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TOURNAMENT RULES – January 2009
1. Participants and
Eligibility
Open to all members and prospective members of the REDWOOD
EMPIRE BASS CLUB. Those entered and
under the age of 18 years must have written consent from parent or legal
guardian, and must be accompanied by an adult. There is no restriction on race,
gender, creed or color. All exceptions must have prior approval from the
Tournament Director. A club member must accompany all guests except for the
turkey shoot. Guests are limited to 2 tournaments, after which they must become
a member.
2. Safety
Safe boating conduct and all safety precautions must
be observed at all times by all contestants. Everyone fishing in club
tournaments must wear an approved life preserver anytime the combustible engine
is running. Such flotation devices must be worn and properly fastened when
being inspected at the checkout point station. In an emergency or when safety dictates, both fisherman may
take their catch, get into another boat and return to the dock. All boats must
be equipped with an engine shut-off or ignition “KILL” switch device that must
be attached to the driver whenever the combustible engine is running. All local
lake speed limits must be obeyed.
3. Sportsmanship
Any contestant that displays poor sportsmanship violates these rules or violates the fish and game laws will be disqualified. Alcohol or any other illegal, controlled substance found in a contestant’s possession while in the boat will result in the immediate disqualification of the offending party. The use of cameras is prohibited during tournaments.
4. Boat and Motor
All boats entered in the tournament must be at least
14 feet in length and motors must be greater than 18 horsepower. If a co-angler
draws a boat that he considers unsafe, he may contact a tournament official
regarding a redraw of partners. All boats should be equipped with a depth
finder and must be equipped
with an aerated live well and engine shut-off switch. Each contestant is
responsible for furnishing his or her own proper safety vest, and it shall be
worn anytime the combustible engine is running. The tournament officials
reserve the right to prohibit any boat from participating in the start if such
boat is considered unsafe or the operator unqualified. Boats equipped with
motor horsepower in excess of factory (BIA) rating will not be allowed in
tournament competition.
5. Registration
Pre-registration
can be made prior to the weekend tournament. Last minute registration can be made at the tournament site.
All contestants must have paid to fish 30 minutes prior to blast-off. The tournament day or days will be
decided by the membership at the club meeting prior to the tournament.
6. Fishing Hours and
Check-In
The fishing hours are to be announced prior to the
tournament at registration and announced just prior to blast-off. Contestants
must check in at the official checkpoint 30 minutes prior to blast-off. All boats will be checked by the
tournament director prior to the day’s fishing for safety equipment, live bait,
fish or alcohol. Contestants may
not start prior to the official starting procedure. Prior to the start of the tournament, no one can be fishing
or graphing on tournament waters from 12:00 am to the start of the tournament.
There is no fishing or graphing for 6 hours prior to blast-off for night
tournaments.
7. Partners
With the exception of the turkey shoot, partners are chosen by a random drawing of the boaters and co-anglers who have signed up for the tournament. Sign-ups are taken at the club meeting just prior to the tournament. This random drawing will also determine the order of blast-off. The Tournament Director or acting Tournament Director is in automatically the last to blast-off. Members signed up for the tournament have equal status in the draw, whether present or not at the club meeting. Members will have priority in the drawing over nonmembers or guests.
Guests cannot be bumped by a member from a tournament after the random
drawing. When a boater does not have a partner in a tournament, that boater has
the right to pick a partner during the last 48 hours prior to the start of the
tournament.
Free choice of partners is allowed for the turkey shoot. Nonmembers may also fish, although
there is a $10 fee for each non-member in addition to the tournament entry fee.
The nonmember fee goes to the club and is not paid out as part of the
tournament winnings.
Partners must remain together throughout the fishing day and may not
leave the boat unless accompanied by a tournament official or in the case of an
emergency. Needing to use a restroom is considered an emergency. A contestant
may not leave their boat for the purpose of carrying, towing or pushing their
boat to fishing waters that are otherwise inaccessible.
Each contestant has the right to operate the boat from the front seat
and to choose the fishing area for one-half of the fishing day, at the
discretion of the boater. Failure to comply with this rule may result in
disqualification.
A
competitor may use his own boat or rent a boat at the tournament. If two boat
owners are paired together, a flip of a coin will decide which contestant will
be allowed to use their boat.
It
shall be the responsibility of the fishing partners to mutually agree on the
basis of sharing operation expenses. Co-angler partners shall be responsible
for one-half the fishing expenses.
Any
fishing partner who decides to withdraw from a tournament must notify their
partner earlier than 24 hours before the tournament. Anyone not giving their partner
this 24-hour notice and causing their partner to fish alone is still liable for
½ of the partner’s normally shared tournament expenses or a mutually agreed
amount, unless the cause for canceling is a serious accident or emergency of
some sort. A person who fails to pay these shared expenses will be ineligible
to fish any future tournaments until the debt is settled.
Any
person found deliberately operating the boat in a manner which handicaps their
partners' efforts may be disqualified from the tournament. A contestant may not
"hold" or "reserve" a fishing area for another contestant.
