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Nor-Cal Bass
2010 Official Team Rules
Rule Changes
Great effort, study and research have gone into the formulation of these rules.
Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to Nor-Cal Bass. The
decisions of the Representatives shall be final on all matters. Additional rules
may be added to adjust to individual tournament locations. Any contestant, who
displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules, receives a law enforcement
citation for safety or speed zone violation, or violates the fish and game laws
shall be disqualified.
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Participation and
Eligibility
Open to anyone 16 years of age or older (Under 18 years will require a
parent or guardian release form to compete by themselves. Anglers under 16 will
be allowed, but must be teamed with parent or legal guardian.) meeting the requirements contained within these
rules, and hereby waive and release all other contestants, host, sponsors and
tournament officials from any and all claims of injury and/or damage incurred in
connection with this tournament. Nor-Cal officials reserve the right to
discontinue acceptance of applications prior to the deadline and also have the
right to extend the acceptance time. There are NO restrictions on sex or race.
All contestants must possess a valid California Fishing License. All Contestants
are subject to and may be required to take a polygraph test before any
tournament winnings are paid to that Team.
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Safety
Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by all tournament
competitors. Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved type 1,
2, or 3 life preserver. This preserver must be worn anytime that the combustion
engine is operating. The preserver must be strapped, snapped and/ or zippered
securely and maintained in that condition until the competitors reach their
fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off. Violation of this rule
shall be means for immediate disqualification. All contestants shall provide
their own life vest. All boats must be equipped with some type of ignition kill
switch, and said switch must be attached to boat operators life vest at all
times that combustion engine is operating. All boats must be equipped with
navigational lights that must be in and operational until competitors reach
their first stop that morning. Competitors without operational running lights
will blast off last.
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Sportsmanship
Competitors in Nor-Cal Bass tournaments are expected to follow high standards of
sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Outside scouting assistance
during the tournament and hole sitting will not be tolerated and shall be cause
for disqualification from this tournament and all future tournaments conducted
by Nor-Cal Bass. The transmitting of information with any radio-transmitted
device (i.e. CB radio or Cellular phone) concerning any aspect of the taking of
fish during a tournament is prohibited. This includes information relative to
location, type of lures employed, number of fish caught, water depths, and
temperature or any other information that could help another improve their
position in the tournament. Any infractions of these fundamental sporting
principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Drunken-ness by any
competitor during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for
immediate disqualification from this and all future Nor-Cal Bass tournaments. No
alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants (prescriptions accepted)
allowed during fishing hours.
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Tackle and Equipment
Only artificial lures may be used. "No live baits" or "prepared
baits" will be permitted with the exception of pork strip rind, etc. Only
one casting, spin casting or spinning rod and reel may be used at any one time.
No rod longer then 8 ft. will be permitted, other rigs as specified above may be
in the boat ready for use, however only one is permitted in use at any given
time. In the event of hang-ups the lure must be retrieved immediately or the
line severed and retrieved later, but the fouled rod cannot be left in the water
even though hung-up. All bass must be caught live and in a sporting manner. The
use of marker buoys is permitted. However a contestant may not use marker buoys
to protect, reserve or make claim to any area of more than a safe casting
distance or 50 yards from his boat. If a contestant desires to distribute marker
buoys in excess of the 50-yard limit, they may do so with the understanding that
others have the right to fish any areas located more then 50 yards distance from
any boat.
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Boat and Motor
Fishing boats may be used that are 14 ft or more in length. No barges or similar
cumbersome craft shall be permitted. Motors must be 25 HP or greater. It having
been determined that boats equipped with "stick steering" present a
greater than normal safety hazard, no boat with said steering shall be permitted
to be used during tournament hours by any competitor with engines of 65 HP or
larger. The definition of "stick steering" shall be made by Nor-Cal
Bass officials. The competitors may use their own boat and motor if it is
allowed under the rules, or rent a boat and motor at the tournament site, such
possible rental being the sole responsibility of the tournament competitors. A
small electric trolling motor is required for slow maneuvering. Trolling as a
method of fishing is prohibited. All boats must be equipped with a functional
depth finder. Every boat must have a functional live-well space, aerated to
adequately maintain a live limit catch of bass. Tournament officials shall have
the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is proper
and adequate. All boats must meet BIA and Coast Guard requirements. All boat
owners are required to have personal liability insurance.
