Cast for a Cause
Official rules
Everything that decides whether a fish counts. Read this before you enter — particularly the measuring and photo requirements, which is where most questions come from.
OFFICIAL RULES
Format: Catch-Photo-Release (CPR) via the Fishing Chaos app
Entry: $25 adults / $5 kids (13 & under) / $30 Championship
Tournament Director: info@kindlewoodcares.org
Charity proceeds support Kindlewood Cares, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-2506111), benefiting childhood cancer research through The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and other charities helping kids fight cancer.
Version 2026.3 — effective 2026-09-08. Supersedes all earlier versions.
1. SERIES OVERVIEW
Five-event CPR bass fishing series with two competitive regions (Northern Tier and Southern Tier), each with separate leaderboards and Angler of the Year (AOY) standings. Events 1–4 are regular season; Event 5 is the Season Championship. Non-series events (e.g. the Tron Foster Memorial) are standalone and excluded from AOY.
2026 Tournament Schedule
| # | Tournament | Dates | Entry | AOY (1st) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Slam | Apr 24 – May 25, 2026 | $25 / $5 | 100 pts |
| 2 | Summer Sizzle | Jun 7 – Jul 12, 2026 | $25 / $5 | 100 pts |
| 3 | Dog Days Derby | Jul 19 – Aug 23, 2026 | $25 / $5 | 100 pts |
| 4 | Fall Frenzy | Sep 4 – Oct 11, 2026 | $25 / $5 | 100 pts |
| 5 | Season Championship | Oct 16 – Nov 8, 2026 | $30 | 120 pts |
Points: 1st = listed points, minus 1 per place below. Plus 20 registration points per tournament. The Championship is adults only.
2. ELIGIBILITY & REGISTRATION
- Open to the public, no minimum age (under 18 requires parental consent and supervision)
- Valid fishing license required for the state and waters being fished
- Must create a Fishing Chaos profile and purchase a tournament entry ticket
- All participants agree to these rules and the liability waiver upon registration
- NO REFUNDS once a ticket is purchased
| Event | Adult | Kids (13 & under) |
|---|---|---|
| Events 1–4 (per region) | $25 | $5 |
| Event 5 — Championship (per region) | $30 | Adults only |
Anglers may register for both regions in the same tournament by purchasing a ticket for each. If you do, see Section 3 — Anglers registered in both regions: the state where a fish is caught determines which division it counts toward.
3. REGIONAL DIVISIONS
Two regions with separate leaderboards per tournament and separate AOY standings.
Northern Tier
ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, OH, WV, VA, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN, IA, MO, ND, SD, NE, KS, MT, WY, CO, ID, WA, OR, AK
Southern Tier
KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR, OK, TX, NM, AZ, NV, CA, HI, UT
Rules
- Select your region at registration based on the state you will primarily fish
- Fish public waters in a state within your registered region
- Fish submitted to one region cannot be submitted to the other — different fish, different regions
- Multi-region anglers earn separate AOY standings in each region
- Minimum 3 anglers per region required for AOY standings to be active
Anglers registered in both regions
You may enter both regions in the same tournament by purchasing a ticket for each. If you do:
- The state where a fish is caught determines which division it counts toward. A bass caught in a Northern Tier state may only be entered in the Northern Tier; a bass caught in a Southern Tier state may only be entered in the Southern Tier.
- You do not choose which division a fish counts toward. Catch location decides it.
- Each division is scored on its own 5-fish limit, from fish caught in that region's states.
- The same fish may never be entered twice, in either division.
Location services must be enabled for every submission, so each catch carries the state it was caught in. Entering a fish in the wrong division is a rules violation and grounds for disqualification under Section 13.
4. MEMBERSHIP TIERS
Every tier competes equally. The difference is your charitable impact. All tiers pay per-tournament entry fees separately.
| Tier | Cost | AOY eligible | To championship pools | To the mission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series Angler | $30 | Yes | $18 | $12 |
| Impact Angler | $60 | Yes | $18 | $42 |
| Champion Angler | $100 | Yes | $18 | $82 |
| Legacy Angler | $250 | Yes | $18 | $232 |
Competing without a membership is permitted — you simply are not eligible for Angler of the Year.
