2026 THORNE BROS CLASSIC TOURNAMENT RULES

Thorne Bros Classic 2026 Rules

We respectfully ask that all participants read, abide by, and fully understand the rules. All rules are made with the intent to safeguard the highest standard in sportsmanship, fair play, safety, and integrity. Please acknowledge that you understand the following rules by submitting a signed Release and Waiver of Liability form at the time of registration. The following materials are due at the time of registration: 2026 Thorne Bros Classic Registration form, signed and dated Release and Waiver of Liability form for each participant, and the team’s registration fee. A tournament registration is not considered final until Thorne Bros receives the full tournament fee from the registering team. Proof of boat insurance must also be submitted to participate in the tournament. 

CONTESTANTS ENTRY 

Contestants are responsible for having the entry form filled out and signed to fish the 2026 Thorne Bros Classic Tournament. All contestants agree that by paying the entry fee, they have read all the following Thorne Bros Classic contest rules and choose to abide by them to the highest standards. 

PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY  

All teams must consist of two(2) anglers.  Kids are encouraged to fish in this tournament. Kids under 18 years old must have the waiver signed by a parent or guardian and must always be accompanied by an adult during the event. Parents or guardians are responsible for the child's safety while participating in the Thorne Bros Classic.  Tournament organizers reserve the right to deny any entry that is not in the best interest of the event or organization. 

ENTRY FEE 

Entry fees are $700.00 per team, which also includes “big fish” prize money. Entry fees for the tournament should be submitted online at the time of registration, along with other registration documents. A team is not considered to be registered for the tournament until the tournament fee, registration form, and signed waivers are received. All entries and required documents must be submitted by the start of the tournament on Monday, July 27th, 2026. Regular registration will end Friday, July 24th at 5 pm. 

For the 2026 tournament, there will be a priority registration window for the top 40 finishing teams from the 2025 Thorne Bros Classic Tournament. Registration for the previous year’s top 40 will begin on Monday, February 9. General registration will open at 10 am on February 23rd,2026. Priority registration is only for the top 40 teams from the 2025 tournament.  Each team is allowed one tournament spot for one or both anglers who fished in the 2025 tournament. This registration spot must have at least one member from the 2025 tournament.

There will be a 100-team limit for this tournament. If all tournament spots are filled, we will start a waiting list. If a registered team backs out of the tournament, we will contact teams in order of receipt from the “waiting list”. 

LIABILITY INSURANCE 

All members must carry a minimum of $300,000 of liability insurance on the boat they use during the event. Failure to comply or reporting of false information will result in disqualification. Proof of insurance can be submitted at the time of registration.

SAFETY 

Thorne Bros asks all competitors to be extremely safety-conscious during the tournament. Each competitor fully accepts complete responsibility for their own safety while participating in all parts of the Thorne Bros Classic. Safe boating conduct will be observed at all times by each competitor. Each competitor will be required to wear a Coast Guard-approved life vest, securely fastened, while the boat is being propelled by the primary engine. 

Boats must have a kill switch attached to the driver when the big motor is engaged. Failure to comply is grounds for disqualification. Running lights must be on if necessary and functioning properly at the takeoff of the tournament. Each boat must be equipped with an aeration live well or similar device capable of keeping a tournament limit alive throughout the course of the competition day.  All entrants must comply with local, state, and federal laws and the rules of theThorne Bros Classic. Competitors are responsible for their own safety during the tournament. Each competitor agrees to accept full responsibility for their personal safety. 

SPORTSMANSHIP 

Participants in the Thorne Bros Classic event are expected to follow the highest standard of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conservation. Thorne Bros prohibits contestants from the use of alcohol or drugs during the tournament. We expect participants to act in a sportsmanlike manner and obey the intent of the written Thorne Bros Classic rules and guidelines. The Thorne Bros Classic Tournament Director(s) will have the final word and decision in all sportsmanship protests. No refunds will be given in the event of any disqualification. Unsportsmanlike conduct is grounds for disqualification. Contestants agree that all decisions regarding unsportsmanlike conduct by the Thorne Bros Classic Tournament Director(s) are final.

OFF LIMITS PERIOD 

The “off limits period” will begin at 5pm Sunday July 26th and go through the start of the tournament

BOAT NUMBERS 

Teams that register for this tournament will all be entered into a random draw for boat number. Teams will be notified of their boat numbers prior to the tournament via email.  After inspection, teams will receive two boat motor decals with their team number.  These decals must be placed on the sides of the boat motor and must remain visible for the entire tournament.  Failure to display tournament numbers will result in disqualification. The tournament Director(s) reservethe right to change boat numbers. Changes in boat order could occur due to reasons such assafety, tardiness of contestants, avoidance of rules, missing boat inspection time, and unsportsmanlike conduct. 

