Desert Dash General Information and Timelines
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Desert Dash General Information and Timelines
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"Desert Dash" Open Team Tournaments
Desert Dash Rules and Guidelines
Desert Dash V
8-9 March 2025
1. Rules: Apply to all contestants participating in The Desert Dash. It is the responsibility of each contestant to know and follow these rules. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to the Tournament Director. (TD) Decisions of the tournament director are final in all matters. The event director (St John Fishing) reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone based on past infractions of laws, rules, or a consistant display of poor sportsmanship.
2. Event format and participation: The Desert Dash is a two day event. The 1st day is held on Lake Mead, Hemenway Harbor and the 2nd day on Lake Mohave, Cottonwood Cove. This is an open team event but may be fished solo. (full entry still applies) Changing of team partners may be conducted at any time during the registration period. Notify the TD of any partner changes. The Dash maximum participation is 50 boats (100 anglers). At 50 boats, the Dash pays significant payout's in addition to offering 100% payback in options. All registrations and payments will be conducted online. The first 50 boats to register and pay their entry fee will fish the event.
3. Morning Check In: All teams must check in day one in order to sign the mandatory waiver, and permit required, sign in sheet. There is no required am check in for day two. Boat checks of course are still required. All teams go straight to boat checks and put in day two. Location for the AM check is the covered area at Callville, beginning at 430AM. Each team will be given a slip identifying their boat number, launch order, and check in time for each day (See Below), as well as a ribbon to attach to their trolling motor to identify them as a Dash competitor. (See Encroachment rule, #22).
Save time during the morning registration! Download the required waiver and AIS form below, print and complete. Circle "OCT" on the AIS form.
Click here for waiver
4. Late/Absent AM Check In:
a.
Any team(s) that arrives past 6AM (designated close time of AM check in) - Team(s) must standby at the designated boat check area for day one. Once the TD has launched all teams he will proceed to the boat check location and complete the AM check in process for those teams. At that time, said team(s) will obtain a boat inspection and be released for launch. Any team that falls into this rule will retain their assigned boat number and check in time as published on their team slip, regardless of time loss fishing.
b. AM Check In Absences - The AM check in is tracked by the sign in roster. Any team that does not attend the scheduled AM check in (4AM-6AM), fails to abide by rule 4a above, launches and proceeds on the event waters with their flight, will be DQ for the event.
5. Events with less than 50 boats: Payout's will be adjusted and published at the conclusion of the registration period.
6. Date and/or time changes for the event: The Tournament Director (TD) reserves the right to cancel one, or both days of competition, in the event of unsafe conditions or ramp closures. The TD also reserves the right to alter fishing times to ensure a safe return of all competitors. IE: High winds expected at 1230, the TD may bring all boats back for check in at 1200. In the event day one is cancelled due to unsafe conditions or ramp closures, final results will be based on day two results. In the event day two is cancelled due to unsafe conditions or ramp closures, and day one of the event was held, final results will be based on day one results. In the event both days are canceled, hence, canceling the event, the event will be rescheduled.
Refunds will only be issued for the following:
a. Reschedule of event to which a paid team does not want to, or cannot attend.
b. Teams that registered, paid their entry fee and options (if options selected), but do not make the top 50 "first paid/first come" rule AND do not make the roster from the backup list.
c.
Extreme circumstances as determined by the TD.
7. Sportsmanship: All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, the tournament directors, organizers, tournament sponsors, and the sport of bass fishing. Any team member, who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules or violates the state fishing laws or lake rules, said team may be disqualified AND may be banned from future "Dash" events.
8. Permitted fishing waters: Contestants may fish anywhere accessible by boat, except areas designated as off limits or no fishing by the TD, local, state or federal officials. All angling must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. NO team may fish anywhere designated as No fishing or No Boats. NO team may fish within the "tire line" or any marina at either location. All teams will abide by areas posted as "No Wake".
In addition, the West Gypsum Bay, which may not be marked as such, are deemed No Wake on Lake Mead:
9. Equipment: Each boat must contain all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment and must meet all Coast Guard regulations. All boats must contain a properly aerated live well to maintain a live limit of fish. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition shut-off device (kill switch). All anglers must wear their life vest whenever the combustion engine is in operation. In addition, the kill switch must be securely attached to the driver's body. Any vessel deemed unsuitable by the TD will not be allowed to participate in the event.
10. Fishing methods and tackle: All fish must be caught live in a conventional and sporting manner. Only artificial lures may be used. The intentional snagging of fish is strictly prohibited. The use of an "Umbrella" or "Alabama Rig" is allowed but naturally must follow state regulations of only two hooks. Landing nets are permitted. Only one rod and reel may be used at a time.
11. Legal Requirements: All anglers are required to have all motor vehicles, trailers, and watercraft properly and legally registered. All anglers must have in their possession a valid fishing license for the tournament waters. All boaters must have no less than $300,000 in general liability insurance. The boat check officials and TD reserve the right to inspect for legal requirements. Any team found to be in violation of any legal requirements, or, are unable to provide prove of the legal requirments, will be DQ for that day.
12. Pre-Fishing/Off Limit Times: Off limits for BOTH LAKES begins on Sunday, 23 February 2025 @ 4PM. Official practice is the 5th to the 7th of March, 2025 daily, 6AM-3PM with one restriction. Lake Mead is off limits to all teams on the 7th. This will allow for each lake to have one day without Dash teams on it before the event. Any team reported to the Dash staff with sufficient proof in violation of this rule, will be DQ from the event, and no refund for entry shall be issued.
13. Citations: Any team receiving a citation of any kind is disqualified for that day of competition. In the event the violation is deemed severe and/or places anyone on the water in an unsafe situation, the TD reserves the right to DQ that team for the entire event.
14. Boat Checks: All teams must have their boats checked. See the General Information page for locations. The boat check area will be marked by two orange cones. Boat checks for each day are tracked. The inspection team for the event will notify the TD of any team(s) that did not go through boat checks. During launch, that team or teams, will be instructed to standby. Once all other teams have launched, a boat inspection will be conducted and those teams will be released at that time. To the max extent possible, please be prepared, as you approach boat checks each day as follows:
a. Boater in his/her seat, vest on and attached to the kill switch.
b.
Plug in, lights on, and live well(s) open.
c. Ribbon received at day one AM check in attached to the trolling motor. (Rule #3)
In accordance with Dash Rules, be prepared to provide prove of insurance if requested.
Random inspections of required insurance will be conducted. All boaters must have no less than $300,000 in general liability insurance. Any team found to be in violation of any legal requirements, or, are unable to provide prove of the legal requirements, will be DQ for that day.
Any team that misses boat checks and is instructed to standby during launch will retain their assigned boat number and check in time as published on their team slip, regardless of time loss fishing. Any team that skips this process and launches with their flight will be DQ for the event.
15. Launch: See the General Information page for boat number draw and launch order. Any team arriving late and missing their launch number will standby until all others have launched, and then will be released. Any team that falls into this rule will retain their assigned boat number and check in time as published on their team slip, regardless of time loss fishing. Any team that proceeds on the tournament water after their boat number has been called, prior to all boats being launched, will be DQ for the day.
16. Check In: See the General Information page for check in times and location for each flight. All teams must check in at the designated time for their flight. Late to check in, or failure to check in, will result in disqualification for that day. The designated check in boat will be positioned just inside the tires and will have the US Flag attached to the rear boat light.
17. Day Two "Team Hot Seats" - The leading team does have an option to take the "Hot Seats" during the day two, final weigh in. There will be personnel available to take your catch to the release boat and will return your weigh in bag to the weigh in site. Any team may waive taking the hot seats; it is not mandatory.
18. Size, Limit, and Penalties: There is a 5 fish limit with a 13" length limit. All fish will be measured closed mouth and tail pinched. The TD will use an approved measuring board. It is the angler's responsibility to make sure that their board measure the same as the approved board. The approved board will be present for comparison at the AM check in. Dead fish will be penalized 2 oz. (0.12 lbs.). Short fish will be penalized 8 oz. (0.50 lb.) and loss of that fish weight. Any team that enters the designated weigh in area with more than 5 fish is DQ for that day.
19. Big Fish - Big SM Options: No team may weigh a dead fish for their Big fish and/or Big SM. The fish may still be weighed as part of their limit, but will be penalized 2 oz. (0.12 lbs.) as noted in number 18 above. Teams may weigh a big fish (LM) and a big SM to compete in both those options. Big Fish and Big SM winnings will be split 50/50 with team member regardless of who catches the fish.
20. Alcohol and drugs: No alcoholic beverages or narcotic drugs are allowed during this event. Exception being during awards to which the Desert Dash staff encourage all to drink responsibly and plan ahead for a designated driver!
21. Encroachment: A "25 yard rule" is in effect at all times during competition. No contestant's boat may move within 25 yards of another contestant's boat at any time for the purpose of fishing without the consent of all contestants involved. A boat moving from one area to another may infringe upon this zone as long as the parties that are moving do not fish and do not intentionally disrupt the area. Anglers should give all others enough room to make a reasonable cast to fish an area. No contestant's boat may “tie up” or “protect” an area for the purpose of blocking access to an area to other anglers. All teams during the morning check in will obtain a ribbon and secure this ribbon to the top of their trolling motor to clearly identify competitors.
22. Tie Breaker: Ties will be rectified using the following order of precedence:
a. Big Fish
b. Big SM
In the highly unlikely event the place remains a tie, said place will be deemed a tie, and winnings will be split. All options (Big fish, 2nd big fish, big SM, and big bag of the event) will split winnings in the event of a tie.
23. Cell phone usage: Phone usage, once launched, (photos and videos allowed and encouraged during marina wait time for launch) is not permitted at any time except in the event of an emergency or breakdown, or to document (photo or video) a clear violation of the rules to support a protest.
24. Protests: Any team that feels they have been affected by a violation of the rules of the Desert Dash must inform the TD immediately upon arrival at weigh in. Verified protests will result in DQ for that day.
25. Team Assistance: A team that breaks down may join another team's boat, with their limit, in order to weigh in. Only one member of the team may do this; no breakdown will be left unattended. Once weighed in, the event staff will assist in any way possible in the recovery of the broke down vessel. This is not to be confused with the thought the event staff have a requirement to assist teams in any manner other than providing the normal tournament services. All teams are responsible for the safe operation, launch and recovery of their vessel, whether from the ramp or an area breakdown, notifying the proper authorities of emergencies, and obtaining medical attention if required.
Tournament Director, Wayne St John 803-840-1135
Assistant Tournament Director, Jason Bryan- 702-292-8012
Check In Official, Rob Schoessler - 702-480-4776
Emergency Dispatch - 702-293-8932 or 911
26. Off Limit and No Wake Areas: No team may fish anywhere designated as No fishing or No Boats. NO team may fish within the "tire line" or any marina at either location, or any area desginated as "no wake". All teams will abide by areas posted as "No Wake".
27. Underwater Visual Assistance: Underwater cameras of any kind are prohibited. Floggers are permitted.
28. Partner changes and/or substitutions are allowed with prior notification, before day one AM check in.
29. Late Registrations: Late registrations will be accepted during the morning check in day one as follows:
a. Only cash will be accepted
b. A $50.00 late fee is applied
c. In order to maintain fairness for those that registered during the registration period, and participated in the random boat draw, all teams that register late will be assigned the last boat number, will be launched last each day (in order of late entries) and will be required to check in each day with flight #1
30. Raffle and Awards - Beginning at 6PM sharp Terrible's Roadhouse Casino, Searchlight
31. WON Bass US Open Pro and AAA Entry via Raffle - TBD
32. 1099 Required Reporting - Any earnings of $600 or more ($1200 per team) will require the event director to issue IRS Form 1099. All anglers and/or teams that require a 1099 at the conclusion of the event, must provide the Dash Staff with their mailing address and social security number. (If not provided during registration). Any angler/team that refuses to provide this information, shall forfiet all winnings over $599 (individual angler) or team earnings over $1198.
33. Smallest 5 Fish Limit - In the event there is an option for the smallest 5 fish limit each day, the following rule applies. No team will qualify for this bonus if they check in a dead fish. All 5 fish must be alive.
34. In the event there is a 10K guarantee for 1st place, this is based on a minimum of 50 boats. Less than 50 boats shall result in payout's being a standard 1 in 5.
Desert Dash General Information and Timelines