman Bass Series. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to Tournament Director and HT Series officials. Decisions of the Tournament Director and or HT officials are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. All contestants are required to follow all applicable Federal, State and Local regulations and laws. Any violation of such rules or Series rules and regulations may result in a fine, daily weight penalty, disqualification from the tournament day, the entire tournament or from all Series events.

Eligibility.  HT Series reserve the right to deny entry into any Slam tournament to any person or any team for any reason whatsoever.  Anglers failing or failing to take a requested polygraph from any tournament or tournament trail or being banned from competition by another tournament or trail may be ineligible to compete in Headturners events and/or series. 

Format.  One angler per boat, 3 fish per angler limit.  All fish must measure within state slot limits, except in Florida where exemption permits are available and will be supplied.

Tournament Entry Fees.  Entry Fees for the Series is boater $ 75.00 which includes $5.00 per angler for big bass for regular season events. There are no membership or registration fees in this series.   The Championship will have an entry fee of $300.00 for this 2 day classic. 

Off limits/practice.  No off limits to practice days in this series. No captain's meeting in this series, anglers arrive the morning of the event and register.  5 anglers in addition to director required to hold event.

Boat launch.  Anglers will launch according to receipt of their entry fee.

Tournament Hours/Weigh In.  Contestants will fish from safe light as determined by HT Series official and have until 3:00 pm to check in the day of competition.  Weigh in begins at 3:00 pm an all anglers must be checked in by 3:00:00 pm , no additional time will be awarded, regardless of reason. Anglers can begin checking in at 2:30 pm.

Amount and Places Paid.  Pay back percentages are based on number of boats.  All events pay back 1 in 5 (every 6th boat that signs up creates another pay spot) 1-30 boats receive 75% of entry fees paid. 31-60 boats receive 80% of entry fees paid, 61-90 boats receive 85% of entry fees paid and 91 boats or more receive 90% of entry fees paid.  $5.00 of each entry fee will be used to pay big bass of the tournament.

Scoring.  Tournament Standings shall be determined by the aggregate weight measured in pounds and 100ths of a pound. Only bass will be weighed, the limit shall be three (3) bass per angler.

Points.  Anglers competing toward the Chase for the Championship will count the weight of their fish and receive points matching said weight. I.E. 12.45 pounds of bass = 12.45 points. In addition each angler will receive 100 participation points per event, sample 112.45 points.

Championship.  Anglers use their best 3 tournaments in each division to determine the top 10 anglers in points, those anglers will advance to championship.  There is no other way by which a Slam Oneman Series angler can qualify for the  Championship that will take place on Lake Eufala in 2010.  Should an angler(s) qualify in the top 10 in points and choose not to fish the championship, the tour will invite first angler out to fish the championship.  It is the aim of the tour to have 10 anglers from each division represented at the championship.

Permitted Fishing Locations.  Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters accessible by boat, except areas designated as "off limits" or "no fishing" by local, state, federal officials or HT personnel. Fishing private waters is prohibited. No fishing within 50 yards of a competitor's boat which is anchored. (an anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight, push pole, power pole, etc. with the trolling motor in the up position). If the boat does not have a trolling motor the definition of "anchored" still applies to anchored boats. Scattering or dispersing live or dead bait in the water for the purpose to attract fish, chumming is prohibited. An angler may not chum with live or dead bait or solicit someone to chum with live or dead bait within ten (10) days prior to the start of competition in or within 500 yards of areas planned to fish during competition. No angler may fish within 100 yards of areas that they know or should have known has been chummed during the day of competition or within that 10 day period.

Bait and Tackle.  Only artificial lures may be used with the exceptions of liquid bait attractants or pork strips. No live or dead bait. Only one rod at a time may be used per contestant. A cast must be fully retrieved before another rod is picked up. Fly fishing and conventional tackle are allowed. All bass must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner. Trolling, with the main engine, auxiliary/smaller engine or electric/trolling motor as a method of fishing is prohibited.

Live Fish.  Every effort must be made to keep bass alive. An .50 pound penalty will be deducted from the contestants' total weight for each dead bass presented for weigh-in. No mutilated or iced fish shall be accepted. No angler may manipulate the weight or length of any bass with the intent of gaining an advantage over other tournament competitors during the tournament or any time six months prior to the event. Culling of dead bass is prohibited. HT reserves the right to refuse any bass deemed to have been altered or in such condition as to question the validity of the catch.

Alcoholic Beverages and Drugs.  Any angler or contestant consuming or carrying alcoholic beverages or drugs (other than prescription) on board a contestant's boat during tournament hours (which begins when boat checks start and ends at conclusion of weigh in) will be disqualified. Anglers cannot consume any alcohol prior to polygraph testing.

