Official Rules
Bill Lewis Lures Rat-L-Trap Open · Saturday, February 6, 2027 · Lake Guntersville
Tournament Rules
1General
Tournament rules are included herein with special notations. It is each participant’s responsibility to read all items before entering. Bill Lewis Lures Rat-L-Trap Open rules will apply unless superseded by federal, state or local laws. GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series reserves the right to refuse any tournament entry fees or entry forms for any reason. GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series officials and directors’ decisions will be final in all matters.
2Laws
State, Federal, and Local Laws must be obeyed.
3Permitted Baits & Fishing Methods
- Only CURRENTLY MANUFACTURED Bill Lewis Outdoors “Rat-L-Trap” lipless crankbait may be used during this tournament. This includes the Original Rat-L-Trap, Hammer Trap, Knock’n Hammer Trap, Tiny Trap, Mini Trap, Mag Trap, Mag Force, Super Trap, Float’n Trap, Knock’n Trap, Saltwater Trap, and Big Gizz. No other Bill Lewis Outdoors products may be used. No other baits or manufacturers may be utilized.
- No modifications to the internals of the bait will be permitted (adding/reducing weight/shot).
- No umbrella rigs.
- Adding or attaching soft plastic baits to the ‘Trap is NOT permitted.
- You are allowed to change hooks, including adding a feathered treble hook.
- If your modification is in question then it is advised you seek permission from the tournament director prior to tournament.
4Other Tackle in the Boat
Anglers do not have to remove non-Bill Lewis Outdoors lures/tackle from their boats. However, only Bill Lewis Outdoors Rat-L-Traps approved in Rule 3 can be out on the boat deck during the tournament. Non-Bill Lewis Outdoors lures of any kind placed on the deck while participating in this tournament will result in immediate disqualification.
5Fishing Licenses
Each contestant will observe state and local fish and game laws and have in his or her possession a valid State fishing license.
6Boater’s Safety Course
Per State of Alabama laws, all boaters must obtain boaters safety course credentials before they are allowed to lawfully operate a vessel on Alabama waterways. Please visit the Alabama Marine Patrol boating education page for more details.
7Insurance
All boats used in Rat-L-Trap tournaments must have liability insurance at a minimum of $100,000.00 in coverage. This is the user/owner’s responsibility. Failure to have insurance will result in disqualification.
8Eligibility & Participation
Any person age 17 or under may be a team partner with a parent or a person age 18 or older. Persons under 18 must have the signature of his/her parent or legal guardian on the tournament release of liability entry form.
9Tournament Entry Fees
$150.00 per boat (1 or 2 man team) with 100% Payback. The Big Fish Side Pot described in Rule 12 will receive $20.00 from each entry.
10Species
Only Bass are allowed to be weighed in for this event (largemouth bass, spotted bass, and smallmouth bass). All fish must meet a minimum of 15″ in length measured on a Pro Rule measuring board.
11Tournament Winners
Each team’s weight will be measured in pounds and hundredths of a pound (xx.xx). The highest weight will be awarded 1st Place, followed by each descending weight being 2nd place and so on. In the event of a tie, prize money for the tied positions will be combined and distributed equally among the tied teams, as provided in Rule 13.
12Big Fish Side Pot
NO DEAD FISH can be considered for BIG FISH. Only Live fish will count towards BIG FISH category.
13Ties
Prize money for tied positions will be combined and distributed equally among the tied teams.
14Pre-registration & Sign Up
Online registration is available at XBSeries.com.
ONSITE REGISTRATION will begin at 4:00 pm the day prior to the tournament at the Scottsboro Civic Center at Goose Pond. It will finish at 6 pm. We will open up registration again the morning of the tournament at 5am at GTO @ Goosepond. Contestants may pay at the preregistration meeting the afternoon prior to the event or at the ramp the morning of the tournament. Cash or Debit/Credit cards only at onsite registration. NO CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT ONSITE REGISTRATION.
15Fish Limits & Penalty
All contestants must use care in handling and keeping fish alive for release after weigh-in. All fish will be brought to the weighmaster in official weigh bags with enough water to keep the fish covered until weigh-in. To help regulate flow at the scales, weigh-bags will be provided. Only tournament issued weigh-bags shall be used; anglers should not bring fish to the weigh-master in their personal weigh-bags. A tournament limit for Lake Guntersville will be FIVE (5) fish, minimum legal length of 15 inches, measured on a PRO RULE with mouth closed and tail compressed (pinched) in accordance with State law. You can request to compare your measuring device with the official measuring device.
16Culling & Dead Fish
No culling of dead fish. No culling at ramp or in host marina. No retaining bass in live well and not weighing those fish; this is the same as culling at the ramp. Dead fish penalty will be .50 pounds per dead fish. Teams must not have more than (5) fish in the live well at any time.
17Life Jackets & Kill Switch
Safe boating practices must be observed at all times. Life Jackets or Vests will be worn by both team members any time the outboard motor is running and in gear. Kill switch will be connected to boat operator any time the outboard motor is running and in gear.
18Tackle & Equipment
Only currently manufactured Bill Lewis Outdoors “Rat-L-Trap” lipless crankbaits permitted under Rule 3 may be used. NO FFS is allowed. 360 imaging is allowed but LiveScope, ActiveTarget, or MEGA Live is NOT allowed. No live or prepared bait is permitted. You may not fish on or from any structure above the deck. All fishing must be done from boat deck. No multiple lures of any kind; i.e. NO UMBRELLA RIGS. No wading or trolling is allowed. All fish must be caught from the boat. Only one rod and reel may be used at any given time by each angler. No rod may be left unattended with line or lure in water.
