OFFICIAL RULES for ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE 2025 (UFC11)

1. It is your responsibility, as a participant, to read and comply with all written tournament rules and know any special tournament rules.

 2. Participation and Eligibility: The ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE event is open to anyone to participate in. The event is held in a team format, where you sign up as either a Pro Team, or an Amateur team. All participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

 3. Required Activities: This is a TOP WATER FROG ONLY event (please see special bait use rules listed below). Please be advised that participants must use soft plastic top water FROGS that float on top of the water WITHOUT ADDED FLOTATION OR ASSISTANCE. No weights CAN BE ADDED to your frog.

You MAY NOT use ANYTHING that will make your frog bait sink.

 You may launch from any marina you wish but please REMEMBER: All participants pre-registered or not - must check-in at Russo’s Marina to receive official rules and have their live well systems checked.

 4. Pre-event start and end times:

 Check-in

•       Saturday, July 26th - Registration is from 8am - 12pm 8am @ Russo’s Marina
•       Sunday, July 27th - Check-in is from 4am – 6am @ Russo’s Marina

Blast-off/Weigh-in times:

• Saturday - 12:30pm (blast-off) - 6:30pm (1st weigh-in)
• Sunday - 6am (blast-off) - 12pm (1st weigh-in)
• You will receive your blast-off number on the morning of the 1st day. This will be done via RANDOM draw at Saturday morning's registration. The blast-off order will be reversed for Sunday.

Payback/Awards:

The winner of the ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE – both divisions, will be decided by the team with the heaviest weight for a six-fish total – over the two days of competition. Teams will only be able to weigh in 3 fish each day.

•       Payback will be in a 1 in 5 format, with an 80% payback.
•       3 overall big fish places will be paid
•       Trophies will be presented to the top 3 teams in both Pro and Am division, with one big fish trophy for the OVERALL biggest fish in each division.

Youth Division – Youth division is open to those 16 and under. There is no entry fee to participate in this division and $25 plus a trophy will be awarded to the youth for their single biggest fish of the event. Special prizes for the top 3 youth in this division will also be awarded.

5.All cash and prizes will be awarded at the event. Winners must be present to receive non-cash prizes. Prizes won by participants not present to receive them at the awards ceremonies may be raffled off those in attendance or retained by Angler’s Press Outdoors. ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE reserves the right to substitute all non-cash prizes with those of equal or greater value.

6. Sportsmanship: any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship and/or violates any of the official rules will be disqualified. Disorderly conduct at or during the ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE event will be grounds for disqualification from the event.

7. Safety: Safe boating conduct and all safety precautions must be observed at all times by all contestants. Anyone fishing in the tournament must wear a Coast Guard approved flotation device any time the main engine is running. Such flotation devices must be worn and properly fastened when inspected at the blast-off point. In an emergency or when safety dictates, fisherman may take their fish, get into another boat, and return to the weigh in site. All boats must be equipped with an engine shutoff or emergency "Kill" switch device.

8. Fishing License: Each contestant will observe State Fish and Game laws and have in his or her possession a valid state fishing license.

9. Beverages: No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed in the boat or to be consumed during official tournament hours or prior to weigh in.

10. Boat and Motor: The tournament director reserves the right to prohibit any boat from participating in this event if such boat is considered unsafe or the operator unqualified. A functional kill switch must be hooked up and operational at any time the main motor is running.

11. Registration: You can register for this event by printing out an entry form located on the Anglers Press website (anglerspress.com), or by calling the Angler’s Press office at 916-768-0938. Entry forms can also be obtained at various tackle shops throughout the greater Sacramento and Bay areas. ALL participants must check-in EACH DAY at Russo’s Marina to have live wells checked BEFORE they can begin fishing.  

12. Late Sign-ups: Late entries will be accepted at the Ramp the morning of the event. However, a late fee of $10 will be charged per angler, for each late sign.  

REFUND POLICY - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

13. Please remember to check your personal calendars, schedules, and commitments BEFORE you purchase this event, because once you have purchased, NO REFUNDS, EXCHANGES, OR CREDITS will be given - NO EXCEPTIONS. While we understand that situations within and beyond your control could arise and may preclude you from attending the event, such as sudden work commitments, sickness, boat breakdown, unproductive pre-fishing etc., please know that due to our pre-promotional expenditures, this is our STATED refund policy. You may, if you wish to do so, give your entry to another angler to use.

14. Confirmation of entry: If you wish to have a confirmation of your entry you can receive one by calling the Angler’s Press offices @ 916-768-0938 or e-mail us at anglerspress@hotmail.com.

15. Checkpoints: Contestants must check in and out at all designated checkpoints.  

16. Participant Identification: All contestants will be given a participation ribbon that must be attached to your boat – in plain site during all hours of competition.  

17. Boat Inspection: On-ramp and on dock boat inspections will be conducted by tournament officials. Officials will be checking live wells for fish, safety equipment, live bait, alcohol, etc. At the ramp, or dock, participation ribbons will be placed on each boat during both days of competition to verify your live well was checked. All boats must have a ribbon tied to their trolling motor before blast-off.  

