FREEDOM BASS CLUB

TOURNAMENT RULES

 

 

1.       Tournaments will be held on a monthly basis.  In the event a tournament is not held during any given month, that tournament may be held as a separate event at a later date or in conjunction with another tournament at the discretion of the Tournament Director.  The number of fishing days (1 or 2) for each tournament shall be at the discretion of the tournament director.

 

2.       Tournament dates and locations are at the discretion of the tournament committee.  The tournament committee is urged to give primary consideration to fishing conditions, weather and lake accessibility before making final selection and announcement of a lake.

 

3.       Tournament entry fee shall be $20.00 for a one day tournament, $25.00 for a two day tournament, allocated as follows:

 

65% for tournament funding, 25% for club treasury, 10% for big bass.

 

4.       Entry fees shall be paid to the tournament director or a designated tournament committee member on the day of the tournament.

 

5.       The tournament director is given the responsibility of determining starting times, the safest methods of start, and the duration of the tournament.

 

6.       Weigh-in time and sites shall be predetermined by the tournament director.  All contestants must be within 100 yards of the weigh in launch ramp at weigh-in time.  Any contestant that is late because of verifiable emergencies or mechanical failure should contact the Tournament Director as soon as possible to discuss any options available for weighing in their fish late.  As a general rule, any contestant that is late must verify that they would have been at the weigh-in on time if they did not have an emergency or mechanical failure.

 

7.       All standard regulations regarding safety, state and federal conservation laws, and local state laws shall be observed.

 

8.       Weigh fish shall be black, smallmouth, Kentucky, Guadalupe or spotted bass.

 

9.        Limit shall not exceed the number of fish allowed by state law per day per person.

 

10.   Only artificial lures may be used.

 

11.   Trolling will be allowed during club tournaments.

 

12.   All fish shall be caught with a rod and reel.

 

13.   Minimum length of fish in possession for tournament weigh-in shall be 14 inches, unless this is in conflict with state law or lake regulation in which case, the state law and/or lake regulation will prevail.

 

14.   Each contestant/Team will be allowed to weigh five fish at each weigh-in unless the five fish limit is superseded by a more restrictive state law, lake regulation or club vote.

     

15.   No iced, frozen or pale-gilled fish shall be weighed.

 

16.   One bonus point shall be added to a contestant’s total points for the tournament for each weigh fish released alive.

 

17.   Any and all protests shall be presented to the tournament director or his appointed representative within fifteen minutes after final weigh-in on each tournament day.

 

18.   All decisions by the tournament committee, three members minimum, shall be final.

 

19.   Tournament location and/or date may be postponed, canceled or relocated by the tournament director as deemed appropriate but consideration should be given to rule 2.

 

20.   MONTHLY TOURNAMENT STANDINGS:

  

A.      Tournament standings shall be determined on points basis.  All monies allotted to tournament funding, pursuant to Rule 3., above, shall be paid to the top six based on the following percentages:

 

1st place---------------------------------------------------------27%

2nd place--------------------------------------------------------23%

3rd place--------------------------------------------------------19%

4th place--------------------------------------------------------14%

5th place--------------------------------------------------------10%

6th place----------------------------------------------------------7%

 

Tournament pay-out is based solely on weight, not points.

 

B.      100% of big bass money shall be paid to the contestant who weighs the largest bass in the tournament.  There shall be no minimum weight requirement.

 

C.      Tournament points shall be determined as follows:

 

1.       Ten points shall be awarded for fishing the tournament (bonus points).

 

2.       One point shall be awarded for each fish released alive (bonus points).

 

3.       1st Place – 100 points + bonus points = total points.

 

4.       2nd Place – 2nd place weight divided by first place weight times 100, plus bonus points = total points for the tournament.

 

5.       3rd Place – 3rd place weight divided by first place weight times 100, plus bonus points = total points for the tournament.

 

6.       4th Place – etc., etc.

 

D.  “Bubba Bass” award of each month shall be awarded as deemed appropriate by the membership at a club sanctioned event held during that month.

 

21.   END OF YEAR AWARDS:

 

A.      CLUB CHAMPION

 

1.       The club champion shall be the individual who has accumulated the most points in the year using the individual’s ten highest tournament scores.

 

2.       The club champion shall receive a CLUB CHAMPION TROPHY and be presented the REVOLVING CLUB CHAMPION TROPHY.

 

B.      SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR

 

1.       The sportsperson of the year shall be elected by the general membership at a club sanctioned function during the month of January.   The sportsperson of the year shall be presented a trophy or plaque at a club sanctioned function in February.

 

2.       Sportsperson of the year should be that individual who epitomizes the qualities of good sportsmanship, camaraderie, leadership, teamwork, safety, and preservation of the environment; especially with regard to the sport of fishing.

 

C.      TOP SIX

 

The top six individuals are based on total accumulated points for the year using each individual’s ten highest tournament scores and shall receive one of the following:  a trophy, a plaque, a shirt or a jacket.

 

D.      BIG BASS OF THE YEAR

The big bass of the year plaque will be presented to the club member who weighs the largest bass of the year.  Big bass of the year must be caught during a club tournament.

 

E.       HEAVY STRINGER OF THE YEAR (One Day Tournament)

The heavy stringer of the year plaque will be presented to the club member who weighs the heaviest stringer of the year.  The heavy stringer must be caught during a one day club tournament.

 

F.       HEAVY STRINGER OF THE YEAR (Two Day Tournament)

The heavy stringer of the year plaque will be presented to the club member who weighs the heaviest stringer of the year.  The heavy stringer must be caught during a two day club tournament.

 

G.      Women’s Division Champion

Existing tournament payout rates shall not be affected by this division.  Standings within the women’s division are to be determined by points accumulated at club tournaments using the individual’s ten highest tournament scores.

 

H.      “BUBBA BASS” OF THE YEAR

This award shall be presented, as the general membership deems appropriate.

 

22.   Common courtesy and good sportsmanship will be exhibited by all members at all times.

 

23.   Unless unusual circumstances prevent otherwise, all members and guests fishing during a club tournament shall be present at the designated weigh station at the designated weigh-in time.  If they have indicated that they intend to fish the tournament and have traveled to the lake where the tournament is to be held within twenty-four hours of the start time of the first day of the tournament, but leave before weigh-in, they must notify a club member that is fishing the tournament.

 

24.   Guests are allowed and encouraged to fish the club tournaments.  They are required to adhere to the rules of the club.  Guests may not compete for any trophy or patch presented by the club.  Guests are eligible to compete for cash awards.  However, guests, including family members, must be declared as fishing or not fishing in the tournament prior to commencement of the tournament.

 

25.   Any contestant violating the aforementioned rules shall not be allowed to weigh their fish during the tournament where the violation occurs.

 

 

Effective:  April 27, 2007; updated February 19, 2008.