2008
STATE TEAM QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. RULES
CHANGES:
1.
Great effort, study and research have gone into the formulation of
these rules.
2.
Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left
exclusively to the Tournament Director.
3.
In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director may
impose such sanctions, as he deems appropriate, including, without limitation,
disqualification, forfeiture of prizes and prohibition from participation in
subsequent tournaments.
4.
A representative from each club will be called upon for a decision
for Tournament disqualification only.
5.
The decision of the Tournament Director and Tournament Officials shall
be final in all matters.
2.
PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY:
1.
Participation in this tournament is by invitation only. This tournament is open only to members of
the BASS Anglers Sportsman Society who are 16 years of age or older and who are
active members of Colorado BASS Federation-affiliated chapters. Proof of age to
the satisfaction of tournament officials is the responsibility of potential
competitor.
2.
DURING THE OFFICIAL PRACTICE AND COMPETITION DAYS OF ANY BASS
ANGLERS SPORTSMAN SOCIETY TOURNAMENT, NO CONTESTANT MAY OPERATE A BOAT UNLESS
THAT CONTESTANT HAS A MINIMUM OF $300,000 BOATING LIABILITY INSURANCE. THIS
DOCUMENTED PROOF MUST SHOW AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND EXPIRATION DATE AND MUST BE
MAINTAINED IN THE COMPETITORS BOAT. THE PROOF OF INSURANCE AND A CURRENT COPY
OF THE BOAT REGISTRATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AT THE REQUEST OF ANY
TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL AT ANY TIME DURING THE OFFICIAL PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE OR
THE TOURNAMENT.
3.
Any candidate for competition who, in the judgment of the
Tournament Director, is handicapped in such a manner as to unfairly hinder his
partner or endanger the safety and well being of his partner or himself shall
not be eligible.
4.
All Entries must be completed online via the link on the
Tournament Director’s page prior to Feb 22, 2008. Participants may still enter
the tournament online prior to the pre-tournament meeting but must notify the
Tournament Director so they can be added to the roster and draw pool.
5.
NO PERSONEL CHECKS! All
entry fees must be paid for online. It is possible to enter if someone does not
have a credit card or internet access prior to Feb 22, 2008. A club check will
be required for that individual’s entry and must be received by the Tournament
Director prior to Feb 22, 2008. The entry fee will be the same as everyone
else. Mail to: Michael Hubbard 489 Arrowhead Dr. Loveland Co, 80537.
6.
There will be no refunds of entry fees except for hardship cases,
which will be determined by the Tournament Director on a case by case basis.
7.
Contestants must have in their possession a valid fishing license
that cover the waters on which the tournament is held.
3.
PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE:
1.
The Tournament water shall be off limits to all competitors
commencing at 11:59 pm, Feb 11, 2008 until safe light on Feb 24, 2008.
2.
There will be a two-day official practice period immediately
proceeding the first day of the Tournament beginning at safelight Feb 25,
2007 and Feb 26, 2007.
3.
During the official practice, and during the tournament, a competitor
may not have the assistance or advice of anyone for the purposes of locating or
catching bass.
4.
No competitor may buy or barter a fishing location from any other
contestant for use during any competition day.
5.
A contestant may not enter the tournament waters during the days
of Feb 24, 2008 - Feb 29, 2008 with anyone other than another contestant of
this tournament to include a professional guide, state or federal wildlife
employee or any other person deemed an “expert” on these tournament waters by
the Tournament Director.
6.
From Feb 24, 2008 - Feb 29, 2008, a competitor may not “SKIN DIVE”
or “SCUBA DIVE” on the tournament waters.
7.
From Feb 24, 2008 - Feb 29, 2008, a competitor may not use a CB
radio, a VHF marine-band radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of
communication device for the purpose of locating or catching fish. Contestants are permitted to transmit by
radio or telephone only in the event of an emergency. If so equipped, contestants may listen to the
marine-band weather information.
8.
Each competitor agrees to report to the Tournament Director or any
Tournament Official any violation or infraction of these Tournament Rules. The
failure to report violations or suggestions to violate these Rules or false
verification of weigh-in forms will be cause for disqualification.
9.
