VOUGHT BASS CLUB
2008 TOURNAMENT RULES

I. TOURNAMENT RULES

A. Changes to Tournament Rules

1. Tournament rules listed in this document may only be changed prior to the beginning of the tournament year.

2. All requests or proposals for changes must be submitted in person at the Final annual club meeting.

3. After changes have been discussed by members present and listed in the Final annual newsletter a vote will be cast at the annual Club banquet and the tournament rules will be set for the following tournament year.

II. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligibility

1. Participants must be a paid member in good standing of Vought Bass Club or member of immediate family or guest of paid member.

2. For the purposes of these rules, immediate family shall be limited to the following:                  -wife/husband
                                  -children (under 19)
                                  -all of these related by law

B. Guest Privileges

1. Each member in good standing may bring a different guest to each club tournament during any calendar year.
2. No guest may fish in more than two club tournaments during the year.
3. An eligible guest shall receive winnings for that day only and does not qualify for end of year standings, tournament of champions, trophies, or any of the priveleges of a regular member.

C. Tournament Registration

1. Male participants must pay an entry fee for each tournament of $25.00.

2.  Female participants must pay an entry fee of $15.00 for each tournament. 
3. The tournament director will be available up to 15 minutes prior to the designated start time to accept entry fees.

4. If participant arrives late any board member will accept fees prior to that participant beginning to fish or a verbal approval of the tournament director.

5. There shall be no tournament with less than five (5) individuals registered.

6. Members who place in the top ten for the yearly total heavy stringer, win first place heavy stringer, ladies and mens big bass of the year, and the lady angler of the year are eligible to participate in the Tournament of Champions held the following year. Their will be no entry fee for each participant and the Club will contribute an amount of $200   Pay out will be 1^st Place – 50%, 2^nd Place 30%, 3^rd Place 20% and no big bass payout.

7. Members who place in the top six for the yearly total heavy stringer will represent the club at the end of the year or the following year at a TOP 6 Open Team Club event. If any of the top 6 can't make it we will use the next in line down until we have 6 with the highest ranked 3 having 1st choice to be boaters. The club will sponsor the team up to an entry fee of $250 per team. The remaining dues will be split evenly among the 6 contestants. All winnings will be split evenly amongst the 6 contestants.  

II. COUPLES TOURNAMENTS

A. This division shall be composed of male and female teams only.

B. No sharing fish with partner (only your own fish may be weighed). Each team member can only weigh fish he or she catches.

C. Combined weights will be weighed for heavy stringer.

D. Couples tournaments are for fun only, weights are not included in yearly standings.

E. Participants must pay entry fees of $15.00 for heavy stringer and $5.00 for optional big bass pot per team prior to fishing.

F. All other applicable tournament rules apply.

III. GENERAL

A. The Tournament Director may change any tournament rules, except lake selection, provided the membership is notified no later than the last regularly scheduled club meeting prior to the subject tournament.

B. All federal, state, and local laws must be adhered to at all times and have precedence over all club tournament rules.

C. A contestant will be disqualified if determined fishing in restricted waters. (Restricted waters is any area marked by signs or buoys stating no fishing, no boating, no trespassing, etc.) To be determined by the Tournament Director.

D. The Tournament Director shall have the authority to disqualify any string of fish for failure to follow tournament rules.

E. All fish must be kept alive or on ice and in good condition.

1. All questionable fish may be disqualified by the Tournament Director.
2. Dead Fish Penalty - .50 lb. for each dead fish. No culling of dead fish.
3. There will be a 5 fish limit or the legal lake limit of any legal sized largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, or/and shoal bass. If you have more than the lake limit when you come to the scales your weight for that day will not count.
4. Fish Length Penalty - 1.00 lb. for each fish. (Includes slot fish)

F. The following weigh-in procedure will be followed:

1. Each participant will keep his fish separate from his partner's fish.
2. Each participant must bring in his own fish, unless arrangements have been made with the Tournament Director.
3. No sharing fish with partner (your own fish only may be weighed).
4. You must be checked in no later than the indicated weigh-in time for your fish to be counted for tournament competition or for year-end standings.
5. Once checked in, contestants' fish will be weighed in as bags become available.
6. Fish become property of contestant after weigh-in, but tails must be clipped if retained. Released fish must be accomplished at water's edge as designated by the Tournament Director.
7. No contestant may measure or weigh his own fish (no exceptions).

