Flower Mound Bass Club

Tournament Rules

(Revised and accepted on January.1, 2010)

1.    The members are required to obey all federal, state, and local laws.

2.   Sportsmanship, courtesy, conservation, and safe operation of boats are required of members and guests. 

3.   Life jackets are to be worn and attached properly at any time the boat is on plane.

4.   Intoxication to any degree during a tournament or weigh-in may result in disqualification from the tournament and expulsion from the club.  A wanton disregard of the above will justify disciplinary action including disqualification of the tournament and/or expulsion from the club.

5.   Participants under seventeen years of age must be accompanied by a parent or sponsor.

6.   Competition will be on an individual basis.  However, a boat and the expenses are to be shared equally by competitors using the same boat.

7.   All fees are to be paid before the tournament.  In the event of a late arrival, the late arriving member must seek out an officer by phone or in person to commit to the tournament and associated fees.

8.   All fish must be caught on artificial bait with the exception of the use of pork rind.

9.   Only one rod to be used at a time.

10.  Trolling is allowed with the electric motor only.

11.  No fishing within 50 yards of another participant in the same tournament without permission of that person.

12.  The only acceptable species of fish are largemouth, Kentucky, and smallmouth bass.

13.  Guests are allowed provided their entry fee has been paid or the sponsoring member has committed to be accountable for those fees.

14.  Tournament start time, weigh-in time, trailering, and live well checks will be the decision of the tournament judge.

15.  A bag with adequate water is required for transporting fish to the weigh-in.  Any dead fish will be weighed but with a half-pound loss of that particular fish. A fish that is determined to be short or illegal by the tournament director will incur a half pound penalty and the fish will not be weighed or counted in any way. A courtesy check is available to all anglers at anytime before weighing said fish.

16.  Participants must be in the weigh-in line by the time the tournament ends or be keeping the fish in a live-well in the boat on the trailer at the weigh-in site.  Additional time will be allowed in the event the participant is in the immediate area of the ramp.

17.  Fishing on the tournament lake on the days between the meeting and the tournament is not allowed.

18.  Providing any other person with a fish to be used in any competition or event is not allowed.

19.  Protests must be presented to the tournament judge within 30 minutes of the weigh-in. The tournament judge will have the club officers participating in the tournament vote on the protest at the weigh-in site or at the next monthly meeting if necessary. Their decision would then be final.

20.  State regulations must be followed.  On lakes with a 14” minimum, only fish over 14 inches will be brought in for the weigh-in.  On lakes with a slot limit, the legally retained fish will be brought to the weigh-in and a written record of those within the slot limit will be presented to the tournament judge for credit as well.  Paper weights will count the same as actual weights except for the “Big Bass of the Year Award”.  In “paper tournaments” the boating partner is expected to verify the length of the fish caught by his partner. The chart provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife will be used to determine the estimated weights. There is a five fish limit for each person. Any fish brought to weigh-in that is determined to be in the slot will not be weighed and a 1 pound penalty will be assessed and loss of fish.

21.  The tournament fee for those 17 and older will be thirty ($30.00) dollars. Family members and other children will pay $5.00 and but will not be in contention for any cash payoffs unless they choose to pay the full $30.00. Splitting winnings with your boat companion is optional but should be agreed upon at the beginning of the tournament. All fees must be paid in full by the conclusion of that tournaments meeting.

22.  Breakdown of the tournament fee is as follows:

$5.00 to the club

$4.00 for the heaviest legal bass of the tournament

$9.00 for first place winner

$5.00 for second place

$3.00 for third place

$4.00 to the classic fund.

 

23.  The “Angler of the Year” will be determined by the following point system.

= 10   points for attending the monthly meeting

= 100 points for first place stringer

= 97   points for second place

= 94   points for third place
there will be no prize money for anyone finishing lower than third place.  However, the awarding of points will continue as indicted above as long as a participant has a legal fish to weigh-in or to claim as a “paper fish”.  Those who have participated in the tournament but have no fish to weigh or report, will receive points equal to one-half of the number awarded to the person who was last to receive points for a fish.

24.  Changes to the tournament rules can be made at any time by the majority of members present at any tournament or regular meeting by a majority vote.

25.  Tournament awards will be as follows:

26.  Angler of the Year (based on above point system), Heaviest Bass of the Year, and Junior Angler of the Year.

27.  Any member can enter the “Big Bass of the Year Contest” at any time by paying an additional $20.00. Paper weight will not count in this contest.  That prize will be awarded at the last meeting of the year.