01/25/05

 BASS ANGLERS SPORTSMANS SOCIETY

“BASS SEARCHERS OF INDY”

TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS

2004

1.         PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY :

            Any club member may fish a tournament provided the member is in good standing and agrees to tournament rules.  Definition: Good Standing – The member is current with dues and has attended 2/3 of all club functions to date.

2.         PARTNERS :

            Partners will be determined by the tournament committee by means of a drawing.  The drawing will consist of TWO separate hats.  One with the names of the boaters and the other with the names of the non-boaters.  Partners will meet and decide who will furnish food, beverages, etc., if any, and transportation to the take-off.  Each person should make every effort to make sure their partner is at the take-off site in plenty of time to register and get their equipment loaded into the boat.  If a partner does not show up on time, the member may be paired with another member.  When partners check out at the beginning of the tournament, they must stay together and in sight of each other and each others fish until their catches have been weighed and recorded.  No bass caught by a contestant will be counted on the score of another contestant.  In such cases, both contestants will be disqualified from this and all future tournaments.  The tournament committee will make final decisions or charges.  No member will fish successive tournaments with the same partner excluding two-day outings.  If possible no member will fish more than twice with the same partner during the season.  If a member does not show up at a meeting and does not notify the tournament committee prior to the meeting of the desire to fish, their name will not be put into the drawing for the next tournament.  If the member then shows up at the tournament, they will receive NO POINTS for that tournament.  If two boaters are paired, the first one drawn will bring a boat unless agreeing to defer to the other boater.  If two boaters are paired, the one not bringing a boat will be paired first for the next tournament.  If this happens to more than one boater, their names will be put in a separate hat to be paired with a non-boater before other boaters are drawn.  Boaters drawn together may agree to bring both boats and fish separately.

3.         BOATS, MOTORS AND EXPENSES

             The partner not furnishing the boat shall be expected to pay half of all his partner’s expenses for gas and oil (boat and car) and, if any, launching fees.  They will also be expected to pay their share of any camping fees or motel rentals.  However, if both partners must drive a vehicle to the tournament site because of a legitimate need to do so, the boater should not expect to be reimbursed for vehicle expenses.  Each partner shall have the right to choose where they fish for one-half of the tournament.  At no time shall either partner operate the boat or motor in a manner to cause hardship or deliberately handicap the other.

(A)     If a club member must fish alone, the club will pay for half of his expenses. 

(B)     If a club member is a NO SHOW, THAT MEMBER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF OF HIS PARTNER’S EXPENSES PLUS PAY A $5.00 PENALTY TO THE TREASURY AND WILL BE PENTALIZED 32 CLUB POINTS.

(C)     If a club member CANNOT MAKE A TOURNAMENT, HE MUST CALL HIS PARTNER.   HE MUST ALSO CALL THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OR ONE OF HIS COMMITTEE MEMBERS NO LATER THAN THE DAY BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT TO AVOID ANY PENALTY

4.         TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT

            Only artificial lures may be used.  No live bait or prepared bait will be permitted.  However, pork, or pork type strips, rinds, etc. may be used.  Only casting, spinning, and spin casting reels and rods may be used.  Only one rod and reel may be used and in the water at one time.  Additional rods and reels may be kept in the boat, rigged and ready to use.  All bass must be caught alive and in a sporting manner.  Electric depth finders are permitted and electric trolling motors may be used to maneuver the boat or for the purpose of trolling.  A gasoline motor may not be used for trolling.

5.         TAKE-OFF

            No boats will take off until directed by the tournament director.  Partners must be in their boat on the water ready to fish at the appointed take-off time.  (SEE RULE #11 LATE PENALTY)

(A)     TAKE OFF WILL BE IN THE ORDER OF THE DRAW or SHOTGUN START.

6.         SAFETY

            All state boating laws and lake rules must be observed at all times and all contestants must use good judgment to insure the safety of themselves and their partner and anyone else who may be on the lake.  It is MANDATORY THAT EVERYONE WEARS AN APPROVED LIFE VEST WHEN THE COMBUSTIBLE ENGINE IS OPERATING.  ALL BOATS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH SOME TYPE OF OPERABLE IGNITION KILL SWITCH.

7.         SPORTSMANSHIP

            Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation are expected from each contestant.  Drunkenness on the part of any contestant shall be grounds for disqualification from all tournaments.  No alcoholic beverages shall be shown in any manner as to the public view and dislike.  Also no alcoholic beverages will be tolerated at the take-off site, in the boat during fishing hours, or at the weigh-in site.

