Clear-cut,
straightforward rules make for good clean fishing with no room for
disgruntlements at weigh-in. Just go out and have fun, be ethical and
friendly. BUT KNOW THE RULES, AS THEY
WILL BE ADHERED 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 agencies and
parties by signing a release and indemnification agreement. You must be
accompanied or approved by a parent/guardian if under age. A $70 per event fee
and one time $35 per member annual
organizational fee for any "qualifying" event must have been paid
prior to participation. Member fees will not be returned for any reasons once
paid. “OPENS” require NO membership fees.
2. Only
artificial baits with the exception of pork trailers are permitted for use. Trolling
and drifting is permitted.
3. All fishing
must be done from a boat. All boats must meet local, state and federal laws and
regulations. Please note specific rules concerning Akron City Watersheds and
LaDue Reservoir. Coast guard approved vests/preservers are to be on board and
ready for use. Any participant/team cited during tournament hours for
any violations will be DISQUALIFIED. GAS MOTORS ARE NOT PERMITTED, even if
tilted or prop removed. YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO LAUNCH WITH A GAS ENGINE
ON YOUR BOAT.
4. A team may
solidify a guaranteed 12’ season position by paying in full a two person
($70) membership at anytime prior to the CAPPED 50 team field being filled. An
online roster of those registered can be found at dobass.com. All event PREPAYS must be postmarked 7 days prior
to the event to avoid late fee. Teams paying for the event the day of the
tournament will pay an additional $20 late fee (event total $90, CASH
ONLY). Teams not PREPAID once the
qualifying season begins, risks being removed from the capped field and the
position opened to a new team for the remainder of the year.
5. A “team”
consists of at least one, but no more than two people in a single boat.
Alternates must become paid members and can be used at anytime after a team is
formed, EXCEPT THE CHAMPIONSHIP. If a team divides after the first event, only
one person may continue to acquire points for that team, the highest point
standing AVAILABLE will be used to continue calculations. The other partner
must start at zero points. WHEN FORMING A NEW TEAM MIDSEASON, A $35 “NEW TEAM”
FEE MUST ACCOMPANY ENTRY PRIOR TO REGISTRATION.
6. All boats
must be equipped with an aeration system whether a livewell or large
cooler with spray bar aerator. Tournament officials will inspect all livewells
at time of boat registration. The use of ice, chemical water treatments and
frequent water changes is strongly encouraged. ABSOLUTELY NO STRINGED, CAGED,
MANGLED OR DEAD FISH WILL BE ACCEPTED. Any dead fish brought to scales for
weight will result in DISQUALIFICATION. 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 water. After a period of
resuscitation, the fish must then be able to remain in an upright position, on
it’s own, without sinking or floating to one side during an official’s count to
ten. Bringing fish to scales in poor condition is frowned upon.
7. A “creel”
will consist of a 5 fish limit of any largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted
BASS that is 12” or longer. 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.
8. One courtesy
measurement is permitted if asked for prior to placing fish in tub. There is a
1lb. penalty for each fish brought to scales under 12” outside of courtesy
fish. All questionable fish will be measured on a precision rule, mouth closed,
base of the tail moved up and down, and given every reasonable chance to
measure. All fish brought to scales for weight will be handled only by event
officials and immediately released alive.
9. Fishing is
permitted anywhere within the LaDue Reservoir and connecting waters accessible
by boat. Any areas marked or buoyed as “no boat” areas are considered off
limits and further determined at morning announcements. The area known as
Blackbrook creek is offlimits. Participants may not leave their boats to land
fish or for any reason during competition hours, other than urgent restroom
breaks or medical emergencies.
10. Fishing is
not allowed within 50 yards of another boat that was first anchored. A boat is
considered anchored only if tied to an object or has a rope over the side with all
trolling motors completely 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. Simple
communication between boats can often resolve potential issues. "Hole
sitting" by another competitor or non-competitors boat is prohibited as
well.
11. All participants must be registered with
boats in water no later than 10 minutes prior to stated start time. Boats
arriving after the initial takeoff may not participate in event. There is an
official “off limits” of event waters for the 8 hours preceding the start time. Any event is subject to delays,
cancellations and rescheduling.
12. All boats are to be docked on land or
trailer and participants must remain within the boathouse ramp area upon the
stated closing time of the event until the teams' fish are weighed. A
"chip of life" with your designated team number will be provided to
each team during morning registration. The chip of life is to be placed by a
team member in the designated location before the closing time of the event. No
further fishing is permitted once the chip is surrendered. Lost, forgotten
or untimely placed chips will result in DQ.
13. Only one
casting or spinning rod may be in use for the purpose of catching fish, per
individual. You may have as many rods available for use as deemed needed. All
bass must be caught in a live sporting manner with rod and reel. The use of a
landing net is permitted.
14. The use of
alcohol or illicit substances during event hours and weigh-in is prohibited.
15. The use of
any electronic communication devices is prohibited during event hours
unless for emergency safety purposes. Cellular logs must be provided to
director upon request.
16. Please be
made aware the event director/team will fish all the events indicated outside
of payout as teams “a”-“b”-“c”-“d”. Another participant will verify their
catch. The director will remove any authority to decide a protest involving
himself/team and let a majority vote of remaining participants rule.
17. Precision
digital tournament scales will be the "primary scales" used for determining
weight. A "backup scale" will
be calibrated with the primary scale. In the event of primary scale failure the
backup scale will be used for remaining bags of fish.
18. All ties
will be decided by a unanimous vote of tied teams to split winnings or
otherwise by the flip of a coin. Participants must be present to accept checks
or dismissed by director.
19. 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 by the accused, a polygraph will be required as
instituted by the director. The results of that polygraph will be binding. Both
the filing party and the accused must post deposit for the cost of testing.
Refusal to post deposit by either party will result in a binding decision.
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 #16. Any participant is
subject to polygraph at any time by request of the director, with or without
cause. All polygraphs are completed within 5 business days from time of
request. The formal written protest as received and responded to, will be
posted at dobass.com for public review.
20. Any team or
person found to be cheating or unsportsmanlike by officials may be banned from
further participation as well as disqualified from participating event.
FBFP2012 reserves the right to refuse or accept any entry.
21. Any rules, interpretation of the rules, or rules not covered will be governed by event officials only and that decision will be binding.