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 2^nd 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.

16.Proper Handling and Disposal of Fish

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.

17 Complaints

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.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

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.

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.