2023 TCBass Rules

 Rules: 

Interpretation of rules shall be left exclusively to the Board of Directors. The decision of the Board are final. Penalties up to disqualification maybe assessed for infractions and or protest. All rules have “loopholes” it is the intention of TCBass to provide an honest sportsman like tournament. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded that the “spirit of the rules” shall prevail in all judgement cases. Any protest must be submitted in writing within 15 minutes of completion of the tournament.

Tournaments and Weigh-ins: 8 tournaments with 1 throw outs. 5 bass limit. 30 pt system with 1 point countdown until you get to the last person to catch fish, 5 points below that last person for anybody that got zero fish. Bass present for weight in which fail to measure 14 inches shall accrue penalties at a rate of 1 pound each. This penalty shall be deducted from your total weight. Three tenths of a pound per bass will be deducted from your total weight for all dead bass weight. Dead bass penalty doesn’t apply toward Big Bass. All contestants must be back at the ramp at the end of the tournament. No Exceptions. Board of Directors with the Tournament Director will determine if a contestants was Late if this does occur. Contestants must finish tournament to accrue show up points. If you leave early, you must inform a Board Member or the Tournament Director.  Must be a good reason. Family emergency, medical reasons or work, etc. Take off will be one boat at a time. We will draw for starting spots. All live bass must be returned to the lake.

Ties: All ties for tournament awards will be determined as followed: 1st tie breaker is biggest single bass weight. 2nd tie breaker is by number of bass weighed. Ties for AOY: 1st tie breaker is total weight for the year. 2nd tie breaker is total number of bass weighted.

Membership and Entry fee: Annual membership fee is $30. $20 for Big Bass at the end of the year (optional). $50 entry fee per tournament. $45 for tournament  $5 for big bass. Pay back is 50%, 30%, 20%.

Fishing time and Check in: Total of 8 hours of fishing 7:00 am to 3:00 pm with adjustment for daylight and or weather. Contestants must be at the launch site by 6:30 am or earlier, to pay entry fee and draw position. Any boat arriving late must check in with another tournament boat to have live wells checked. Late boater must pay entry fee before weight in. Rider fee is $20. Riders fish against boater and other contestants. Boater is in control of the boat unless boater gives permission.  A boater will not have to take an additional rider until all boaters have done so. No riders in boats smaller then 16ft and/ or under 60 hp. Anyone returning late will be penalized 1lb for every minute late. For every minute late past tournament end and after 5 minutes will be DQ however will be granted show up points.

Safe Boating: Safe boating must be observed at all times. All boats must follow Michigan Boating Laws. Contestants are required to wear a Coast Guard approved life preserver any time the combustion engine is running and IN GEAR. If the boat is equipped with a kill switch it must be functional and used. Absolutely no alcoholic beverages and drugs allowed in the boat during tournament hours. This doesn’t include legal medication.

Tackle and Equipment: Artificial lures only. Only 1 casting, spinning or spin casting rod may be used at one time. B.A.S.S. rules apply. Cell phones or marine radios are not to be used to exchange fishing information during tournament hours. All boats must have a livewell capable of maintaining a limit of bass. Boats with riders must be capable of maintaining 2 limits of bass. None Puncture cull tags only.

Fishing Location: All contestants must start from the designated check in area. Fishing on the tournament water is permitted anywhere except 50 yards of another competitors boat which was there first, anchored(Power Poles down) with trolling motor up. An Anchored boat may not block a narrow waterway. If you let one boat within 50 yards you must let all boats do so.

Boat Identification: Each boat must be inspected by a tournament official prior to the start of the tournament.

Club Classic: The Club Classic will be held after the regular season tournaments. To be eligible for the classic, you must fish a total of 4 tournaments to qualify. Life Member automatically qualify for the Classic. Classic tournaments will be two days on two separate lakes. Regular season lakes will be selected during the fall meeting. Classic Lakes will be selected at the last tournament. Any participant that doesn’t fish both days will be listed as DQ. 

Each paid Classic participant can vote. The participant shall vote for 2 lakes out of a list of many lakes. That Classic lakes are a off limits after voting. Entry fee is $70 (includes $10 Big Bass per day.). Entry fee must be paid by the last regular season tournament. Pay back is 50%, 30%, 20%. Winner will receive free membership for following year.

Non-Boater opt out fee is $100 per year. Paid before the first tournament. Boater can opt out from taking a non- boater. Once a Boater opts out , that boater can not be a non-boater.