BASS ACKWARDS BASSMASTERS CLUB BYLAWS
ARTICLE I --- NAME AND PURPOSE
SECTION 1: NAME
(A) This chapter shall be known as "Bass Ackwards Bassmasters" of
Fountain Valley, CA.
SECTION 2: PURPOSE
(A) To stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport.
(B) To offer our State Conservation Department our moral and political support.
(C) To promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to demand adequate water standards.
(D) To report any polluter and to call public attention to his or her crime.
(E) To improve our skills as bass anglers through fellowship and friendly exchange of ideas and techniques.
(F) To promote and encourage youth fishing for the purpose of teaching young anglers, children, how to fish.
(G) To function as a link with other chapters of the State B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation, embracing the principles and purposes of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
ARTICLE II --- MEMBERSHIP AND REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 1: NUMBER OF MEMBERS
(A) The chapter shall maintain a minimum of six (6) active members with a total membership not to exceed 50.
(B) The chapter will maintain a minimum 60/40 boater to non-boater ratio.
(C) The chapter will, at all times, maintain 100% B.A.S.S. membership.
SECTION 2: NEW MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
The prospective member must:
(A) Be identified as having a genuine interest in becoming an active member of the club.
(B) Possess a valid California State fishing license.
(C) Be at least 16 years of age, unless the person's parent is also fishing in the tournament.
(D) Attend a minimum of two (2) club meetings and fish a minimum of two (2) club tournaments with a board approved member.
(E) Pay a one time initiation fee of $5.00, plus $2.00 for the Expense Reimbursement Fund (ERF).
The board will consult with the members that the prospective member fished with. Majority vote of the full board is required to grant membership.
SECTION 3: ACTIVE MEMBER REQUIREMENTS
To maintain status as an active member of this chapter, a member must:
(A) Attend a minimum of 50% of all club functions, including meetings and tournaments. This will be reviewed quarterly.
(B) Be current in payment of the chapter dues, having no more than 60 days in arrears.
(C) Maintain Bass Anglers Sportsman Society membership within the club. The fee is $12.00 per year, per member for National Federation dues.
SECTION 4: LIFE MEMBERSHIP
(A) Life Members pay NO dues, but they must pay for Big Fish, for Lunker Pot, and for the tournament, the total being $18.00 ($12.00 dues is waived).
ARTICLE III --- ELECTIONS, VACANCIES AND ELIGIBILITY
SECTION 1: OFFICERS AND DUTIES
(A) PRESIDENT --- The president shall preside over all meetings and direct all official business, as well as appointing and directing all committee functions.
(B) VICE-PRESIDENT/MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN --- The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president, shall maintain liaison with other bass clubs, and is responsible for insurance and boat safety equipment inspections. The vice-president shall maintain liaison between the club and the board, shall serve as Membership Chairman, actively pursuing recruitment of new members, and is responsible for ordering, securing, inventorying, and stocking club hats,
T-shirts, and jackets.
(C) SECRETARY --- The secretary shall maintain accurate minutes of all meetings and shall act as corresponding secretary for originating, answering and submitting all club related mailings, including the club newsletter. The secretary shall maintain current tournament standings, attendance records, etc. and shall record the weights of fish at the weigh-in. The secretary's dues will be waived for the time the office is held.
(D) TREASURER --- The treasurer shall maintain accurate financial records of the club. The treasurer shall insure the deposit of club moneys and shall not expend said moneys without proper receipt documentation. The treasurer shall disperse tournament prizes and shall present a financial report at each club meeting.
(E) TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR --- The tournament director shall be responsible for selecting tournament sites, insuring facilities are proper for members, establishing launch/weigh-in times, and conducting boat inspections. The tournament director shall accept and weigh fish at the weigh in, ensuring that all fish are alive and of legal length. The tournament director is responsible for securing all necessary permits for tournaments, determining weigh-in locations, and bringing the scales.
SECTION 2: TERMS OF OFFICE
(A) Terms of office will be for one (1) year, and there will be no limitations to the number of terms served.
(B) If an office becomes vacant, the president will appoint an eligible member to said position.
SECTION 3: ELECTION OF OFFICERS
(A) Elections will be held at the last meeting of the club year and will be by majority vote of eligible members present.
SECTION 4: ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for office, a member must:
(A) Be an active member of the chapter.
(B) Show an active interest in all club functions.
ARTICLE IV --- AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
SECTION 1: AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
(A) Proposed constitutional amendments must be submitted in writing by a club member for review by the board at the next board meeting.