Infractions of this rule will result in the disqualification of both boat
operators involved. The judgment of the tournament director is final.
8. Tackle
Only artificial lures can be used. No prepared or live, other than pork
rind strips, is permitted. Only rods and reels are permitted. They must be
casting or spinning or spin casting outfits. The rod may not exceed eight and
one half feet in length. Only one rod may be used at time. However, any number of rigged rods may
be in the boat for substitute purposes. A net may be used to land a hooked fish.
9. Permitted Fishing Waters
No
fishing permitted within 50 yards (approx. 8 boats end to end) of another
contestant's boat unless each boat is fishing a different dock. No fishing
permitted within the 5 mph buoys of the weigh-in station. All fishing must be
done from a boat to land fish. All
contestants must leave and return at tournament headquarters docks by boat.
Boats cannot be trailered from one fishing location to another during
tournament hours; this includes noncontestant boats as well as contestant’s
boats.
10. Culling
No
culling is permitted inside the designated area of 50 yards from the weigh-in
site, unless specified by the tournament director.
The culling of dead fish is prohibited and will result in disqualification.
11. Penalties
Contestants who have not checked in at the official checkpoint on time
will be disqualified. Boat and motor problems are no excuse for tardiness. Any
contestant who is late can still fish.
However, he/she will not be permitted to weigh-in unless his/her excuse
is ruled valid, prior to weigh-in, by the Tournament Director and any Club
Officers present at the tournament.
Anyone weighing in a fish smaller than the 13 inch minimum size
length will have one pound
subtracted from the remaining total weight of bass.
It
is the goal of the club to release alive all tournament caught bass following
the weigh-in. The amount of one quarter pound (0.25lb) will be subtracted as a penalty for each bass
not presented "live"-- as adjudged by the weigh master.
Bass will
be measured on a flat board, mouth open, and a swish tail.
12. Disqualification
Anyone caught or deemed to have cheated in any event shall be
disqualified from that event and from entering future events for a length of
time to be reviewed by the membership.
13. Official Boats
Officials may be on the lake during tournament hours, and can approach
or observe any contestant's boat. Each contestant is requested to cooperate
with all reasonable requests from media representatives.
14. Live Wells
Adequate live wells are mandatory on each boat and must provide proper
aeration to maintain fish in good condition, as fish will be released alive
after the weigh-in. Modified coolers as live wells are not allowed. The REBC
strongly recommends the use of chemical additives in live wells, however it is
not required.
15. Scoring
A limit is five (5) bass for both draw and team
tournaments or current state law.
Competition for a draw tournament is based upon an individual effort,
with scoring determined by total weight of participant's catch for the event.
Team tournament competition is based on team efforts, with scoring
determined by total weight of each team's catch for the overall event.
Draw and Team points will be awarded in descending order: First place
will be awarded 50 points; Second place will be awarded 49 points, and
so on. In addition 5 points will be awarded to draw individual or each team
member (regardless of team member who catches big fish) for overall big fish
and 2 points will be awarded for 2nd big fish. Zero (0) points for
51st place and below. All tournament participants that show up to weigh-in, on
time, that have zero fish will be awarded 10 points.
In the event of a tie at weigh-in, take
the places that they would have taken, add points and money, and divide
equally. Angler of the year will be based upon total points accumulated
less the two (2) throw-out tournaments. Angler of the year shall be
awarded tournament entry fees for a period of one year and a club jacket.
It is the responsibility of each fisherman to safely handle and release the fish they catch.
All bass caught in a club tournament are to be safely
released and not taken home. The only exceptions are for a dead fish or a bona
fide designated trophy fish, these may be taken home.
Any person bringing in a dead fish must take care of
it in a responsible way. Responsible means showing respect for the fish and
treating it as a resource to be conserved or wisely used.
A contestant must identify a trophy bass at the
weigh-in to the tournament director. If the director agrees that it is a trophy
bass, the angler may take that bass home after the tournament.
Complaints must be submitted in writing no later than thirty (30)
minutes after weigh-in. The Club
Officers will rule on any complaints or disqualification sometime before the
beginning of the next club meeting. Their ruling will be announced at the next
club meeting.
18.
Rule Interpretations / Tournament Officials
Interpretation of these rules is left to the Tournament Director and
other Club Officers. They are the Tournament Officials and reserve the right to
disqualify any contestants who violate these rules.
19. Tournament Director / Tournament
Responsibilities
In
the event that the Tournament Director is not present at the club tournament,
the President will be in charge and run the tournament. In the event that the
Tournament Director and the President are not present at the club tournament,
the Secretary will be in charge and run the tournament. In the event that all
club officers are not present at a club tournament, the last boat out will be
in charge and run the tournament. Any person, who takes the place of the
Tournament Director, has the same powers as the Tournament Director and their
decisions are final.
The
Tournament Director or acting tournament director will have boat partner's help
at the weigh-in.
The
Tournament Director or acting tournament directors will safely blast-off each
boat. After all boats are safely blasted-off, the Tournament Director may then
blast-off.
