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2007 - 100% BASS General Rules

These Rules are in effect from Jan 1, 2007 thru Dec 31, 2007

1. All General Rules will apply to all 100% BASS tournaments and contestants. It is your responsibility, as a participant, to read and comply with all written tournament rules and know any special tournament rules, year-end qualification rights and any applicable local, state or federal rules and regulations.  In addition to these rules it is the responsibility of all contestants to have read and understand all rules listed under specific rules for either Future-Pro or Pro-Am events.

2. Sportsmanship: any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship and/or violates any of these rules will be disqualified. Disorderly conduct at any official tournament meeting will be grounds for disqualification.

3. Participants And Eligibility: Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult ( Parent or legal guardian )  while fishing any 100% BASS tournament. 

4. Participation: You must be a paid member in good standing to participate in any 100% BASS event. Membership starts the day of your first tournament and expires on the 1st of the month you join the next year. (example: if your event is June 19th, the your membership expires on June 1st of the next year).   100% BASS reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone for any reason. Any and all points will be forfeited if your membership is not current.

5. Safety: Safe boating conduct and all safety precautions must be observed at all times by all contestants. Anyone fishing in a tournament must wear a Coast Guard approved flotation device any time the main engine is running. Such flotation devices must be worn and properly fastened when inspected at the checkout point.  All boats must be equipped with an engine shutoff or emergency " Kill " switch using a lanyard type device. Electronic Kill switch devices are not acceptable for your primary mode of safety.  In case of an event cancellation due to unsafe conditions, five hours of fishing will constitute a complete event. With less than five hours of fishing, the event in its entirety will be rescheduled. In the highly unlikely case of an act of God cancellation, all entry fees will automatically  be transferred to the rescheduled event .

6. Fishing License: Each contestant will observe State Fish and Game laws and have in his or her possession a valid state fishing license.

7. Beverages: No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed in the boat or to be consumed during official tournament hours prior to weigh in.

8.Boat And Motor: The tournament director reserves the right to prohibit any boat from participating in the start if such boat is considered unsafe or the operator unqualified. Boats equipped with motor horsepower in excess of factory or BIA rating will not be allowed in tournament competition. All boats must be equipped with an engine shutoff or emergency " Kill " switch using a lanyard type device. Electronic Kill switch devices are not acceptable for your primary mode of safety. You lanyard type device must be hooked up and operational at any time the main motor is running. No boat smaller than 13’ long or having a motor smaller that 25 horsepower will be permitted to participate.

 9.Registration: All tournaments will require a payment of entry fees. Deadline for payment of entries is 12 noon on Tuesday prior to the event for all Pro-Am tournaments and 5pm on Thursday  prior to the event for all team tournaments. Entry forms must be filled out completely, including membership number, and sent only to: 100% BASS, P.O. Box 2583 Grass Valley, Ca 95945. Late sign-ups, however, will be accepted at the lake (team tournaments only). See rule #10 for details.

10. Late Sign-ups: Late entries will not be taken for Pro-Am events.  Late entries will be accepted after the official entry deadlines (including at-the-lake sign-ups) for all 100% BASS team events. However, a late fee of $10 will be charged. Late entries must be paid in cash, and only cash will be accepted at the lake.

11. Entry Transfers: No entry fees, for any reason, may be transferred outside the calendar year ( tournament season). If you have prepaid for an event and elect not to fish, you may transfer the entry to the next event. In the case of the last event of a season a refund will be given.

13. Checkpoints: Contestants must check in and out at the official checkpoint. Contestants' boats will be assigned a number, which must be shown at check-in and check-out stations.

14.Weigh Slips/Start Number: Your weigh slip must be signed by a tournament official for all on-ramp inspections. An officials signature will not be required for drive-by inspections. If you are issued a weigh slip, you must retain it; no fish will be weighed without a weigh slip. This is strictly a procedural rule and may cause disqualification subject to a final decision of the director.

15. Drive-By Inspection: Drive by inspections will be conducted when and where facilities permit. Each boat will pass by the inspection dock, in proper order, live wells open, running lights on, aerators running, life jackets on, and engine cut off switch attached to driver. Boats that do not come by the inspection station will be disqualified.

16. On Ramp Inspection: On-ramp boat inspections will be conducted by tournament officials whenever necessary. Officials will be checking for fish, safety equipment, live bait, alcohol, etc. Your weigh slip must be signed for all on-ramp inspections. Unsigned weigh slips will result in disqualification. It is your responsibility to be sure your weigh slip is endorsed.

17. Running Lights Must Be On: at blast off and until contestants arrive at their first fishing spot. This is a procedural rule that is now required by our insurance company and will cause you to be sent to the end of the line and be the last boat (s) out in the event.

18. Partners Must Remain Together: throughout the fishing day and may not leave the boat unless approved by a tournament official ( exception: use of rest room facilities ). A contestant may not leave for the purpose of carrying, towing, or pushing his boat or to reduce weight to improve floatability for the purpose of gaining access to fishing waters that are otherwise inaccessible. If a boat is inadvertently stuck on a sand bar you may leave the boat in an effort to regain float ability back to point of entry only. Not forward past the sand bar.

19. Permitted Fishing Methods: Only artificial lures may be used. No prepared or live bait other than pork rind strips are permitted. Rods are not to exceed eight feet in length. Only one rod may be used at one time. However, any number of rigged rods may be in the boat for substitute purposes. Trolling, as a method of fishing, is prohibited. All fish must be caught live and in a conventional angling method. All fishing must be done from a boat.

20. Sight fishing for Bedding Bass -  A sight or bedding fish is defined as one that can be seen and watched as it approaches the lure. Fish being caught under these conditions must be caught by hook and line and by the fish ingesting the lure. Any bass caught that is either a "sight" or "bed" fish must be caught "hook in mouth with the hook point entering from the inside of the mouth" - and must be verified as a legal catch by the angler's in-boat partner. Any "sight" or "bed" fish caught by snagging or with hook starting from outside the mouth shall be deemed an illegally caught fish and must be released. This same fish may be caught again by the legal method - with the hook starting from inside the mouth. Any angler catching a fish under these conditions and not verifying the hook location with the other person in the boat may be disqualified from the tournament.

21. Platforms in Boat:
 The use of any device to raise a contestant above the normal freeboard of a boat is prohibited. This rules includes any device that is constructed to raise the contestant up to a higher position as to allow them to cast into areas that would not normally be accessible or which would allow a contestant to see fish from a better angle.  Standing on the outboard motor is strictly prohibited.

22. Infringements/Permitted Fishing Areas: Effective 1/1/2006 there is no longer any infringement rules. Two contestants wanting to fish the same area must either work it out between themselves or share the area, period. Fishing within designated off-limits areas will result in immediate disqualification.

23. Boat Control: Contestants must leave and return to the tournament weigh-in site by boat. Boats cannot be trailed from one fishing location to another during tournament hours except under supervision of the tournament staff or by permission of the tournament staff. This rule includes non contestant boats as well as contestant boats, except emergency situations.

24. Fish Size/Culling: Fish will be measured flat, mouth open on a Wil-E-Go belly board or a Bass-Board on the belly (dish) side, with a  13  inch minimum size. No measuring or culling inside of 5 mph buoys or the area between the check-in point and the weigh-in site will be permitted. Infractions will result in disqualification.

25.  Number of fish in Limit: No fisherman may hold in the live well more fish than the limit imposed by the event fished. For all normal points race team tournaments the limit is 5 fish per team / or 5 fish per team during each half of a split weigh-in event. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

26. Breakdowns/Emergencies: Anglers are not permitted to leave their boats nor touch another boat, with the exception of an emergency or major equipment failure. In this case, it is permitted to be towed either to safety or back to the weigh-in area by any safe means available. You may not transport fish by land if you choose to trailer back to the weigh-in area, however, you may have your fished transported to the weigh-in by another tournament boat participating in the same event.  At least one person must stay with your fish at all times and neither angler is permitted to fish while under the assistance of another boat during the breakdown period.

27. Penalties: Contestants who have not checked in at the official check point on time will be disqualified. Boat and motor problems are no excuse for tardiness! Anyone weighing in fish smaller than 13 inch minimum length will loose that fish and have one pound subtracted from the remaining total weight.  Any fish that appears to have been altered or mutilated, in the Tournament Director's judgment, will be deemed illegal, and one pound will be subtracted from the total weight for each such fish. The penalty in any 100% BASS event for dead fish will be progressive- (1 dead fish-.20, 2 dead fish-.40, 3 dead fish –.80, 4 dead fish-1.60, 5 or more-3.00 lbs). Remember, It's illegal to cull a dead fish. Entry points will not be thrown out. Any contestant who is ticketed on the water during official hours of a tournament, for any reason, will be disqualified. You may not weigh in a dead fish for the purpose of winning the big fish option pot.

