2012 Three Rivers Bass Tournament Series Rules

MEMBERS RULES
A. Mission Statement - “The purpose of the Three River Bass Tournament Series is to join Bass Anglers 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.”

C. Tournament Series Board will develop and enforce rules. 
D. No person can join the Three Rivers Bass Tournament Series after the third Tournament unless approved by the Series Board.
E. Series Dues will be $25.00 per year and must be paid by the second tournament. New members who join after the second tourney must pay dues within 30 days of their approved membership.
F. Web site sponsorship is $25.00 per year.
G. New candidates for membership must be recommended by a member.
H. Members will be assigned as tourney director and/or assistant in at least one tournament. If a member does not show up for their assigned tournament duties or does not make arrangements for a replacement, then the member may be disqualified from participating in the Series Classic Tournament.

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.

DO NOT violate another competitor’s fishing waters. Give yield to competitor’s fishing by allowing them room to fish and do not interrupt their line of fishing. The competitor present first has the right of way; others must hold their boat steady. Any competitor that allows any other competitor to fish within two Casting Zones of their boat has suspended this rule and opened the water to all competitors. [ie, make an OK hand signal.] Should violations continue to occur with certain competitors and it is known; the Tourney Director has the authority to not allow the competitor in violation to compete in any other Three Rivers Bass Tournaments.

ANY & ALL COMPLAINTS or DISCREPTENCIES must be brought to the attention of the Tourney Director before prizes are handed out.

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. Each contestant must keep the waters clean and properly dispose of their own trash.

B. PARTICIPANTS and ELIGIBILITY
  Tournaments will be open to ONLY to TRB Tournament Series Members including the Series’ Classic Tournament with the exception for the two designated Open Big Bass Challenge Tournaments as listed in the Schedule. However, during a regular tourneys a member may fish with a family member or with a youth angler under the age of 18 (with appropriate permission). 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 dates, times and locations are listed on Tournament Schedule, and may be subject to change.
E. Tournament entry fee will be $30.00 per boat.
F. Big Fish Pot will be $10.00 per boat (optional).
G. Tournament prize payout will be 90% of take-in. Money prizes for three (3) places.
H. The assigned Tournament Director 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, the registration period or 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. Exceptions: Nature Call; however only one angler at a time may leave the boat for a nature call.
   In case of a disabled boat and there is not enough time for towing, one angler may ride with another competitor to the weigh-in with their bag of fish but may not continue to cast for fish OR the angler may transfer only their bag of fish to another competitor's boat but the fish must remain separated for the weigh-in.
  In case of a disabled boat that is already under tow, the affected angler may be granted an additional 15 minutes beyond the weigh-in time only if they do the following:
   1. Contact a Series Board member prior to the official weigh-in time;
   2. Verify both boats involved in the towing process are within a distance to be able to return within the additional 15 minutes grace period (if not, then 15 minutes will not be granted).
K. No “trolling” during a tournament.
L. No live bait used during a tournament.
M. Tournament fish limit will be five bass per boat. All bass must be caught on the same day as the tournament.
N. There will be a “dead fish penalty” of 4 ounces per fish 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 any boat 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. Only Series Members can pre-register for a tourney.
R. No tournament boat will have more than 5 bass in the live well at any time during the tournaments.

S. TOURNAMENT POINTS SYSTEM
1. Only Series Members will earn placement points.
2. The following point system will be used for awarding points at each regular tournament:

    - Members with fish and at 11th Place and beyond = 10 points.
    - Members with no fish = 4 points.
    - Members who fish a Big Bass Challenge = 4 points.
    - Members who assist at the weigh-in but have not fished that tourney = 2 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. If two 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 total weight then the heaviest big bass recorded.
6. Three members earning the most points for all tournaments will determine the Series’ “Anglers of the Year” awards (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Places) and each will receive a trophy.
7. Members will use points earned from their best 6 tourneys for competition of the “Angler of the Year” awards.
8. “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.

TRB Series Classic Tournament Rules - Three Rivers Bass members ONLY
A. This will be a two day tournament held on (tentatively) October 13 & 14, 2012.
B. All other tournament rules will apply unless otherwise stated. Fish must be at least 12” and are measured by nose-touch and tail-swish, (by Golden Rule).
C. A member may qualify to fish in the Classic only if the member has participated in at least 4 of the series’ tournaments of the season.
D. Classic Entry Fee will be $10.00 per boat for each day of the Classic.
E. An optional Big Fish Pot will $10.00 per boat for each day of the Classic. (2 days, 2 pots) 4.
F. If we have an even number of qualified boats, then the fish limit will be 8 fish per team, per day. If we have an odd number of qualified boats, then the fish limit will be 5 fish per team, per day.
G. The Classic Tourney will be held (tentatively) at the Bronco Rod & Gun Club.
H. All members are encouraged to pair up into teams. (Not forced.)
I. On the first day of the Classic, the angler with the most series points from best of 8 tourneys will be released first at the morning launch, then other anglers in descending order. On the second day, the launch order will be in reverse of the first's day launch order.

Big Bass Challenge - Open to the Public