October 14th at Lake Red Rock
The tournament fee is $120 per team. We will pay 1 in 7 with 2 big fish places (based on 40 teams)
1st Place $1,158, 2nd Place $590, 3rd Place $350, 4th Place $301, 5th Place $251, 6th Place $230
Big Fish 1st Place $312, 2nd Place $168
We will have plaques for the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place teams
**No membership required**
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We will be selling raffle tickets, 5 tickets for $10 (Cash Only). The prizes are below, if interested in donating items please call Brad Thomas at 402-915-ten 24.
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Schedule
Live Well Check: 6:30 AM
Fishing Hours: 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Weigh In: 3:30 PM
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Prizes
TBA
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The Nate Stupka Memorial Fishing Tournament is an event set up to honor the memory of a man who loved all things outdoors, but specifically the sport of crappie fishing.
Nate was born on November 30, 1971 to Clarence and Marlene Stupka. Nate grew up in the community of Huxley, Iowa and attended Ballard High School. Nate followed in the footsteps of his 4 older siblings (Tim, Jane, Steve, and Carrie) by being involved in many activities and sports in high school. Football, basketball, and baseball took up much of his time, but he always found ways to fit in his true passions, hunting and fishing.
In 1995 Nate married Amy Struthers and in 2001 they welcomed twin sons Dylan and Nick. There were few things Nate enjoyed more than the hours he spent on the lakes and fields of the Midwest with his sons and close friends.
Nate passed away on October 13, 2020 due to complications of Covid-19. His sons just finishing up their school years and involvement in sports, Nate was just beginning to find the time to competitively fish in crappie tournaments. Gone too soon, he was never given the opportunity to fish the circuits as he had always dreamed. His friends and family have created this tournament as a way of honoring the dream that he was never given the time to achieve.
We thank you for being a part of the day and for participating in a tournament driven by the competitive spirit around a sport that he so dearly loved.
Amy, Dylan & Nick Stupka
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SPONSORED BY:
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Rules
1. TEAMS: You may enter alone or with a partner of your choice. No more than two (2) persons will be allowed in a participating boat during tournament hours.
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2. RULES MEETING: One team member must be present at angler meeting and remain until the angler meeting is dismissed unless approved by Tournament Director for emergency reasons.
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3. WEATHER: In the case of extreme weather/water conditions or National emergencies, Corn Belt Crappie Trail shall have the right to postpone or cancel any tournaments.
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4. FISHING HOURS: Fishing hours will be posted on our website or Facebook and will be announced at the Rules Meeting.​
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5. REGISTRATION: You must register on our website by 4 PM the day before the tournament, there will be a $10 late fee applied if you don't.
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6. ENTRY FEES/REFUNDS: Corn Belt Crappie Trail will not refund or forward entry fees for lake conditions, fishing conditions or bite. Teams must request forward/refund for personal, family or work emergencies in writing or electronic mail stating the reason for the request.
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7. STATE LAW: Teams must comply with all State and boating regulations throughout the entire year, including the use of P.F.D.’s and kill switches. Fishing, boating regulations, and licenses are the responsibility of team members. State fishing laws and boating regulations supersede tournament rules. Violation of State or Lake laws is grounds for disqualification.
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8. MINORS: Any minor (under 18) who participates, must have a legal guardian present to enter the tournament.
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9. BIG FISH: Only one (1) Big Fish entry per team. Only one (1) big fish will be weighed in. Teams will have that fish marked and designated as their big fish at weigh-in.
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​10. TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: The Director can fish the tournament, but another team must weigh in their fish.
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11. FISHABLE WATERS: Fishing within 50 feet of a Marina gas pump or within 50 feet of a competitor’s boat is prohibited. Any area of water that can be reached by boat from a non-river boat ramp. You may fish the rivers if you can reach them from the main lake.
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12. ALCOHOL: Alcohol beverages are not allowed during the tournament hours. Use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during tournament hours is prohibited and will result in disqualification.
