The NCSF is underway. Today is the first of the 3 practice days for the 150 anglers entered into this event. The day started a little chilly at 43 degrees but will warm throughout the day. Starting temps for the nest few days will be warmer (50s) but daytime highs will struggle to get into the 60s on Saturday and Sunday. Check back daily to see if we can get any information from the anglers about their practice.

Welcome to the TBF National Championship Semi Final at Lake Wallenpaupak, PA launching out Caffrey Recreation Area; September 19-20. This event will qualify one boat from New York and 2 boats from Pennsylvania to the TBF National Championship (Location and Date TBD). For any state whose coangler weighs more than that states top boater, the coangler will be given the opportunity to go the TBFNC as a boater and the next 2 coanglers on the list will go as well.

Off Limits: Lake Wallenpaupak is off limits to ALL competitors from sunset Sunday, September 13, 2020 until 6:30am Wednesday, September 16, 2020. If you compete in a Sunday night tournament on September 13, 2020 or the Tuesday night championship, you will be disqualified from this event.

Official Practice: 6:30am Wednesday and Thursday, September 16-17, 2020 to 6:00pm and 6:30am until 3:00pm Friday, September 18, 2020. During the official practice period, all tournament rules are in place (pay particular attention to the life vest and kill switch rules), no competitor may be on the tournament waters with anyone who is not registered for the tournament and no competitor is allowed to obtain any information from any non-competitor. The only exception is for an immediate family member who has not been on the tournament waters during the off limits. No competitor is allowed on the water after 3pm Friday, September 18, 2020 except during official tournament hours with the exception of driving the most direct route to on the water accommodations. Any competitor needing to be on the water outside the tournament hours for the purpose of testing repaired equipment will have to get approval from the tournament director. This does NOT include any motor break-in period.

Registration: Friday, September 18, 2020 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm. Anglers will receive a plate with your boat number on it (this number will not change), along with your partners name/phone number for BOTH days of the tournament. You will call both of your partners and make arrangements for the fishing day. $20.00 for the optional big fish pot will be collected and cover both days, along with a $10.00 Facility Fee (total $30, bring exact change). There will be one big fish payout for angler and coangler each day. Coanglers are reminded of the expense of operating a tournament boat and should offer to split the DAYS expense with their angler partner.

Registration Location: Weigh-in Trailer at Caffrey Recreation Area. One Angler and One Coangler at the trailer at a time. While in line, social spacing is required. Once you have registered you must immediately leave the area – NO CONGREGATING PLEASE

Registration Time:  Friday, September 18, 2020 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm.

**Any participant who has not registered by 4:45pm may be removed from the field (no refunds)

Launch Time: 6:45am. Both flights shall be in the water and ready to go by 6:30am. Coanglers will verify that both livewells, bow light and stern light are operational. After the National Anthem, Coanglers will remain standing while the Angler takes a seat, tethers the kill switch to his body and starts the big motor. On command, Anglers will pull their kill switch and show it to the Coangler. The coangler seeing the kill switch in the Angler’s hand and the engine stopped will sit down. The angler will then re-engage the kill switch tethered to his body.

AT ALL TIMES…MOTOR ON, VEST ON…MOTOR IN GEAR, KILL SWITCH ATTACHED

Every angler is required to read and understand the tournament rules at: https://www.bassfederation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-TBF-NATIONAL-SEMI-FINALS-RULES.pdf

Coanglers are prohibited from using ANY GPS equipment to record locations and are reminded that  providing information on their first days partner’s fishing location to another angler will result in disqualification upon written/signed protest from the first day’s partner. Any angler filing a protest must do so in writing and signed within 30 minutes of the close of the scales that day.

Check-in Time: Flight 1 – 2:45pm, Flight 2 – 3:15pm.

Check in boat will be in place at 2:30pm. Do not “buzz” the check in boat. He will see you when you are OFF PLANE in sight. IDLE ONLY speed when passing within ear shot and be sure you hear him repeat your boat number back to you. Anyone who does not check in with the check in boat will be marked 15 minutes late. If you come in early, you will have to go out and check in with the check in boat. There will be NO check in at the trailer or with ANY other tournament worker. Late is Late except for a boat towing in a competitor (you should call and let us know) or a boat who has otherwise rescued any competitor and bringing them in (call only when emergency is over). Note: check in times STILL APPLY to the towed or rescued boat.

LATE IS LATE…One Pound per minute penalty; 15 minutes late is loss of days catch. It is the BOAT that is late so the penalty applies to BOTH anglers.

Weigh-In Procedure: Due to social spacing requirements (at this time) you will remain IN YOUR BOAT and will be CALLED BY BOAT NUMBER to weigh-in. After you weigh your fish, the Angler SHALL put them back in your livewell, hand your weigh in bags to the tournament worker and take your fish NO LESS than 100 yards beyond the buoy or away from the docks if no buoy present – your Coangler will get your truck while you are doing this. Any competitor caught dumping their fish at the ramp will be disqualified. If the social spacing guidelines are otherwise relaxed or removed, we will run a normal weigh in with full tanks and announce it in the morning (highly unlikely). The fish release WILL REMAIN the same.

All anglers will use ONLY the bag provided. At the tanks you will pull the mesh out and put it in the tank. When called to the dink tank, you will place the bag in the sink. If there is a big fish to be weighed you will have to point it out. If a fish is short it is short; loss of fish plus one pound. If a fish is dead it is dead; 8oz penalty for each. Additional penalty for arguing with dink master or weigh master is loss of days catch so don’t do it. Don’t poke, prod, flip or try to give mouth to mouth. DO NOT put dead fish back into the lake; that is also a DQ.

Off Limits: Any area marked no fishing or if you are fishing in a marina and you are asked to leave, you will leave that area. Areas with No Boat buoys, such as in front of the dam, are to be treated as a brick wall. No boats mean No Lures as well.

IF YOU ARE ON THIS LIST, YOU WERE INVITED AND HAVE NOT RESPONDED — YOU HAVE UNTIL TOMORROW AT 5PM