2025 Better Half Tour Rules & Regulations

1. Participation is open to any legally licensed angler who has agreed to waiver liability to all sponsoring parties by signing a waiver release and indemnification agreement. A $70 team entry fee and annual $25 per person member fee ($50 per team) must be paid prior to participation. No membership fees will be returned once paid. Anglers 12 and under must show proof of a completed Boater Safety Course. (FREE @ odnr.gov)
2. There must be two(2) contestants (1-male & 1-female) per boat. Individual members may not fish alone. All state and local laws will be respected, observed and obeyed. State drivers license will be used as official ID.
3. All fishing must be done from a boat. Proof of watercraft liability insurance must be available at time of entry, on the water, and provided to tournament officials upon request. All boats must have state required safety equipment and be equipped with a working ignition kill switch. Horsepower must not exceed the original Coast Guard rating plate/sticker.
4. Any team receiving a citation for a violation in their boat from any law enforcement agency during the tournament day will be disqualified. Anyone receiving a citation or having any contact with Law Enforcement is required to notify the Tournament Director immediately at 330-289-1001.
5. All contestants must wear Coast Guard Approved PFD’s while gasoline motor is running.
6. NO fishing permitted while gas motor is running. This is a safety issue – practice safe boating always!
7. Off Limits area(s) will be announced online prior to the event, made available during registration, and announced prior to launch.
8. All boats must have a working livewell of adequate size. Please TAKE GREAT CARE of your fish!
9. A THREE(3) fish limit will be observed, fourth(4th) fish must be culled immediately. NO culling at check-in. Teams with more than THREE(3) fish will be disqualified. Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass will be accepted at weigh-in. NO culling of dead fish.
10. All fish must measure 12-inches. Short fish will be disqualified and team will receive a one-half pound(1/2#) penalty (per short fish) assessed against remaining legal fish. Dead fish will receive a one-pound (1#) penalty per fish assessed against total weight of legal fish.
11. In the event of a total weight tie (for any position), team with the biggest fish wins the tiebreaker. If neither team has weighed an individual fish, combined monies will be split evenly.
12. All fish must be caught in a sporting manner with rod and reel. Only one(1) rod per individual team member may be used at a time. Only artificial lures are acceptable (pork-type trailers acceptable). Drifting is permitted. Team must fish from and remain in their boat only. Trolling is prohibited.
13. During competition, contestants may not place brush or other fish attractors, including baitcloud/chum or groundbait of any kind, in tournament waters.
14. Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters except areas designated “Off Limits” by tournament officials and/or State Park regulations. Any team witnessed fishing in designated off-limits areas will be immediately disqualified.
15. Teams registered for all five(5) season events, or registered for all four(4) OH events – prior to the first 2025 event – become “Locked” teams and will launch as the same boat number for the entire 2025 season.
16. All boats must check-in on time with the check-in official. Check-in official will keep the official time. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament day & times. Competitors must leave from and return to official checkpoints by boat. Towing boats on trailers during tournament hours is prohibited, except by direction of tournament officials.
17. Contestant’s tournament boat must not be within 20′ of any other boats during tournament hours, and must not come into contact with any other boat at any time. No exceptions. No items may be passed between boats after the tournament has started. Only registered contestants, tournament officials or Law Enforcement officers are permitted to be on the boat during tournament hours
18. Teams reporting late will receive a one-pound (1#) penalty per minute late and are disqualified after five(5) minutes. Teams not catching fish must still report to the check-in official or tournament director.
19. Any protest must be presented in writing to the tournament director prior to the presentation of awards and prizes,
20. If a team must leave the tournament early, please call or text 330-289-1001. We care about your safety! In the event of an emergency situation, competitors should call 911 first (if necessary) and then notify tournament officials as soon as possible. Competitors are allowed to leave the boat and seek shelter in severe weather where danger may be imminent.
21. To be eligible for the 2025 OH Total Weight Championship awards, teams must fish all Ohio qualifying events with the same partner. Different partners or substitutes enter as new teams.
22. OH TOTAL WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: The team’s highest accumulated total weight for ALL FOUR 2025 OHIO events events will determine the 2025 OH Total Weight Champions. 2025 BHT Total Weight Champions earn free tournament entry to all 2026 BHT qualifying tournaments (does not include Membership fee or Big Bass entry) and will launch as boat #1 for the 2026 season.
23. In the event of identical accumulated weights at the conclusion of the Ohio qualifying events, the tie-breaker will be each team’s biggest individual fish weighed in 2025. If there is still a tie, the next tie-breaker will be the total number of fish weighed in the 2025 Ohio events for each team. If there is still a tie, the teams will agree to split monies evenly.
24. Teams who earn tournament check(s) are required to complete the appropriate tax forms with tournament officials.
25. Tournament directors reserve the right to adjust the tournament times or cancel the event after a lengthy delay due to dangerous conditions. It is each participant’s responsibility to make individual decisions about their own safety in the event of severe weather. Every effort will be made to reschedule cancelled events, with all entry fees and team placement numbers honored at rescheduled event.
26. Tournament directors reserve the right to refuse entry from any team for any reason.
27. Tournament directors reserve the right to interpret or amend rules and regulations when necessary.
28. Any rules, interpretation of the rules, or rules not covered under the above guidelines will be governed by tournament officials only and those decisions will be binding. Binding decisions of officials are final and not subject to formal appeal.
29. Entrants must conduct themselves in a true sportsman-like manner, You are expected to act with the highest degree of courtesy, honesty, and ethical behavior at all times. Remember, you not only represent yourselves, but all Better Half Tour tournament anglers and competitive fishermen. Any unsportsmanlike behavior will lead to possible disqualification from Better Half Tour events.

With full knowledge of the tournament rules and regulations of the Better Half Tour, we* (*participants listed above) agree to abide by all the stated rules and conditions and the final judgement of the tournament officials.
We* knowingly release forever the Better Half Tour, tournament sponsors, FutuRealm LLC and all of their subjects from any responsibility, costs or expenses, or for any damages or injury incurred while traveling to, from, and participating in this event.
We* have and will maintain adequate liability insurance on the boat which is used in this tournament.
By signing below, we*, the above team, confirm that we have read and completely understand the rules and regulations.
We* waive the right to sue due to any negative publicity resulting from any officials actions.
We* release the rights to any photos taken the day of the event and acknowledge these photos may be used in any manner by Better Half Tour, with or without identification of the subjects.
We* freely participate with the understanding of the inherent risks of such events and will not hold any of the above mentioned individuals, sponsors or groups responsible for this event liable.

* Please make all checks payable to “FUTUREALM LLC” and mail to: