New Madrid, MO (9-19-2026)


                                          

Twisted Cat Outdoors Official Rules

(New Madrid, MO -  September 19th 2026)  

Online registration opens Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 7:30 PM Central. Any checks or cash received before online registration opens will have priority.

These rules have been established to promote fairness, safety, conservation, and the responsible handling of fish. Our goal is to advance the sport and set a positive example for all.

These events may be recorded for video production and distribution. Entries may not be sold, bartered, or transferred without the written consent of a tournament official.

Twisted Cat Outdoors regular season event entry fees are $300, with a 100% payback, plus an additional $500 added to the Big Fish Pot by LuxXdek.

Entry Fees / Refunds

  • Entry Fee: $300 (+ $15 online processing fee). Register online at TwistedCatOutdoors.com.

  • Alternative Payment Methods:
    Entry fees may be paid by check ($300) or cash if received by the Monday prior to the event.

  • Checks must be made payable to Twisted Cat Outdoors.

  • Late Entry / Registration:
    Entries received within 5 days of the event or at the Captain’s Meeting (non-mandatory) will be subject to a late fee:
    • $325 cash
    • $340 online

  • Registration closes at 9:00 PM on Friday, September 18th, 2026.

  • Refunds / Transfers:
    Refunds or transfers may be requested at least 10 days prior to the event and are subject to a $25 administrative fee. Online processing fees are non-refundable. No refunds or transfers will be accepted within 10 days of the event.

Mailing Address:
Alex Nagy
705 North 4th St.
Warsaw, IL 62379

Captain’s Meeting

  • Date: Friday, September 18th, 2026

  • Time: [5-8PM]

  • Boats must be off tournament waters by 6:00PM
  • Location:

    • New Madrid Country Club 

    • 1376 Mill St, New Madrid, MO 63869

  • Attendance: Non-mandatory, but encouraged for registration, socializing, food, drinks, merch, and any additional event activities. If enough interest, a Calcutta will be held.

Morning Boat Check-In & Departure

  • Morning Boat Check-In: All teams are required to go through the official Twisted Cat Outdoors boat check-in line on tournament morning before launching.

  • All boats must go through the morning check-in line. No teams may bypass the check-in line and go directly to a boat ramp.

  • Tournament staff will begin checking boats and releasing teams at approximately 5:45 AM.

  • Teams must follow the designated check-in route shown on the map below and follow instructions from tournament officials.

  • Once a team has completed the official boat check-in, they may proceed to one of the two approved boat ramps.

MORNING BOAT CHECK-IN LINE MAP

  • Approved Boat Ramps: Teams may launch from ONLY the following two ramps:

    • New Madrid City Front Boat Ramp

    • New Madrid Bend Access

  • No other boat ramps may be used for this tournament.

  • Once a boat is launched, teams may leave the ramp area and travel by water to their desired fishing location.

  • Teams do not have to remain at the ramp until 7:00 AM.

  • Teams may travel, idle, run the river, anchor, or position their boat before 7:00 AM.

  • Fishing may not begin until 7:00 AM.

  • No rods, lines, or bait may be in the water before 7:00 AM.

  • No casting, drifting baits, dragging baits, or attempting to catch fish in any way is allowed before 7:00 AM.

Tournament Hours and Fishing Boundaries

  • Fishing begins at 7:00 AM.

  • Tournament fishing hours are 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

  • All teams must be physically in the official weigh-in line by 4:00 PM.

  • There are no exceptions to the 4:00 PM weigh-in line deadline.

  • Being on the water, at the boat ramp, loading the boat, driving toward weigh-in, or being near the weigh-in area at 4:00 PM does not count.

  • Your truck and boat must be in the designated official weigh-in line by 4:00 PM.

  • Teams arriving after 4:00 PM will not be allowed to weigh fish.

  • Teams are responsible for allowing enough time to return to the ramp, load their boat, travel to weigh-in, and enter the official line before the deadline.

  • Boat ramp congestion, traffic, mechanical issues, loading delays, or other circumstances will not extend the 4:00 PM deadline.

WEIGH-IN LINE MAP

Fishing Boundaries

There are NO fishing boundaries for this tournament.

Teams may fish any legal and navigable water accessible by boat, provided all applicable local, state, and federal fishing and boating laws are followed.

Trailering and Launch-Ramp Rules

Teams may launch from ONLY the following two approved boat ramps:

  • New Madrid City Front Boat Ramp

  • New Madrid Bend Access

No other public or private boat ramps may be used for this tournament.

Teams may not trailer to another boat ramp during tournament hours.

Once launched from one of the approved ramps, teams may travel by water to their fishing location.

Teams may leave the launch area before 7:00 AM, but no fishing may begin before 7:00 AM.

Forward-Facing / Live Sonar

  • The use of forward-facing sonar or real-time live sonar technology is strictly prohibited on tournament day. This includes, but is not limited to, Garmin LiveScope, Lowrance ActiveTarget, Humminbird MEGA Live, or any similar technology capable of real-time forward, down, or 360-degree observation of fish or bait.

    Forward-facing or live sonar may not be used for any purpose during tournament day.

    Violation of this rule will result in immediate disqualification.

Weigh-In Limits

  • Limit: Maximum of 3 fish per boat.

  • Culling Allowance: During tournament hours, teams may possess no more than one (1) additional fish for culling purposes, for a maximum of four (4) fish total in the livewell at any time.

  • Culling: Culling is not allowed once the boat is on the trailer.

  • Eligible Species: Blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish.

  • Dead Fish: Not allowed at weigh-in. Presenting a dead fish = disqualification.

Fishing Rules & Methods

  • Fishing Method: Rod and reel only.

  • Bait: Any legal bait permitted under state law.

Rod Limits

  • Maximum of 6 rods in use.

  • No limit on rods in the boat.

Team Size & Minors

  • Maximum of three (3) adult anglers per team.

  • Additional passengers age fourteen (14) or younger are allowed if boat capacity is not exceeded.

  • All minors under eighteen (18) must be accompanied by an adult.

  • Teams with more than three anglers must designate which three anglers will receive points.

Safety Rules

  • Life Vests: Must be worn while underway.

  • Weather: The event will continue unless the director and five (5) randomly selected captains deem conditions unsafe.

  • Livewells: Required. Recommended 50+ gallons. The director may disqualify inadequate setups.

  • Insurance: Boat owners are responsible for maintaining liability insurance covering all passengers.

Sportsmanship & Conduct

  • Prohibited: Snagging, chumming, baited holes, fishing outside the boat, alcohol, marijuana, or illegal substances during tournament hours.

  • Spacing: Maintain 50 yards when anchored, 50 feet when drifting/spot-locked.

  • Buddy Fishing: Sharing info, baits, fish, or spots during tournament hours is prohibited.

  • Sportsmanship: Disorderly conduct = grounds for disqualification.

Fish Handling & Weigh-In Procedures

  • Use grippers/gloves when handling fish.

  • Larger fish should be handled by two anglers.

  • Dropping fish is discouraged.

  • All fish must be placed into weigh totes with care. No throwing or mishandling.

  • Teams are responsible for keeping fish healthy and properly oxygenated throughout tournament hours.

General Rules

  • Amendments: Twisted Cat Outdoors may amend rules for safety or other reasons.

  • Polygraph: All participants are subject to polygraph. Refusal or failure = disqualification.

  • Tie-Breaker: Largest documented fish decides ties. If no documentation is available, a coin flip will determine the winner.

  • Protests: Must be submitted in writing before awards. None accepted afterward.

  • Social Media: Live feeds are encouraged, but competitors may not share or receive sensitive fishing information during tournament hours.

  • Compliance: All state and federal laws must be followed, including proper licensing.

Waiver / Release of Liability

By entering, participants acknowledge they have read and understand these rules. Participation is voluntary, and entrants assume all risks, including weather, injury, death, boat traffic, river conditions, navigation hazards, and equipment failure.

Entrants waive and release Twisted Cat Outdoors LLC, Alex Nagy, sponsors, officials, staff, volunteers, property owners, and event partners from liability associated with participation in the tournament.

Entrants also grant permission for the use of photos, videos, livestream footage, names, tournament results, or event records for promotional purposes.

IMPORTANT TOURNAMENT MORNING & WEIGH-IN REMINDERS

  • Every boat MUST go through the official morning boat check-in line.

  • Boat check-in and launching will begin at approximately 5:45 AM.

  • Only the New Madrid City Front Boat Ramp and New Madrid Bend Access may be used.

  • After launching, teams may leave and travel by water to their fishing area.

  • There are NO fishing boundaries.

  • No fishing before 7:00 AM.

  • Lines in at 7:00 AM.

  • All trucks and boats MUST be physically in the official weigh-in line by 4:00 PM.

  • NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE 4:00 PM WEIGH-IN LINE DEADLINE.