rules

2026 Teardrop Registration Information

This year we will have a 15 boat cap for the club. If you plan to fish, I need an email or text confirmation by April 1 st. Your entry is 100% prepay. All prepay monies must be received by May 1st to guarantee your entry. Tournament entry will be closed either when the 15 boat cap is achieved, or at the commencement of the first tournament. After the first tournament all entry fees will be non-refundable. There will be 6 regular tournaments and a two-day Classic. Classic berth will now have a 25% cut off from the original field. There will be a 1 week off limits for all tournaments. This means the Sunday prior to the tournament is the last day to prefish. All Ads need to be confirmed to me by April 15th. This date is a hard date. There will be a $500 ad sales incentive that will guarantee you a berth in the Classic. This can be a combination of your $200 membership fee and $300 of paid ads. Contact me with any questions. Nick Vawter Teardrop Tournament Director nickvawter@gmail.com 616-403-6900

ADS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED BY MAY 1st FOR PRINTING.
NCLUDE YOUR $100/PERSON MEMBERSHIP FEE WHICH IS DUE WITH YOUR ENTRY FEE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED 2 PAID ADS.

ADS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED BY MAY 1st FOR PRINTING.

REGARDING THE HOST TOURNAMENT ONLY 1 TEARDROP MEMBER WILL BE ALLOWED PER BOAT FISHING THE HOST TOURNAMENT.

FISHING THE CLASSIC FOR THE JACKPOT:

Only the top 25% of the field will qualify for the Classic. Additionally, you may qualify for the Classic with a minimum combination of your $200 membership and $300 in ads.

Tournament Rules

1. The first 5 tournaments will begin at 6:30am and will end at 2:30pm, the 6th tournament will begin at 7:00am and end at 3:00pm.
There is a mandatory pre-tournament meeting 30 min prior to launch time.

2. All boats used in the tournament are required to carry owner’s liability insurance and a copy of the policy must be turned in with your membership entry form.

3. Membership Dues: $100/person/season. Fees can be waived for a team with 2 paid ($100) sponsor ads, or 1 paid ($200) Host ad. Excludes Comped Ads. Sub fees are $25/tournament.

4. In order to have a sub for the classic, the angler substituting must have fished at least one Tear Drop tournament during the current season.
There is one exception: the Classic sub may be an immediate family member (husband, wife, son, daughter, father, mother or grandparent. The immediate family member subbing will need to pay the Tear Drop Sub fee.

5. Angler of the Year: If there is a tie in AOY Points at the end of the regular season, whoever had the highest total weight accumulated during the regular season would be the AOY tie break winner.

6. All tournaments are catch and release. Only largemouth and smallmouth bass will be used for weighed amount.

7. Each contestant must report in at the end of each tournament. If you leave during the tournament hours, you must report to the tournament director or at least 1 other boat whom will report in for you.

8. Safe boating must be observed at all times. Flotation devices must be provided for each person in the boat per Coast Guard regulations. Life vests must be worn when propelled by the gas motor. Kill switch cords must be used. No platforms, you must fish from boats original manufactured deck.

9. At the start of every tournament, you must line up by your numbered take off position; you must be well past the starter boat, before leaving an idle speed.

10. While fishing, no boat shall fish closer than 100 feet. The intent here is to be further than casting distance away. If you can cast to the other anglers boat you are too close.

11. Only one fishing rod, casting or spinning may be in the water and used at one time, per angler. No trolling allowed. All boats must have a live well. No stringers or baskets. Every attempt must be made for a live release. No live bait, artificial only.

12. There is a 5 fish limit. You must cull to a 5 fish limit on the water. You may not have 6 bass in your livewell at any time! Culling at the dock will get you disqualified. All fish must measure 14 inches at weigh in. Eight ounces will be deducted from the boats total weight for each short fish. Anglers will have their fish bumped before each weigh in. Fish will be measured with mouths closed.

13. Eight ounces will be deducted from your boats total weight for each dead fish brought in. If your biggest fish is dead, your eight ounces will be deducted from that fish. No more than 2 dead fish per team per tournament. You may not weigh in more than 6 dead fish over the course of the entire tournament series. Classic teams will be allowed 2 dead fish per day.

14. All ties in total weight will be decided by who had the largest fish. Teams are responsible for weighing their largest fish. One fish qualifies as big fish for tournament big bass pots.

15. No drugs or alcoholic beverages are allowed before or during the tournament. A tournament day ends after all fish are weighed in.

16. Any contestant that is late for weigh in will lose 8 oz. per minute, except when assisting a disabled boat. Make sure you have tournament directors cell phone number to notify of any problems that arise. Nick Vawter 616-403-6900.

17. No contestant shall leave the boat at any time expect in case of emergency, illness, or inclement weather.

18. In case of lightening or severe weather, you are expected to take necessary and appropriate shelter immediately.

19. Off Limits: For the 6 regular scheduled tournaments the off limits will start Monday preceding the Sunday tournament, last day to fish will be the Sunday 1 week prior to . The Classic lakes off limits will begin the Monday before the Classic starts, or essentially the last day to pre-fish will be the Sunday before.

20. For lakes that are connected to lake Michigan your boat shall not pass the tips of the pier heads (or cross an imaginary line from the tips of the north and south pier heads). On Manistee Lake when going up the river your boat shall not pass the M55 bridge.

21. If you are ticketed on the water, you must inform the tournament director before the weigh in begins. It will be the director’s decision if you will be disqualified or not. The director and four club members will discuss the infraction and vote on the disqualification.

22 Please be aware that the tournament director and weigh masters boats need to be the first boats out of the water at the end of each tournament. Any discrepancies concerning the tournament will be decided by the tournament director and four anglers designated by the director. Any protest must be made before the end of the tournaments weigh in.