1“Portage Powerhouse” is a two-day OPEN event provided by FBFP2007. Membership is NOT REQUIRED. Participation is open to any licensed angler in the State of Ohio who is 18 years of age or older and has agreed to waiver liability to all sponsoring agencies by signing a waiver of liability agreement. Those under age 18 must be accompanied or approved by a parent/guardian. No single man teams are permitted. Alternates are not permitted either day. “Observers” provided by the participant are required for day two pairing emergencies.
2. All fishing must be done from a boat. Proof of liability insurance must be available at time of entry on water. All boats must be at least 14ft. in length, comply with US Coast guard HP rating and equipped with a working ignition kill switch. Coast Guard approved vests/preservers are to be worn anytime outboard engine is running. All local, state and federal laws are to be followed. Any citations during tournament hours and weigh-in will result in disqualification.
3. Entries paid on or prior to 2/28/07 will be $260 and includes big bass fee. Entries paid between 3/1/07-3/30/07 will be $280 and includes big bass fee. Entries paid 4/1/07 up to tournament day will be $300 with the big bass fee of $20 optional. Flight number assigned according to date of fully paid entry. Flight numbers for day two are reversed starting with boat 100. Your team ID number will remain unchanged for both days. Capped at THE FIRST 100 PAID teams. There will be one flight group for every twenty teams entered, 15 minutes added to finish time with each flight group. Teams will be released in sequential fashion identifying their position immediately when called and take off only upon official’s acknowledgement. Unidentified teams when called will be disqualified. Teams will be placed on a wait list starting with #101. Dropout team numbers will be filled with wait list.
4. All participants must be registered with boats in water and livewells inspected by officials no later than 10 minutes prior to first start time. Teams are to launch from New State Park Ramp and proceed to registration via water,in boat, at Park Breach. Please park trailers in this area and retrieve partner at registration. Morning take-off is at PARK BEACH.
5. All boats must be equipped with a working aeration system. Dead fish to weigh tub results in a ONE POUND penalty per dead fish to total weight of legal catch and big bass if dead. Dead fish determined by 2007NOAA rule #8. A daily team limit will consist of FIVE largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass that are 12” or longer. Cull immediately as you catch. If a team possesses 6 or more fish they are disqualified. ONE POUND penalty for each short fish to total weight of legal catch. Short fish determined by 2007NOAA rule #10.
7. Off limits of Portage Lakes begins 12:01am 4/14/07 and again immediately upon finish time of day one. Areas of the lake marked as “no boat” areas are off limits during competition as well as 50 yards of any public gas pump. Please clarify any off limit regions that may be in question with director prior to event start
8. Fishing is not allowed within 50 yards of another boat that was first anchored. A boat is considered anchored if tied to object or has a rope over the side with trolling motor out of water. Boats are never to be within “touching distance” during competition hours. The practice of “hole sitting” by another competitor or non-competitors boat is prohibited as well. PLEASE exhibit sportsmanlike and courteous positioning when fishing similar water. Simple communication between boats can often resolve on the water issues.
9. Only artificial baits with the exception of pork trailers are permitted for use. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Drifting is permitted. Only one casting or spinning rod may be in use for the purpose of catching fish, per individual. All bass must be caught in a live sporting manner with rod and reel while the participant remains inside the watercraft.
10. Teams are to check-in with on the water officials by way of their numbered ball. Check-in time determined when ball enters official’s boat. The check-in boat will be available inside the park beach bay 15 minutes before the first stated finish time each day. There is a ONE POUND penalty for loss of check-in ball. At no time may a team without a ball check-in late. Boats that arrive late are penalized ONE POUND per minute of total legal weight and disqualified after five minutes. At no time may another team or non-participant bring in a team’s catch. A team or non-participant may tow a competing vessel back to weigh-in under emergency/breakdown situations. There are no “restarts” for any reason. Participants of a team must remain on the water in their boat up to disposing of ball to “official on the water” check-in boat. Boats are never to be boarded by any competitor or non-competitor at anytime INCLUDING WEIGH-IN. All boats are to report to the park beach area to weigh fish. All participants of a team must be present at weigh-in to make weight official. Any portion of a team’s watercraft is subject to inspection by officials at any time before, during or after event. Refusal of inspection will result in disqualification.
11. The use of cell phones or electronic communication devices is strictly prohibited during event hours unless pre-approved by the director or for emergency purposes.
12. The event director and team of help will fish this event. Another participant will verify their weights. The director/team removes any authority deciding a situation involving themselves allowing for a majority vote of remaining participants to rule.
13. Precision digital tournament scales will be the primary scales used for determining weight. A backup scale that is calibrated with the primary scale will be used for any remaining bags of fish in the event of primary scale failure. Total weight is determined in pounds and hundredth ounces. The highest total two day accumulated weights determined for awards.
14. All ties will be decided by a unanimous vote of tied teams to split winnings or otherwise by the flip of a coin.
15. The use of alcohol or illicit substances during event hours and weigh-in is prohibited and grounds for disqualification.
16. Any team or person found to be cheating or unsportsmanlike by officials will be disqualified from participating event and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
17. FBFP2007 reserves the right to accept or refuse any entry received.
18. All protests must be made in writing within 10 minutes of last call for fish the day the violation occurred. Written protests will result in a binding decision being made. If the director is unable to resolve a dispute by substantiated evidence or admission of the accused, a polygraph will be required as instituted by the director only. The results of that polygraph will be binding. Both the filing party and accused must post deposit in the amount of $650 for the cost of testing. Refusal to post deposit by either party will result in a binding decision being made at that time. Deposit will be returned to the party in which the polygraph found in favor of. A decision of the protest will be governed by event officials only unless subject to rule #12. Any participant is subject to polygraph at request of the director at anytime with or without cause. The first place winners of this event will submit and be required to pass a verification test as instituted by FBFP2007 prior to official checks disbursed. Any protests filed will be available for public review on dobass.com.
19. FBFP2007 reserves the right to adjust tournament times or outright cancel either day due to dangerous/severe conditions. It is each participant’s responsibility to make individual decisions about their own safety in the event of severe weather. Any canceled day will be rescheduled. No entries will be returned beyond the time frame of the first boat being called during morning takeoff of the first day of participation for any reasons. Returns prior to the first day of competition will incur a $100 processing penalty.
20. Any rules, interpretation of the rules, or rules not covered will be governed by event officials only and those decisions will be binding.
21. Payout is GUARANTEED on a FULL FIELD of 100 teams. Prorated adjustments based from full field will be made upon final participant participation.
