Tournament Rules...WHY this one?

Seems like the rules for most of the tournaments I fish, are almost a copy and paste of the rules from a larger tournament trail.
IE: Lets use the Pro's rulebook, and change a few words to fit our little trails needs.

Going by that, If B.A.S.S. or FLW addresses, in their rules, the number of baits per rod.....the same will "trickle down" to smaller trails and clubs.

All the hype right now is about the A-Rig. "What should we do? Bann it? Allow it?"

When there's already a more ridiculous rule in effect that receives no attention. (8ft length limit for a rod).
WHY on earth is that a rule? Is "jiggerpoling" and "float-n-fly" so controversial and feared in tournament fishing that they needed to address those methods?

what's next, banning dynamite? http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/eyes.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/eyes.gif

you can't use Dynamite...wtf?

no dynamite?.....really?....I just looked and that is NOT in our rules!...cut out the BS

How about this one regarding fishing within 50 yds of an anchored boat:

No fishing within 50 yards of a contestant's boat that was first anchored. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or by a Power-Pole or similar shallow water anchor with the trolling motor in the up position.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by csurp &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">How about this one regarding fishing within 50 yds of an anchored boat:

No fishing within 50 yards of a contestant's boat that was first anchored. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or by a Power-Pole or similar shallow water anchor with the trolling motor in the up position.
</td></tr></table>

That's a rule to help prevent poor behavior.

When there's already a more ridiculous rule in effect that receives no attention. (8ft length limit for a rod).
WHY on earth is that a rule? Is "jiggerpoling" and "float-n-fly" so controversial and feared in tournament fishing that they needed to address those methods?[/quote]

From what Ive read in the early days of organized bass tournaments guys using rods over 10 ft in length were able to jiggerpole without casting under docks, overgrown banks etc.. So the 8 foot length limit was adopted.

Is there a rule stating a lure must be presented by casting? Common sense would tell me that it would be a companion rule to the 8 ft rod.

future bass trail here in oklahoma has already banned A-RIG http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/eyes.gif

the rule is there because SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE has already caused a problem.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by TightLip &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">the rule is there because SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE has already caused a problem. </td></tr></table>

Or because it was just easier to cut and paste from rules already published. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif

What does it matter. As long as we all abide by the same rules it just boils down to who catches fish.

I dont understand why there is a 250hp rule.

this is gonna cause problems in many tourneys( the a-rig ) in our club if twra approves it,it's legal...no size limints,9.9hp to 300 get the pic....we just go by the rules of the district we fish i.e. size limits etc

The 8 foot rod rule used to be known as the Dee Thomas rule. When Dee "invented" flipping he used a 10 foot rod. Ray Scott thought it gave him an unfair advantage (too much like jigger poling) and limited rod length to 8 feet.

Worry about this rule or that rule, etc..is one of the many reasons I quit fishing with a bass club years ago. If guys could act like adults instead of middle schoolers, a club wouldn't need a bunch of rules. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/ohwell.gif

I don't and won't fish one either Bill.