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13. COMPENSATION: No one can be hired, compensated, or offered compensation in any way to fish with you, mark fishing spots for you, or help you gain a competitive advantage in anyway 30 days prior to any tournament.
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14. BOATS: You must fish from a boat. Rubber Rafts or Canoes are not allowed. All tournament boats are required to have a minimum 6 HP or greater motor. If one team member needs to exit the boat, the other team member may continue fishing as long as the exiting team member does not return to the boat that day. If a team member begins the day fishing solo, they must finish out the day fishing solo.
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15. POLES: Each angler has to follow the state rules.
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16. BAITS: A maximum of two baits per pole may be used during tournament hours if in accordance with Local and State laws. Live and artificial bait may be used unless announced differently on the Tournament Information Page or at the Rules Meeting.
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17. OFF LIMITS: Tournament waters are off limits at 8 pm the prior to the start of the competition.
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18. CELL PHONES: Cell phones are prohibited during tournament hours unless used for an emergency. You may also use your cell phone if you spot someone cheating to either take a photo of them and or contact a tournament director.
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19. SPOTTING: During tournament hours no one may spot fish for you or mark fishing spots for you.
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20. LANDING FISH: Crappie must be hooked and landed with a rod or pole by team member(s). Crappie must be hooked through the lip or in the mouth. Landing nets may be used.
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21. HOLE- SITTING: No hole sitting by a competitor or non-competitor boat during the tournament will be allowed. This means that a non-competitors hold fishing spots or relay information to competitors.
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22. LIFE JACKETS: Life jackets or personal flotation devices must always be worn while your combustion engine is operating. Life jackets must be properly secured and maintained secured until the combustion engine is turned off. Kill switches must always be properly attached the combustion engine is on. All State and Local rules and regulations supersede tournament rules.
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23. LIVE WELL CHECKS: Live Well checks will take place on each tournament morning at the designated time and place listed on our website and social media sites.
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24. FISH: Teams may weigh in seven (7), live crappie on tournament day. Teams seven (7) crappie must be alive when entering the official weigh-in line. Teams presenting more than seven crappies will be disqualified. Once you have entered the weigh-in line, your fish will be counted and be verified dead or alive by the tournament official. Dead fish will be removed, and you may then continue to the scales for your official weigh-in. Once your fish have been verified alive, you will then be allowed to weigh those fish, even if one or more die before reaching the scales. The tournament official has sole responsibility for the declaration of dead or alive crappie. No mutilated fish may be weighed. Mutilation is defined as any damage that impairs the fish’s fighting ability. All decisions regarding mutilation will be made by Corn Belt Crappie Trail tournament officials. Corn Belt Crappie Trail has the right to keep weighed in fish for further evaluation at our own discretion without explanation or cause.
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25. LENGTH: All crappie brought to the scales for weigh-in must meet State length requirements for the State and may not have any weight enhancements. Any team bringing in illegal crappie to the weigh-in line will be disqualified. A 8” length limit will be enforced on lakes without a length limit.
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26. TIES: In the case of a tie, the tie breaker will be determined by the team’s biggest fish, if the big fish is also a tie the winner will be decided in a coin flip. Best 2 out of 3 flips
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SPORTSMANSHIP: Team members are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, honesty, courtesy, safety, conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, Corn Belt Crappie Trail, Corn Belt Crappie Trail sponsors, the sport of fishing, and Corn Belt Crappie Trail efforts to promote the sport. Examples of conduct not complying with those standards include, but are not limited to, the following: Violation of or failure to comply with any of the official rules
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CONDUCT: In case of any conduct not complying with the standards, Corn Belt Crappie Trail shall have the right to refuse any entry application, deny a paid entry application, or revoke a membership by returning the entry fee/membership fee of a previously accepted application, or to disqualify a team. Unsportsmanlike conduct can be grounds for disqualification if circumstances require and will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director. Unsportsmanlike conduct could result in membership revocation.
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