Fourche Valley Bass Club

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Fourche Valley Bass Club
2010
Membership and Tournament Rules
 
MEMBERSHIP RULES:
 
                   To be eligible in a fishing event, a person must be a Member of the Fourche Valley Bass Club (FVBC).   
                   In addition to approval by Members, a person is deemed a Member when: 
  • They have attended at least 1 regular scheduled meeting, or have been represented by a Member at such meeting, and
  • They have reviewed and accepted the terms and conditions of the Membership and Tournament Rules. (Applicants signature is required as well as Member Representative where applicable), and
  • Their yearly membership fee of $25 has been paid
  1. No membership(s) will be turned down due to any type of discrimination.  Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation are expected from each member at all times.  ALL FEDERAL, STATE, and LOCAL LAWS are an unwritten part of these Rules and shall be obeyed at all times.
  2. If circumstances arise,   all non-boaters (co-angler) 16 yrs and over will be paired with a boater by draw at the pre-tournament meeting prior to each event.  It is customary for the non-boater to assist the boater with a portion of the costs associated with fishing a tournament (to be worked out between the Anglers).  Once a boater has been drawn they will not be in the draw again until all boaters have been paired with a non-boater.
  3. If volunteers are not available, 2 Tournament Directors will be assigned to each Tournament from the total Membership at the beginning of, or during the season.  These Directors will be assisted by the 2 Elected Directors.  Their duties may include, but may not be limited to:
  • Providing a lake report at the meeting prior to that weeks Tournament
  • Informing all Members of the length limit/slot on that lake
  • Administering Chip Draw and Official Time
  • Overseeing entries the morning of the Tournament
  • Weighing and measuring each contestants catch
  • Determining fish mortality and cleaning dead fist (if required)
  • Photographs
  • Assist in resolving any protests
  • Presenting results at next meeting
  • Arriving early in order to perform assigned duties

TOURNAMENT RULES:

