Clear-cut, straightforward rules make for good fishing with no room for disgruntlements at weigh-in. Go out and have fun, be ethical and friendly.
BUT KNOW THE RULES, AS THEY WILL BE ADHEARED TO !!!!!!!!!!!
1. 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 parties by signing a waiver release and indemnification agreement. Parent/guardian approval is necessary if under age 18. A $215 event fee and annual one time $ 35 per person organizational/member fee must have been paid prior to participation. No member fees will be returned once paid.
2. All fishing must be done from a boat. Proof of liability insurance must be available at time of entry on water.
3. All boats must be at least 14 ft in length, comply with U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating and be 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 participant/team cited during tournament hours for any violations will be DISQUALIFIED.
4. Each event field will be limited to a maximum of 60 teams. PRIORITY entries, in order to meet but not exceed the 60 team capped field will be handled in the following fashion:
*First paid by postmark determination for any event until the particular event is filled*
Fees for any event(s) can be paid in full at anytime prior to the 60 teams being met in order to secure a position. Once an event has registered a full field, subsequent entries will be returned in full, via mail, and not placed on a wait list. Any prepaid teams not checked in 10 minutes prior to first flight time FORFEITS their position that day and ramp pays will be accepted on a lottery draw basis. Payments incur a $20 late fee when postmarked/paid the Monday before the date of each event, up to tournament day. Personally delivered entries ARE NOT ACCEPTED. A daily updated online roster for each event can be found on dobass.com to confirm receipt of entry and capacity.
5. Tournament hours will vary always consisting of an 8 1/2 hour day. All participants must be registered with boats in water no later than 10 minutes prior to stated start time. Boats arriving after start time may not participate in event.
6. All teams will draw for boat position at registration. Teams will be released in sequential fashion beginning with boat 1. Teams must identify their position immediately when called and take off only upon acknowledgment of official. Flights taking off without official’s signal are disqualified. Once an event field of 40 or more is met, there will be two equally proportioned flights, with twenty minutes added to the stated close time for the latter flight. Ramp pays are assigned position at the end of the field.
7. You may fish by yourself at any event but are still responsible for the full $215 event and $35 membership fees. A “team” consists of at least one, but no more than two people in a single boat. You may fish with any member, at any event, without alternate fees.
8. All boats must be equipped with a working aeration system. Tournament officials must inspect all livewells at time of boat registration. Any portion of the watercraft is subject to inspection by officials at any time before, during or after the event. Refusal of inspection, the team is disqualified. The use of ice, chemical water treatments and constant aeration is strongly encouraged. Any dead fish brought to scales for weight will result in a ONE POUND penalty of the total weight and big bass weight if applicable. A dead fish is determined by tournament officials only, based on any one of the following present at bump tank –1) glossed or dulled eyes 2) no gill movement. If the fish appears questionable, the contestant will be asked to take the fish to holding tank. After a period of resuscitation the fish must then be able to remain in an upright position on it’s own, without angler intervention, without floating or sinking to one side for an official’s count of ten.
9. A team limit will consist of a FIVE fish limit of any largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted (Kentucky) BASS that is 12” or longer, or prevailing lake regulations. If more than 5 fish are provided to official for weight, the team is disqualified. Fish must be culled immediately after a limit has been met. Possession of 6 or more fish, the team is disqualified.
10. A courtesy board will be made available away from the scales prior to bringing fish up for weight. This courtesy board is also made available during morning registration for contestants’ board accuracy. There is a ONE POUND Penalty to the total weight of legal fish, for each fish brought to scales under minimum length requirements. All questionable fish will be measured on a precision rule, mouth completely closed, base of the tail moved up and down while parallel to the precision rule and given every reasonable chance to measure. All fish brought to tub for weight will be handled only by event officials and immediately released alive.
11. Fishing is permitted anywhere within tournament waters or connecting waters accessible by boat with the exception of: “off limit” areas designated at registration and/or takeoff time, within 50 yards of a public gas dock, areas of the lake marked as no boat regions or the immediate weigh-in area 30 minutes prior to the first stated close time of the event. If the team is found fishing “off limit” areas by any official or by written protest, the team is disqualified.
12. Fishing is not allowed within 50 yards of another boat that was first anchored. A boat is anchored only if tied to an object or has a rope over the side with trolling motor out of the water. Boats are never to be within “touching distance” of each other. Please exhibit sportsmanlike and courteous positioning when fishing similar areas even if not anchored. The illegal practice known as “hole sitting” by another competitor or non-competitors boat is prohibited. Simple communication between boats can often resolve potential issues.
13. The use of alcohol or illicit substances during event hours and weigh-in is prohibited.
14. 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.
15. Teams are to report to officials’ “on the water” check-in boat by way of their numbered ball. Officials are available 15 minutes prior to first finish time. Time is determined when the ball enters official’s boat. Participants of a team must remain on the water in their boat up to disposing of ball to check-in boat. There is a 1lb penalty for loss of check-in ball. At no time may a team without check-in ball return late. Participants must remain within the immediate weigh-in/ramp area once checked in. Late teams are penalized one pound per minute to total weight and DQ’d after five minutes. At no time may a team bring in another teams catch. A team may tow another competitor’s vessel back to weigh-in. Boats are never to be boarded by another participant of a different team at anytime including weigh-in.
16. There is an official “off limits” of event waters for the 8 hours preceding the event start
17. 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. Any participant(s) must provide cellular logs upon request of the director.
18. Three teams of event organizers will fish each event, indicated outside of payout calculations as teams “a”-“b”-“c”. The director will remove any authority to decide a protest involving these teams and let a majority vote of remaining participants rule.
19. Precision digital tournament scales are 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. Any re-weighed bags must accept second weight called.
20. All ties will be decided by a unanimous vote of tied teams to split winnings or otherwise by the flip of a coin.
21. All protests must be made in writing within 10 minutes after “last call” for fish. 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 the accused must post deposit to the director for the cost of testing. Refusal to post deposit by either party will result in a binding decision 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 #18. Any participant is subject to polygraph at request of the director at any time with or without cause. The formal written protest as received and responded to, will be posted online at dobass.com for public review.
22. Any team or person found to be cheating or unsportsmanlike by officials will be disqualified, prosecuted to the full extent of Ohio laws and banned of future participation.
23. FBFP2008 reserves the right to adjust tournament times or outright cancel any event 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 event will not be rescheduled and entries will be returned in full. Entries will not be returned to registered participants beyond the time frame of the first boat being called during morning takeoff.
24. FBFP2008 reserves the right to accept or refuse any entry received.
25. Any rules, interpretation of the rules, or rules not covered will be governed by event officials only and those decisions will be binding. Binding decisions of officials are not subject to formal appeal.