EACH COMPETITOR AGREES TO SUBMIT, by accepting the rules during
registration online, TO A POLYGRAPH TEST SHOULD HE BE ACCUSED OF ANY RULE
VIOLATION. The administration and
interpretation of the polygraph test shall be solely at the discretion of the
Tournament Director. Without limiting the foregoing, the Tournament Director
shall have sole discretion to select the place at which such polygraph test
shall be administered, and the scope of the questions that may be asked during
such tests. The Participant shall be available, at his expense, at the location
selected by the Tournament Director and shall cooperate in all respects with
such examination.
4.
REGISTRATION:
1.
Each competitor must
register in person or his/her representative register with official Colorado
BASS Federation staff at the time and place prescribed on the schedule of
events.
2.
Failure to register in person or have his/her representative
present during the prescribed hours shall result in a penalty of 1 pound off
your total catch. NO EXCEPTIONS.
3.
IT SHALL BE EACH COMPETITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK THE SCHEDULE
OF EVENTS FOR REGISTRATION TIME AND LOCATION OR OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION FROM
THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.
5.
SAFETY:
1.
Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by tournament
competitors
2.
During the official practice and the tournament, each competitor
is required to wear a Coast Guard-approved chest-type life preserver. This
preserver must be worn anytime the combustion engine is operating. This
preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that
condition until the competitor reaches his fishing location and the combustion
engine is shut off. Violation of this rule shall be reason for disqualification.
3.
Tournament officials have the right to delay or cancel the start
of an official tournament in the case of inclement weather.
4.
The Tournament Director reserves the right to impose boat speed
limits on this tournament. Whether or
not to impose a speed limit, the area covered by the speed limit and/or the
actual speed limit imposed shall be left exclusively to the discretion of the
Tournament Director.
6.
SPORTSMANSHIP:
1.
Competitors in Colorado BASS Federation Tournaments are expected to
follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any
infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for
disqualification.
2.
Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with
regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on
tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon
efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be
reason for disqualification.
3.
Prevailing statutes and regulations of the various states within
which they fish bind all competitors.
4.
Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over the
counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the
official practice or during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be
cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future Colorado Bass
Federation Tournaments.
5.
No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants,
prescription or otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during the official
practice or competition days or when in the weigh-in area. Chemical-substance
addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral
turpitude, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote
safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules
shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and for
disqualification.
6.
Written Protest must be submitted to a Tournament Official
within 30 minutes of the completion of the weigh in on that day.
7.
Protest from the Official Practice period will be submitted
in writing to a Tournament Official within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the
weigh in on the first Tournament Day.
8.
If at any time any of the Tournament Officials are made aware of
any rules violation during the tournament, the incident will be investigated to
determine to validity of the incident.
9.
If it is determined that a rules violation has occurred
appropriate penalties will be enforced.
10. A committee of Club
Representatives will be established in matters that may result in
disqualification only.
11. During the investigation
by Club Representatives, only the description of the incident will be presented
to the Club Representatives. Names will
only be provided after a decision has been made.
12. The following
dispositions will be used for submitted protest,
13. UNFOUNDED: No
misconduct.
14. NON-SUSTAINED: There is
not sufficient evidence to prove or disprove the protest.
15. SUSTAINED WITH NO
PENALTY: The allegation did occur, but there was just cause for the violation.
16. SUSTAINED: The
allegation did occur and a penalty will be imposed.
17. Any disqualification or
suspension from, or other disciplinary action regarding any tournament or
fishing organization, shall be grounds for rejecting any application for
participation in future Colorado Bass Federation Tournaments.
7. TACKLE
AND EQUIPMENT:
1.
Only artificial lures may be used.
2.
No “live bait” or “prepared bait” will be permitted, with the
exception of pork strips, rinds, etc.
3.
Only ONE casting, spin-casting or spinning rod (8-foot maximum
length from butt of handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time.
All other types prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in boat ready for
use. However, only ONE is permitted in use at any given time.
4.
All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting
manner.
5.
Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging visible fish will have
their day’s catch disqualified.
6.
When visually fishing for bedding bass, all bass must be hooked
inside the mouth and must be verified by your partner before being unhooked to
be counted as a legal fish.
7.
No gaffs may be used to boat bass or be permitted in boat at any
time.
8.
The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited.
9.
The use of nets is allowed.
8. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS:
1.
MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER FOR ALL OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS USED IN OFFICIAL
TOURNAMENT PRACTICE AND IN TOURNAMENT COMPETITION WILL BE 300 HP, not to exceed
the horsepower limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard in their ruling of
2.
