CLUB RULES for 2008
The purpose of these offices is to help maintain organization of the Club, not to govern. The club members will decide, by majority rule of those present, how the Club will be run and how tournaments will be run.
A. Mission Statement - “The purpose of the Three River Bass Club is to join like-minded Bass Fishermen together in a good spirit of competition while promoting good sportsmanship, respect for the bass species and the environment, and fellowship for those who love the sport of bass fishing.
B. Membership - Requirements for Membership to become a club member, a person shall:
1. Voluntarily expresses a genuine interest in membership.
2. Be 18 years of age, if under, 18 must have parental consent.
3. Be voted on by the membership present by show-of-hands and approved by simple majority.
4. Must be current with club dues.
5. Maintain a good attitude towards other members and respect their views and interests.
C. Decisions will be by majority rule of those present at Club meeting.
D. Meeting will be held once per quarter unless otherwise needed.
E. There will be no changes, additions, or exceptions to the Club rules during the 2008 season unless a meeting is held and two-thirds of the Club members, on the book, can be present.
F. No person can join the Three Rivers Bass Club after the first Club Tournament of 2008.
G. The number of Club members is limited to a maximum of 40.
H. Club Dues for 2008 will be $25.00 per year and must be paid by January 31 for current members and by February 15 for new members.
I. Web site sponsorship is $25.00 per year.
TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES.
A. SPORTSMANSHIP
All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation.
Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be cause for disqualification. Each contestant must
keep the waters clean and properly dispose of their own trash.
Be courteous to other competitors by not violating the competitor’s fishing waters. This is more of a “Gentlemen’s Agreement” that must be conducted. Give yield to competitor’s fishing by allowing them room to fish and do not interrupt their line of fishing. Should competitors encounter one another, the competitor present first has the right of way; others must hold their boat steady. This is a “Gentlemen’s Agreement”; however, should this continue to occur with certain competitors and it is known; the Tournament Director has the authority to not allow the competitor, in violation, to compete in any other Three Rivers Bass Club Events. Any competitor that allows any other competitor to fish within that Casting Zone of their boat has suspended this “Gentlemen’s Agreement” and opened the water to all competitors.
Convictions of a felony or other crimes involving immoral acts, or other conduct reflecting unfavorable upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting participation and for disqualification.
B. PARTICIPANTS and ELIGIBILITY
Tournaments will be open to all anglers, except the Club’s Classic Tournament. Tournament participation is open to anyone 16 years of age or older. Anyone younger than 16 years of age will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Any person entering a tournament that is under 18 years of age must have the signature of his/her parent or legal guardian prior to entering a tournament. Proof of age is the responsibility of the competitor. Tournament officials reserve the right to refund any entry fee, if they shall choose for any reason not to accept the angler’s entrance.
C. There is a maximum of only two anglers in a boat during any and all tournaments.
D. Tournament location will be boat landing at Hwy. 258 on the Nottoway River, unless otherwise specified.
E. Tournament entry fee will be $55.00 per boat.
F. Big Fish Pot will be $10.00 per boat (optional).
G. Tournament prize payout will be 80% of take-in. Money prizes for four (4) places for up to 15 boats participating; then one additional place for every additional four boats.
H. For the months of March, April and the first tourney in May, the Tournament will start at 7:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. For the second tourney in May and the months of June and July, the Tournament will start at 6:00 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. For the months of Aug. and Sept., the Tournament will start at 6:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. The Tournament Master will make appropriate decisions to ensure a safe launch. Registration will end 15 minutes prior to the starting time.
I. No alcohol consumption during tournament, including the registration period and the weigh in period.
J. No leaving the boat during tournament. Anglers are not permitted to leave the boat to land a fish or leave the boat to gain access to secluded waters. Boats must remain in tournament waters during the tournament. Competitors must leave and return to the official checkpoint by boat. Both competitors must remain in the boat at all times except in case of an emergency. In such an emergency, competitors may be removed from their boat to: a boat operated by other competitors or to dislodge their boat from a hazard, but never to advance their boat. Exception: Nature Call; however only one angler at a time may leave the boat for a nature call.
K. No “trolling” during a tournament.
L. No live bait used during a tournament.
M. Regular tournament fish limit will be five fish per boat.
N. There will be a “dead fish penalty” of 4 ounces at the weigh-in.
O. There will be a “short fish penalty” by taking away the short fish AND the largest fish. Fish must be at least 12” in length when tourney launches from Hwy 258 Landing in Va. or at least 14” in length when tourney launches from Shoup’s Landing in N.C. Fish measured by nose-touch and tail-swish, (by Golden Rule).
P. Tourney participants are required to sign a Liability Release Statement.
Q. Tourney participants can launch from another boat landing but MUST be at designated Tourney Landing at time of registration and start of tourney.
R. No tournament boat will have more than 5 bass in the live well at any time during the open tournaments.
S. TOURNAMENT POINTS SYSTEM
1. Only Club Members will earn placement points.
2. The Club will use the following point system for awarding points at each tournament:
1st Place = 15 points 6th Place = 10 points
2nd Place = 14 points 7th Place = 9 points
3rd Place = 13 points 8th Place = 8 points
4th Place = 12 points 9th Place = 7 points
5th Place = 11 points 10th Place = 6 points
- Members with fish and at 11th Place and beyond = 4 points.
- Members with no fish = 2 points.
- Members who assist at the weigh-in but have not fished that tourney = 2 points.
- Members who attend Club Meetings = 4 points.
3. When there are two anglers on a team, both anglers will receive the same placement points for that
tournament. Points are rewarded as a team but also recorded individually.
4. If two teams have the same weight during a tournament, the tie breaker will be the heaviest fish.
5. Those members participating in a tourney but not weighing in a fish will receive 2 points for the tourney.
6. If two club members have the same point total for “Angler(s) of the Year” competition at the end of the
year, the tie breaker will be the heaviest weight total.
7. Three members earning the most points for all tournaments will determine the Club’s “Anglers of the
Year” awards (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Places) and each will receive a trophy.
8. Club Members will use ALL their earned points for competition of Club’s “Angler of the Year” award.
9. "Big Fish” results will also be maintained throughout the tournament season to determine “Biggest Bass of
the Season Award” and the angler will receive a trophy. If a member has a big bass heavier than his
currently recorded big bass, he is responsible for asking to have his bass weighed and asking that it be
recorded so he can work toward the Big Bass of the Year award.