28. Cheating: Anyone caught or deemed to have cheated in any event will be disqualified from entering future events for a length of time to be determined by 100% BASS and may be subject to prosecution to the full extent of the law. All contestants, by submission of their entries, give 100% BASS permission to administer a polygraph test and use the results as a possible means in determining disqualification.

29. Official Boats: officials may be on the lake during contest hours, and can approach or observe any contestants boat. Each contestant is requested to cooperate with all reasonable requests from media representatives or officials. Official boats may not be used as contestant replacement boats.

30. Live Wells: Adequate Live Wells are mandatory on each boat and must provide proper aeration to maintain fish in good condition, as all fish will be released alive after the weigh- in. In the case of a boat without built in livewells, a large Ice Chest with portable aerators with be acceptable. You will be asked to show the aerators working.

31. Trophy Bass: Contestants will not retain any bass after a tournament. However, a trophy bass meeting minimum Fish and Game Commission sizes: Largemouth- 10 pounds, smallmouth- 6 pounds, and spotted bass-6 pounds. may be kept if designated at weigh in time as such.

32. Scoring: is determined by the total weight of each participants catch for the overall event, less any penalty for dead fish weighed in. There is no bonus for live fish. Points are awarded to each entrant of the event up to the top 150 places. Five participation points will be awarded to all entrants of the event. Participation points are not revocable.

33. Lake Off-Limits:  There is No off limits period for any 100% BASS event with the exception of the Championship tournaments, to be held at the end of each season.  The off limits for any championship will be given to each contestant prior to the event. You may not talk with anyone who has fished the Championship waters during the off limits period.

34. Off-Limit Areas: Every lake may have off-limit areas. If no specific off-limit areas are announced, then 50 yards from any gas pumps and the entire host marina will always be enforced. Any off limits area means you cannot go into or cast into that area.

35a. Information sharing: Once an event has started it is against the rules for any contestant to receive help or information about how/where to catch fish from someone else outside of their own boat. This includes help from another contestant.

35b. Pre-Fish:  For all team events, (except T.O.C.) is permitted and can be conducted with any angler you chose.

36. Reserved Areas: No person may "hold" or "reserve" a fishing area for a contestant at any time. Infraction of this rule will result in disqualification of all parties involved.

37. Radio or Phone Transmitting: of information concerning any aspect of fishing during a tournament is prohibited. Communication between contestants and/or land lines may, however, be used for breakdowns, emergencies, business, or personal reasons.

38. Speed-Restricted Areas: No boat may pass another contestant's boat in a restricted speed zone, in an effort to gain an advantage. Speeding in a 5 mph zone is grounds for disqualification if you are protested.

39. Live release: The contestants may be required to return the fish to the lake. Fisherman are required to handle the fish with the utmost care according to the Fish an Game guidelines (i.e., 5 pound plus fish in a separate bag). If the fish, for any reason, are not returned to the designated release area, immediate disqualification will result.

40. Expenses: In all pre-fish and event days, it will be the responsibility of the fishing partners to mutually agree on a basis of sharing operational expenses.

41. Paybacks: 20% of the field (one in five places) in a 100% BASS events will be paid back unless advertised otherwise. 100% BASS reserves the right to substitute products advertised for prizes of equal or greater value depending on availability.

42. Awards/Prizes: Any person unable to attend the awards ceremony should have a designated representative, other than a tournament official, claim all prizes and awards for the event.

43a. Integrity of 100% BASS Events:  Tournament Directors at any event reserve the right to require an observer of their choice to ride along with that boat.  Failure to comply will result in a refund of entry fees and denial of participation in the tournament.  Further more, The Tournament Director has the right to charge a fee of up to $50 to compensate said observer for their time.

43b. Moving of Fish: It is illegal to move fish from one location to another for the purpose of gaining an advantage in an upcoming event. The period of time in which moving fish is illegal will be 60 days before the event.

