Hello
Welcome to Patriot Fishing League RULES PAGE!
We don't want a watered-down league with rules here at Patriot Fishing League. Our league is tailored to prevent handcuffing anglers who want to travel where they can find the fish and weigh in excellent bags! Below are the rules and guidelines for Fishing in the PFL. Call with questions/concerns
2024 PFL Rules & Standards
Tournament Format & Fees
- Team Format: PFL is a 2 person Team Fishing League.
- - When you register, list one alternate angler you want to fish with. No stacking teams for fishing locations. If your primary and alternate cannot fish, you can fish solo. (Sometimes the Tourney Director does)
- Membership Dues: $50 per angler, not boat. All membership fees will be paid online, at the initial meeting, or morning of the first tournament at the launch. You cannot fish until the membership fees are paid.
- Monthly Tournament Fee: $100 per boat during the season. Bring change. No unlucky $100 bills lol.
- Bounty Side Pot (Optional): $20 per boat
- Two Day Classic Tournament Fee: $175 per boat in September.
- Payouts for Tournaments:
- 9 Boats or Less pays 1st, 2nd, & Big Bass
- 10- 15 Boats or Less pays 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & Big Bass
- 16-20 Boats pays 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & Big Bass
- 21-25 Pays 5 places & Big Bass
- If a Platinum Sponsor's Fishing Team doesn't show up for any regular season tourney, their entry automatically goes in the pot.
- WE WANT MAXIMUM PAYMENT FOR ANGLERS BASED ON BOAT NUMBERS TO OFFSET FUEL COST, TIME, AND HARDWORK! FISH HARD!
- Paying Tournament Fees:
- - A member of the League will be present to collect fees at each location no later than 0500 each morning at each fishing location.
- - When you register and pay your entry fee to fish, there will be no refunds once your boat leaves the launch. If you launch your boat, and you have mechanical issues with your motor, trolling motor, electronics, or any other issues, you will forfeit your entry fee for that tournament. Make sure your equipment is good to go before you show up to the landing. At 7am, no registrations or entry fees will be accepted. We understand things happen to boats, however, to mitigate issues on refunds and max prize pool for all the anglers, we placed this standard in the rules.
Fishing Rules and Standards
- Weighable Fish Standards:
- - Each Bass must be 12" in length (14" in Toledo Bend) to qualify as a weighable fish.
- - Any fish called into question for 12" or 14" length, will be measured by the Weighmaster on a ruler before continuing the weigh in.
- - Live well checks will take place prior to the start of the tournament each month. For trailer tournaments, a photo of your livewell with the correct timestamp from your partners phone, must be text to the League Director before 1st cast. If not, a 1/2lb penalty will be assessed at weigh in.
- Penalties:
- - 1/4lb penalty per fish for being late to the weigh in. Weigh in will be at 3pm every tournament (minus Toledo Ben and trailer tournaments, which will be at 3:30pm due to being a trailer tournament). If your chip isn't on the board checked in by 3pm or (3:30pm for Toledo Bend or trailer tournaments), you will be penalized 1/4lb per fish for every minute late. At 3:10pm or (3:40pm for Toledo Bend or trailer tournaments), you will be disqualified from weighing in. Even if you have 0 fish, your chip goes on the board for accountability purposes.
- Dead Fish Penalty: 1/2lb penalty per dead fish
- Catch and Release: We encourage catch and release but will not fault you for keeping fish to eat.
- - All of Doiron's Canal is off limits. You cannot fish any part of Doiron's Canal. The Car Wash Canal at Doiron's is off limits up to the neighborhood. You can fish the neighborhood. You cannot fish any canals marked "Private" or "Off Limits."
- Additional Rules:
- - Outboard motors only, no surface drives.
- - Artificial lures only, no live bait.
