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JOE BASS TEAM TRAIL RULES | |
1) ELIGIBILITY: All individuals,
18 years of age or older with a paid entry fee and a
current paid membership to Joe Bass Team Trail is
eligible to fish. A parent or legal guardian must
accompany any one under 18 years of age. A team may
consist of one (1) angler per boat or two (2) anglers per
boat.
2) ENTRY/MEMBERSHIP FEE: Entry fee is $130.00 per team
including Big Bass. Entries will be accepted by mail or
may be paid at the ramp. NO late fees will apply. There will be a yearly membership
fee of $20.00 per angler. Memberships expire annually on
November 1st. Take off positions are determined by order
of paid entry. Paid entry fees may be transferred with Joe
Bass Team Trail approval. No refunds. $10.00 per
entry will be used for tournament operational fees.
3) BIG BASS: Two (2) Big Bass places will be paid at each
event.
4) PAYBACKS: Joe Bass Team Trail will pay one (1)
place for every five (5) teams with a paid entry into the
tournament with a maximum of twenty-five (25) cash places
being paid regardless the number of teams entered. 80%
payback of paid entries.
5) CHECK-IN and PRE-MEETING: One team member must check in
the morning of tournament. A pre-meeting will take place
on the water approximately five (5) minutes prior to the
official start. Idle by live well checks may take place at
any time either on or off the water.
6) POINTS: Each team will automatically receive 10 show up
points. In addition to show up points, 1st will receive
100 points, 2nd 99, 3rd 98, and so on. Each team will
select one division to fish. All points earned will be
assigned to that division. Position ties will be awarded
equal points.
7) DIVISION POINT CHAMPIONS: The division point’s
champions will be decided on their best four (4) finishes
within each division. The Open division will be the best
four (4) tournaments. The divisional point’s champions
will receive their optional entry fee paid into the Team
Championship, and boat
#1 positioning the following season.
8) CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION: To be eligible to qualify
for the Team Championship, a team must fish at least 4
tournaments in their chosen division. Each individual team
member must fish a minimum of 4 events. The top 40% of the
overall field of teams in each division will be eligible
to qualify for the Team Championship. The overall field in
each regular division will consist of all teams that fish
one (1) or more qualifying tournaments during the year.
Alternates can not be used at the Team Championship. With
Joe Bass Team Trail approval another
qualified angler would be allowed to pair with and fish if
circumstances require it. Joe Bass Team Trail reserve the
right to qualify up to five (5) teams per division as
wildcards when deemed necessary.
9) PARTICIPATION and ALTERNATES: A team may use two (2)
alternates per season or fish by themselves. Alternates
need not be members until they fish their second event.
10) SCORING: Largemouth, small mouth, and spotted bass
will be scored, five (5) fish limit. All lake rules apply.
Short fish will result in a two (2) pound penalty plus the
loss of the fish. A dead fish will result in a .50 (1/2)
pound penalty per fish. No more than five (5) fish are
allowed in live well (in possession) at any time. Anyone
bringing more than five (5) fish to the weigh-in scales
will not be allowed to weigh in ANY fish.
11) QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTING: By contestants’ signature
on entry form and/or participation in these tournaments,
the contestants agree to any quality assurance tests if
required by the Tournament Director. They may include all
or part of the following: polygraph test, urinalysis, or
blood test. Refusal of an angler to submit will result in
immediate disqualification plus subsequent
disqualification from future Joe Bass tournaments. Quality
assurance tests will be conducted as soon as possible at
the conclusion of official tournament hours.
12) SAFETY and SPORTSMANSHIP: Safe boating must be
observed at all times. Life jackets and kill switches must
be used any time the combustion motor is running above an
idle. All contestants are required to follow the highest
degree of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation. At the
discretion of the Tournament Director, tournament days may
be shortened or cancelled due to unsafe weather or water
conditions. No alcohol or controlled substance can be used
or allowed in the boat during tournament hours.
13) PROTEST: All protests must be submitted in writing to
the tournament director within fifteen (15) minutes of the
weigh-in completion. The appointed Tournament Advisory
Board will handle all protests. The decision of the
Tournament Director shall be final in all matters.
14) LATE PENALTY: Two pounds per minute, up to five (5)
minutes, then disqualification.
15) TIES: All ties will be broken by 1) big bass, 2) most
fish weighed in, 3) by earliest entry.
16) TACKLE and EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures and pork
style baits are allowed. All bass must be caught on a rod
and reel. Only one rod and reel in use at any time.
17) BOATS and MOTORS: Any boat, 14 feet or longer, meeting
B.I.A. and Coast Guard requirements with a functional kill
switch and functional bilge pump and properly aerated live
well will be accepted.
18) LOCATIONS: Anywhere on the tournament lake except 50
yards of another contestant's anchored boat. Also any area
marked off limits or no fishing by the Corp of Engineers,
local, state, or Federal officials. Any additional off
limits will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting.
19) INSURANCE: Boat owners must have at least $100,000.00 of
Boating Liability Insurance. Proof of insurance may be
asked for at any time and may be a question on the
polygraph test.
20) SPECIAL SITUATIONS: Breakdown: In the event of a boat
breakdown, the team may transfer their fish to another
contestant's boat for transport to the weigh-in site,
meeting the following conditions; The fish must be placed
in a segregated livewell. One member of the breakdown team
must accompany those fish at all times to the weigh-in
site. The team broken down must stop fishing from the time
of transfer. Contestants may not depart the boat to land
fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing
waters. Contestants must leave and return to official
checkpoint by boat.
21) KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RULES IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH
CONTESTANT. Failure to read these rules or ignorance of
them is no excuse. The Director reserves the right to
reject any entry if he feels that it is not in the best
interest of Joe Bass Team Trail. Any announcements
made by the Tournament Director at the tournament site
take precedent over written rules. The decision of the
Tournament Director shall be final in all matters. | |
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