BOAT INSPECTION 

A full interior compartment inspection will be conducted on the morning of the tournament. Please have the compartments open for boat inspection.  Livewells will be inspected for function and must be full at the time of inspection. Boat inspection will be at The Shoreline Hotel docks. Teams are responsible for getting to the boat inspection on time.  Docks will be clearly marked by Flight number.  Boat inspection will be open at 5 am on tournament day.  Boats arriving late will be moved to the rear of the field per the tournament director’s discretion.

 TAKE OFF

The Thorne Bros Classic launch will consist of 4 flights determined by boat number. Teams need to be inspected and in the staging area before launch time.  Two marked official boats will be positioned between the staging area and the launch area.  Officials on these boats will direct the launch.  Officials will announce each flight.  When your flight is announced. Move towards the launch area slowly.  Boats will be launched one at a time by an official via bullhorn.  Please use your best judgment to proceed in order of boat number.  If you miss your number, you must move to the rear of the field.  Safety is of the utmost importance during takeoff.  DO NOT Wake the official boats during launch.  Any safety violation during takeoff will result in immediate disqualification at the discretion of the tournament director.

During boat inspection and take-off, we ask that all boats and anglers be respectful of noise near The Shoreline Hotel and neighboring properties.

EMERGENCIES 

Competitors shall remain with their partners in the boat at all times during tournament hours.  In the event of a health concern, severe storm, other weather, or a boating or navigational hazard, the tournament director must be contacted as soon as possible. If, for any reason, either or both team members decide to leave the tournament early, both members shall bear full responsibility for notifying the tournament director(s). If one or both team members leave the water early, he/she may not return and resume fishing. Boats may not land at any point during the tournament except at the tournament HQ, The Shoreline Hotel. One partner may continue fishing for the remainder of the tournament if another team member has to leave.  In the event of inclement weather or other emergency, communication will be through contestant email and Thorne Bros social media channels.  

In the case of a mechanical breakdown, contact the tournament director immediately.  Arrangements can be made at the final discretion of the tournament director.  

 COMMUNICATION 

Anglers shall be prohibited from using cell phones, text messaging, or marine band radio contact with other anglers on the water and others not on the water during tournament hours (6:30 am-4:00 pm), other than for emergency reasons. Any communication between anglers for the purpose of assisting another competitor returning to the “weigh in” due to a mechanical failure will first need to be approved by one of the tournament director(s). 

FISHING LINES/BAIT

Anglers will be required to comply with all state and local regulations regarding the number and type of fishing lines.  Participants will be allowed to use only one rod per angler. No live bait is allowed. All fish must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner with a lure attached to a line on a rod and reel, with the rod in hand. No trolling.

WEIGH-IN 

Weigh-in will begin at 2:30 PM and will be based on flight number. All teams must come back to check in at the conclusion of the tournament for the safety of all anglers. All teams must be visible by one of the tournament boats near The Shoreline Hotel by their check-in time to avoid being assessed a late penalty. Upon arrival, teams must return their check-in key chain with their boat number to one of the marked official boats. If you choose not to weigh fish, after dropping off your keychain, you may proceed back to the boat launch. Every team must turn in its key chain to a tournament official, regardless of whether they weigh in or not.  Teams may weigh in early if weigh bags are available.  Please clear the dock and beach areas once you have weighed in.  Release will be handled by tournament officials.

Weigh bags will be limited and given out to teams as they come in for the weigh-in.  Teams are required to stay in their boats at the docks until given a weigh bag and directed by a tournament worker that it is safe to proceed to the weigh area. Once fish have been presented to a Tournament Official to be “weighed,” all fish become the property of the Thorne Bros Classic,and no additional fish may be brought to the scales. All fish that are alive will be released by boat to Lake Minnetonka after being weighed in by tournament workers. The weigh-in and tournament results will be streamed live..

Once a team member has checked in or left the boat for the purpose of checking in, neither team member may fish or continue fishing. It is the team’s responsibility to be at the weigh in on time. Teams need to present themselves in a sportsmanlike, friendly manner at the weigh-in to staff, volunteers, sponsors, and spectators. Competitors should be aware that video, pictures, and interviews may be occurring. 

LATE POLICY 

In the event that a team does not show up by their assigned morning check-in time, the team will have to wait until the Tournament Director(s) can safely add their boat into the line up to get their boat checked and released. Any team that leaves late due to them arriving at the tournament late will be required to still be back in time for their afternoon weigh in time based on their flight. 

Competitors need to be within sight of the docks at the Shoreline Hotel and be seen by an authorized Thorne Bros Classic official in one of the boats by their PM check-in time.  Boats must be off plane in the staging area by their check in time.   For every one minute late, one pound will be taken from the total weight for the team. 

SCORING OF FISH 

A five (5) fish limit per boat. Winners will be determined by the total weight of Largemouth and Smallmouth bass in pounds and ounces to the hundredths decimal place. All bass must measure at least 12” in length to count (measured with a closed mouth and the tail fanned). No foreign matter or regurgitated materials may be placed in a fish.