 

44. Polygraph Test: By the submission of their entries, all contestants, at any time, may be subject to a polygraph test at the discretion of 100% BASS  All prizes will be subject to the results of the test. Any contestant refusing to submit or abide by the results of a 100% BASS polygraph test is subject to immediate disqualification and withholding of any prizes won.  Furthermore, On said polygraph test, the following questions will be asked.

       a. Were all fish caught on artificial lures during tournament hours?

       b. Did you receive any fish from anyone outside of your boat?

       c. Did you take any fish out of a caged area during this event?

       d. Did you hide any fish in your boat or truck for use in this event?

       e. During the 60 days before this tournament, did you or anyone you know move
            fish from one area to another for the purpose of gaining an advantage in this event?

45. Early Weighing In: Weighing in early is permissible only if arrangements are made with the tournament director prior to the start of the tournament.

46. Special Rules: The tournament director may add specifics rules when necessary. These special rules will be in effect for the length of the tournament and should not be considered regular rules, but will be announced and enforced as such. Interpretation of all rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director, whose decision will be final in all matters.

47. Complaints: must be submitted in writing no later than thirty(30) minutes after weigh in. The tournament advisory committee will be consulted, whenever possible, to rule on any complaints or disqualifications.

48. Ties: In case of a tie in any major event title, boat, or product, a "sudden death" style fish-off will be held. In case of a tie for any other event, it is the contestants responsibility to split equally the sum total of the prizes between them. A flip of a coin will be used to determine which trophy a contestant will receive.

49. Show-Up Points: Five participation points will be awarded at each points earning event and these points can not be revoked for any reason. This helps to establish strong participation and higher paybacks.

50. Damages and Claims: All contestants by entering a 100% BASS event here by waive and release the tournament officials, sponsoring organizations and Owners of 100% BASS from all claims for injury and/or damage incurred in connection with this event.

51. Insurance:  It is the responsibility of all boat owner to have current boat insurance to participate in any 100% BASS event.  Failure to do so could result in your not being allowed to participate in or being disqualified from the event.

52. Release of Fish:  At all events, after weigh-in, fish must be released at least 1/4 mile away from host marina and weigh-in location.

53. Angler of the Year: Will be determined by the team with the most points accumulated at the end of the year, based on a 5 out of 5 events fished format. In the event of a tie, there will be a fish off at the TOC.

54. Championship Qualification:  Teams qualifying for the championship must have both partners in attendance at a minimum of 4 out of the 5 events fished in a region. Qualifiers will be determined base on the most points accumulated for the year, using a 1 throwout format. If a team chooses to skip one event and use that as a throw out, then they must have fished the other 4 events to qualify for the championship. The number of teams qualifying will be based on the Largest draw for that region in accordance with the following table.

                          Less than 50 boats     -                     20 Qualifiers                               

                         Less than 75 Boats   -                        25 Qualifiers

                        Less than 100 Boats  -                        30 Qualifiers

                        Less than 125 Boats  -                        35 Qualifiers

Points are awarded based upon your finish in each event. 150 points for first, 149 for second, 148 for third, etc. 5 show up points are awarded for participation at each event and are not discarded when calculating the throw out for championship qualification. Furthermore, after the total points have been calculated for the championship a tie means the next place in line is discarded. Example – if a region has 15 teams to qualify and two teams in 6th place have the same amount of points, then there is no 7th place. Only 15 teams can go to the TOC.  (Exception for a tie for 15th, all teams tied at 15th would go to the TOC)                                                                                             

Travelers region qualifiers: will be determined by a team having fished any 7 regular season events. When signing up at the tournaments, YOU MUST USE THE SAME BOATERS NAME EACH TIME YOU SIGN UP. All teams fishing 7 events will automatically qualify for the T.O.C. as Travelers. Both Partners must attend at least five of the seven for travelers’ points to count.

 Championship Pre-Fish: Contestants may not fish with or talk to anyone during the official pre-fish days other than contestants in the same event(this includes all relatives). Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification. Official Prefish days are defined as the 48 hours prior to an event.  Furthermore, you are not allowed to talk to anyone who fished on the tournament waters during the off limits period for the purpose of improving your pre-fish.  The off limits period is defined as the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, just prior to the tournament.  All contestants are required to where life jackets during official practice days and can be disqualified if they are protested for not complying with this rule. All contestants must be off the water when the official check in time starts for any championship event.