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Permitted Fishing
Locations
Fishing on the tournament waters are permitted anywhere accessible by boat,
except: within 50 yards of a main refueling dock of a marina, or any other area
designated off-limits by lake or tournament officials, or within 50 yards of
another competitors boat working a specific area. All angling must be done from
the boat. Contestants may not leave their boat for the purpose of carrying,
towing, or pushing their boat to fishing waters that are otherwise inaccessible.
Contestants may not get out of their boat to reduce weight or floatability for
the purpose of gaining access to fishing waters that are otherwise inaccessible.
Contestants may not change fish habitat by placing any object on the tournament
waters during off-limits, practice, or tournament periods. Contestants may not
depart from boat to land fish. Boat must remain on tournament waters.
Contestants must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat. Both
competitors must remain in the boat at all times except in cases of dire
emergency. In such an emergency, other competitors or a rescue boat so
designated by tournament officials may remove competitors. Under conditions
cited above, the only other exception to partner separation is as follows:
Competitors A and B have a totally disabled or sinking boat, either one
requiring a tow. Partner B may enter into competitors C and D boat with A and B
marked catch and partner A fishing license for return trip to official
checkpoint. There a tournament official will represent stranded partner A. This
situation is accepted by Nor-Cal Bass but under some circumstances may be deemed
illegal by local Coast Guard or Fish & Game officers. Trailering of boats
during tournament hours is prohibited. No two boats may touch or appear to touch
during tournament hours. This includes non-contestant boats as well as
tournament boats.
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Official Checkpoint
There shall be only one official checkpoint for checkout in the morning and
check-in in the afternoon; this checkpoint shall be designated at the draw.
Fishing hours will be announced prior to the tournament and at registration.
During registration each team will be given a numbered plate and weigh slip. A
tournament official will inspect all boats for safety equipment, live bait, and
alcohol and colored ribbon will be placed on boat. No fish shall be weighed in
without proof of boat check. At the time of checkout all competitors and their
boats shall be in full compliance with all rules set forth by the tournament
officials. All competitors must checkout and check-in at the official
checkpoint. All fishing must cease upon check-in. Disqualification will result
from "culling" inside the five mile per hour buoys at the official
check-in point. There will be a tournament official posted at the tournament
check-in point and each team will be responsible to drive by showing said
official their numbered plate. This allows tournament officials to verify each
competitor’s return. Contestants may not weigh in until there is an official
available to start the weigh in.
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Penalties
Contestants who do not check in at the official checkpoint at the end of the
tournament will be assessed a 1 lb. penalty per minute for a total of 5 minutes.
If at that time they still have not arrived they will be disqualified. Anyone
weighing in a fish smaller then 13 inches in length will have 1 lb. per short
fish deducted from their remaining weight. Short fish will not be weighed.
Measuring will be done with the fish's mouth open at a 45-degree angle on a
"Willie-go-Board". No more then 5 lbs of fish shall be in a
bag by itself. Once a contestant has turned in
their bag of fish to the tournament officials, those fish then become the
property of Nor-Cal Bass and cannot be added to or subtracted from. Any
contestant weighing in a larger limit than specified as the tournament limit
shall be disqualified. Any dead fish weighed in shall have a 20/100th
of a pound for each dead fish subtracted from the contestant’s total weight.
If dead fish is competitor’s big fish, then 20/100th of a pound
will be deducted from their weight in the calculation of big fish.
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Registration
Contestants may register by paying entry fee and option monies by mail before
the tournament. Entries will also be accepted at the tournament location on the
day of the tournament. Contestants unable to fish any tournament must notify
Nor-Cal Bass officials 24 hours in advance of the tournament to have their entry
fees returned. Refund of any fees shall be at the discretion of Nor-Cal Bass
officials. Any contestant deciding on the day of the tournament not to fish, or
is disqualified from the tournament for any reason, shall receive no refund of
their entry fee.
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Official Boats
Officials may be on the lake during contest hours and can approach or board any
contestants boat. Each contestant is requested to cooperate with all reasonable
requests from representatives.
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Damages
Damages of any nature to a contestant's boat, equipment, or tackle during a
Nor-Cal Bass supervised event are the sole responsibility of that individual.
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Protest
Any protest must be registered with the tournament director or any of the
Nor-Cal Bass Officials or Representatives within 30 minutes of the completion of
the weigh-in. Protest must be in writing on official protest form that is
available from Nor-Cal Bass officials. Nor-Cal Bass representatives will review
the Protest and make a decision. All Nor-Cal Bass decisions are final and
binding.
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