20. Tournament of Champions
In the spring of each year a special tournament will be held for the top 5 boaters and co-anglers in the point standings of the previous year. In the event that one of these top 5 can’t make the tournament, the next highest finishing boater or co-angler will be selected to take that person’s place.
Boaters and co-anglers will be paired by random draw. Contestants will vote on blast-off and weigh-in times.
The
entry fee for this tournament is $20 per participant and the club treasury will
match these entry fees. This will be a winner takes all Draw tournament run by
the Tournament Director and governed by the Club’s Tournament Rules.
21.
Tournament Schedule for the Next Year
A
separate meeting will be held in October of each year to determine the
tournament schedule for the following year. The meeting is open to any member
in good standing. All those attending the meeting have the right to vote on the
proposed schedule.
PURPOSE:
To improve Bass Anglers skills through a fellowship of
friendly exchange of Bass catching techniques and ideas, embracing the highest
principles and purposes of fishing.
Sec. 1 Requirements for Membership:
(1) To become a club member a person shall:
(A)
Voluntarily express a genuine interest in membership and be at least 18
years of age. This requirement may be waived upon a 2/3 majority vote of the
membership.
(B)
Prospective members must attend three (3) consecutive club functions or
four (4) club functions within three (3) months. This includes tournaments and
meetings.
I.
Prospective members must have on file with the club secretary:
(a) Signed application for membership.
(b) Proof of insurance if a boater.
(C) Acceptance of membership is by
simple
majority vote of the active club members.
(D) All
dues and fees paid in full.
Sec. 2 Membership Cost:
(1) Initiation fee is $25.00.This is a one time,
nonrefundable fee for new members.
(2) Membership dues shall be $48.00 annually, with
dues being payable in January, with a thirty (30) day grace period. All dues
and fees are payable on or before February meeting. Any previous members who do not pay their dues by the
February meeting will automatically lose their membership and will not be
allowed to fish any tournaments until their dues are paid. Dues will be
pro-rated at $4.00 per month for new members.
(3) Club officers who have served a full year term will not
have to pay membership dues the following year.
(4) Previous club members may rejoin by paying the full
annual dues.
(5) All dues and fees are nonrefundable.
Sec. 3 Business Meetings:
There
will be a monthly business meeting of the Redwood Empire Bass Club. Any constitutional or tournament rule
change(s) can be made at the December and July meetings only with a 2/3 majority vote.
No guest speakers for those meetings.
Sec. 4 Officers, Elections, and Vacancies and
Eligibility:
(1) Officers and their duties:
(A) President: Presides over all meetings and directs all official
business. Appoints and directs all committee functions. Additionally, Supervise
all club functions during the year.
(B) Vice President/Tournament Director: Acts as program chairman. Assists the
President in his duties and presides in his absence. Acts as tournament
director and weigh master during club tournaments.
(C) Secretary/Treasurer: Maintains accurate minutes of all
meetings and club functions. Maintains accurate financial records, gives
reports of club's financial record at each meeting. Additionally, obtains
awards and prizes for club functions. Maintains annual DFG permit and files
appropriate contest reports.
(D)
Social Director: Handles
raffles at meetings and
organization of the Annual Awards Banquet. Also,
oversees
Club-on-Club tournament dinner and raffle
when REBC is
the host. Maintains a log of the cash in-
flows and
out-flows for each raffle.
(E) Web Master: Maintains the club’s website, including current tournaments,
standings, and other club related information.
(F) BBAC Representative: Attends Black Bass Action Committee
functions and represents the club.
(2) Elections:
The
election of officers shall be held annually at the first regular meeting during
the month of December. Elections shall be simple majority of members present.
Elections for each office shall be held separately in order listed in Section 3
(1).
(3) Eligibility to vote:
Each member in good standing is entitled to one vote. Proxy votes are not permitted.
(4) Term of Office:
The
term of office is for one year, which shall begin on January 1st and end on the
last day of December.
(5) Vacancies:
In
the event of an office becoming vacant, nominations shall be asked for and an
election held to fill the remaining term of the individual vacating the office,
if deemed necessary by the remaining officers.
(6) Eligibility for holding office:
(A) To be eligible for an office a member
must:
(1) Be an active member for six months.
(2) Have
attended at least 3/4 of the club meeting and 3/4 of the club functions.
(3) Have
shown an active interest in all club functions.
Sec. 5 Method of Amending the
Constitution:
See
Section 3: Business Meetings and 2/3 majority vote.
Sec. 6 Removal of Membership:
A
member shall be dropped from the membership roll for the following:
(1)
Failure to pay dues and fees within prescribed time limit, unless
approved by the officers of the club.
(2) Any
action, which would reflect dishonor and disgrace on the club, and approved by
a 2/3 majority vote of members of the club.
Sec. 7 Eligibility to vote on
blast-off/weigh in times:
(1) Member
must be fishing tournament being voted on.
Sec. 8 Insurance:
(1) Club
shall maintain General Liability Insurance.
(2) Boat
owners shall provide club with a certificate of insurance.
Insurance must be maintained at all times throughout the year in good
standing. Proof of insurance must be on file with club records.
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