2024 TOURNAMENT RULES
All rules are to provide a fair and equal playing field for all competitors. This
tournament is capped at 75 teams.
1. Registration will take place at the Lewis & Clark Rec area boat ramp on Saturday
morning starting at 5:00 am, September 14, 2024. If you plan to fish at the Springfield
ramp, you will need to register on or before Friday September 13, 2024. You can also
register/sign up on Friday September 13, 2024 from 7:00pm-9:00pm at a location TBD at
a later date. Online sign-ups are encouraged.
2. Boundaries – Lewis & Clark Dam to the Niobrara Bridge (410th Ave on a map).
3. Tournament headquarters will be at the Lewis & Clark Rec Area (SD GF&P). Teams will
be allowed to launch at two ramps. The Lewis & Clark Rec Area (lake), and the
Springfield Rec Area (river). Teams fishing from the Springfield Rec Area (river) will be
allowed to transport their fish to the weigh-in site at the Lewis & Clark Rec Area. Teams
must transport their fish according to the South Dakota GF&P rules and regulations. The
Lewis & Clark catfish Classic and/or Lewis & Clark Promotions, LLC are not
responsible for your fish during transport.
4. Bad weather – If there is bad weather in the area, the tournament will be delayed at the
director’s discretion. If the tournament is delayed, the end time for the day will not be
extended. If the tournament is delayed for more than ½ of the time that day, that day will
be cancelled. If lightning is with-in 20 miles of tournament headquarters before that day’s
launch, the tournament will be delayed for ½ hour after the last lightning strike. If
lightning occurs during tournament hours, anglers are encouraged to seek shelter near
their location.
5. This is a CHANNEL CATFISH ONLY tournament. No Flathead or Blue Cats will be
weighed.
6. Teams will be released according to team #. Team #1 will go first and so on down to the
last team.
7. Teams must contain one (1), two (2), or three (3) persons. Teams may have up to two (2)
youth per adult. A maximum of two (2) lines for a one-person team. A maximum of four
(4) lines for a 2- or 3-person team. A youth is anyone 17 years old or under.
8. NO fishing will be allowed on tournament waters from 7:00 pm on Friday to 7:00 am on
Saturday or from 4:00 pm on Saturday to 7:00 am on Sunday. Teams are allowed to catch
bait during these hours.
9. STRINGERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE USED AT ANY TIME. Fish must be
kept in an aerated livewell or an aerated container.
10. Fishing hours are from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday and from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm on
Sunday. All anglers must be in the weigh-in line by 4:30 pm on Saturday and 3:30 pm on
Sunday.
11. Teams must compete from a boat and remain in the boat during competition, except at the
launch sites (see rule #4 for bad weather).
12. Fishing within 50 yards of a competitor’s boat is prohibited.
13. Teams must comply with the South Dakota fishing and boating regulations, including the
use of PFDs at takeoff and kill switches. Park entry fees are required at the ramps and are
the responsibility of the teams.
14. All fish weighed must be caught by rod and reel. No set lines, trot lines, jug lines,
snagging, etc allowed. No chumming or fishing baited holes.
15. Any LEGAL commercial or natural bait will be allowed.
16. A team limit of five (5) fish may be weighed in each day with a total of ten (10) fish for 2
days. Fish must be alive to be weighed in. Tournament officials reserve the right to
determine if a fish is dead until it is released.
17. In case of a tie, total weight breaks big fish, big fish breaks total weight.
18. If you win a category on Saturday, you MUST fish on Sunday or you forfeit your
winnings.
19. NO TRANSFER OR REFUND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE EVENT FOR ANY
REASON. NO REFUNDS AFTER THE TOURNAMENT STARTS.
20. The use of alcoholic beverages is discouraged while fishing.
21. The use or display of any tobacco or alcoholic products in the weigh-in line, on stage, or
during the awards ceremony is PROHIBITED.
22. Unsportsmanlike conduct may be grounds for disqualification if circumstances require.
Any cited infraction of a South Dakota GF&P or Nebraska GF&P rule or regulation will
result in disqualification.
23. Any protest must be made in writing to the tournament director within 30 minutes
following the end of official weigh-in that day and must contain the rule(s) broken.
24. Decision of the tournament director is final.
25. Entry fee: $200.oo per team (includes big fish). Teams are encouraged to sign up
online. Teams will be allowed to sign up on Friday night (see rule #1). No sign-ups will
be taken at the ramp the morning of the tournament without prior authorization.
26. This is an 80% payout tournament. Big fish is 100% payout.
In case of extreme water/weather conditions, see rule #4. The Lewis & Clark Catfish Classic
and/or Lewis & Clark Promotions, LLC reserve the right to postpone or cancel this event
with the return of entry fees (see rule #19). Lewis & Clark Catfish Classic and/or Lewis &
Clark Promotions, LLC reserves the right to change or modify these rules at any time.
tournament is capped at 75 teams.
