Meadowcreek Bass Club

TOURNAMENT RULES

Under the leadership of the Tournament Director, it is the responsibility of each participant to police his own adherence to the Tournament Rules.

The Tournament Director, prior to the start of the tournament will ask all participants to synchronize their watches and announce the weigh-in time. No boat will leave prior to the official start of the tournament. The Tournament Director will use his own judgment to determine safe daylight. At that point, it becomes the responsibility of each boater to judge for himself whether or not safe conditions exist and to act accordingly.

1. In order to receive credit for fishing a club tournament, a member must be in good standing. Dues and tournament fees paid up to date prior to starting the tournament.

2. There is an optional $5 Big fish and a $15 total weight pot entry fee. Winners  of each pot receives their respective winnings.

3. Normally there will be one monthly club tournament. The Tournament Director will have the authority to reschedule or delay the tournament due to emergencies, severe weather, etc. The future of the rescheduled tournament will be decided at a special club meeting or the next regularly scheduled meeting.

4. Tournament sites will be selected and voted on by the membership at each monthly meeting prior to the fishing outing. The launch ramp will be determined the meeting just before the fishing outing. All members are encouraged to submit their suggestions for tournament sites.

5. Partners will be chosen by the Tournament Director. It is each man's responsibility to notify both the Tournament Director and his partner if he is unable to participate, giving as much advance notice as possible. Each boat will contain two contestants. However, a club member will be allowed to fish alone if pairing of two club members would not allow a potential member to fish his guest tournament, or an odd number of participants exists.

6. A minimum of two boats and four members are required to start a tournament.

7. Prior to the start , partners should resolve a schedule that permits equal time at the front of the boat. The contestant who is operating the boat shall have the privilege of selecting the route and the areas to be fished. However, in the event that one contestant elects not to operate the boat, and such an election is satisfactory to his partner, the contestant who waived his right to operate the boat will have the right to select areas to be fished.

8. All boats must be operated in a safe manner. Contestants must wear a coast guard approved life jacket while the combustion engine is being operated. All boats must have an operational "kill switch" . All safety equipment required by the Coast Guard, State and local regulation will be adhered to. Any infractions will result in disqualification of the offender.

9. No contestant will be allowed to fish within 50 yards of another club boat unless permission is obtained from the fisherman occupying the area in question. No fishing will be allowed in water prohibited by county, state, or federal regulations. All fishing must be conducted from the boat and contestants will not be allowed to portage boats.

10. Only casting, spinning or spin-casting tackle may be used in conjunction with artificial lures. Any bass taken with this tackle must be released. Only one rod may be used at a time.

11. A five fish limit is allowed each fisherman per day unless state or local laws restrict limits to less. Fish must be a minimum of 12 inches long, unless otherwise restricted by state or local laws or the lake itself. Tournament Director will measure the fish with the mouth closed and tail pinched together to obtain the measurement. Contestants weighing in undersized fish will lose that fish and their largest fish of the day. The decision of the Tournament Director is final. Contestants weighing in dead fish will be penalized 0.2 lb. per dead fish. Tournament winners and places will be determined by the total weight of the catch less any penalties.

12. There will be a convoy arranged, both to and from the tournament site. After pairing, partners are encouraged to agree on travel and lodging arrangements.

13. Repealed 

14. Points for each tournament and monthly meeting will count toward the Fisherman of the Year Award in December. Points will be accrued as follows:
a. 150 points for attending the monthly meeting.
b. 100 points for fishing a tournament.

            c. Points will be awarded for weight of fish (e.g. 3.12lbs of fish will be awarded 312 points.)

             d. Dead fish will be penalized .25 lbs/ 25 points. The dead fish may be kept.

15. Any protest must be filed within 15 minutes of the closing of the scales to the weigh-master or any officer present. Protests will be arbitrated by the club officials present, provided none is involved in the protest. All decisions are final.

16. All tournaments shall be live release. Fish shall be placed in plastic bags provided by the weigh-master. The weigh-master will remove the fish from the bags, weigh them and return them to the bags. Fish that show any sign of life will be considered live. Members may keep a lunker for mounting.

17. An adequate number of fish may be kept in the event of a fish fry.

    18. Nothing can be attached to the fish at the weigh in.

    19. Only largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass will be allowed.

    20. Non-Boaters are expected to pay an agreed fee of $30.00, on all lakes, to the boater to defray normal operating expenses, i.e., boat and automobile gas and oil, launch fees. Lodging costs are the responsibility of each member when fishing any outing that requires the membership to stay overnight.

21. A fishing partner will share expenses whether or not he rides to and from the tournament site with the boater.