Short fish in all situations will not be allowed to weigh in. If a short fish is brought to weigh in, there will be a one pound penalty plus no weight added for the short fish.  Dead fish will receive a penalty of four ounces (1/4 pound) per dead fish. Dead fish will not qualify for the Big Fish prize. 

PRIZE PAYOUT 

The prize payout will be posted on the Thorne Bros Classic website and associated social media accounts.  Prize payout is based on a full field. First-place prize of $15,000.00 will be guaranteed with a minimum of 75 entries.

At the time of prize payout, winners may be asked to complete and submit a W-9 taxpayer form before the transfer of prizes/money occurs. Failure to submit this information will result in the winner not receiving their prizes. 

All contestants can be subjected to a polygraph test at any time before receiving any winnings at the Thorne Bros Classic.

NO FISH DECISION PRIZE MONEY

Prize money will be given to the highest finishing contestant or contestants for each specific event. If only one or a few teams officially weigh fish, the remaining places and prize money will be given and divided by the highest placing team or teams. In the case of one or a few teams officially weighing fish, prize money will be given only to the teams that have officially weighed fish. The other empty spots will remain empty and the prize money will be divided by the highest finishers who weighed fish. 

In the rare event that absolutely no team officially weighs any fish, prize money will NOT be refunded to participating teams since no team placed in the money. In all rule and prize money decisions, contestants agree that the Thorne Bros Classic Tournament Director(s) make all final decisions. Contestants will not be awarded or refunded based on not catching a fish. 

TIE BREAKERS 

All ties will be broken by the big fish. If there is still a tie then the teams will split the prize money evenly. All teams are required to weigh a big fish during weigh-in. 

PROTESTS/POLYGRAPHS 

Any protest regarding tournament contestants must be submitted in writing to one of the Tournament Directors within 10 minutes of the close of the weigh-in. The Thorne Bros Classic reserves the right to require a polygraph test of any participant at any time. This test does not have to be administered on site and may be set up by the Tournament Director(s) at his/her discretion. All participants agree to abide by the results of any polygraph test administered. 

In the event of a protest the protesting team or individual must present, in written form, a detailed account of the complaint and a $200.00 protest fee to the Tournament Directors. The letter or the acknowledgement of a letter being written must occur within the “10 minute” window of time mentioned above. The fee will be returned only upon positive verification of the protest and the tournament directors have the discretion of mailing any and all checks to any teams pending the outcome. All decisions regarding protests will be made with the “spirit and intent of the rule” taken into “best context” with the director’s decision being final. If found invalid, the check will be cashed, and the protesting team will cover all associated costs. Valid protests will result in the disqualified team covering the costs. 

CONTINGENCY BONUSES

If participants of the Thorne Bros Classic Tournament wear a Thorne Bros branded
jacket, shirt, or hat during weigh in and place in one of the top twenty teams of the tournament they will receive a $250 Thorne Bros gift certificate that will be valid for redemption online at thornebros.com or in-store. Winners will receive a gift certificate code for $250 off a one-time online purchase within one year.  This is an individual based award, but if both team members who place in a top ten spot wear a Thorne Bros apparel item they will both receive a $250 gift card. This prize certificate will be mailed out the week of the tournament after the results are final. 

INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event that there is a delay in the tournament due to fog, lightning or high winds or any other conditions that may be of life threatening conditions during the tournament, all competitors are expected to take whatever actions are necessary to ensure safety. After the threat has been cleared, the tournament either will continue or will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director(s). There will be no refunds for delays of the tournament or tournament finishing early due to inclement weather.  In the event of inclement weather or other emergency, communication will be through contestant email and Thorne Bros social media channels.  

CANCELLATIONS

In the event that the tournament is canceled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, participants will be notified of this decision from the Tournament Director(s) before the day of the tournament and will be refunded the total registration amount. 

REFUNDS 

Boat/engine malfunction/equipment failure is the boaters/contestant’s responsibility and no refunds will be allowed. This would include no refund for any vehicle, boat, or engine failure or breakdown of contestant’s equipment. Operation of vehicle, boat, and the engine is the contestant’s responsibility along with being a safe driver of the boat. In case of any disqualification for any reason, entry fees will not be refunded There will be no refund of registration fee within one week of the tournament. Please contact us if there is an emergency situation. Inclement weather or rough waters during the event do not constitute a refund of entry from the event. Competitors are fully responsible for all safety concerns. 

 RULES INTERPRETATION 

All decisions regarding any tournament rules, matters, protests or complaints will be made with the “spirit and intent of the rule” taken into “best context” with the tournament director’s decision being final. There will be no refunds of entry fees in cases of disqualification. All directors’ decisions are final. Knowing the rules is the contestant’s responsibility. All contestants,by paying an entry fee into the Thorne Bros ClassicTournament agree to abide by the Thorne Bros Classic tournament rules. Contestants are required to read the rules before participating. It is the sole responsibility of each contestant to know and abide by all the rules of the DNR,  local ordinances, and any federal, state, and local laws.

Payout based on full field.

TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS

Jared Remerowski

jared@thornebros.com