1. Participation
All immediate family members may participate in all club tournaments with no exceptions. All members and honorary members will be expected to honor all Columbia River BassMasters and B.A.S.S. federation rules and regulations. All club member spouses will be given lifetime honorary membership and may participate in any or all club events with no exceptions. All young adults under the age of 18 will be given honorary membership. They will be required to become B.A.S.S. members in good standing with the Columbia River BassMasters and B.A.S.S. federation on their 18th birthday. You must be a member of the Columbia River BassMasters, in good standing to participate in any of the "regular" (the seven main draw tournaments that award points toward angler of the year) club tournaments. New club members must attend at least one monthly club meeting prior to fishing a club tournament.
2. Draw for Partners
Draw for team partners shall be held at the club meeting immediately prior to the tournament. Anyone wishing to participate after the initial drawing shall notify the tournament director(s) who shall be solely responsible for pairing. No two (2) club anglers may fish together during two (2) consecutive tournaments, but may fish together more than once during the year. Club members are not permitted to bring other members as guests. Any qualified member may fish alone or have a non-member guest as a team partner for any tournament, if that person is duly declared prior to the pre-tournament meeting. Of the seven "regular" club tournaments, a member may bring a guest (the same or different guest) a maximum of three times. In other words, if a member participates in all seven tournaments, he must participate in a minimum of three (3) draws, as well as (optionally) fishing with guests up to a maximum of three times. The intent is to strike a balance between providing an opportunity to bring family members or friends and also to honor the rights of the non-boater members of the club who pay dues and participate in club events.
3. Non-boater draw
This process was put in place to address the method for a tournament draw when there are more non-boaters than boaters. It is important to have a process that is fair and equitable to all and maximizes the opportunities for all non-boaters to fish. At the same time, safety and the quality of each participant's experience should not be compromised. The process is as follows:
A. If there are more non-boaters than boaters, there will be a draw among the non-boaters to determine who will fish that tournament. The draw will also establish the order of "alternates" in case a non-boater who was drawn has to cancel or another boater can fish.
B. Those that are not drawn to fish in the current tournament will have priority status to fish the next tournament.
C. Non-boaters who have priority draw status will maintain that status in each successive draw until all other participating non-boaters have missed a draw.
D. The tournament director will keep a record of all draw results throughout the year and track priority status for non-boaters.
E. If a non-boater's partner does not show up on the morning of a tournament, every effort will be made to "get him a ride" in one of the other boats. If his partner should cancel prior to the morning of the tournament, he should call the tournament director to see if other arrangements can be made.
4. Entry Fee
Entry fee for each tournament shall be $30.00 per boat and shall be distributed as follows:
$24.00 - Prize money per formula
$3.00 - Big fish for tournament
$3.00 - Angler of the Year
There will be a cash payout of one place per three boats up to a maximum of three places. Big Fish for the tournament will also receive a cash payout. Distribution of prize money shall be in accordance with the formula contained in the official club tournament book. If all teams catch no fish, there will be a 100% refund. All place money not awarded will be deposited in the club treasury. No person may win more than one place award for most pounds. In case of a tie, the team with the largest fish will determine the winner. Once entry fees have been paid, there will be no refunds to entrants. The tournament director will maintain a copy of the current payout sheet and tournament regulations.
5. Sportsmanship
Contestants in Columbia River BassMasters club tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and safety. Any infraction of these sporting principles may be cause for disqualification. Consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs, etc. by any contestant will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification for this and future club tournaments. Courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-contestants who may be on tournament waters.
6. Safety
Safe boating conduct and all safety precautions must be observed at all times by all contestants. Each contestant is required to wear a Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver. This preserver must be worn any time the combustion engine is operating. The preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition while the engine is running.
7. Tackle
Only artificial lures may be used. No prepared or live bait, other than pork type strips or rinds, is permitted. Only rods and reels are permitted. Only one rod may be in use and in the water at any one time. However, any number of rigged rods may be in the boat for substitute purposes. No rod over 8 feet in length may be used.
8. Net
A dip (landing) net is permitted in the boat for use during any tournament.
9. Horsepower Regulations
Maximum horsepower for all outboard motorboats used in tournament competition will be the stated Coast Guard horsepower rating, per plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the rating specified on this rating plate.
10. Boat and Motor
For the safety of all contestants, ALL boats must be equipped with some kind of ignition kill switch. It having been determined that boats equipped with "stick steering" presents a greater than normal safety hazard, no boat so equipped shall be used during the tournament by any contestant.