- - First Cast for all Tournaments is 0600hrs unless notified for an earlier start depeding on first light. You can leave the launch any time you feel comfortable, but do not get on step (slide or plane) until safe light operating hours (safe light operating hours is at the discretion of the boater when he/she feels safe to get on slide. Any accidents or issues will be the responsibility of the boater and his/her insurance. Patriot Fishing League will not be held responsible.)
- - The wearing of PFD (Personal Floatation Devices), life jackets, or any floatation safety device is highly encouraged.
- - All boats shall be within regulation of the required safety equipment as provided by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. (Nav lights, kill switch, whistle, life jackets, boat registration, float pad, and paddle)
- -Separation between anglers will be at the Angler's discretion who arrived at the fishing location first. If you roll up, and ask the Angler if it is cool, and they approve, work it out. If he ask you to roll out, slide on out and check back later. Do the right thing.
- - Each boat trolling motor will be marked with a different color of flagging each tournament to identify other tournament anglers. It is mandatory to keep the flagging on the boat until the tournament is complete.
- - You cannot leave your boat for any reason to get on top of dry land, cross over pilings, etc. Your boat cannot leave tournament waters for any reason.
- - Severe/Inclement Weather/Natural Disasters will be a "continue to monitor and update" situation. In the event of bad weather, we will make a call within 24 hours to each angler. If the tournament has to be cancelled, it will be rescheduled prior to the completion of the season.
- - A minimum of 6 tournaments have to be fished in order to qualify for the Classic in August. If you haven't fished a minimum of 6 tournaments, then you will be required to pay $100 for every tournament missed to get your 6 tournaments, plus the $175 Classic entry fee. We do this so the anglers who have made their 6 tournaments will not lose prize money in the Classic for the required attendance.
- - There are no tournament boundaries in any tournament in this league. If you want to run way down South to fish, by all means, do so, however, remember the weigh in times and penalties. Keep in mind if you have a boat issue that far away from the launch site, it will be hard to help you out with quick support. Use your best judgement.
- Final Rule: This is a Patriotic and Veteran-run League that 100% supports Veterans, America, Patriots, and our love for the outdoors. We are fishing for fun and for a purpose. Freedom. We have a Zero Tolerance rule for any nonsense outside of fishing competitively and having fun. If there are any issues at the tournaments or on the water (dangerous operation of boats, fishing on top of each other, fighting, cheating, or anything negative in representation of the League, it is to be brought to the Tournament Director immediately, with both parties present, to come to a solution and find common ground. Tournament Director has the final say on the outcome. We are all adults, and it is every participants responsibility to keep each other accountable on the water. Let's do the right thing! Drama and bad mouthing will not be tolerated.
Angler of the Year Points System
- AOY Points Breakdown
- - 1st Place: 50pts
- - 2nd Place: 48pts
- - 3rd Place: 46pts
- - 4th Place: 44pts
- - 5th Place: 42pts
- - etc, etc.
- - The standings will have a 2 point difference for each place until a team has 0 fish. Any team that catches zero fish will get last place points minus 10. If 8 teams are fishing, the angler will get 8th place points minus 10. ex. 8th place: 36pts - 10pts= 26pts.)
- - Big Bass: 5 Bonus Points
- - Fish a Tournament: 5 Bonus Points
- - In the event of a tie for Big Bass, Total Weight will be the tie breaker.
- - In the event of a tie for Total Weight, Big Bass will be the tie breaker.
- - Every angler will weigh their Biggest Bass first, regardless of total weight, to ensure a tie breaker can be broken.
- - If both total weight and Big Bass are the same, the anglers will weigh their next biggest fish for the tie breaker. (In the event of a double tie, the two parties will standby until the end to reweigh for confirmation)
- - We will not split pots in this league.
- *** These are the rules for the 2026 League Season. Thank you for choosing to fish the Patriot Fishing League! Let's rip some lips and have some fun! Strength and Honor, De Oppresso Liber! For any questions on the rules, please contact us and we will answer any questions you have!