1. Rules
Decisions of the Tournament Directors are final, and they may refuse entries, disqualify competitors, and interpret all rules and regulations.
Protests must be submitted in writing by a competitor within 15 minutes of the announcement "scales are officially closed."
Each angler must report to the Tournament Directors any violation or infraction of any tournament rule.
Failure to report rule violations or unsportsmanlike conduct will also be cause for disqualification.
All participants who weigh fish and are eligible for cash and prizes may be required to submit to a polygraph examination at the discretion of the Tournament Directors. Failure to comply with this rule, including refusal to take the test or failing to pass the examination, will result in immediate disqualification from the tournament and forfeiture of any and all prizes, awards, and prize money. By entering this tournament, you agree to take and abide by the results of a polygraph examination if selected. The Tournament Directors have the sole discretion to determine the results and the meaning of the polygraph examination.
2. Participation & Fees
The Illini Team Trail will have 8 one-day events.
Entry Fee: $200 per team (includes Big Bass). Each team may weigh one Big Bass to count towards the Big Bass pot.
Membership Fee: $50 per angler, per year. Substitutes must also be members and reported the morning of the event — no exceptions
Optional Pot: $20 per angler — 100% payback.
One partner must be 18 years of age or older.
No angler shall be eligible if found to have been caught cheating in any fishing contest.
Participation is at the discretion of the Tournament Directors.
3. Forward Facing Sonar
Forward Facing Sonar is **PROHIBITED** in all Illini Team Trail (ITT) events.
This includes but is not limited to all versions of Mega Live, Livescope, and Active Target.
All live transducers must be unplugged from units.
Illini Team Trail (ITT) will have procedures to prohibit the cables from being plugged in.
Illini Team Trail (ITT) will check all team units who win money in any event to prove no tampering has occurred.
Any tampering will result in disqualification and potential further sanctions.
Mega 360 will be allowed.
Sonar, charts, down, and side imaging are allowed.
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4. Classic Qualifiers
After the conclusion of the 8 qualifying events, any team who has participated in 6 events and fished at least 4 of those events with their Classic partner in the same boat at the same event will be eligible to compete in the ITT Classic.
The Lake of Egypt Winter Series will have 5 events, and the Cedar Lake Series will have 5 events. The top two teams in points in each series will qualify for the Classic Tournament. All other teams will be allowed to use 3 events from either of these two series to count towards the 6 events required to qualify for the Classic Tournament provided all partner requirements have been met.
Please note, none of the points received from these two series will apply toward the Points Fund payout for the main Illini Team Trail (ITT) Tournament Trail Series. 
Classic Fee: to be announced (TBA)
The Classic is a two-day cumulative weight event. Day one takeoff order: season points will determine the order; day two: order of standings after day one.
5. Illini Team Trail (ITT) Points Fund Payout
During the 2026 Illini Team Trail (ITT) Tournament Series, we will be paying out a to be announced (TBA) amount to the top 3 finishing teams.
In order to qualify for the Points Fund, teams must have fished 7 of the 8 events, at least 5 with your partner, and the 7 best events for each team will decide the points standings. So, you may have 2 substitutes towards the 7 required events to qualify for the Points Fund. 
No Lake of Egypt Winter Series or Cedar Lake Series events can be counted towards the Points Fund payout.
6. Registration
Registration occurs at the boat launch location the morning of each event.
At the first event of the main ITT Series, we will have a drawing 30 minutes before take-off to determine starting numbers for the rest of the series. In order to be in the drawing, teams must have paid $20 at the first event sign in.  Teams not in the drawing will be placed after all teams with assigned numbers at each event by order of sign in. All monies collected for the drawing will be given back through a random drawing at each event for non placing teams.  Winner will be drawn at the weigh in and must be present to win.
No pre-pay registration accepted.
7. Substitutes
Substitutes may be used in the Main 2026 ITT Series, but teams must fish at least 4 of the necessary 6 qualifying events with the Classic partner in the same boat to qualify for the Classic and must fish 5 of the necessary 7 events with that same partner to qualify for the Points Fund.
For the Lake of Egypt Winter Series and the Cedar Lake Series, 1 substitute may be used for the five tournaments in order to qualify for the top two points finishers to qualify for the ITT Classic.