18. Running Lights Must Be On: If applicable, at blast off and until contestants arrive at their first fishing spot. This is a procedural rule required by our insurance company and could cause you not to be able to launch until safe light conditions exist.  

19. Anglers must remain together throughout the fishing day and may not leave the boat unless approved by a tournament official (exception: equipment failure, emergencies, or use of rest room facilities). A contestant may not leave for the purpose of carrying, towing, or pushing his boat or to reduce weight to improve floatability for the purpose of gaining access to fishing waters that are otherwise inaccessible. If a boat is inadvertently stuck on a sand bar you may leave the boat in an effort to regain float ability back to point of entry only. Not to proceed past the sand bar.  

20. Permitted Fishing Methods: Only top water baits may be used. No live bait is permitted at any time. Only one rod may be used at one time. However, any number of rigged rods may be in the boat for substitute purposes. Trolling, as a method of fishing, is prohibited. All fish must be caught live and in a conventional angling method. All fishing must be done from your boat.  

21. Sight fishing for Bedding Bass: A sight or bedding fish is defined as one that can be seen and watched as it approaches the lure. Fish being caught under these conditions must be caught by hook and line and by the fish ingesting the lure. Any bass caught that is either a "sight" or "bed" fish must be caught "hook in mouth with the hook point entering from the inside of the mouth. Any "sight" or "bed" fish caught by snagging or with hook starting from outside the mouth shall be deemed an illegally caught fish and must be released. This same fish may be caught again by the legal method - with the hook starting from inside the mouth. Any angler catching a fish under these conditions and not verifying the hook location with the other person in the boat may be disqualified from the tournament.  

22. Platforms in Boat: The use of any device to raise a contestant above the normal freeboard of a boat is prohibited. This rule includes any device that is constructed to raise the contestant up to a higher position as to allow them to cast into areas that would not normally be accessible, or which would allow a contestant to see fish from a better angle.  

23. Infringements/Permitted Fishing Areas: A "50-yard rule" is in effect at all times during competition. No contestant's boat may move within 50 yards of another contestant’s boat at any time for the purpose of fishing. A boat moving from one area to another may infringe upon this distance as long as the transient fisherman do not attempt to fish while moving. Exceptions to the 50-yard rule apply only to docks, break walls, and slough channels

Exception example 1: If you wish to fish a boat dock next to a boat dock another team is fishing, and it falls inside the 50-yard parameter, you are allowed to fish it. In all cases, please be courteous.  

Exception example 2: If you wish to fish in a slough channel that is longer than 50 yards, and there is another team fishing inside of it, you must continue by them 50 YARDS before you can start fishing. If you wish to fish the opposite side of the slough channel, you may do so. Again, in all cases, please be courteous.  

Please note that encroachment and infringements will not be tolerated and that protests can lead to a disqualification for the offending teams.  

24. Boat Control: Contestants must leave and return to the tournament weigh-in site by boat. Boats cannot be tailored from one fishing location to another during tournament hours.  

25. Fish Size/Culling: Fish will be measured flat, mouth open on a belly board with a 13-inch minimum size. No measuring or culling inside of 5 mph buoys or the area between the check-in point and the weigh-in site will be permitted. Infractions may result in disqualification.  

26. Number of fish in Limit: Participants can only bring three (3) fish to the scales per day. All fish will be weighed and subsequently released by tournament officials after weighing.  

27. Breakdowns/Emergencies: Anglers are not permitted to leave their boats nor touch another boat, with the exception of an emergency, restroom breaks, or major equipment failure. In this case, it is permitted to be towed either to safety or back to the weigh-in area by any safe means available. You may have your fished transported to the weigh-in by another tournament boat participating in the ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE event. At least one person must stay with your fish at all times and neither angler is permitted to fish while under the assistance of another boat during the breakdown period. PLEASE NOTE: ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE directors or officials will not be responsible for ensuring that you make it back to the weigh-in site in the event of an emergency or breakdown. It is your responsibility to take the necessary precautions (i.e. cell phones, emergency numbers, tow insurance, equipment) with you BEFORE you participate in this event to call any necessary public or private emergency services personnel.  

28. Penalties: All fished weighed in MUST BE ALIVE and NO DEAD FISH can be weighed in. Any fish that appears to have been altered, mutilated or snagged will also be disqualified. All decisions regarding fish that are determined to be under the size limit, dead, snagged, altered, or mutilated by the ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE officials are final and cannot be disputed. Any team disqualified from the ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE will forfeit all entry fees submitted. Short fish penalty is as follows: That fish is thrown out and you are deducted 1 pound from your remaining weight. 

29. Cheating: Anyone caught cheating in this event will be disqualified and never be allowed to fish future Angler’s Press Outdoors events. Violators will be subject to full criminal prosecution as dictated by California and U.S law. All winners may be required to take a polygraph test. Refusal to take or failure to pass the polygraph test - FOR ANY REASON - will result in immediate disqualification. All findings of the polygraph results are final.