When required, each boat MUST have a U.S. Coast Guard horsepower
rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the
outboard engine must NOT exceed the rating specified on this rating plate or
the horsepower maximum set by Colorado BASS Federation.
3.
Any boat manufactured prior to
4.
Each competitor agrees to submit, by his signature on the official
entry form, the boat and outboard motor used in the tournament to an inspection
by factory-trained personnel, if there is any reason to suspect the horsepower
is in excess of the rating.
5.
Normal maintenance to increase the performance of your engine is
allowed.
6.
Changing or altering standard factory parts of your motor to
increase the horsepower over the factory horsepower rating is forbidden, and
will result in disqualification.
9. BOAT
AND MOTOR:
1.
For the safety of all contestants, ALL BOATS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH
SOME TYPE OF OPERABLE IGNITION KILL SWITCH.
2.
During official practice and the Tournament, the ignition-kill
device must be attached to the driver’s body any time the combustion engine is operating;
the only exception will be while loading the boat onto a trailer.
3.
Anytime the combustion engine is operating and in gear, there must
be a driver in the driver’s seat in full control of the boat, except in the
case of loading the boat onto the trailer.
Fishing boats may be used that are 15 feet or more in length. Any raised platform or decks cannot be higher
than the gunnels of the boat.
4.
A small electric trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering;
however, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited.
5.
All BLADDER tanks and any other type of AUXILLARY gas
tanks that are not installed by the boat manufacturer are prohibited.
Additional gas tanks that are factory-installed are restricted to the U.S.
Coast Guard maximum of 18 gallons of gasoline.
6.
Gas tanks must be properly secured or strapped in a boat.
7.
During the official practice and during the tournament, no
portable gas tanks or containers capable of holding gasoline can be placed
anywhere on the tournament waters or shoreline for use by any tournament
competitor.
8.
No “barges” or similar cumbersome craft will be permitted during
the official practice and competition days of the tournament by any
competitor.
9.
NO BOAT EQUIPPED WITH “STICK STEERING” SHALL BE PERMITTED TO BE
USED DURING THE OFFICIAL PRACTICE OR DURING THE TOURNAMENT BY ANY COMPETITOR.
10. The Tournament Director
shall determine the definition of “stick steering”.
10. BASIC
BOAT EQUIPMENT:
1.
Every boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment. In
addition, it must have a functional bilge pump.
All state boating regulations also apply.
2.
EVERY BOAT MUST HAVE LIVEWELL SPACE, PROPERLY AERATED, TO
ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ALIVE, A LIMIT CATCH OF BASS BY BOTH FISHERMEN USING THE
BOAT.
3.
Tournament officials shall have the sole responsibility for
determining whether aeration and capacity is “proper and adequate.
11. BOAT
IDENTIFICATION:
1.
Each boat MUST be given, prior to each day’s start, an inspection
check by a tournament official, also a numbered CLIPBOARD, which MUST remain
with your boat until turned in.
2.
This clipboard must be displayed at any time upon the request of
any tournament official, also at check-in and turned in to the tournament
officials at the completion of the tournament.
12. BOAT OPERATION
AND EXPENSE:
1.
A full discussion MUST be
held between the two partners prior to a morning departure as to the schedule
of boat operations. This schedule must permit each partner equal
time to fish from the front of the boat and to operate the trolling motor, so
as to afford each partner the opportunity to fish his selected waters an equal
number of hours. Distance traveled to fishing locations must be considered in
order not to deprive either partner fishing time while traveling to and from
fishing waters.
2.
If a contestant waives the above rights, he shall retain the right
to select the fishing waters for one-half the tournament day.
3.
Any contestant who, in the judgment of the officials, operates the
boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap his partner shall be
disqualified.
4.
In view of the large expense involved in operating and maintaining
a tournament bass boat, an operational fee of $20.00 per day is to be paid by
the non boater to the boater they signed up with to fish the tournament. The
boater’s non-boater will pay them $60.00 to cover gas all three days of the
tournament. This will make it easier for
everyone involved so you don’t have to collect from your draw partner each day:
however: if the expenses for the day fishing exceed the $20.00 be fair and
split the expenses for gas and oil with your draw partner.
13. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS:
1.