(B) Proposed constitutional amendments must be approved or vetoed by the board at the next board meeting.
(C) If the board approves the proposed amendment(s), it/they will be voted on by majority vote of present eligible members.
ARTICLE V --- REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1: REASONS FOR REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP
A member may be removed from the active membership roster due to:
(A) Failure to pay club dues within sixty (60) days.
(B) Action that is a disgrace to the chapter.
(C) Failure to attend 50% of all club functions during a club year, including meetings and tournaments.
SECTION 2: REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP
(A) Any active member must bring any questionable activity to the attention of at least two (2) board members.
(B) At least two (2) board members will confront said member regarding the alleged activity and will report their findings to the full board at the next board meeting.
(C) Board members will vote on the removal of said member at the next board meeting, by majority vote.
SECTION 3: REFUND OF DUES
(A) Refund of chapter dues will be the decision of the club board.
ARTICLE VI --- AFFILIATION
SECTION 1: REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFILIATION
(A) Approval of Chapter Charter by B.A.S.S.
(B) Update B.A.S.S. with a chapter membership roster once each year upon receipt of the current B.A.S.S. roster at year's end.
(C) Names and addresses of new members, joining the chapter during the year, must be submitted to B.A.S.S. as they occur.
(D) Maintain 100% B.A.S.S. membership.
(E) Must affiliate with State Federation and support its conservation and youth programs. Any additional requirements that the State Federation establishes for chapters, such as membership, dues, attendance at meetings, etc. would be necessary for the chapter to participate in the State Federation qualifyinhg tournament(s), and any other Federation sponsored tournaments or events.
BASS ACKWARDS BASSMASTERS CLUB BYLAWS
OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES
SECTION 1: REGULATIONS
(A) All fish and game regulations of the state in which a club tournament is held shall be observed at all times.
(B) All regulations of the lake at which a club tournament is held shall be observed at all times. Citation or removal from lake by lake authorities will result in disqualification to the responsible party only.
SECTION 2: SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT
All club boaters MUST have the following aboard:
(A) Coast Guard approved life preserver which must be worn while the big motor is running. This includes all passengers.
(B) Throwable floatation cushion.
(C) Tow rope (50 feet minimum).
(D) Fire extinguisher, fully charged.
(E) Bilge pump, and/or bailing device.
(F) Paddle and/or oar(s).
(G) Noise maker (horn, whistle, or like device).
(H) Red flag or flare gun.
( I) First-aid kit aboard boat.
( J) Golden Rule, or tournament director approved measuring device.
(K) Working, aerated livewell.
(L) Ignition kill switch (must be attached to driver when operating big motor off the trailer).
(M) Boat insurance (proof upon request) per California state law.
(N) Running lights if tournament hours include those hours of marginal light (before sunrise and after sunset).
SECTION 3: TACKLE AND TECHNIQUES
(A) Only artificial lures may be used.
(B) No prepared bait or live bait other than pork rind strips.
(C) Shore fishing is not permitted except in board approved situations.
(D) All angling must be conducted from the boat (at no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish).
(E) All fish must be caught live in a conventional and sporting manner.
(F) No fishing is allowed while big motor is on and in gear for the purpose of imparting action to the lure.
(G) The use of marker buoys is permitted to a limitation of a 50 yard radius of the buoy.
SECTION 4: PAIRING OF PARTNERS
(A) All pairing of participants is to be done by draw.
(1) Any non-paired member may bring a partner, who will be eligible to compete in the tournament.
(2) If a member chooses not to be in the draw and ends up fishing the tournament, that member will be eligible to compete. However, if this member brings a partner, that person will not be eligible to compete in the tournament, unless the partner is a club member.
(B) The secretary and treasurer will facilitate the pairing of partners.
(C) Adjustments may be made at lakeside or sooner by board members in the event anyone should cancel.
(D) The same pair of partners may not fish two (2) consecutive tournaments together.
(E) Unmatched non-boaters shall be placed as decided by the board.
SECTION 5: START AND FINISH
(A) Start and finish times will be determined by the tournament director prior to the tournament.
(B) All boats will be inspected no later than 10 minutes prior to starting time, at the tournament director's discretion.
(C) LAUNCH & HOLD/LAUNCH & GO will be determined at the club meeting prior to the tournament by the tournament director.
(D) All boats not within the confines of the marina at the official finish time will be penalized one (1) pound per minute up to 15 minutes/pounds off that weigh-in's weight only; after 15 minutes, the late party will be disqualified from that weigh- in.