11. Permitted Fishing Waters
No fishing will be permitted in any area designated "off limits" by the tournament director during the pre-tournament meeting, or within 50 yards of another boat that was first anchored or electric motor in use in that location. A contestant cannot move in on a boat, which is drift fishing, or working an area with an electric motor, and claim that area by anchoring. It is permitted to courteously fish along with another boat at a 50-yard distance out of casting range. All fishing must be done from a boat. All contestants must leave and return to the starting point by boat. Boats cannot be trailered from one fishing location to another during tournament hours.
12. Draw for Partners
Draw for team partners shall be held at the club meeting immediately prior to the tournament. Anyone wishing to participate after the initial drawing shall notify the tournament director who shall be solely responsible for pairing. No two (2) club anglers may fish together during two (2) consecutive tournaments, but may fish together more than once during the year. Club members are not permitted to bring other members as guests.
13. Fishing Hours
To be announced at the club meeting prior to the tournament but may be changed at the morning meeting by the Tournament Director for safety concerns or other reasons. Contestants must check in and out at the official checkpoint.
14. Scoring and Limit
Team Scoring will be determined by the total weight of each team's catch or total weight of an individual fisherman if fishing alone. Add 1 point for each fish caught by each individual of the team for the final weighted bag. Tournament limits are: 5 fish over 12 inches per team or individual.
The tournament director or his appointed assistants shall conduct the weigh-in of fish. No contestant shall weigh-in his or her own fish.
Winners will be determined by aggregate weight. Succeeding places will be determined by descending weight. Big fish will be determined by most weight. Scoring points will be awarded to team members according to the following formula:
1st place 100
2nd place 96
3rd place 92
4th place 88
And so on in descending order to the last team that weighs fish. At that point there will be a 20-point drop, then that amount will be awarded to any team(s) that participate but weigh no fish. Big fish for the tournament will be awarded two (2) points and credited to the member who caught the fish.
A first place plaque will be awarded to the members of the first place team, who haven't previously received one. Thereafter, first place winners will receive a plaque attachment to place on the previously awarded plaque. Plaque attachments will be awarded to each team member eligible for a payout, up to maximum of three places. A plaque attachment will be awarded to the angler weighing the biggest fish for each tournament. It is the responsibility of the Tournament Director to determine if the anglers should receive a plaque or an attachment.
15. Angler of the Year
Club Angler of the Year shall be determined by the most total points accumulated by any member using the best four (4) of seven (7) tournaments. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by first, the most number of fish and second, by the total weight. In the case of the first tiebreaker, the total number of fish caught by a team during a two day tournament will be divided in half and that number credited to each angler of that team. Angler of the year will be awarded a plaque and a prize of $100.00. The angler catching the biggest fish of the year will be awarded a plaque. Immediate family members will not be eligible for Angler of the Year competition or big fish entitlements at the end of year; they will also not compete for points during the year. They will however, be eligible for any monetary awards given out during tournament events. All points' competition will remain without change.
16. Expenses
Before all pre-fish and tournament days, it will be the responsibility of the fishing partners to discuss and mutually agree on the basis of sharing operational expenses of the boat. Non-boat owners shall be especially cognizant of their obligation in this respect.
17. Penalties
Contestants who are not in the official check point area at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of one pound per minute, to be deducted from the total weight of the contestants catch that day, including any weight to be counted toward big fish for that day. Tournament director's time shall be the official time. Culling is not permitted after check-in. One pound will be deducted for each fish under the minimum size. Minimum size shall be 12 inches, mouth closed on the longest straight line. Each fish failing to measure 12 inches will be penalized one pound toward contestants' daily catch. A contestant presenting more fish than stated in "Rule 12" shall be disqualified for the day. All fish must be weighed in alive. Any fish brought to the scales judged by the tournament director to be less than alive will result in an eight (8) ounce penalty for each such fish.
18. Pre-fishing
There will be no cut-off time for pre-fishing prior to a tournament.
19. Live wells
Livewells or suitable substitutes large enough to keep the contestants' catch alive shall be required equipment. The tournament committee, prior to the event, will inspect each live well.
20. Blast-off
Blast-off order will be drawn on the morning of the tournament. Last person or team drawn will handle blast-off. Interval will be 15 seconds.
21. Complaints
Complaints must be submitted in writing no later than 30 minutes after the weigh-in, each day, to the tournament committee. Decisions of the tournament officials will be final. Any rules violated may result in disqualification.
