BENTON BASS ANGLERS RULES AND REGULATIONS                                          March 2023

1. RULES: The following rules will be used. The rules will be interpreted solely by the club officers and decisions are final. Anyone seeing a contestant violating any one of these rules must report the infraction to a club officer or the tournament director immediately.

2. OFFICERS: 

There will be an election for the club officers once a year. The term is for that year unless you resign. There cannot be two officers from the same household or two officers from the same team in office at the same time. Any officer suspected of "Conduct unbecoming an Officer", not performing their duties, or acts in a manner that is detrimental to the club may be removed from his/her position (Impeached). This decision will be made by the officers not in question and the decision must be unanimous. 

President- Preside over all meetings and direct all official business. Be a member on all committees. Supervise all club functions. Measures fish prior to being weighed in. Has the final say in the event of an officer vote tie breaker? 

Vice President- Assist the president in his/ her duties and preside in the absence of the president. Help with Live well checks, Assists Tournament director at tournaments, this would include communicating any changes or questions that are required by the DNR, weather, water levels, ramp closures, dates, time, location etc. 

Treasurer- Shall Collect and distribute all moneys, Membership dues, tournament entry fees, writing checks, updating club balance. Maintain accurate financial records and present a current balance report at each yearly meeting. 

Secretary- Provide sign-up sheets, keeps yearly standings up to date, sends email out after tournaments with results and updated standings, review/submit general correspondence, assist treasurer as needed, maintain accurate minutes from yearly meeting. 

Tournament Director- Facilitates tournament day, Live well checks, weigh in, etc. Apply and make changes to tournament permits

        

3. SAFETY AND SPORTSMANSHIP: All state and federal regulations will apply. No alcohol is allowed in the boat. No alcohol should be consumed until the weigh in. Life jackets must be worn with kill switch attached, whenever you are under gas power with the exception of "no wake" lakes. Both contestants must be seated and not fishing whenever you are under gas power. Give your fellow competitor plenty of fishing room, no hole sitting or cutting them off. No passing on no-wake lakes (5 MPH). During tournament times the use of cell phones, CB radios, or any other form of communicating device for locating or catching fish is prohibited.

4. ELIGIBILITY: Boater is required to have a minimum of a $300,000 boating liability insurance. This document must be current, show the effective and expiration dates and be in the boat and available to tournament officials. You must sign the clubs waiver of liability.You must be a current member of Benton Bass Anglers. A member is defined as someone who has paid their membership dues and is in good standing with the club. Annual club dues are $40.00 (doesn't include BASS Nation or Iowa BASS Federation dues, optional, ask for further information if interested in fishing BASS events. Membership is due by the first tournament. New members have until the 2nd scheduled tournament to join. Anyone joining after the clubs second scheduled tournament must pay $100 Late fee plus the regular $40.00 membership dues. Children under 14 will pay an annual membership fee of $10.00. Points and payouts are given to the Team.

5. In 2024 Benton Bass Anglers Tournaments will be a "Team" Format..

$100/Per Team or Boat (Includes big bass)

Individual anglers may fish as a team

5 fish per Team or Boat

6. Alternate

One alternate per year 

Alternate must pay $40.00 Membership

Alternate may be used 2 times in the same year, but it must be the same person

If a team uses a second alternate (different person) this will form a New Team. The points accrued with the second alternate will not get added to the year end standings for the original Team. The points accrued with the second alternate will go to the “New Team” for year end standings.

The first tournament an Individual Angler fishing as a Team has another Angler fish with them, they must declare this person as their “Partner” or “Alternate” for the rest of the season (before the tournament starts).

7. ENTRY FEE AND PAYOUT: Tournament entry will consist of a $100.00/Team or individual angler fishing as a team.$10 of the entry fee is for big bass. The club will keep 10% of the total entry fee for club related expenses (Big Bass money is excluded). 90% will be paid out in the following manner- 40% for 1st place, 25% for 2nd place,15% for 3rd place and 10% for 4th place. And 100% of the Big Bass entry fee. In the event no fish are weighed in the money will rollover to the next tournament. Members who were absent from the tournament that no fish were weighed will be required to pay an extra entry fee for a chance at increased payout. If a contestant decides not to pay the extra fee and finishes in the money they will receive the standard payout and the balance will be returned to the club treasury.

8. BIG BASS: Big Bass will be paid to the team with the single largest bass that is weighed in at any of the clubs points tournament. This will be paid on a team basis and as part of one of the teams 5 fish weighed. Each team can choose only 1 Bass to be weighed for big bass. No dead or short fish will be eligible for the big bass pot. In the event there is a tie, your total weight will be used for the tiebreaker. 