1. Registration will take place at the Lewis & Clark Rec area boat ramp on Saturday
morning starting at 5:00 am, September 14, 2024. If you plan to fish at the Springfield
ramp, you will need to register on or before Friday September 13, 2024. You can also
register/sign up on Friday September 13, 2024 from 7:00pm-9:00pm at a location TBD at
a later date. Online sign-ups are encouraged.
2. Boundaries – Lewis & Clark Dam to the Niobrara Bridge (410th Ave on a map).
3. Tournament headquarters will be at the Lewis & Clark Rec Area (SD GF&P). Teams will
be allowed to launch at two ramps. The Lewis & Clark Rec Area (lake), and the
Springfield Rec Area (river). Teams fishing from the Springfield Rec Area (river) will be
allowed to transport their fish to the weigh-in site at the Lewis & Clark Rec Area. Teams
must transport their fish according to the South Dakota GF&P rules and regulations. The
Lewis & Clark catfish Classic and/or Lewis & Clark Promotions, LLC are not
responsible for your fish during transport.
4. Bad weather – If there is bad weather in the area, the tournament will be delayed at the
director’s discretion. If the tournament is delayed, the end time for the day will not be
extended. If the tournament is delayed for more than ½ of the time that day, that day will
be cancelled. If lightning is with-in 20 miles of tournament headquarters before that day’s
launch, the tournament will be delayed for ½ hour after the last lightning strike. If
lightning occurs during tournament hours, anglers are encouraged to seek shelter near
their location.
5. This is a CHANNEL CATFISH ONLY tournament. No Flathead or Blue Cats will be
weighed.
6. Teams will be released according to team #. Team #1 will go first and so on down to the
last team.
7. Teams must contain one (1), two (2), or three (3) persons. Teams may have up to two (2)
youth per adult. A maximum of two (2) lines for a one-person team. A maximum of four
(4) lines for a 2- or 3-person team. A youth is anyone 17 years old or under.
8. NO fishing will be allowed on tournament waters from 7:00 pm on Friday to 7:00 am on
Saturday or from 4:00 pm on Saturday to 7:00 am on Sunday. Teams are allowed to catch
bait during these hours.
9. STRINGERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE USED AT ANY TIME. Fish must be
kept in an aerated livewell or an aerated container.
10. Fishing hours are from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday and from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm on
Sunday. All anglers must be in the weigh-in line by 4:30 pm on Saturday and 3:30 pm on
Sunday.
11. Teams must compete from a boat and remain in the boat during competition, except at the
launch sites (see rule #4 for bad weather).
12. Fishing within 50 yards of a competitor’s boat is prohibited.
13. Teams must comply with the South Dakota fishing and boating regulations, including the
use of PFDs at takeoff and kill switches. Park entry fees are required at the ramps and are
the responsibility of the teams.
14. All fish weighed must be caught by rod and reel. No set lines, trot lines, jug lines,
snagging, etc allowed. No chumming or fishing baited holes.
15. Any LEGAL commercial or natural bait will be allowed.
16. A team limit of five (5) fish may be weighed in each day with a total of ten (10) fish for 2
days. Fish must be alive to be weighed in. Tournament officials reserve the right to
determine if a fish is dead until it is released.
17. In case of a tie, total weight breaks big fish, big fish breaks total weight.
18. If you win a category on Saturday, you MUST fish on Sunday or you forfeit your
winnings.
19. NO TRANSFER OR REFUND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE EVENT FOR ANY
REASON. NO REFUNDS AFTER THE TOURNAMENT STARTS.
20. The use of alcoholic beverages is discouraged while fishing.
21. The use or display of any tobacco or alcoholic products in the weigh-in line, on stage, or
during the awards ceremony is PROHIBITED.
22. Unsportsmanlike conduct may be grounds for disqualification if circumstances require.
Any cited infraction of a South Dakota GF&P or Nebraska GF&P rule or regulation will
result in disqualification.
23. Any protest must be made in writing to the tournament director within 30 minutes
following the end of official weigh-in that day and must contain the rule(s) broken.
24. Decision of the tournament director is final.
25. Entry fee: $200.oo per team (includes big fish). Teams are encouraged to sign up
online. Teams will be allowed to sign up on Friday night (see rule #1). No sign-ups will
be taken at the ramp the morning of the tournament without prior authorization.
26. This is an 80% payout tournament. Big fish is 100% payout.
In case of extreme water/weather conditions, see rule #4. The Lewis & Clark Catfish Classic
and/or Lewis & Clark Promotions, LLC reserve the right to postpone or cancel this event
with the return of entry fees (see rule #19). Lewis & Clark Catfish Classic and/or Lewis &
Clark Promotions, LLC reserves the right to change or modify these rules at any time.
The Lewis and Clark Catfish Classic is a production of Lewis and Clark Promotions LLC