$18 of every membership funds the AOY championship prize pools, split by region in proportion to participation. The remainder supports Kindlewood Cares, Inc.
> Tax deductibility. Membership provides AOY eligibility, which has value, so not every dollar is deductible. Kindlewood Cares does not provide tax advice. Consult your own advisor, and see the written acknowledgment issued for your membership for the organization's good-faith estimate.
5. FISHING RULES
Waters
- US PUBLIC WATERS ONLY — no private ponds, pay lakes, fee fishing areas, or restricted access
- Must comply with all federal, state, and local fishing regulations
- Must fish in a state within your registered region
Methods
- Rod, reel, line, and ARTIFICIAL LURES ONLY — no live bait
- Boat, kayak, dock, pier, shore, or wading permitted
- Multiple rods allowed, but only one actively fished at a time
- Angler must personally cast, hook, and land the fish
- Assistance allowed for netting, photographing, and measuring only
Species & minimum length
- Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass
- 12" minimum, or the state minimum, whichever is greater
Submission deadline
All catches must be **submitted through the Fishing Chaos app by 11:59 PM
Eastern Time on the final day of the tournament window**, regardless of where
you fished or which time zone you are in. Submission time as recorded by
Fishing Chaos is what counts, and it is also what settles a tie (§9).
Note that the Season Championship closes at 11:59 PM EST — US clocks fall
back on 2 November 2026, inside the Championship window, so the last week runs
on Standard Time rather than Daylight Time.
Protected slot limits
Where a state enforces a protected slot on black bass, you must comply with it.
Do not remove a fish from the water if your state's regulations prohibit
handling or possessing a bass within the protected slot — photograph it in the
water or release it unmeasured and unsubmitted. State law always overrides these
rules.
6. TOURNAMENT IDENTIFIER CODE
- Released the night before the tournament starts (9–11 PM EDT) via the Fishing Chaos app and email
- Display on white paper/card or on your hand/arm — handwritten or printed
- Must be clearly visible in every photo submission
- No digital insertion or alteration of codes in photos
7. MEASURING & PHOTO REQUIREMENTS
Measuring board
- Commercial bump boards only (Ketch, Hawg Trough, Gator Grip, Cabela's Aluminum, Check-It Stik, or equivalent)
- Must have 90-degree bump stop, 1/4" increments, clearly visible markings
- No tape measures, collapsible/foldable devices, or homemade boards
Photo requirements
- Zero end of board to LEFT of photographer
- Fish belly down, mouth COMPLETELY CLOSED against bump stop
- Tail lying flat — no compression, no bending or curving
- Fish must lie straight on board; entire fish visible
- Hand must not cover eyes or gills
- Tournament code clearly visible; measurement marks clearly visible
- High quality, in-focus, adequate lighting
Submission
- Submit via the Fishing Chaos app only — location services must be enabled
- Submit immediately when possible; upload when signal is restored if no cell service
- Each fish entered once; all fish must be different. A fish counts only in the division its catch location determines — it cannot be entered in the other division, or in both.
8. SCORING
- 5 fish limit — total length of longest 5 bass (app auto-culls)
- Unlimited submissions; app tracks running total of best 5
- Length scored at last 1/4" mark clearly touched by tail — no rounding up
- Up to 1/2" deduction for open mouth
9. TIEBREAKERS
Per tournament
- Earliest submission time of any fish in limit
- Longest single fish
- Tournament Director decision
AOY season
- Total cumulative length across all events in that region
- Best single-event finish in that region
- If still tied, anglers split the AOY prize equally
10. PAYOUT STRUCTURE
Adult prize distribution
- 60% of net adult entry fees → prize pool (per region)
- 40% of net adult entry fees → Kindlewood Cares, Inc.
"Net" means after payment processing fees. Fishing Chaos deducts a processing fee on every ticket; the prize pool absorbs that cost so the charitable share is a clean percentage of gross.
Places paid, by field size (per region)
| Participants | Places paid | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–6 | 1 | 100% | — | — | — |
| 7–12 | 2 | 70% | 30% | — | — |
| 13–20 | 3 | 50% | 30% | 20% | — |
| 21+ | 4 | 45% | 25% | 20% | 10% |
Kids Division
100% of kids entry fees go to kids prizes (trophies, gifts). No charity split on kids fees.