8.         PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS

            Fishing is permitted any place on the lake except those areas designated off limits by the tournament director and/or the lake authority.  However, no fishing is permitted within 50 yards of another contestant’s anchored boat.  The penalty for fishing off-limits water will be disqualification.  All fishing must be done from a boat.  A contestant must not depart the boat to land a fish.  Boats should stay in the water during tournament hours except for emergencies.  A member should contact another member before leaving the lake.  Trailering of a boat during a tournament is not prohibited.  If a boat is trailered for any reason during tournament hours it may reenter the water but only at the original launch site.  The official weigh-in site will be the take-off site or the parking lot.         

9.         DON’T KILL YOUR CATCH

            Contestants will make every effort to keep their catch alive.  All live fish will be turned loose, unless contestants want to keep their fish.

(A)     Each dead fish ***Deduct ½ pound***

                        (B)  Any fish kept by a contestant will be considered DEAD and ½ pound will be 

                        deducted for each fish kept.

(B)     ANY FISH BROUGHT TO THE SCALES NOT IN A BAG WILL NOT BE

WEIGHED.

10.       TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

            The tournament schedule shall be set by the tournament director and the tournament committee.

After the March meeting the tournament dates cannot be changed.  The locations may be changed, but only if absolutely necessary.       

11.       TOURNAMENT FISHING HOURS

            Length of tournaments shall be decided on at the regular meeting prior to the tournament.  The exact take-off time will be announced before each tournament and will be adhered to unless take-off is delayed.

12.       LATE PENALTY:  TAKE-OFF AND WEIGH-IN

            Contestants who are not on time will be penalized 5% of their total days weight, including the big bass, for each one minute late for up to 15 minutes.  Then their catch is disqualified.  There will be no excuse for tardiness except under circumstances to be voted on by the members at the site.

13.       SCORING

            Scoring will be determined on a 30 point system with the daily winner receiving 30 pts., second 29 pts., and so on.  Only black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, etc.) will be weighed.  The bass limit will be five (5) except where smaller limits are posted.  Each contestant must report his or her own catch to the weigh-in station.  Bass that do not meet the size limit for the body of water being fished will be considered illegal.  Measuring will be done from the closed mouth to the tip of the tail.  NOT THE V.  For each illegal fish brought to the scales the penalty will be the loss of that fish and a one pound deduction from the total weight starting with the big bass.  Club standard will be the GOLDEN RULE.  Each member will receive 10 show points for each tournament they attend.  They will also receive 10 points for each meeting they attend.  Each member may have two excused meetings per year and still receive points for them.  After that NO MEETING, NO POINTS. NO EXCUSE.  If a member must miss a meeting, or meetings, because of their regular work shift they will receive points.

13.       PRIZES

(A)    Prizes will consist of plates to be awarded to the members placing 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8^th in the tournament.  The plates will show the tournament site, date, and finishing position.

(B)     The club will furnish a recognition patch for all fish caught over FIVE POUNDS.

(C)    Trophies will be awarded at the year-end banquet.  The top eight finishers in club points for the year will receive trophies designating their finish in the club points for the year.  The member catching the biggest bass for the year in a tournament will receive a trophy with a black plate for “LUNKER AWARD”.  Also each officer from the past year will receive a red plate in recognition of his or her service.

(D)    Angler-of-the-Year – based only on the total weight of fish caught during the year.

14.       TIES

(A)     In the case of ties, the member with the longest fish shall receive the top award plate, but the records will show a tie.

            (B)  Year-end ties will be determined by the following:

(1)    Total number of club functions attended.

(2)    Number of times caught fish in tournaments.

(3)    Total number of fish.

(4)    Largest fish. (If possible)

(5)    Number of state and zone meetings attended.

(6)    Coin flip (last option).

15.       TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

            The tournament committee will select someone to signal the take-off, check to make sure all contestants are at the weigh-in, weigh fish, and make sure a record is kept.  They will also check for life vests, kill-switches, etc.  These members will also be allowed to fish all tournaments and make decisions pertaining to the tournament.  One member of the committee shall collect for the option BIG BASS POT.

16.       PROTESTS

            Any protest must be in writing and submitted to the tournament committee within thirty minutes after the weigh-in.

17.       TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

            The decision of the tournament director shall be final in all matters not specifically covered in the rules.