  1. Off limit times are from 7pm the evening prior an event up to Tournament start.  Members may fish night 'sanctioned' tournaments the evening prior to a FVBC Tournament.  
  2. All Anglers will be scored on their individual catch in each scheduled Tournament, with the exception of    "Buddy Tournaments" in which FVBC Members must be partnered with a non-club member for 2010.  Details to be provided prior to each event.  If a Member chooses to fish by themselves, they must pay the full entry fees (including big bass pot(s) as if they were fishing with a partner.
  3. Only artificial lures shall be used.  No live or prepared bait except pork rind.
  4. Only one rod and reel shall be used at a time.  Trolling is not allowed.
  5. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs will be allowed during Tournament hours.
  6. Life jackets shall be worn any time outboard motor is running during Tournament hours.
  7. Kill switches shall be fastened to drivers when outboard motor is running during Tournament hours.
  8. No fishing within 50 feet of a gas pump.  No fishing where "no fishing" signs are posted.  No fishing within 50 yards of a FVBC contestant's boat (after being contested).  You may fish any water that you can cast to from your boat, however, you cannot leave the boat to cast or land a fish.
  9. The Tournament Director(s) will announce starting and check-in times at the meeting prior to the Tournament.  The take-off and weigh-in will take place at the same launch site unless otherwise announced.
  10. . FVBC will use a 75 point scoring system applied to each Angler based on how he/she finishes in each scheduled Tournament.  In addition, Anglers will be awarded 1 bonus point for attending any designated pre-Tournament meeting and 2 bonus points per Tournament for pre-paid entry fee.  An Angler's standings in the FVBC will be based solely on points accumulated in his/her top 7 events (including those specific bonus points).  The top 12 Anglers who have fished a minimum of 4 scheduled Tournaments will qualify for the Classic Championship Tournament at the end of the season.
  11.   The FVBC Classic Championship Tournament will be a 2 day event.  The qualified Anglers will be fishing a different lake on each day.  Lakes will be determined by the top 12 Anglers.  Lakes will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting the Monday prior to the scheduled event.
  12.   Length and slot limits for a designated Tournament site will be in effect.  FVBC shall have a minimum of 12' length limit whenever there is not an established length or slot limit.  Fish will be measured by the Tournament Director(s) on the Golden Rule board with mouth closed and tail pinched.  Any fish not measuring will be immediately released and the Angler will be penalized 1 pound for each violation, to be deducted from his remaining total weight.
  13.   Only largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass will be weighed.  No more than 5 fish per Angler may be in the live well at any time.  In any case where 2 Anglers are fishing in the same boat, fish must be kept separate.  In cases where only one live well exists, Co-Angler's fish must be identifiable with a clearly visible tagging system.  Fish may not be mangled in any way for identification, i.e., fins clipped, etc.  A check of all boats live well(s) will be conducted by a Tournament Director prior to the start of a Tournament.
  14.   For every dead fish, a penalty of .50 pounds will be subtracted from the Angler's total weight.  The Tournament Directors will have final say regarding fish mortality.  There will be no culling of dead fish.
  15.   There will be a 1 pound penalty for every minute an Angler is late for a weigh-in.  After 5 minutes,  the Angler will be disqualified from that event.
  16.   In case of a tie, the determining factor will be, (1) total number of fish, (2) number of live fish, and if still tied, (3) the weight of the largest fish.  The big bass pot will be split in case of a tie.
  17.   For safety purposes, chips will be drawn by each boater approximately 20 minutes prior to start time to determine take-off sequence.  All contestants must be on the water and ready for scheduled start time.  Any contestant not ready will forfeit their take-off position.  Eligibility for late arrivals to participate after take-off time must be pre-approved by the Directors and will be based solely on an unforeseen emergency.
  18.   ANY TOURNAMENT RULE BROKEN shall result in disqualification for that event unless otherwise stated.
  19.   ANY MEMBER GUILTY OF 3 DISQUALIFICATIONS in a year may be terminated from the FVBC.
  20.   ANY MEMBER CAUGHT CHEATING or illegally participating in any related activity will be TERMINATED immediately from the FVBC.  That Member forfeits any and all fees paid to FVBC.
  21.   FVBC will not be responsible or held liable/accountable for any claims or damages that pertain to any club event.
  22.   Non Members are not allowed in an Anglers boat during Tournament hours except for an emergency.
  23.   The entry fee for each FVBC Tournament will be $30 per Contestant.  There will be an optional big bass pot of $5 per individual paid out at 100%.  The big bass pot is winer take all (incase of tie, pot will be split), unless otherwise specified prio to a Tournament.  80% of entry fee money (Payout) will be paid out to winner(s), and the remaining 20% will go into FVBC account and held over for a portion of the Classic Championship payout at the end of the regular season.  Checks and cash entries will be accepted up to 20 minutes before takeoff.  Exceptions are at the disgression of the Directors.
  24.   A FVBC elected Director will set all Tournament dates and lake assignments prior to the first event each season.  He/she may request any assistance as he/she may see fit.  All dates and lake assignments are final, however may be changed at the disgression of the Director based on any safety issue or lack of participation.  In any case, the Tournament will be rescheduled or moved to another location.  Although the Director will do his/her best to contact all Members, it is the responsibility of each Member throughtout the season to keep abreast of the activities of the Club.
  25.   There must be a minimum of 5 paid Anglers for a Tournament to be sanctioned.  Those 5 Anglers may be any combination of paid Anglers who actually show up to fish that specific Tournament and paid Anglers who for some reason pay their fee in advance but do not fish the Tournament.  In the latter case, the Angler(s) forfeit their entry fee.  For any fee(s) to carry over and be applied to the next Tournament the Angler must contact the Director no later than Wednesday NOON prior to the event, otherwise fee(s) are forfeited to FVBC

Payout(s) for Tournaments will be as follows:

1 to 5 Anglers Payout 1 place (100%)

6-10 Anglers Payout 2 places (60%/40%)

11 or more Anglers Payout 3 places (50%/30%/20%)

 

EACH MEMBER MUST SIGN THE DESIGNATED FORM (separate from but a part of these Rules).  THAT RELATES TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF AND THE CONSEQUENCES RELATED TO THESE RULES, IDENTIFIED AS, "MEMBERSHIP AND TOURNAMENT RULES SIGNATURE PAGE".