Tournament waters shall be established by the Tournament Director
for each tournament. Each competitor must obtain this information from the
Tournament Director or his representative.
2.
Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except:
within 50 yards of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored or
secured in a fixed position with the trolling motor out of the water. All such
boats are required to advise any other competitor when such boat believes the
competitor is close to being within this 50-yard circle claimed by him.
3.
No such boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the
50-yard circle claimed by him, to the exclusion of any other competitor.
4.
Any water within these boundaries posted Off-Limits or No Fishing
by state or federal agencies will be OFF-LIMITS.
5.
The live-bass release area established by the Tournament Director
will be OFF-LIMITS and will be announced at the Tournament Briefing.
6.
Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered
tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this
tournament’s contestants.
7.
All angling must be done from the boat.
8.
Competitors wishing to change fish habitat by placing any object
in the tournament waters may do so if such action does not violate state or
federal regulations.
14.
CONTESTANTS MUST REMAIN IN BOAT:
2.
Competitors must remain together at all times, or in sight of each
other and each other’s catch under the conditions cited above, in order for
their catch of that day to be scored in the tournament. If a competitor must
violate any of the above conditions (to contact a tournament official by phone
or other means or to report an emergency or breakdown), both competitors must
cease fishing at this point, and their catch must be verified by a tournament
official in order to be counted in the tournament. If after the emergency
situation is resolved by tournament officials and enough time is left for the
competitors to resume fishing, a RESTART will be allowed and the competitors
will continue and their catch will be counted. This applies only too dire
emergency situations.
3.
In the event that it is necessary for Partners to separate,
each contestant will document the number of fish and sign the weigh in slip.
4.
The competitor returning to the check in will be responsible
for checking in his/her boat and turning in the weigh slips.
5.
No competitor shall be permitted to weigh in any other
competitors fish.
6.
Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited, except
by the direction of tournament officials.
15.
OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT:
1.
There shall be only one official point for checkout in the morning
and check-in in the afternoon and this point shall be designated at the
tournament briefing.
2.
At the time of check-out, all competitors and their boats shall be
in full conformance with all rules set forth by the Tournament Director; at
check-in, all boats shall identify themselves by means of the numbered
clipboards and proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in area.
3.
Partners must stay together and clipboards must be maintained in
the competitor’s boat and turned in at the end of the tournament, except in
cases of emergency. (see rule 14)
16.
SCORING:
1.
Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be
determined by the pound and ounce weight of each competitor’s catch during the
competition days of the tournament.
2.
Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, Redeye or Shoal bass will be
weighed. The limit shall be 5 of the above species and varieties per day,
unless the prevailing state limit is less than 5, or a special limit is
established for a particular tournament by the tournament officials, in which
case the state limit, or special limit, shall be the tournament limit.
3.
At no time shall a competitor have reduced to possession more than
the tournament limit. Tournament
officials will conduct checks for violation of this provision, and in
the event a competitor has reduced more than the above-described limits to
possession, shall cull the largest bass first, down to the limit
described. In the event that the
competitor is found to be in possession of more than the limit specified he/she
will be penalized by the weight of his/her largest fish in that days catch.
4.
Culling of bass will be completed immediately if the competitor
has in his possession the described limit.
5.
No culling of bass will be permitted after a competitor checks in
at the Official Check-in point.
6.
No culling of dead fish.
7.
The official length for bass shall be determined by the Tournament
Director and announced at the tournament briefing. In most cases it will be the
longest state limit covering the tournament waters. Only bass as described above
which measure the official length or more on the longest straight line, shall
be weighed-in.
8.
Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure the official
length shall accrue penalties at the rate of 1 pound for each such bass. This penalty
shall be deducted from the total score of the competitor. Any bass that appears
to have been mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered will be weighed and
credited only at the discretion of tournament officials.
9.
After a competitor checks-in at the official checkpoint he MUST
present all LEGAL fish in his possession to a tournament official to be
counted, measured and weighed.
10. No curtsey board will be
available.
11. Each competitors catch
must be certified by the signature of his partner of that day. Once a competitor’s catch is measured,
counted and verified by a tournament official, that contestant may not return
to his boat until his catch has been weighed, recorded and released.
12. Competitors may not
return to their boats with bass in their possession.
13. Bass must not be stringered at any time during the tournament. Stringered is any system that connects two or more bass tog