BUILT FOR TOURNAMENT FISHING. BUILT BY TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS.
eTournament Fishing Quick Guides for Anglers and Directors
QUICK GUIDES. Everything you need for a CPRV™ (Catch-Photo-Release-Video) tournament, step by step. Read it here, or print it and keep it in the boat.
Download the PDFs from each guide below.
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Angler Quick Guide: CPRV™ tournaments
Get set up
We highly recommend you register for and use the practice event! Run a few test submissions before tournament day so every step feels easy.
Download the eTournament Fishing app from the App Store or Google Play, then:
1. Accept all permissions. You must accept them all.
2. Log in and choose the Angler role.
3. Practice. Register for the practice event and submit a test fish before event day. Watch "How to take a good measurement photo" on our How-To Instructions page: etournamentfishing.com/how-to-instructions-1
NIGHT-BEFORE CHECKLIST
Phone OS and eTournament app updated
Phone meets the requirements (below)
All app permissions accepted
Checked in to my event while I still have good service
Read my event rules: hours, boundaries, board
Measuring board my event requires
Phone charged, with free storage space
TOURNAMENT DAY: HOW TO SUBMIT A FISH
Follow the orange prompts in the app:
1. Open the app as an Angler and go to your event.
2. Select a species first, if your event has multiple species.
3. Select fish length at any time during the submission.
4. Measurement photo. Take it inside the app. It's time and date stamped.
5. Trophy photo next, if applicable.
6. Release video, then submit. Leave the app open until the upload finishes.
7. Track it. Monitor your submission status in your virtual livewell. Refresh to view the most current status.
PHOTO AND VIDEO TIPS
Follow your event's rules. Each event sets its own. Common tips:
Shoot straight down, no angle.
Whole fish, in focus, no shadows.
No trophy photo required? Start the video with the fish still on the board, then lift it off and release it into the water.
After you tap record, check that the timer is counting.
QUICK FIXES FOR ANGLERS
Stuck on "Being Uploaded": Tap refresh (top right), pull down to refresh, or tap the green virtual livewell button. Paused submissions pick back up.
Upload is slow: Leave the app open. Don't swipe it closed. Let the screen time out on its own. Refresh periodically to keep the upload from timing out.
App is laggy or slow: Your carrier may be slow in that area. Restart your phone: turn it off, wait a few seconds, turn it on, then log back in. Be patient.
No cell service: Keep fishing. If you checked in, the app switches to offline mode on its own and saves your submissions on your phone.
Can't submit: The app takes submissions (not fish) only during tournament hours. Make sure you chose the Angler role.
Still stuck on the water: Contact your tournament director. Directors can enter a catch for you when technical issues come up.
PHONE REQUIREMENTS
iPhone: iPhone XR or newer, iOS 17.4 or later
Android: Android 12 or later (most devices)
Update the OS before every event. Phones over about 5 years old can struggle.
ANGLER FAQ
How do I learn the app fast? Visit our How-To Instructions page (etournamentfishing.com/how-to-instructions-1), then watch the Quick Video Guide Series (etournamentfishing.com/quick-video-guide-series).
Who sets the rules? Your tournament director sets the rules, boundaries, hours and scoring. When in doubt, follow your event's rules.
What is the Fish Log? Log your catches on any day. It maps each catch and keeps notes and photos together. It's completely secure: only you can see it or share it.
How does the leaderboard work? It's live and shows names or PINs, depending on how your director set it up. You get a team number and PIN when you register. Share your PIN only if you want people to know your spot.
What does it cost? One subscription covers every event you fish on eTournament: $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Or get a $16 one-time 30-day pass (not a subscription). See Pricing: etournamentfishing.com/pricing
Learn More
Download the printable Angler Quick Guide (PDF) for your phone or boat bag.
Director Quick Guide
Your tournament, your rules, your control
Directors use the app free, with unlimited access. No setup or hosting fee.
1. Log in to the app and choose the Director role.
2. Build your event. Registration, rules, boundaries, scoring formats and payouts. Clone a past event to go faster.
3. Pick your format. CPR format, or manage your live weigh-in.
4. Set your scoring. Score by length, or use built-in length-to-weight charts by species (or upload your own).
5. Draw a geo-fence (optional). Catches outside it are flagged automatically.
6. Load your anglers. Registration info, team numbers and PINs. Using your own registration? Send us your roster.
7. Choose who judges. Your team plus co-directors, or Hire eTournament: we judge your fish for $14 per team.
8. Send anglers the Angler Quick Guide (link them to this page). Remind them to check in while they have service (this turns on offline mode).
9. Stay in touch. Reach anglers through the app's angler chat or SMS functions.
TOURNAMENT DAY
1. Start. App start times are automatic. Time controls, geo-fencing and event requirements. Submissions close automatically at the end time.
2. Receive. Photos, measurements, videos and location come in with every submission.
3. Judge. Approve, reject, adjust or review each fish. Leave a note for anglers, use the measurement overlay tool, or use the sort function.
4. Communicate. Message all or some anglers: weather warnings, rule clarifications, inspection requests.
5. Display. Live leaderboard showing names or PINs, depending on how you set it up. Run awards with Emcee mode.
6. Finish. Verified results and downloadable tournament records.
Director entry: Angler has a tech problem? Record the catch from the time- and date-stamped photos they took in the app (stored in their photo library).
Need rules? Adapt the sample event rules on our Tutorials page: etournamentfishing.com/tutorials
PRE-EVENT CHECKLIST
Rules, hours, boundaries, scoring set
Geo-fence drawn and checked, if necessary
Anglers' app permissions given
All anglers are registered
Anglers sent the Angler Quick Guide
Anglers told: update phone, check in
DIRECTOR FAQ
What does it cost us? Directors: free, unlimited access. Anglers: one subscription covers every event they fish, $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Or a $16 one-time 30-day pass (not a subscription).
How do you score released fish? If you choose length-to-weight conversion, anglers enter length and the app converts it to weight by species. Scoring by length is also available, along with centimeters-to-pounds conversion for our Canadian tournaments.
What do sponsors get? Three areas in the app showcase sponsor logos. You can also customize leaderboard visibility to promote your sponsors.
How do you protect integrity? In-app camera with time and date stamps. Required release video. Geo-fencing. Director approval on every submission.
We don't have judges. Now what? Hire eTournament: we judge for $14 per team. Our team reviews each fish and approves catches. See etournamentfishing.com/hire-etournament
What if anglers lose cell signal? Anglers who checked in get offline mode automatically. Submissions save on the phone and upload back in coverage.
Can we keep our own registration? Yes. Send us your angler roster and we'll upload it.
Have a special format in mind? Contact us. We'll design the setup with you.
WHEN YOUR ANGLER SAYS…
"It's stuck on Being Uploaded." Tell them: Tap refresh (top right), pull down to refresh, or tap the green virtual livewell button. Paused submissions pick back up.
"My upload is slow." Tell them: Leave the app open. Don't swipe it closed. Let the screen time out on its own. Refresh periodically to keep the upload from timing out.
"The app is laggy." Tell them: Their carrier may be slow in that area. Restart the phone, then log back in. Be patient.
"I can't submit." Tell them: The app takes submissions (not fish) only during tournament hours. Make sure they chose the Angler role.
"Why don't I see names?" Tell them: It shows names or PINs, depending on your setup.
"Will my phone work?" Tell them: iPhone XR or newer with iOS 17.4+, or Android 12+ (most devices).
Learn More
Download the printable Director Quick Guide (PDF): setup, tournament day, and the answers anglers ask most.