Prize payment
- Winners notified within 14 days; must respond within 5 days or an alternate winner is selected
- Payment via electronic transfer or check; winners are responsible for all applicable taxes
- Winners may decline their prize and donate it back to Kindlewood Cares. Donated-back winnings are charity in addition to the standard split.
11. ANGLER OF THE YEAR (AOY)
Eligibility
Adults only. Must hold at least a Series Angler membership ($30). Kids and non-members are not eligible.
Points
| Event | 1st place | Decrement |
|---|---|---|
| Events 1–4 | 100 pts | −1 per place |
| Event 5 (Championship) | 120 pts | −1 per place |
Registration points: 20 points per tournament entered (AOY-eligible members only).
> These 20 points are a floor, not a bonus. Enter a tournament and catch nothing, and you still receive 20 points. Catch fish and you receive your finishing points, which are higher. The two do not add together.
Rules
- Every event counts — no drop rule
- No Lunker of the Year for 2026; no bonus points for any tier
- Separate AOY per region — Northern AOY Champion and Southern AOY Champion
- Minimum 3 anglers per region required for AOY standings
Awards
Each region awards trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the season AOY standings.
The AOY cash prize pool — funded by the $18 contribution from every membership, and split between the two regions in proportion to participation — is awarded to the region's AOY Champion (1st place). Second and third place receive trophies.
Trophies are provided by Kindlewood Cares and are not funded from the prize pool.
12. SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP (EVENT 5)
- Adults only; $30 per region; 120-point max; same CPR format and rules
- To fish both championships, you must have 2+ events in each region
13. JUDGING & PENALTIES
Judging
All entries are reviewed by appointed judges. All decisions are FINAL. No disputes, no appeals. The tournament reserves the right to reject any submission.
Automatic disqualification
- Cheating, fraud, or photo manipulation
- Submitting a fish caught by another person, or a duplicate fish
- Prohibited measuring equipment or live bait
- Fishing private, restricted, or non-public waters, or outside your registered region
- Entering a fish in a division other than the one its catch location determines (see Section 3)
- Violating the tournament code or any other rule
Consequences
Disqualified anglers forfeit all prizes. Intentional fraud may result in criminal prosecution and a lifetime ban from all Kindlewood Cares tournaments.
14. LIABILITY, WAIVER & TERMS
By registering, participants acknowledge voluntary participation in inherently dangerous fishing activities, assume all risks including injury, illness, or death, and agree to fish safely and responsibly.
Participants agree to release Kindlewood Cares, Inc. and all tournament staff from liability, hold harmless all organizers and sponsors, and waive all claims for damages, injuries, or losses.
Participants consent to use of their name, likeness, and photos in promotional materials, social media, and website content. Photographs of minors are used only with the consent of a parent or guardian.
The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify these rules with reasonable notice. The tournament may be modified or cancelled due to force majeure (weather, platform failures, emergencies). Tournament Director decisions are final in all matters. All participants agree to binding arbitration if needed.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
15. CONTACT
Tournament Director: info@kindlewoodcares.org
Weighmaster: Caleb Kelly
Website: www.kindlewoodcares.org
Platform: Fishing Chaos App (fishingchaos.com)
Sponsors: BardeRodz (barderodz.com) | Kindlewood Outdoors LLC (kindlewoodoutdoors.com)
BardeRodz and Kindlewood Outdoors LLC are separate for-profit entities. Kindlewood Cares, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3).
16. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By purchasing a tournament entry, participants acknowledge they have read and understand all rules, agree to abide by all decisions and modifications, accept all risks, release all liability, consent to media use, understand fees are non-refundable, and agree that all decisions are final.
CAST FOR A CAUSE — FISH FOR THE FUTURE!
Proudly supporting childhood cancer research through fishing
Kindlewood Cares, Inc. | 501(c)(3) | EIN: 99-2506111
Rules effective as of the tournament start date. Subject to modification at Tournament Director discretion. Participants notified via the Fishing Chaos app and email.