Gateway Tournament Rules

1. PARTICIPANTS: The Gateway Bass'n Gals tournaments will not be open to the public. You must be a member-in-good-standing of the Gateway Bass'n Gals.
2. ENTRIES: Individuals wishing to participate in any tournament shall turn in entry forms seven (7) days prior to tournament date unless monthly meeting is less than seven (7) days before tournament. Entries subject to tournament directors' discretion. There will be a $5.00 late fee charged after draw date, which, will go to the club.
3. CANCELLATION: Individuals wishing to cancel will NOT receive a refund.
4. TOURNAMENT PRACTICE: There will be no dead water period; however, you may not hire professional guide service on any tournament lake fourteen (14) days before tournament date.
5. SAFTEY: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by all tournament competitors. Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved, chest-type life preserver. This preserver must be worn any time the combustion engine is operating. The preserver must be strapped, snapped, or zipped securely and maintained in that condition until the competitor reaches her fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off. Violation of this rule shall be immediate reason for disqualification.
6. SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in the Gateway Bass'n Gals tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principals may be deemed cause for disqualification. Drunkenness and/or disorderly conduct because of alcohol or drugs will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification for this and all future Bass'n Gals 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 that reflects unfavorably upon the Bass'n Gals efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters and courtesy shall be reason for immediate disqualification. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, STIMULANTS OR DEPRESSANTS SHALL BE ALLOWED IN THE BOATS DURING TOURNAMENT HOURS.
7. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait will be permitted with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only one casting, spin-casting or spinning rod 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 in use at any given time. ALL BASS MUST BE CAUGHT LIVE AND IN A CONVENTIONAL SPORTING MANNER.
8. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: Outboard motors shall not exceed horsepower limitations. Each boat must have a US Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the rating specified on this plate.
9. BOAT AND MOTOR: For the safety of all contestants, ALL boats must be equipped with some type of ignition kill switch. This ignition device must be attached to the drivers' body anytime the combustion engine is in operation. This rule does not apply to small engines with tiller steering.
10. BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have required Coast Guard safety equipment.
11. BOAT INSPECTION: Each boat must be given live well and kill switch inspections prior to start of tournament.
12. BOAT OPERATION AND EXPENSE: Non-boaters shall agree to split daily operational charges for gas, oil, etc. with the boat operator. The non-boaters will give the boater at least $25.00 apiece, regardless of the number of occupants; this includes pre-fishing. If the boater decides to obtain a slip, they will come to an agreement over payment of the slip and ramp fees. Each contestant shall retain the right to select fishing waters during ½ (1/3) of the day.
13. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except within fifty (50) yards of a marina gas pump or within fifty (50) yards of another competitors boat which was first anchored. No such anchored boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the fifty (50) yard circle claimed by her to the exclusion of any other contestant. All angling must be done from the boat. Take off will be by boat number. Each boat will draw for take-off position. If there is serious trouble with any boat and/or motor, high winds or any type of condition that is a threat to the safety of the competitors, partners may return by whatever means are available, as long as they stay in sight of the paired partner. The Tournament Officials will investigate and rule on the validity of any such transfer from one boat to another means of transportation. The Tournament Committees' rulings on such matters will be final.
14. SCORING: Only largemouth, Kentucky and/or smallmouth bass shall be counted. In regards to size, the prevailing statute pertaining to the lake on which the tournament is being held shall bind all competitors. The possession limit shall be five (5) fish on any lake. Where no length limit is in effect, the minimum length shall be twelve (12) inches. Bass presented for weigh in witch fails to measure legal length shall be disqualified and accrue penalties at the rate of 1lb for each bass. Each contestant shall receive two (2) points per fish, plus one (1) point per pound. Each contestant will receive ten (10) points for entering and fishing a tournament. Contestants that show up a t the tournament but cannot fish because of illness will still be awarded ten (10) tournament points. The top five participants in a tournament will receive 25 points for 1st place; 20 points for 2nd place; 15 points for 3rd place; 10 points for 4th place and 5 points for 5th place. The entry fee of $20.00, for fishing a club tournament will be distributed as follows: $5.00 to the Club Treasury $10.00 payback to top three winners $5.00 trophies (approximate) The payback will be as follows: 1st Place - 50% 2nd Place - 30% 3rd Place - 20% If only two people catch fish, the payback is as follows: 1st Place - 60% 2nd Place - 40% If only one person catches fish - winner takes all. If no one catches fish - the money will go back to the club.
15. DON'T KILL YOUR CATCH: Each competitor is expected to do everything possible to keep her catch alive, by means of an aerated containment system. DO NOT STRINGER YOUR FISH. All Gateway Bass'n Gals tournaments promote CATCH AND RELEASE.
16. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are going to be late for take-off will be allowed to fish, if they have notified the cellular phone contact person for that tournament. They must check in with a fellow Bass'n Gal for live well inspection before they can start fishing. Competitors who do not return to the check-in point at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of two (2) percent per minute of her total weight of her catch that day. Any competitor more than fifteen minutes late shall lose all credit for that days catch. 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 at the designated time.
17. TIES: In the event of a tie between competitors, each contestant will receive a trophy bar.
18. PROTESTS: Any protest to the conduct or score of a fellow competitor, must be written, signed and filed with the tournament director within 15 minutes after the total weigh-in completion.
19. PAIRING OF CONTESTANTS: Tournament partners shall be chosen by means of a draw. You may draw out with a contestant only once per year. Exceptions to this rule are at the discretion of the Tournament Director. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PARTNER TO APPEAR AT A MUTUALLY AGREED UPON LOCATION WITH SUFFICIENT TIME REMAINING TO CHECK IN BEFORE THE START OF THE TOURNAMENT. From the beginning of each tournament, partners must stay together and within sight of one another and each other's catch throughout the day until weigh-in is complete. A contestant must not allow any bass caught by her to be counted on the score of another contestant. In such case, both contestants will be disqualified. If the draw is uneven and the non-boater decides to go as a boater after the draw, she must go alone or with an observer. 20. BUDDY TOURNAMENTS: The club may elect to hold Buddy Tournaments by a majority of the vote of the membership. A contestant in these tournaments may fish with another member of the club or invite a guest. Rev. 02-27-05