2010 OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. RULES CHANGES: Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Director. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director may impose such sanctions as he deems appropriate. Including, without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final in all matters.
2. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: These tournaments are open to anyone 50 years of age or older as of May 1, 2010).
3. PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE: No off limits practice period
4. REGISTRATION: Each team is required to submit an official entry form prior to the tournament. The entry form must be received by the Tournament Director at least 2 days prior to a tournament. Registration is permitted at the ramp, however a late-fee of $2 per boat will be assessed. Registration will be closed 30 minutes prior to the start of any tournament.
5. SAFETY: Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by tournament competitors. During the tournament, each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved chesttype life preserver. This preserver must be worn anytime the combustion engine is operating during tournament hours. This preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition until the competitor reaches his fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off. Violation of this rule shall be reason for disqualification. The Tournament Director has the right to delay or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the SAFETY of the competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather.
6. SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in Senior Division tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Moving, relocating or stocking of fish is deemed unsportsman-like and such conduct will result in disqualification.
7. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No "live bait" or "prepared bait" will be permitted, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only ONE casting, spincasting or spinning rod (8 foot maximum length from butt of handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time. All other types prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in boat ready for use; however, only ONE is permitted in use at any given time. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging fish on spawning beds will have their day'scatch disqualified. When visually fishing for bedding bass, all bass must be hooked inside of the mouth and must be verified by your partner before being unhooked to be counted as a legal fish. No gaffs may be used to boat bass nor be permitted in boat at any time. The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited.
8. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER FOR ALL OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS USED IN TOURNAMENT COMPETITION WILL BE the horsepower limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard in their ruling of Nov. 1.1972. When required, each boat MUST have a U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must NOT exceed the rating specified on this rating plate.
9. BOAT AND MOTOR: For the safety of all contestants, ALL BOATS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH SOME TYPE OF OPERABLE IGNITION KILL SWITCH. This ignition kill device must be attached to the driver's body anytime the combustion engine is operating. When the combustion engine is operating and in gear, there must be a driver in the driver's seat in full control of the boat. Fishing boats may be used that are 15 feet or more in length. Any raised platform or decks cannot he higher than the gunnel of the boat. A small electric trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering; however, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited.
10. BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment. In addition, it must have a functional bilge pump and LIVEWELL SPACE, PROPERLY AERATED, TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ALIVE A LIMIT CATCH OF BASS BY BOTH FISHERMEN USING THE BOAT. The Tournament Director shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether the aeration and capacity is "proper and adequate".
11. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Tournament waters will be established by the Tournament Director for each tournament. Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except within 50 yards of another competitors boat which was first anchored or secured in a fixed position. No such boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the 50yard circle claimed by him, to the exclusion of any other competitor. Any water within boundaries posted Off-Limits or No Fishing by state or federal agencies will be OFF LIMITS. Also, the live-bass release area established by the Tournament Director will be OFF LIMITS and will be announced at the Tournament Briefing. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to tournament contestants. All angling must be done from the boat. Competitors wishing to change fish habitat by placing any object in the tournament waters may do so if such action does not violate state or federal regulations.
12. CONTESTANTS MUST REMAIN IN BOAT. Contestants must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Contestants must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat. Both competitors must remain in boat at all times except in case of dire emergency.
13. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one official point for checkout in the morning, and checkin in the afternoon and this point shall be designated by the Tournament Director.
14. SCORING:
A. For each event cash awards will be based upon team weights. Team standing, auxiliary awards and championship team shall be determined by the pound and hundredths weight of each competitors catch during the competition period of the tournament. Ten points will be awarded for each pound of fish. Only Largemouth, Spotted, or Smallmouth bass will be weighed. The limit shall be 5 legal fish (12 inches or longer, tail pinched) of the above species and varieties per boat. All competitors are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the various states within which they fish. At no time shall a competitor have in possession more than the limits described above. No dead fish will be weighed. After a competitor checks in at the official checkpoint he MUST present all LEGAL fish in his possession to a tournament official to be counted, measured and weighed.
B. The Point championship team will be determined by the total number of points accrued. The championship team will be awarded free entry into the Ohio River Senior Bass Tour for 2011.
15. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not at the official checkpoint at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute to be deducted from the total weight of their catch that day. Any competitor more than 15 minutes late shall lose all credit for that days catch. There shall be no excuse for tardiness and in no case shall a competitor be allowed to make up "lost time". After proper recognition at the checkin point, competitors will be allowed ample time to proceed to the weighin site; however, all fishing must cease upon checkin
16. Cash Awards:At least 95 % of entry fees will be awarded. The pay-out percentages will depend on the number of entries, one place paid for every 10 boats. The Tournament Director shall retain a portion (estimated to be less than 5 % ) of the entry fees to cover expenses for the month. Any late fees will be used to off-set expenses.
17. High-water Cancellation Policy. If the Ohio River stage at the Cincinnati gauge exceeds 34.0 feet on tournament day, or is projected to reach this level on tournament day, the tournament will be re-scheduled for the following Wednesday. Contact the tournament director in the event of any questions about the river level.