BASS CLUB TOURNAMENT RULES

· &n= bsp; <= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old= Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma'>Tournament Payout Matrix

*NUMBER OF BOATS*	*1^ST*	*2^nd*	*3^rd*	*4^th*	*5^th*	*6^th*	*7^th*
1-8	100%	-	-	-	-	-	-
9-16	65%	35%	-	-	-	-	-
17-24	55%	30%	15%	-	-	-	-
25-32	50%	25%	15%	10%	-	-	-
33-40	50%	26%	13%	7%	4%	-	-
41-48	40%	25%	15%	10%	7%	3%	-
49 and up	28%	23%	18%	13%	10%	5%	3%

Big Fish payout will be $200 (Based on a minimum of 40 anglers)<= /o:p>

· Entrants under 18 years of = age must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

· Tournament will only be canceled due to unsafe weather conditions as determined by tournament officials.=

· = Each tournament boat must use a liv= e well / aerator system of some kind. No stringers allowed!!!

· = Boat live well(s) / cooler(s) will be checked prior to the tournament start time= and may be checked anytime during the tournament.

· Late arrivals must have live well(s) / cooler(s) checked by another tournament entrant before fishing. Each tournament boat will be marke= d with a bright colored ribbon attached to their trolling motor for easy identification from a distance.

· Anyone leaving before the signal (air horn) starting the tournament will be disqualified.

· Partner changes during the tournament will not be permitted.

· Only 2 entrants are permitt= ed per boat.

· All fishing must be done fr= om inside your boat.

· No fishing within 50 yards = of another boat.

· All fish must be taken by s= port fishing methods! Netting, foul hooking, etc... of fish is not permitted.
This does not include landing nets used to boat fish taken by legal tournam= ent methods.

· No live bait may be used or possessed! All fish must be c= aught on artificial lures. No trolling= is allowed.

· Reckless boat operation is grounds for disqualification.

· Bass will be measured on a golden rule tournament board, closed mouth to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes pressed together. = No sweeping of tails is permitted.

· There will be a 4 oz deduct= ion for each dead fish. A dead fi= sh is defined as one unable to right itself and swim away upon release. This deduction also applies to the= big fish.

· Any attempt to weigh in a f= ish of less than legal size will result in a loss of the undersize fish and also entrant’s largest fish.

· Only black bass will be wei= ghed.&nb= sp; The black bass family consists of Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotte= d, Redeye, Suwannee, Guadalupe, Florida Largemouth, Neosho Smallmouth, Alabama Spotted Bass, and Wichita Spotted Bass.
There is a 5 fish per boat limi= t and a 12” minimum size.

· Entrants not back to the weigh-in site by the tournament finish time on the tournament official̵= 7;s watch will be penalized 8 oz per minute late. Entrants more than 10 minutes late= will be disqualified.
Any portion of a minute rounds up to the next minute for penalty determinat= ion purposes.

· The total stringer bass wei= ght will be the winner. In the ev= ent of a tie, either for total weight or big fish, the teams that are tied will sp= lit the money.

· Except for an emergency, entrants may not board boats other than their own until completion of the weigh-ins. =

· Entrants may not handle or possess any fish caught by other tournament entrants.

·     Any violation of the tourna= ment rules, lake rules, Virginia fishing regulations or unsportsmanlike conduct = will result in a disqualification. Tournament officials will resolve any conflicts.

·     All tournament entrants are required to have a clear understanding of all tournament rules and fish size limits before the tournament begins.

·     Any grievances will be made= to the tournament officials prior to the weigh-in. The tournament official’s de= cision is final!!!   =