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Blackhawk Bassmasters

2008 TOURNAMENT/Club RULES

 

1.        All federal, state, and local laws must be adhered to at all times and have precedence over all club tournament rules.

2.       All rulings of the Tournament Chairman and Board members present will be final.

3.       Every effort will be made to assure that all members who want to fish have the opportunity to do so.

4.       Entrants must be a Blackhawk Bassmasters member or a guest of a Blackhawk Bassmasters member:

a.        A guest of any member of the club is welcome to attend any club event. A guest wishing to fish a club tournament must pay the tournament entry fee (optional big bass fee). The sponsor of the guest is responsible for the guest’s conduct.

b.   At no time will a guest cause a member of the club not to fish a tournament.

5.       Artificial baits only (pork baits acceptable).

6.       Only one line per entrant in the water at a time.

7.       No main motor trolling allowed.

8.       Only Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, meeting lake minimum or larger, may be entered at the weigh-ins.

9.       Competitors may NOT cull any legal size dead fish.

10.    No drunkenness, disorderly conduct, unsportsmanlike conduct, or profane language in public areas or weigh-ins. This will be grounds for immediate disqualification for that day.

11.     Fishing in an area posted or restricted by the lake authority, or an area designated off-limits by the board, will result in disqualification for that day.

12.    Individual creels must be kept and each fish entered must have been caught by the entering contestant. Each contestant must enter their fish in a separate bag at weigh-in.

13.    Five (5) fish limit and lake length limit will apply unless told differently by the Tournament Chairman.

14.    No fishing within fifty (50) yards of another Blackhawk Bassmasters Club boat that is anchored or tied off.

15.    The Tournament Chairman with help from appointed members will handle the weigh-in and record the weights. All healthy bass must be returned to the lake.

16.    All contestants must wear a life vest when the outboard is running and the kill switch must be attached to the driver’s body.

17.    All boats must meet USCG specifications and all boat systems (livewells, trolling motor, etc.) should be operational and in good working order and not cause a safety concern.

18.    All contestants should check in at the designated starting point thirty (30) minutes prior to the designated take-off to receive take-off order and to be advised of any pertinent information involving the tournament (early/late starts, off limits, livewell checks, etc.) (Failure to be at the designated place or time could result in a disqualification.) (People that are late will have to check-in with the Tournament Chairman within 30 minutes after the official tournament start time. Failure to do so will result in disqualification for that day.)

19.    Each boat will be assigned a starting position and must idle in single file past the member starting the tournament regardless of fishing area. The starter will provide information to participants during the take off process. In all cases, the participant is responsible for knowing the requirements associated with that tournament.

20.   Any member not in attendance when the tournament sign-in is scheduled, must contact a board member to sign them up and submit their fees. All fees are non-refundable!  Anyone signing up after the pairings begin will do so as a non-boater (The Tournament Chairman can override this to equalize the teams. )

21.    No racing during tournament hours.

22.   Competitors must not depart the boat to land fish or make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Competitors must leave from and return to the official check-in point by boat. Trailering of boats to another location during tournament hours is prohibited, except by direction of tournament officials. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prevent any competitor from using rest room facilities or seeking shelter during a storm. In such cases one partner may remain with the boat.

23.   Boaters and non-boaters will share equally in fuel expenses in getting the boat to the lake, boat gas, lodging, tow vehicle gas, and any other fees.

24.   All contestants must check in at the end of the tournament day at the designated place and time. If late, one pound per minute up to ten (10) minutes late will be deducted from the total weight of the fish caught that day. Any participant over ten (10) minutes late will be disqualified for that day. Except in the case of an emergency, any contestant choosing to leave early during a tournament day will result in loss of all tournament points (weight, place, and participation).

25.   If a team member does not fish the entire tournament of whatever reason, payouts will be based on a complete team payout. No refunds will be given to the team member that was unable to fish the entire tournament.

26.   If a single man team occurs for any reason, assuming that he pays for 2 entries in advance of the tournament start, that individual will have the right to a full place payout. Otherwise, that individual will receive half the place payout.

27.   If two boaters are partnered together, the boater that was at the pre-tournament meeting has the right of first-refusal to use his boat. If both boaters were at the pre-tournament meeting, then a coin toss will be used. Anyone (boater or non-boater) refusing to fish with their partner will be disqualified.

28.   Weigh-in will start within twenty (20) minutes after the scheduled end of the tournament at the designated place.

29.   All boat owners must have a copy of their boat insurance on file with the Board prior to their using the boat in a club tournament. The insurance limits must meet or exceed the limits set by the IBF and BASS.

30.   Lights must be on if the start of the tournament is before official sunrise.

31.    If a tournament is canceled everyone who signed up will receive ten (10) points. A participant may receive their money back and forfeit their points.

32.   If caught cheating, person or persons will lose all rights to the club, lose all fees, and must return all club property.

33.   If any member causes the club to be fined then that member must pay the fine.

34.   POINT SCORING SYSTEM:

a.       Tournament points will be comprised of weight points, place points, and participation points.

b.       Tournament participants will be ranked by the pounds and ounces of fish caught with no distinction regarding boater or non-boater. Participants will receive one point for every ounce of fish weighed, with all participants receiving ten (10) points for fishing the tournament

c.       Place points will be as follows: fifteen (15) for 1st Place, ten (10) for 2nd Place, and five (5) for 3rd Place. Ties will be handled as follows: the points and the money for the two places that are tied will be added together and then divided evenly. Plates will be issued for the highest place tied to those tied

d.       Twenty-five (25) points for each Club meeting attended.

e.       Twenty-five (25)points for each National PVA (BASS Affiliated) participated in.

f.       Twenty-five (25) points for each Club Youth Program participated in.

g.       Twenty-five (25) points for each Club Conservation Program participated in.

h.       Twenty-five (25) points for each Club fundraiser participated in.

i.       Competitors that present a bass for weigh0in that fail to measure the prescribed length of a legal fish in the tournament waters will be penalized at the rate of one (1) pound for each non-legal bass presented from the total score of the competitor after throwing out the illegal bass..

j.         For each legal dead bass presented at weigh-in, the competitor shall be penalized the following amounts on that day's weigh-in only:

  • 1 Dead Fish - 4 Oz. (.25 lb)

  • 2 Dead Fish - additional 6 OZ. = 10 Oz. (.63 lb)

  • 3 Dead Fish - additional 8 OZ. = 18 Oz. (1.13 lb)

  • 4 Dead Fish - additional 10 OZ. = 28 Oz. (1.75 lb)

  • 5 Dead Fish - additional 12 OZ. = 40 Oz. (2.50 lb)

      The resulting weight will be counted for all SCORING; TOURNAMENT, BIG BASS, etc.

35.   There will be no Pre-fishing from 1:00 AM the Monday immediately before the first official Pre-fishing day until official sun rise on the first Pre-fishing day.

36.   All "questionable" fish WILL be checked/bumped for proper length.

37.   There is a cap of 150 points per year for Meeting points

38.   The Angler of the Year award shall be presented to the angler who finishes in the First Place “overall” position in the yearly standings. The award for this accomplishment will be presented at an annual Club banquet or Club awards ceremony, whichever is selected by the membership. In case of a tie, the winner will be decided by the most Weight points, then Place points, then Meeting points, then Program points, then coin toss.
 

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