Substitutes must be identified at sign-in for points credit; any misrepresented substitutes, team members,etc. will result in disqualification and potential further sanctions. Otherwise, a new team will be formed and points reset.
Team members may fish alone to gain required events (assuming the 4 with partner have been met for Classic and 5 have been met towards Points Fund) but will be subject to the lake bag limit for weigh-in purposes. Example: Lake A has a one-person bag limit of two fish, and the tournament allows four fish per team; the angler is only allowed to weigh in two fish. For the Lake of Egypt Winter Series and the Cedar Lake Series, teams may only fish alone for one of the 5 events but that will count as their substitute for the series and must abide by local lake limit rules. They have to fish four events with their partners in those two series.
8. Practice & Off-Limits
Regular season: No official practice or off-limits period.
Classic: Off-limits dates to be announced (TBA).
Official practice dates to be announced (TBA) on the Classic waterbody.
No Information Rule: From the start of off-limits through conclusion of the Classic, competitors may not receive fishing or lake information from non-competitors. No hiring of guides, no purchasing/bartering fishing locations or information during off-limits period.
9. River Systems
No locking allowed on river system events.
10. Sportsmanship
Highest standards of conservation, courtesy, and sportsmanship required.
Alcohol is **PROHIBITED** during fishing hours.
No illegal drugs; violation = disqualification.
No smoking while waiting to weigh fish.
Fighting, disorderly conduct, poor sportsmanship, or suspension/disqualification from other tournaments will not be tolerated.
Tournament Directors may refuse, deny, or disqualify a contestant at their discretion.
11. Safety
Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) must be worn whenever combustion engine is in use.
Tournament Directors may shorten, suspend, postpone, or cancel events for unsafe weather/water.
In emergencies, call 911, then notify Tournament Directors.
12. Boat Operation
During tournament hours, no assistance from non-competitors, no following, "hole sitting," or placing markers by anyone.
All boats must have ignition shut-off device attached to operator's body when boat is in operation.
13. Boat & Horsepower Regulations
Boats must have United States (U.S.) Coast Guard safety equipment.
Livewell/aerators required to maintain limit of live fish.
Max horsepower: 300 horsepower (HP); may not exceed manufacturer placard.
Fuel: Only factory-installed tanks; additional fuel purchased at retail and pumped via hose/nozzle.
14. Permitted Fishing Methods
Only artificial lures, except pork trailers.
One rod (8' max) and reel in use at a time. No two rods in water simultaneously.
All bass must be caught alive in conventional sporting manner.
Sight fishing: fish must be hooked inside the mouth and verified by partner. No equipment for height advantage except permanent boat structures.
Trolling prohibited.
A-Rigs allowed only in Lake of Egypt Winter Series.
15. Permitted Fishing Locations
Anywhere publicly accessible by boat except areas designated "off-limits" or within 50 yards of anchored competitor.
All fishing from boat; no leaving boat to land fish.
Must leave/return to official checkpoint by boat.
Equipment failure: notify Tournament Directors ASAP.
Mechanical failure does not extend check-in time. Unauthorized return methods = forfeit of catch.
16. Official Checkpoint
One morning boat inspection checkpoint.
Failure to check in = penalties/disqualification.
All fishing ceases upon check-in.
17. Late Penalty
1 pound per minute deducted from total weight for late arrival (including Big Bass).
Over 15 minutes late = disqualification for the day.
18. Scoring
Weights measured in decimal pounds (99.99)
Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, redeye bass only.
Max 5 fish (unless local/state law prohibits).
Penalties: 1 lb per dead fish, 1 lb per short bass.
Fish weighed in provided Illini Team Trail (ITT) bag.
19. Point System
1st = 100 points, 2nd = 99, etc.
No fish weighed = 10 points less than last team.
Disqualified = 0 points.
20. Tiebreakers
Greatest number of live fish weighed.
Biggest bass.
Most weight in current point standings.
Coin toss
21. Polygraph
All participants who weigh fish and are eligible for cash and prizes may be required to submit to a polygraph examination at the discretion of the Tournament Directors. Failure to comply, including refusal or failure, = immediate disqualification and forfeiture of prizes. By entering, you agree to abide by results. Tournament Directors have sole discretion over results.
22. Insurance
Liability insurance required on all boats: minimum $100,000.
23. Tournament Directors Contact
Brennon McCord: 618-663-0815
Mike Hudson: 618-925-7828