The following rules and regulations apply to all tournaments sponsored by the State Federation, including zone qualification tournaments. All competitors are required to know the tournament rules that all Federation events will be conducted by. The Federation’s definition of a tournament: Any organized prearranged fish-off between skilled anglers to determine who the most skilled angler is or anglers.
1. RULES INTERPRETATION: The following rules and regulations have been formulated by the Wisconsin Bass Federation Board and tournament committee. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. In the event of a rule violation, the State Tournament Director may impose such sanctions, as he deems appropriate, including without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. The decision of the state tournament director, zone directors, and appointed tournament officials shall be final in all matters. While given this authority, the tournament director is, nonetheless, accountable to the Board for his/her decisions.
2. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Participants in Federation tournaments must be members of the Wisconsin Bass Federation, and must be at least 16 years old. Eligibility to participate in Federation tournaments must be determined by the individual clubs holding at least one annual youth or conservation project and a minimum of six tournaments in which the contestant must have registered at least one legal bass during one of those tournaments. The number of members on each chapter’s roster at the October reps meeting will determine the size of the chapter’s team to the next qualifying tournament. It is mandatory that a club’s participants be determined from the prior year’s tournaments, excluding the Classic. Should any club allow a member to compete in a Federation tournament, which has not properly qualified, the entire club will be disqualified from that tournament and all remaining Federation tournaments of that year.
3. TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION: All fees for Federation tournaments must be made payable to the Wisconsin Bass Federation, fees are paid to the treasurer. Any refunds or late entries will only be allowed with special permission of both the State President and the respective Tournament Director, for very outstanding circumstances(R- 10-06). Each club member is responsible for submitting a properly completed and signed official entry form to the vice president or to the appropriate zone director for zone tournaments (and the monies are to be paid to the treasurer) for Mr. Bass and Classic tournaments, by the designated deadline. Each club will be allowed to submit entry forms for up to five alternate members; the alternate’s forms must also be sent by the deadline. No one will be allowed to compete unless an entry form has been properly received. LATE ENTRY FORMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
Mr. Bass: $100.00 (non-refundable) fee due to the Treasurer on or before the Spring Reps meeting. Entry form and a copy of your boat insurance are due to the State Tournament Director by the designated deadline.
Zone: $30.00 (non-refundable) fee per participant due to the Treasurer by the designated deadline. Entry form and a copy of your boat insurance are due to the Zone Director by the designated deadline.
State: $40.00 (non-refundable/non-transferable) fee per participant are due to the Zone Director by the designated deadline. Registration will take place immediately following your Zone Tournaments.
4-Man Classic: $200.00 (non-refundable) fee due to the Treasurer by the designated deadline. Entry form and a copy of your boat insurance State Tournament Director by designated deadline. (B1/97)
4. BOAT INSURANCE: During the official practice and competition days of any Federation tournament, contestants may not operate a boat unless that contestant has submitted documented proof of a minimum of $300,000 boating liability insurance to the tournament director. This documented proof must show an effective date and expiration date and must be received by the designated entry form deadline. If it should expire between the deadline and the tournament, also submit an updated document as soon as possible.
5. SAFETY: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by all tournament competitors. Each competitor is required to properly wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver any time the combustion engine is operating. The preserver must be strapped, snapped, and/or zippered securely and maintained in that condition until the combustion engine is shut off. Also when the internal combustion engine is in operation, all participants shall be seated so that their feet are resting on the main floor of the boat. Contestants are required to operate their boats at speeds, which would not be considered dangerous or excessive.
6. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used, no “live bait” or “prepared bait” will be permitted, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only one casting, spincasting or spinning rod (8-foot maximum length from butt to tip) and reel may be used at any one time. All other types are prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat ready for use, however only one is permitted at any given time. All bass must be caught alive and in a conventional sporting manner. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Any net may be used to boat bass. (R- 02-02).
7. HORSEPOWER: The horsepower of the outboard engine must be a minimum 25 HP and must not exceed the rating specified on the rating plate attached to each boat manufactured after November 1, 1972. Any boat manufactured prior to that date, must adhere to the ratings set by the U.S. Coast Guard for similar boats. Maximum motor size on any boat, regardless of U.S. Coast Guard ratings, shall not exceed 250 horsepower. The tournament staff will make final decisions whether a boat is overpowered or unsafe. (B-4/97)
8. BOATS: All boats used in Federation tournaments must be at least 15 feet in length. Pontoon barges and other cumbersome crafts will not be allowed. Bilge pumps are recommended on the larger units (R- 10-06). All boats, regardless of size, which are used in competition, must be equipped with a working lanyard type kill switch. This ignition kill device must be attached to the driver’s body any time the combustion engine is operating. Stick steering will not be allowed. Any raised platform or decks cannot be higher than the gunnels of the boat. Each boat must be equipped with live well space, properly aerated, to adequately maintain alive a limit catch of bass by both fishermen using the boat; with the minimum space being one gallon of water for every pound of fish. Absolutely no stringers or fish baskets will be allowed as a means of holding or carrying fish. The tournament director shall have sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is “proper and adequate”.