30. Official Boats: officials may be on the lake during contest hours and can approach or observe any contestants boat. Each contestant is requested to cooperate with all reasonable requests from media representatives or officials.  

31. Event Marshalls: There may be several visibly identifiable official referee boats on the water to ensure that rules governing the event are followed. Event referees that report violations to tournament officials could result in that team being disqualified.  

32. Live Wells: Adequate live wells are mandatory on each boat and must provide proper aeration to maintain fish in good condition, as all fish will be released alive after the weigh- in. In the case of a boat without built in live wells, a large Ice chest with portable aerators with be acceptable. You may be asked to show the aerators working.  

33. Trophy Bass: Contestants will not retain any bass after a tournament. However, a trophy bass meeting minimum Fish and Wildlife Commission sizes: Largemouth- 10 pounds, smallmouth- 6 pounds, and spotted bass-6 pounds may be kept if designated at weigh in time as such.  

34. Off-Limits: There is no off-limits period for this event.  

35. Off-Limit Areas: Every lake may have off-limit areas. If no specific off-limit areas are announced, then 50 yards from any gas pumps and the host marina will always be enforced.  

36. Reserved Areas: No person may "hold" or "reserve" a fishing area for a contestant at any time. Infraction of this rule will result in disqualification of all parties involved.  

37. Speed-Restricted Areas: No boat may pass another contestant's boat in a restricted speed zone, in an effort to gain an advantage.  

38. Live release: All contestants will be required to return the fish to the lake. Anglers are required to handle the fish with the utmost care according to the Dept of Fish and Wildlife guidelines (i.e., 5 pound plus fish in a separate bag). If the fish, for any reason, are not returned to the designated release area, immediate disqualification will result.  

39. Paybacks: ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE reserves the right to substitute products advertised for prizes of equal or greater value depending on availability. All cash and prizes will be paid out immediately after the award ceremonies.  

40. Awards/Prizes: If you cannot be present at the awards ceremony, your cash award will be mailed to you. All other product prizes may be retained by Angler’s Press Outdoors.

42. Special Rules: The tournament director may add specifics rules when necessary. These special rules will be in effect for the length of the tournament and should not be considered regular rules but will be announced and enforced as such. Interpretation of all rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director, whose decision will be final in all matters.  

43. Protests: Any contestant has the right to make a protest against another contestant. All protests must be presented to the tournament director no later than 15 minutes after the scales are closed. 

44. Ties: In the event two contestants have the same weight, ties will be broken based on, and in this order:  

• The team with the biggest single fish (over two days)
• The team with the most fish (over two days)
• If neither applies to break the tie, prize money will be split equally between them

45. Damages and Claims: All contestants by entering this ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE event hereby waive and release the tournament officials, sponsoring organizations from all claims for injury and/or damage incurred in connection with this event. Promoters and organizations assisting in the tournament operation, their agencies and agents are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire, or any loss to any entrants. Each entrant, upon signing the entry form, will in effect be signing the waiver. All participants are required to have the necessary boating liability insurance prior to entering this event.  

46. Insurance: It is the responsibility of all boat owners to have current boat insurance to participate in this ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE Event.  

47. Release of Fish: At all events, after weigh-in, fish must take to the live release boat for release.  

48. Dock Patrol Officials: During the weigh-in process, all participants must follow ALL instructions given to them by designated “Dock Patrol” officials. To eliminate confusion and expedite the weigh in process, “Dock Patrol” officials will give instructions regarding which participants can proceed to the scales, boat slip assignments etc. If you are instructed by “Dock Patrol” to keep your fish in the live well, or to stay in your boat until called up to the scale, you MUST comply. Any team that does not comply with Dock Patrol instruction will be subject to disqualification.

49. WEIGH-IN TIMES – PLEASE READ: The scales for weigh-in will be opened at 6:30pm on Saturday, and 12:30 noon on Sunday. UFC staff will not open the scale early, before that time. If you wish to come in early, that is your prerogative, however, the scales will not be opened early to accommodate you unless it is specifically pre-arranged by the tournament director prior to the event.

ULTIMATE FROG CHALLENGE 2025 – LURE RULES

• PLEASE REMEMBER! This event is a top water FROGS ONLY event, and is designed to provide fun for the angler, and to highlight the effectiveness of the various frog baits the sponsoring companies are trying to promote. We ask that all anglers keep in the forefront of their minds the “intent” and “spirit” of this event, and strictly adhere to the bait rules as described below:  

• You can only use frog baits that FLOAT ON TOP OF THE WATER, ON THEIR OWN, WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE! YOU CANNOT ADD ANYTHING to your bait that will allow it to sink!

• You can only use frog baits that are soft plastic!

• No floating fish, ducks, rats, snakes, lizards, or anything else – FROGS BAITS ONLY!

• No added weights, rattles, or leaders are allowed. You may paint dots on the belly or trim the legs. Trailer hooks are allowed. 

• No Umbrella rigs!

If you have a bait that you even THINK is questionable, it is your responsibility to contact the tournament director - BEFORE the event, to have it sanctioned or disqualified. It is up to the tournament directors sole discretion to determine whether or not the bait in question will be allowed.