BBC Alabama Chapter Rules & Fees (This is a must read)

[Challenger84]

O.K. I have combined some of this from the Georgia & Florida Chapters and threw in a little of our own to come up with this document. This document MUST be signed and turned in with the fees to fish any Alabama Chapter BBC Tourney. <U>This is not optional</U>.

BassBoatCentral.com
Alabama Chapter

Entry Fee $20.00 Per Boat Optional Big Fish Pot $10.00

Tournament Rules:

1: 5 Fish Limit maximum in live wells at all times.
2: Only Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth, Spotted bass will be allowed at weigh in.
3: Short Fish = 1 lb. plus that fish.
4: Dead Fish = 1/2 lb.
5: Late = 1 lb/minute, Disqualification at 15 minutes.
6: All boats must have a working live well.
7: Only bait casting and spinning rods may be used.
8: No Live Bait allowed.
9: Anglers may have any number of rods rigged but may only use one rod at a time.
10: Boats must have all required USCG items onboard.
11: USCG approved PFD's must be worn by all persons in boat and the kill switch must be attached to the driver when outboard motor is running.
12: Tie for 1st place will be broken by number of fish, then big fish. All other place ties,
place money will be combined and split evenly with tied teams
13: Everyone is expected to be courteous and act in a sportsmanship manner as to bring credit to the BBC and this club, Our main goal is to have fun and meet new friends.
14: Starts will be determined by Tournament Directors.
15: Protests must be presented to the Tournament Director before the scales are closed. Final disposition of protest will be made by the tournament committee.
16. All boating participants must be insured with $100,000.00 liability insurance.
17. At least one member of each team must be a BassBoatCentral.com member in good standing.
18. Use of alcoholic beverages is not permitted during tournament hours.
19. Use or possession of illegal drugs is not permitted at any time during the Rally and Tournament.

Submit Entry form with entry fee of $20.00 and optional $10.00 Big Bass pot, cash at the ramp. (only $20's and smaller bills please).

Please enter amount Paid $____________________

Boater_____________________________ Non-Boater_______________________
Please Print Please Print

City__________________State_________ City________________State_________

We hereby waive and release BassBoatCentral.com and all officers, directors, sponsors and organizers associated with this tournament of all and any claims of injury or damage which may occur during this tournament.

Signature of Boater: _________________________________________

Signature of Partner:_________________________________________

Date Signed __________________________

[hightide]

over-ruled!!!!


Modified by reevoj at 5:42 AM 9/6/2004

[BlaznbyU]

I think that Winn is right on target with the term of non-boater. It is straight forward and no chance of confusion. Six of one or half dozen, chicken or the egg, too many things in this world are confusing and aimed at not being political. You the man Winn...

[Jason Phillips]

Winn,

For this tournament the wording about 'Short Fish' needs to be changed. Smith Lake has a slot limit. For a fish to be legal, it must be shorter than 13" (cannot touch the 13" mark) or larger than 16" (must touch or be past the 16" mark). In our tournaments that we put on, if a 'Slot Fish' is brought to the scales, the anglers lose that fish and their largest fish. You can do it that way or the way we have it now where you would lose the slot fish and get a 1 lb. penalty.

Just thought I would throw that out there because I would hate for someone to get stopped out there with slot fish in the boat. The wardens do get out on Smith pretty regularly.

[Kerry201pro]

May want to just state "limits must be in accordance with state size limits for each lake" or some blurb about that and then for each sign up sheet for the particualr lake throw in the size limits for that lake like Jason suggested. Just a thought since Gville is different as well so is Pickwick and Wheeler and probably alot of the other lakes.

Jason, when are you going down to Smith? I may go this wekend but not sure of day and time. All according to what window the boss gives me I amy also try and hit it one day next week as well.

Jason so can you keep a 10" fish or is it 12 to 13 then 16 and above?

[Challenger84]

Good idea guys...I will make up an addendum to be an attachment to the rules for this lake(Had a hard time fitting all that on one page). I do need to know the answer 10" question before I do this.

[Jason Phillips]

If it's a bass, and you catch it in the mouth, it doesn't matter if it's smaller than the lizard you're throwing Kerry. As long as the fish is under 13", or 16" or above, it is legal. A lot of the big tournaments actually give a prize for the smallest 5 fish limit. It allows for some really small weights to be brought in, but also lets a lot more people weigh fish.

Kerry, I'm pretty sure I won't go before the day of the tournament. I pretty much know where I'm going, I just haven't fished any of them during the day. Everytime I've been on the lake since March has been in the evening or night. And, I haven't caught near as many fish as I did last year. You can catch fish on this lake just about anywhere. But after you catch about the third 15 1/2" fish that you have to throw back, you get kinda sick. That's been my problem this year. I haven't been able to catch the overs.

The larger tournaments are usually won from the other end, but it probably won't be worth running that far and burning that much gas.

I really believe everyone will be on an even playing field for this tournament. If you have secret spots on Smith, all you are doing is blowing smoke. These fish move around and what worked yesterday will not always work today or tomorrow.

I'm excited about seeing everyone again, and enjoy fishing this lake because it really is a challenge.

[Kerry201pro]

Jason I agree, having to throw a 15.5 inch spot back over is not a easy task cause they are just not as easily fooled as the real aggresive dinks. But the overs do put up a good fight. I think Smith will give alot more bites and numbers than Wheeler did. I just want to catch some dang fish period.

[Bass Hawk 87]

Hey guys, I just wanted to make a comment about the "Slot" limit thing.

We have some lakes with a slot limit, like Oconee and others where an increased keeper limit has been imposed.

What I have seen in the past 25 years is (just my own observations) the lakes with the slot limit have an over abundance of slot fish in the 10 1/2 - 13" range.
On lakes that had a larger size limit, like West Point, it was hard to catch 16" fish, but you could catch 3 lb 15 1/2" fish all day. Lowering the size limit to 14" made a difference.

On Lanier, the size limit had always been 12" until about 4 or 5 years ago, when they increased it to 14". The first year was tough, and everyone was catching 30-50 12 and 13" fish , but few keepers. Now, Lanier is one of the best spot lakes anywhere, with 3-5 lb fish being common, and the average keeper going close to 2 lbs.

From my experience, the slot doesn't work. I think the 14-15" limit is the best solution all around.

[CHARLEG]

Don, They have changed the slot from 13 to 14. So the slot is now 14 to 16" an they want everyone to keep an eat the unders. They say not enough do so there are too many unders. I think most of it is caused by them putting so many strippers in Smith Lake. Smith has had a slot for as long as I can remember an hasn't helped.

[maconart]

Just to clarify.... Smith Lake Slot is under 13 and over 15 as of last year.