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Rules
First and foremost, all anglers agreeing to participate in the Buckeye Kayak Fishing Trail acknowledge that BKFT is in no way liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur during angling or kayaking in the events. You are entering and fishing at your own risk. Participants must follow all state, city, regional laws/rules and regulations for both Fishing and Boating.
The Buckeye Kayak Fishing Trail follows the KBF Rules Standards. The set of rules is long, but not without reason. It is required reading for everyone that participates in an event. Registering for an event signifies you have read and understand all the rules.
*BKFT reserves the right to add or exclude rules for specific events. Any rule exceptions will be listed on each event web page.
In the event of a dispute or protest send an email with as many details as possible along with your contact information to: buckeyekayakfishingtrail@gmail.com They must be sent within 24 hours of the 'Fishing End Time' listed on the event page.
Failure to submit within that window will result in forfeiture of dispute or protest.
Every dispute or complaint is taken seriously and reviewed in great detail by BKFT leadership.
Online Series
Eligible Water
The BKFT Online Series is limited to Ohio.
Water within Ohio is further limited by KBF rules. Please read and understand what defines eligible water:
Per KBF Rules Section # '5. Competition Area':
A. Competitive fishing is allowed only on publicly accessible waters within the geographic area (Ohio) designated on the Event Page as “Eligible Water .” Photos of fish caught outside of eligible water boundaries will be denied.
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Photos that competitors submit for scoring in every KBF Challenge or tournament must be of fish caught from Eligible Water. To be “Eligible,” the body of water must be inside the competition area boundary, during public-access hours, be accessible to the public, and be where fishing is permitted by regulations.
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Resident only or community ponds are not eligible for KBF competition.
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Any body of water that requires special permission is not eligible for KBF competition unless specifically permitted per KBF Rules (i.e. Military Establishments)
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Community (neighborhood) lakes that provide public access are off-limits to KBF competition regardless of whether or not they allow public access.
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If a lake has posted use times, it is eligible only during the hours permitted by the regulatory body. For example, if a park permits launching from daylight and closes at sunset, and that is the location used to access the lake, then the lake is off-limits outside of the permitted launch times.
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Use of private access to fish in any public waters is not permitted.
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A competitor must access the water from or across publicly accessible areas or rights-of-way. Additionally, anglers MAY NOT cast into or otherwise obtain access to off-limits areas from eligible water. (Example: Posted spawning areas or other refuges)
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Clarification of eligible waters is the sole responsibility of the competitor prior to engaging in competition.
B. Competitors may launch from any public-access shore directly onto Eligible Water. Crossing restricted property to reach Eligible Water is not permitted. Tributaries, canals, sloughs or estuaries separated from the rest of eligible water by temporary obstructions (e.g., fallen trees, log jams, beaver dams) that, if removed, could be entered by floating/paddling are considered eligible waters in which competition is permitted, and competitors are permitted to drag or portage watercraft over or around such obstructions. Those separated by obstructions of a permanent nature across or through which one cannot paddle/float (e.g., levees, earthen or concrete dams, berms, elevated roadbeds, spillways, waterfalls) are ineligible water, and competition in such areas is prohibited. Violation will result in disqualification from the event.
Violation will result in disqualification from the event, so if you are unsure if a waterway is eligible, please email buckeyekayakfishingtrail@gmail.com