G. Artificial type lures only may be used. (Pork rinds and strips are excepted.)

H. No trolling will be permitted with main engine.

I. Depth finders and thermometers may be used but "calling" devices are not allowed.

J. Tubes and wading will be allowed but user must wear life jacket at all times.

K. No boat may approach within fifty (50) feet of another club boat uninvited during the tournament hours that is tied or anchored. (with trolling motor up)

L. Trailering will be allowed.

M. Professional, licensed guides may not fish any tournament if they have fished the tournament lake one month prior to the scheduled tournament. Guides may not be used in any tournament.

N. A U. S. Coast Guard approved life saving device must be on any time the main engine is in operation. All safety equipment must be on board, i.e. approved life jackets, horn or whistle, throwing device, fire extinguisher, etc.

O. Non-tournament participants in boat (kids 15 and under) may fun fish. Non-participant must be declared prior to start of tournament.

V. PROTEST

A. Any participant wishing to file a protest as to weight or condition of another participant's catch, or his methods, must do so (in writing) within thirty (30) minutes after weigh-in each day, to the Tournament Director.

B. Such protest must be acted upon before final weigh-in of last tournament day after written protest is given to Tournament Director.

C. The burden of proof shall be upon the protestor.

D. Decision of the Tournament Director and Board of Directors present shall be final.

VI. TOURNAMENT LAKES

A. Lake selections for the next calendar year shall be made at the final meeting of the year by the newly elected officers of the club.

1. The club will sponsor a total of 12 one day tournaments per year.
2. The tournament director will set tournament dates before the yearly tournament schedule begins.
3. The club will have 2 backup lakes.

4. If the Board of Directors determines by "mutual agreement" that the chosen lake is:

a. hazardous to health, safety or equipment of club members,
b. inaccessible due to launch or lodging conditions, or
c. unavailable for tournaments,

We will use one of the backup lakes as decided on by the tournament director. Written or verbal notice of the alternate lake to all club members must be provided prior to the tournament. This decision shall be final.

B. No lake may be fished more than two (2) times in any year (per division) except the Tournament of Champions lake.

C. Any lake may be selected within a 125 mile radius of the intersection of SH360 and IH30.

D. Selection of headquarters shall be the responsibility of the Tournament Director and shall be announced by the monthly newsletter.

VII. TIMES AND DATES

A. Tournament dates will be scheduled by the Tournament Director.

B. Starting time shall be a specific hour, i.e. 6:15 AM

C. Weigh-in time shall be determined by Tournament Director.

D. No participant will be allowed to fish on the tournament lake after dark on the day prior to the tournament.

E. It shall be the responsibility of the Tournament Director to maintain a Tournament Board at the tournament lake or make weigh-in records available to any participant who requests to see it.

VIII. AWARDS  

A. Cash awards will be presented immediately following the tournament.

B. Awards based on number of entries:

C. Ten dollars ($10) shall be presented to any lady taking large bass among ladies during a tournament even if only one woman fishing and it will be carried over to the next month if not won. If no women fish a particular tournament their will be no $10 for that event. The ladies big bass will come from the club fund which is 20% of the intake per person.

IX. SPORTSMANSHIP

A. Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation are qualities expected from all members at all times.

X. CLUB CHAMPIONS

A. The Club Champions for each division shall be determined as follows:

1. The Champion shall be the member who amasses the greatest total weight for that year.

B. Awards.

1. Trophy for Club Champion and for Lady Angler of the Year.
2. Trophy for places 2-6 for members with highest in standings.
3. Certificates for places 7 through 10 (each division).
4. Youth Trophy (16 and under) for each child catching a legal size tournament fish).
5. Trophy for Big Bass of the Year.
6. Trophy for Ladies Big Bass of the Year.

C. Records

1. The Tournament Directors/Assistant shall maintain the totals for their division.

D. Officers' Hats

1. Hats to each officer (color designated by elected officers for new year).