9. BOATS: Fishing boats may be used that are 12 feet or more in length. Any raised platforms or decks cannot be higher than the gunnel of the boat. A small electric trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering; however, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. All boats must follow all coast guard and state safety rules and laws. No minimum or maximum horsepower limits apply beyond your boat's limitations.

10. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial baits or lures may be used. No live bait or prepared bait will be permitted with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. No “Alabama Rigs” with more than two hooks are allowed. Only one casting, spin-casting, or spinning rod may be used at one time. All other types are prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat rigged and ready to use. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty of snagging or snatching visible fish will be disqualified. No Gaffs may be used for any reason.

11. CONTESTANTS MUST REMAIN IN THE BOAT WHILE FISHING: Contestants must not depart the boat to land or catch fish. No trailering of boats during the tournament unless instructed by the tournament director or club officers. Both contestants must be seated and not fishing whenever you are under gas power.  

12. LIVE WELLS: An aerated live well must have the capability to pump fresh water into the live well and be operated continuously during the tournament. Compressed air injection or air stones will not meet the live well requirements. The live well must be large enough to maintain a live limit of bass. Non piercing cull tags are required. Only 5 bass in the Live well during the tournament are allowed at one time. A live well additive such as “Please release me” , “Rejuvenate” or "G-Juice" is recommended.

13. TAKE OFF AND WEIGH IN: All tournaments will begin at safe light. Safe light will be determined by the tournament director and at least one club officer. Inspection of boats will begin 30 minutes prior to take off. Take off order will be determined by a drawing prior to the scheduled take off time. All boats must be back to the weigh in dock by the designated time or they will be deducted 8 ounces from their total stringer weight. You need to be within 50 yards of the boat ramp at the end of the tournament. In the event you have a medical emergency or mechanical breakdown, you are allowed to have another club member bring in your fish. Anybody who is more than 5 minutes late will be automatically disqualified. Any contestant that shows up late must report to a club officer and have their live well checked prior to fishing. A 1-pound deduction (per violation) will be deducted off their total weight for the day. 2nd instance, 2 lbs, 3rd instance 3 lbs., etc. One legal trophy fish per angler per tournament may be kept but catch and release is recommended. Any discrepancies will be determined by the Tournament Director or highest Officer at the tournament.

14. PREFISHING TOURNAMENTS: Prefishing is defined as fishing or being on the water at the scheduled location. Pre-fishing is allowed at any time until dark the day before the tournament. Prior to the tournament a competitor may not skin or scuba dive tournament waters, hire a professional guide or expert. A contestant may not buy, borrow or barter fishing location from any other contestant for use during the tournament. Prefishing for the “Classic” will be defined in the Classic rules

15. SCORING: Only Largemouth, Kentucky, and Smallmouth bass will be weighed. Total weight of your stringer (per Team) will determine where you finish. The “Gator Grip Golden Ruler” is the club’s official ruler. Anglers are encouraged to check there ruler against the clubs. Any bass that is presented for the weigh in that is under the legal length limit will result in a (1 pound) deduction off of your total weight and you will not be able to weigh in that fish. A dead fish will result in a 4-ounce deduction from the total weight of that fish. A short or dead fish will be determined by the tournament director and at least one other club officer. Typical test would be a finger in the bass's mouth to see if there is a reaction. In the event an agreement can’t be reached it will be decided by the highest-ranking club officer in attendance (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary). No short or dead fish will get big bass or be used for a tie breaker. Our club has opted for a 5 fish, 14" minimum length limit on all bodies of water, otherwise all state regulations apply. Ties will be broken by the weight of the largest bass and then the number of total fish weighed in.

16. CLASSIC RULES AND PAYOUT: Classic Tournament will be Team tournament. 5 Fish per boat per day. Only members in good standing who have paid their membership dues and participated in at least 3 tournaments are eligible to participate in and prefish the day before the Classic. Prefishing is limited to the body of water or Pools the Classic will be held on. Off limits will also be from dark the Sunday before until the day before. The Classic entry fee is $100.00 per boat. Classic payout will be 100% of the entry fees.

$100.00 per day will go to a big bass payout per day from club funds. First, second, third and fourth places will be paid on your total weight for the tournament.

Club funds may be added to these payouts but will be based on budget and determined by club officers prior to the tournament.

All Classic rules are subject to change prior to the tournament.

17. RULES VIOLATIONS: Club officers will investigate and confirm rule violations reported. Penalties will be determined by the club officers. Penalties may include but are not limited to disqualification and/or losing membership status.

18. TEAM OF THE YEAR: Teams will receive one point for every pound of fish they weigh in. We have seven points’ tournaments. The Team with the highest score at the end of the year becomes “Team of the Year” receiving a trophy and $500 from club funds. If a single Angler Team wins "Team of the Year" they can choose to have the Trophy/Plaque say "Angler of the Year" if they want. If funds are available there will be $250 for 2nd place and $125 for 3rd.

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