(E) Any exceptions will be at the discretion of the board.
(F) For LAUNCH & HOLD: The tournament start may be delayed no longer than 10 minutes, waiting for any tournament registered boater or non-boater.
SECTION 6: WEIGH-IN
(A) Weigh-in will be prior to boats being removed from the water, unless safety dictates otherwise.
(B) Minimum length of fish will be 12 inches.
(C) Any angler bringing to weigh-in a fish under 12 inches will have one (1) pound subtracted from the remaining weight.
(D) Weigh-in will be controlled by the tournament director, secretary, and vice- president.
(E) Each participant must present his/her own fish for weigh-in.
(F) A Golden Rule will be used (mouth closed, fish lying flat, tail fanned).
SECTION 7: CONTESTANTS
(A) All contestant members must have paid the tournament entry fees and dues for the previous month to maintain eligibility for the current draw.
(B) New members will have the following options regarding the club's lunker pot:
(1) Ineligibility for the current lunker moneys and no responsibility for payment of lunker dues until lunker pot is broken.
(2) Pay back lunker dues to catch up with lunker pot and be responsible for lunker dues from that point onward.
(C) Any contestant participating as a guest (eligible for tournament winnings) must pay his/her entry fees prior to the start of the tournament. This guest is not eligible for lunker pot and is not subject to the member rules of eligibility for tournament winnings.
(D) Any contestant may participate as a guest (not eligible for tournament winnings) by declaring himself so to the club treasurer and/or secretary before the start of the tournament. This guest is not eligible for lunker pot.
SECTION 8: SCORING AND POINTS
(A) Competition is based on individual and collective efforts, with scoring determined by the total weight of each contestant's catch.
(B) All live fish will be released. A penalty of two (2) ounces (.125 pounds) will be subtracted from the total weight for any fish not capable of being released alive.
(C) A trophy fish, over five (5) pounds actual weight, may be claimed by the captor after weigh-in without penalty.
(D) A contestant's largest fish must be weighed and will be used to decide all ties.
(E) Thirty (30) points will be awarded for first place and one (1) less point for each place on down to 30th place.
(F) All appeals or protests must be made in writing to a board member within one (1) hour of the conclusion of the tournament and will be resolved by the club board.
(G) Three (3) points will be awarded for participation in the tournament until final weigh-in time. Disqualification, at the discretion of the board, will result if a participant does not attend and participate until the conclusion of the final weigh- in.
(H) Two (2) points will be awarded for participation in club meeting at the tournament draw (at the discretion of the board).
(I ) Each participant in the top boat will receive three (3) points, each participant in the second top boat will receive two (2) points, and each participant in the third top boat will receive one (1) point.
(J ) For year-end standings, ties will remain ties.
SECTION 9: BREAKDOWN OF FEES
TOURNAMENT $ 10.00
CLUB DUES $ 12.00
LUNKER POT $ 2.00 (five pounds or over)
BIG FISH $ 6.00
SECTION 10: TOURNAMENT PAYOUT
1ST PLACE 50%
2ND PLACE 30%
3RD PLACE 20%
LUNKER POT Total lunker pot paid to the largest fish over five pounds.
SECTION 11: TOURNAMENT LOCATIONS & DATES
(A) Tournament locations and dates will be predetermined by the tournament director.
(B) Member requests for changes to tournament locations and/or dates must be made in writing to the tournament director for review.
(C) After review with the board, the tournament director's decision is final.
SECTION 12: PRE-FISHING
Pre-fishing is allowed for all tournaments.
SECTION 13: EXPENSES
(A) Boat operation and travel expenses will be shared on a 50/50 basis unless other arrangements are mutually agreed upon. When a verbal commitment is made by a club member to fish a tournament and the member fails to participate, he/she will still be required to pay 1/2 of the drawn partners expenses. The member will be restricted from fishing any tournaments until he/she has paid for the missed tournament. If by the third tournament, which includes the tournament missed, the member has not paid the required fees, he/she will be ejected from the club. Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed by the board.
(B) Expenses may only be computed from a 10 mile radius of the Chapter's home office located at Warner and Magnolia in Fountain Valley, CA.
(C) In the event that one partner fails to live up to his/her financial responsibility, an Expense Reimbursement Fund (ERF), held and controlled by the acting board members, will be made available to help offset the expense incurred during a club sanctioned fishing tournament.
(D) At all times the board will maintain a minimum of $60.00 in the ERF. Assessing not more than $3.00 per person per year at any one time from the active membership.