Boats, Motors, Accessories.  All boats used in competition will be subject to HT Series officials acceptance in regards to size, h.p., livewell, coastguard and other ratings determined by HT Series officials to be acceptable or not.  No airboats are allowed in competition.  All boats used in competition must have a live well space, properly aerated to adequately maintain a maximum, possible, live limit of fish for the event.  All boats powered by 40 h.p or more must be equipped with some type of operable ignition kill switch. This ignition kill device must be attached to the driver's body anytime the combustion engine is operating at a high enough rpm to raise the bow of the boat. This ignition kill device must be attached to the driver's body or activated through wireless technology such as the Autotether system anytime the combustion engine is operating at a high enough rpm to raise the bow of the boat.  Fuel may be carried only in factory installed (built-in) fuel tanks or coast guard approved tanks used by tiller type outboard engines. Any additional fuel used during the tournament day must be purchased from a retail facility open to the public (no portable gas cans). No portable device(s) such as ladders, step ladders, coolers, etc. may be used to gain height above the gunnels of the boat. However, factory installed or fabricated devices specifically designed for that purpose and are able to be fastened to the boat via turnbuckle or locking straps will be allowed.  Bungy cord/rope attachments are not allowed.

Insurance.  Current liability insurance is required for each contestant utilizing his or her boat in the Series and is the anglers responsibility to carry and keep enforced.

Contestants Must Remain in Boat.  All angling must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a contestant intentionally leave the boat to land a fish or make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Failure to render assistance when requested in an emergency situation may be cause for immediate disqualification. Anglers receiving assistance must communicate to the tournament official, the boat number(s) of the assisting boat and the assisted boat at time commencing aid. Competitors are allowed to leave the boat and seek safe shelter in bad weather where danger may be imminent but must continue to follow all tournament rules during this period.

Extreme Weather.  In the case of severe weather such as hurricanes, tropical storms, etc. a tournament may be rescheduled for the next day or  later in the season at the same location, if possible. The start of competition may be delayed and/or length of tournament hours shortened or extended at tour official's discretion. If dangerous weather (winds 30-35 mph, lightening, etc.) or the reasonable expectation of dangerous weather deems conditions unsafe for the anglers, the tour may make adjustments to the event's times of launch and weigh in. (championship) In the event that day 1 of competition has to be cancelled, anglers will fish day 2 and use day 2's weight as the official weight of the tournament. In the event day 2 of competition has to be cancelled, anglers will use the weight from day 1 to determine place. 

Sportsmanship.  All contestants are required to practice courtesy, safety and follow local and state game laws. All competitors are bound by the prevailing statues and regulations of the various states within which they fish clarifying that Competitors are responsible for research of fishing and boating regulations. Anyone displaying poor sportsmanship or violating game laws will be subject to disqualification. "Burning" or intentionally running a boat on plane with the purpose of locating fish, moving fish, harassing fish and/or wildlife, or destruction of habitat is prohibited within 100 yards of any boat (competitor or non-competitor) or shoreline. This act is prohibited and a violation of unsportsmanlike conduct. Any Series competitor found to be accountable for the unsportsmanlike act of "burning" will incur penalties.  No wireless, radio or other controlled devices allowed for same or similar purposes.

No Information.  No communication or signaling is permitted between an angler and anyone either in or not in an event. No discussion pertaining to fishing is allowed via cell phone, VHF radio, pager or any electronic device during competition.

Safety.  Safe boating will be observed at all times. Each contestant is required to wear a fastened, vest-type or suspender-style U.S. Coast Guard approved, personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is operating and in gear at enough rpm's to raise the bow of the boat.

Polygraphs.  Each contestant agrees to submit, by his/her signature on the official tournament release/angler code of conduct, to a polygraph examination and abide by its conclusion. No alcohol can be consumed by any angler (prior to testing) required to take test.

Protests.  All protests must be submitted in writing (No Exceptions), along with a $100 deposit per protests to administer a polygraph exam, within 15 minutes of Official tournament scales closing. The decision of the tournament director and tournament officials will be final. The protestor also agrees to submit to a polygraph exam. If the protest is upheld, the $100 deposit will be refunded. Any infraction discovered after the event is over may be acted upon by HT Series officials.

Angler Code of Conduct.  Anglers participating in any HT Series event shall observe this code of conduct and the applicable rules for the specific event in which they are participating. Anglers shall, at all times, conduct themselves in a professional manner that will not reflect unfavorably on HT Outdoors, its members, officers or representatives, tournaments or sponsors. Anglers shall use their best efforts to demonstrate professionalism, ethical behavior, sportsmanship and integrity in support of the sport of professional fishing. Any angler who violates any of the provisions of the Angler Code of Conduct may be subject to forfeiture of tournament winnings, suspension from competing in individual HT Series events, permanent ban from competition, or any combination thereof deemed appropriate by HT officials.

Media Coverage.  Contestants entered in the Series must make their boat and fishing areas available to Series cameramen and camera boats during the entirety of all tournaments, should such filming take place.

Media Comments and Public Attacks.  The favorable public reputation of HT Bass Series as a sanctioning organization in the sport of fishing, the integrity of its officials, and the reputation of its media properties are valuable assets and tangible benefits for HT Series. Accordingly, it is an obligation of competitors to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage the integrity of tournaments, tournament officials, sponsors, fellow members, fellow anglers or the Headturners Tournament organization (HT). Responsible expressions of legitimate disagreement with HT policies are encouraged, as opposed to attacks upon the integrity of the rules or officials. However, public comments that an angler knows, or should reasonable know, will harm the reputation of Headturners Tournament Series, HT3 Outdoors, it's officials or sponsors, shall be considered conduct unbecoming a professional and will result in disciplinary action.

These rules may be amended or updated as needed to ensure the integrity and quality of competition. Updated 7/11/2009.