Miami Valley Bassmasters
2008 Tournament Rules
1) MVBM rules will be used first, OBFN rules second and BASS rules to cover any situation
not specified below.
2) All participants are required to have applicable licenses for any body of water they fish.
3) All participants MUST register and pay by the night of the tournament draw. If not present, the
participant must make arrangements with a tournament committee member to ensure his
registration is paid. If the entry fee is not paid by the night of the tournament draw, the
4) Boaters will draw for starting position and non-Boaters will draw for partners. After all non-
boaters are paired up, the remaining boaters will be allowed to fish by themselves. Members
shall be permitted to fish back to back tournaments together, but no two members may fish
more than twice in the season. The last boat drawn will be the starter boat. An attempt will be
made to allow the boaters an opportunity to be paired with a non-boater.
5) Non-Boater's expense fees will need to be paid prior to the launch on the first tournament day.
The non-boater expense is $20.00 per day.
6) Each member will provide his own life jacket and wear it properly fastened anytime the
combustion engine is in use.
7) No beer or alcoholic beverages will be consumed on the morning of or during the tournament.
8) All state and federal rules and laws will be observed. Aid any boater in distress. In the event
such assistance will make you late for a weigh in, get the owner's name
boat registration number and cell phone number for verification.
9) “No Shows”: You must notify a member of the tournament committee of your intent to cancel
an
event no later than 8:00pm on Thursday preceding the tournament (emergencies accepted).
If you fail to cancel on time your entry fee will be forfeited. A. First offense: You will be
ineligible to participate in the next tournament. B. Second offense: Automatic disqualification
from all remaining tournaments that year.
10) All starts will be in single file with a safe distance between boats. All contestants must hold
their starting position until they pass the starter boat. If lake rules and or inclement weather
create idle only conditions, you may NOT pass a fellow competitor under these conditions. All
contestants must be at the ramp area at the end of the tournament except for emergencies.
Anyone leaving a tournament early must advise at least one tournament committee member of
his intention, or leave a note on the tournament official's windshield. Starting positions will be
drawn at the tournament pairings meeting.
11) Late return of a boat (with the exception of rule 8) disqualifies both contestants and both
weight and money will be forfeited for that tournament day.
12) All fish turned over to the tournament committee for measuring shall be a minimum of 12
inches or the lake limit. A 1 pound penalty for fish under 12 inches or the lake limit will be
imposed on each fish and counted for the yearly total. All fish shall be measured with the
mouth closed and any legal way to make 12 inches or the lake limit (tail swiping, fanning,
etc…). There will be a courtesy board available. Checking of the length of questionable fish
shall be done at the contestant's boat BEFORE the fish is brought to the scales and turned
over to the tournament committee for weighing. There will be NO short fish allowed in the
weigh-in area. There is not to be any culling of dead fish during the tournament. There will be a
6 ounce penalty for each legal size dead fish.
13) Scoring will be done on a total weight system only (Pounds, ounces). After all fish have been
weighed and penalties assessed, if any, the highest total weight will be awarded first place. In
the case of a tie, the prize money for the places which are tied will be combined and split
equally between the contestants in those places.
14) Tournament weigh-ins will be run in an orderly fashion at the designated area. Contestants will
weigh their fish in a boat number sequence and must give the number of fish under 12 inches or
the lake limit upon weighing.
15) Tournament prize money will be derived from 100% of entry fees ($20.00 per tournament)
A. First Place: 50%
B. Second Place: 30% C. Third Place: 20%
16) Rule violation protest procedure:
the tournament committee and the party or parties involved. A decision will be reached prior
to the awarding of any prize money. That decision will be final.
17) First place in the Club for the year (Mr. Bass) shall receive a distinctive trophy and a jacket
with lettering if desired. The next seven places will receive plaques based upon the order of
their finish. In the case of a tie, that place will receive plaques as designated. A Big Bass
trophy will be given for the largest bass over 3 pounds (actual weight, no penalty points).
18) All two day tournaments will be a minimum of six hours each day weather permitting.
19) Any club member who is unable to fish one day of a two day tournament can fish the other
day and will be put in the draw and will go out in the position drawn. If a boater can only fish
one day of a two day tournament, you are permitted to sign up as a boater.
20) The tournament committee will have the right to change the tournament schedule when deemed
necessary.
21) All tournaments held by the MVBM will use a three fish limit. Culling must be performed on
the water prior to pulling your boat out of the water.
22) Boats used in tournaments of the MVBM shall be limited to the BIA certification of the boat.
23) Boaters must submit proof of insurance to the tournament director to be eligible to draw as a
boater and have a minimum of $300,000 liability coverage.
24) In the event that a contestant should receive a citation, it shall be reviewed by the tournament
committee and the penalty is to be determined on a case by case basis.
25) All participants MUST supply their own weigh-in bags. This must be of the proper size,
material and have sufficient amount of water.
A. First Offense: Warning
B. Second Offense: 1 pound penalty
26) Off limits will be announced prior to every tournament day.
Chris Pope, Butch Shearer, John Wion, Scott Foureman
Deron Detwiler, Don Bodiker
MVBM 2008 Tournament Rules
MS Word Document for EZ Printing
Miami Valley Bassmasters Copyright 2007