(E) Payout will be as follows:
$20.00 for a one day tournament
$60.00 for a two day tournament
Payout will be at the discretion of the acting board members, and all efforts will be made to recoup the individuals loss before any distribution is made.
SECTION 14: SPORTSMANSHIP
Competitors 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. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over-the-counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification for this and all future tournaments. 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. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon the club's effort to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants (prescribed or otherwise) shall be allowed in the boats during competition days or in 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 club's efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and for disqualification.
SECTION 15: VIOLATIONS OF TOURNAMENT RULES
Violations of any tournament rules are subject to:
FIRST OFFENSE: Grounds for disqualification for the tournament.
SECOND OFFENSE: Grounds for dismissal from the club by the club board.
BASS ACKWARDS BASSMASTERS CLUB BYLAWS
TOP TEN RULES
SECTION 1: ELIGIBILITY
(A) The Top Ten Tournament is open to any Bass Ackwards member finishing in position 1 through position 10 for the year's standings, at the close of the month of the season's last tournament.
SECTION 2: NUMBER OF CONTESTANTS PER BOAT
(A) The Top Ten Tournament requires that only one contestant fish out of a boat at any time. Contestant here is defined to be one who is eligible for any and all prizes to be awarded at the conclusion of the tournament.
(1) In the case of an emergency, the board may elect to allow more than one contestant to fish from the same boat. This case MUST be presented to the board prior to the start of the tournament.
(B) Any Top Ten contestant may have an observer fishing in the boat during the tournament.
SECTION 3: PRIZES AND ENTRY FEES
(A) Entry fees for each contestant will be paid for through the club treasury.
(B) Each contestant will have the option of contributing to (and so being eligible to win) the big fish pot. This will be a $25 per contestant pot, providing pay-out each fishing day ($12.50 per person per day). This is to be paid before the start of the tournament.
(C) Any contestant that blanks the tournament is ineligible for tournament prizes.
(D) Pay-out will be according to the following schedule:
Club Treasury contribution: $1,000.00
FINISH
|
FIELD OF 10
|
FIELD OF 9
|
FIELD OF 8
|
FIELD OF 7
|
FIELD OF 6
|
1ST
|
$350
|
$355
|
$375
|
$385
|
$400
|
2ND
|
$225
|
$230
|
$240
|
$250
|
$230
|
3RD
|
$125
|
$130
|
$135
|
$140
|
$150
|
4TH
|
$80
|
$85
|
$80
|
$85
|
$90
|
5TH
|
$60
|
$65
|
$60
|
$60
|
$70
|
6TH
|
$50
|
$50
|
$50
|
$50
|
$60
|
7TH
|
$30
|
$30
|
$30
|
$30
|
 |
8TH
|
$30
|
$30
|
$30
|
|
|
9TH
|
$25
|
$25
|
|
|
|
10TH
|
$25
|
|
|
|
|
FINISH
|
FIELD OF 5
|
FIELD OF 4
|
FIELD OF 3
|
FIELD OF 2
|
FIELD OF 1
|
1ST
|
$425
|
$450
|
$500
|
$600
|
$1000
|
2ND
|
$250
|
$275
|
$300
|
$400
|
|
3RD
|
$150
|
$175
|
$200
|
|
|
4TH
|
$100
|
$100
|
|
|
|
5TH
|
$75
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION 4: TOP TEN MEETING
(A) The Top Ten contestants shall hold at least one meeting where at least 50% of the Top Ten contestants MUST be present.
(B) During the Top Ten meeting, the Top Ten contestants MUST decide upon the following:
(1) Location of tournament.
(2) Date.
(3) Launch location.
(4) Launch time.
(5) Launch type.
(6) Weigh-master.
(7) Weigh-in format.
SECTION 5: TOURNAMENT LOCATION, DATE, START, FINISH
(A) Location.
(1) The Top Ten Tournament will be a two-day event.
(2) The Top Ten Tournament will be decided by the Top Ten contestants at the Top Ten meeting and will be determined by a majority vote.
(B) Weigh-in.
(1) The weigh-in location will be set by the Top Ten appointed Weigh-master at the start of the tournament day.
(2) Weigh-in time will be set by the Top Ten contestants at the Top Ten meeting.
(C) Prefishing.
(1) No prefishing is allowed by contestants or their observers from the date of lake selection until the start of the Top Ten Tournament.
(D) Other rules.
(1) All other Bass Ackwards Bassmasters tournament rules are in effect for the Top Ten Tournament unless otherwise noted.