19Permitted Fishing Locations
No “hole sitting” or reserving a fishing area is permitted. Anglers may not leave their boat except in a dire emergency or as permitted under Rule 22 for an emergency or equipment failure. You must fish water that is available to all competitors. No fishing within 50 yards of any boat anchored, with trolling motor up. No fishing in areas designated off limits by governmental agencies. No fishing within 50 yards of a marina gas pump. There are NO off-limits days.
20Team Check-in
Contestants must check in and out at the official Check Point. All contestants will be assigned a boat number. Any team checking in after their announced check-in time will be disqualified.
21Tournament Hours
The week of the tournament, the director will determine the time for safe-light. An official start time will then be announced at the mandatory meeting the evening prior to the tournament. Each boat must have one working cell phone in order to be sure they don’t start fishing prior to the official start time. When the clock on each boat’s cell phone reaches the official start time then it will be time to start fishing. Trailering will be allowed in this tournament. The weigh-in will begin at 3:00pm for the 1st flight of boats. The following flights will be assigned weigh-in times. Each team will be assigned a boat number in order of registration. At check-in, all teams must return their boat chip prior to their designated return time.
22Emergency or Break Down
Anglers are not permitted to leave their boat or touch another boat with the exception of an emergency or equipment failure. It is permitted to be towed either to safety or the weigh-in area by any safe means available. One or both anglers must identify their fish with some sort of marker or separation system before entering the rescue boat with fish, to return to launch site. (No fishing from the rescue boat; both teams may be subjected to a polygraph test.)
23Boat & Horsepower Regulations
Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. All boats must contain a properly aerated live well space to maintain a live limit catch of bass. All boats must have an operating kill switch that must be attached to the operator at all times when the outboard motor is running and in gear. Violation of any of the above rules may be cause for disqualification. GSM/XBS officials or directors reserve the right to refuse entry to any boats that do not meet tournament standards. No airboats, canoes, or pontoon boats are permitted.
24Sportsmanship
Each team is expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, safety, courtesy, and conservation. Any team found in violation of these rules or any federal, state, or local laws may be disqualified. The use, possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverages during tournament hours, which conclude upon the completion of payout, will not be tolerated and shall be cause for disqualification from current and future Rat-L-Trap events.
25Protest & Polygraph Test
Bill Lewis Lures Rat-L-Trap Open contestants may submit a protest during the tournament morning prior to launch or immediately following the weigh-in of the last team’s catch, but before the start of the awards presentation. Protests shall be in writing and accompanied by a $100.00 deposit. The burden of proof of a rules infraction will be the responsibility of the angler filing the protest. This deposit will be refunded provided the protest is upheld; otherwise, the deposit shall be forfeited to GSM/XBS. Any contestant may be required to submit to a Polygraph or truth verification test. Failure to submit to either of these tests will result in disqualification from this tournament and will not be eligible to fish any future GSM Outdoors/XBS tournaments. Any angler making an accusation against another contestant without submitting a written protest accompanied by a $100.00 deposit may be subject to disqualification from current and future GSM Outdoors/XBS events.
26Cellular Phones & Radios
Cellular phones and radios are encouraged for safety reasons. During the official competition days of the tournament a competitor may not make cell calls for the purpose of locating or catching fish on tournament waters. Cell phones may be used for emergencies or to communicate with the tournament director.
Competitors are allowed to use smart phones for global maps, weather, power generation, tidal charts, notes, etc.
27Liability Release
Any angler signing up and competing in the Bill Lewis Lures Rat-L-Trap Open agrees to the following. In this release, “GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series” includes their officers, agents, employees, tournament directors and staff, volunteers, sponsors and host venues.
- I hereby release GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series from any and all damages, claims, demands, cost or expenses relating to injury of any person(s) or any property, which I may sustain or which I may cause by reason of participating in or in connection with any and all GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series events.
- Covenant not to sue and Waiver of Subrogation: I further agree that I will never sue GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series for damages on account of any injury or damage I suffer or cause whether known now or which may develop in the future. In the event GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series is sued because of my actions, I expressly agree to indemnify and hold GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series harmless from any liability whatsoever, including court cost and attorney’s fees, arising with respect to such actions. I understand that in waiving my rights to sue GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series I am also waiving my rights of recovery from GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series of my Insurance carrier for any claims they may pay on my behalf. I further understand that by signing this agreement I waive any rights my heirs or relatives have or may have to sue GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series for liability.
- Verification of Liability Insurance: I state that I maintain liability insurance on the boat I will use in this or any GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series event.
- Truth Verification: Polygraph or truth verification may be given at any time at the discretion of the officers of GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series. Refusal or failure of polygraph or truth verification will automatically eliminate team members’ participation from all future GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series events.
- Camera Release: I hereby grant GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series the unconditional rights to use my voice, photographic likeness and biographical information and fishing tips and instructions in connection with all GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series video/audio production, promotions and/or other compensation in connection with such use.
- I signify by my signature that I have read, understand and agree to abide by all rules and regulations and decisions set forth by GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series tournament officials.
- GSM Outdoors/Xtreme Bass Series reserves the right to refuse membership and/or participation in any event for any reason.