9. INSPECTION: Prior to each day’s start, each boat will have an inspection check by a tournament official and will be given a numbered paddle, which must remain in the boat until turned in each day at weigh-in. This paddle must be displayed at the request of tournament officials. A properly designated tournament official may approach or board any competitor’s boat at any time during official practice or tournament hours.
10. BOAT OPERATION AND EXPENSE: A full discussion must be held between the two partners prior to a morning departure as to the schedule of boat operations. This schedule may permit each partner equal time to fish from the front of the boat and to operate the trolling motor, so as to afford each partner the opportunity to fish his selected waters an equal number of hours. Distance traveled to fishing locations must be considered in order not to deprive either partner fishing time while traveling to and from fishing waters. Any damages to the boat or its equipment incurred while the non-boater is operating the boat, are the sole responsibility of the non-boater. If the contestant waives his right to operate the boat, he shall retain the right to select the fishing waters for one-half of the tournament day. Any contestant, who in the judgment of the officials, operates the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap his partner shall be disqualified. In view of the large expenses involved in operating and maintaining a tournament bass boat, it is required that the non-boater shall pay his boating partner a minimum of $25.00 for boat expenses that day, unless an alternate amount is mutually agreed upon by both partners prior to the start of the tournament. In any event, it is expected that the above fee will be paid prior to the start of the tournament.
11. TOURNAMENT WATERS: Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except: within 50 yards of another competitors boat which was first anchored or secured in a fixed position with the trolling motor out of the water. No such boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the 50-yard circle claimed by him, to the exclusion of another competitor. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. All angling must be done from the boat. Contestants must not depart from the boat to land fish. Boats must remain in tournament waters during the tournament day. Contestants must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat, both competitors must remain in the boat at all times, except in the case of dire emergency. In such an emergency, competitors may be removed from their boats to a boat operated by other competitors or a rescue boat so designated by tournament officials. Partners must remain together at all times, in sight of each other’s catch, in order for their catch on that day to be scored in the tournament. If a competitor must violate any of the above conditions due to an emergency, or any other reason approved by the tournament committee, his catch of that day will be weighed in at the weigh-in site and counted in the tournament. A tournament official or someone designated by the tournament committee will then take the place of the contestant leaving the boat, and the remaining contestant may go back to fishing with his observer. The contestant remaining will have sole control of the boat and fishing locations after the observer enters the boat. Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited. (B-4/97)
12. OFF LIMITS/ SPECIAL RULES: During official practice and tournament hours, a competitor may not have the assistance or advice of any one for the purpose of locating bass, nor consult a professional guide, state, or wildlife agency employee, Federation member, or any other person deemed a “local expert’ on these tournament waters by the tournament director, unless he/she is a contestant in the tournament. Contestants wishing to bring a boat across tournament waters from another site (campground, etc.) must obtain permission from the tournament director. Federation members, who are not contestants, are not allowed on tournament waters during the official practice or tournament hours. Any infraction of this rule will be disqualification of that individual from his/her next qualifying Federation tournament. (B-4/95, B-1/96, B-10/08)
13. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one official point for check-out in the morning, and check-in in the afternoon, and this point shall be designated prior to the tournament. At the time of check-out, all competitors and their boats shall be in the full conformance with all rules set forth by the tournament committee; at check-in all boats shall identify themselves by means of the numbered paddle and proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in area. Partners must remain together with their paddle until weigh-in.
14. SCORING: Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be determined by the total weight of each competitors catch during the days of the tournament. The daily tournament limit for each competitor shall be five (5) fish. Only largemouth, red eye or smallmouth bass will be weighed. All competitors are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the State of Wisconsin. Specially designed bags which increase the survival rate will be furnished by the tournament committee; these bags must be used for weigh-in. After a competitor checks in at the official checkpoint, he MUST present all fish in his possession to a tournament official to be counted, measured and weighed. His catch must be certified by the signature of his partner of that day. None of the bass will be returned to the contestants once presented at weigh-in, except for a trophy bass. A competitor may keep a trophy bass weighing over seven pounds for mounting, if he so chooses, however the dead fish penalty will be imposed. The few bass which do not survive will be given to charity or disposed of by some means designated by the tournament committee. Only bass which meet state length regulations, measured on the longest line with the mouth closed, shall be presented for weigh-in. Any bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, mauled, or otherwise altered will be weighed and credited only at the discretion of tournament officials.
15. PENALTIES: Any short fish brought to the weigh-master will mean disqualification of that day’s catch. Each dead fish, as determined by the tournament committee, brought to weigh-in will be penalized 4 oz. / .25 lbs.
16. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not in the official checkpoint area at the appointed time shall be disqualified. LATE IS LATE. There shall be no excuses for tardiness, and in no case shall a competitor be allowed to make up for “lost time”. After proper recognition at the check-in point, competitors will be allowed ample time to proceed to the weigh-in site; however, all fishing must cease upon check-in. After the tournament begins, fishing is prohibited except during tournament hours. Exact starting and check-in times will be announced prior to the tournament.
17. TIES: In case of a tie for first place, the following tie breakers will be used in order; (1) the team or individual with the largest number of legal fish weigh-in during the competition, (2) the team or individual with the largest number of legal LIVE fish weighed in during the competition, (3) the team or individual with the heaviest single day’s catch during competition, (4) the team or individual with the second heaviest single day’s catch during the competition. In the unlikely event that teams of individuals remain tied after these four tie breakers are employed, then a flip of the coin will be used to determine the winner(s), however trophies and prize money, if any, will then be equally split. Ties for lesser positions shall be resolved by means selected by the tournament director.
18. PAIRING OF CONTESTANTS: Two contestants will be assigned to each boat prior to the tournament by tournament officials. Wherever possible, no contestants from the same club or zone will be paired, nor shall two competitors fish together more than one day. If the last pair drawn is from the same zone or club, backup to the next pair available to switch partners. The non-boaters will be the persons changing starting positions. Announcement of partners shall be at the kick-off meeting, which must be attended by each competitor. It shall be the responsibility of each partner to appear at a mutually agreed upon location with sufficient time remaining to checkout at the official checkpoint and start on time. Tournament officials are not responsible for finding missing partners. In the event that one of the partners does not show up 30 minutes before the start of the tournament, that person will be disqualified from that day’s competition; and a substitute (designated by tournament officials) will ride with the other contestant. Once two contestants’ checkout at the beginning of the day, they must stay together and within sight of each other’s catch throughout the day until weigh-in is completed. A contestant must not allow any bass caught by him to be counted on the score of another contestant. In such a case, both contestants will be disqualified from that tournament.
19. SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in Federation tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Contestants are also responsible for their actions and conduct in and around the area of the event including motels, hotels, restaurants, etc. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon the Federation’s efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification.
20. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL: Use of alcohol or illegal drugs by any competitor during the official practice or tournament hours will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from that and all future Federation tournaments. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants, or illegal drugs shall be allowed in the boats during the official practice or competition days or at the weigh-in area. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon the Federation’s efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation, or for disqualification.
21. RADIOS: During tournament hours, a competitor may not use a CB radio, a VHF marine band radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of communications device for the purpose of communicating information related to locating or catching fish. If so equipped, contestants may listen to the marine band weather information. (R- 10-06)
22. TOURNAMENT HOURS: The Zone qualification, State tournament, and Classic will be three day tournaments, with the first day, Friday, designated as an official practice day, Saturday and Sunday as competition days. The Mr. Bass tournament will be a two-day tournament, with Saturday as an official practice day and Sunday as competition day. Maximum length of fishing time per tournament competition day will be eight hours. Any contestant not showing up the second day of the competition, without approval of the tournament director, will be disqualified from any remaining Federation tournaments of that year and the year immediately following. (10/96, 1/97)
23. AMENDMENTS: These tournament rules may be amended by resolution setting forth such amendment or amendments adopted at any meeting duly called for that purpose or at any regularly scheduled Board meeting. A statement of the nature of the proposed amendment should be included in the notice of the meeting when possible, but is not necessary. An amendment shall be adopted upon receiving at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by Board members present or represented by proxy at such meeting.
OFFICIAL RULES FOR THE JUNIOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOURNAMENT RULES ARE THE SAME AS THE ADULT RULES WITH THE FOLLOWING TWO ADDITIONS
PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILTY:
This tournament is open to the top three (3) finishers of each age group from each club that is in good standing with the Wisconsin Bass Federation. Contestants must meet age and eligibility requirements as set forth for State and National Tournament rules as follows to advance to the National competition.
Contenders must have obtained the age of 10, but not yet 14 by August 31st. (Age Group 11-14)
Contenders must have obtained the age of 14, but not yet 17 by August 31st. (Age Group 15-18)
If a contender is 18, but will be 19 before August 31st, that contender is still eligible to fish our State Championship, but cannot advance to the National Guard Junior World Championship. That contender is only eligible for prizes awarded at that tournament, but all sponsorship is reserved for the contenders advancing to the National Championship. WBF will send the top finisher from each age group to the National Championship, held the following year.
REGISTRATION AND TOURNAMENT DATE:
The WBF Junior State Championship is a one day event. Individual entry forms, emergency medical form and youth club event waiver and release form must be submitted to the WBF Youth Director 10 days prior to the tournament. A copy of the winners Birth Certificate or government issued passport must be submitted to the WBF Youth Director within five (5) days of completion of the event. The WBF may reject entries improperly completed or unsigned.
