2023 BCWP TOURNAMENT RULES

 

1.  ENFORCEMENT:  The Tournament Director (TD) will be the final authority for the interpretation of these rules.  If the tournament director or assistant is not present, he will appoint someone from his committee to act in his/her place.  In a situation directly involving the TD the highest-ranking club official will make the final decision. All violations will be assessed as follows:

 

 1st Violation = Club Tournament Director Verbal Warning of finding and documentation by Tournament Committee.

2nd Violation = Written Notification from Tournament Committee and Director and 2nd documentation by Tournament Committee.

3rd Violation = Suspension for Next Tournament and a 30 point deduction from standing points.

4th Violation = Suspension for two tournaments, 100 point deduction, and review of club membership by members at the next monthly meeting.  Possible loss of Club Membership.

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VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING RULES MAY LEAD TO DISQUALIFICATION FROM SAID TOURNAMENT(S).

 

50 Yard Rule Boating courtesy is expected of all participants.  The first boat to arrive at a given location has “rights” to that location and all waters within 50 yards in any direction.  No contestant shall cut in front of or behind and start fishing, unless the boat having rights to that water gives consent.

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2.  DRAWINGS FOR PARTNERS/LOCATIONS:  The draw will be conducted in a random manner as determined by the Tournament Director at the monthly meeting preceding each tournament.  This meeting will also determine the start time, location, and type of each tournament.  Prior to the draw, members must state their intention to fish as a “boater” or “non-boater.” All pairings for partners will be drawn as boater/non-boater. Results of the draw will be made public to club members.  Assigned partners must fish together on tournament day. After all non-boaters have been assigned to boats, the remaining boaters will receive weight-plus-one-half if they fish alone. If an assigned non-boater member does not show up for the tournament, the affected boater will receive weight-and-one-half.

 

A. Communication of intent: If a member is unable to attend the monthly meeting, the member must contact the tournament director via email, text message, or phone call no later than 6:00 PM the day of the meeting, providing specific instructions regarding the member’s participation in each tournament scheduled for that month. If a member does not communicate such information, the member will not be allowed to participate in that month’s tournaments. If a member indicates that he or she will not be participating in a tournament, or that he or she is uncertain regarding participation, and subsequently expresses a desire to participate after the drawing has concluded, the Tournament Director will determine whether extenuating circumstances warrant the member’s inclusion in the tournament.

 

B. Guests: WPBC members have 2 (two) opportunities per season to bring a guest to a tournament. After a club member has used his or her 2 (two) guest opportunities, that individual is no longer eligible to bring guests during that season. Non-DOD members are not allowed to bring guests on West Point.

 

As boaters confirm their participation in the drawing, they may announce their intention to bring a guest. If the combined number of non-boater members and guest requests exceeds the number of boater members in the draw, the tournament director will determine which guest request(s) will be accommodated. If a boater is authorized to bring a guest and the guest does not show up for the tournament, the boater will not receive weight-and-one-half. Guest requirements: 1. The guest shall not have fished with any member of the club in a tournament during the current season. 2. The guest must possess valid licenses and/or permits as required. 3. If fishing in West Point waters, the boater member must possess a valid guest permit.

 

D. Immediate family guests:

If a boater is not assigned a non-boater partner in the drawing, the boater may inform the tournament director of his or her intention to bring an immediate family member (spouse, daughter, or son) as a guest. Guest requirements 2-3 (listed above) will apply. Family guests do not count toward each member’s maximum of two guests per season, and there is no maximum number of tournaments for family guests.

 

E. Non-boater contribution to boater:

For tournaments more than one hour from West Point, non-boaters will provide $25 to their respective boater partners.

 

F. Parent/Child Clause: A club member may elect to fish with his/her child (12-17 years of age) during any and all tournaments.  The bass club member must state at the monthly meeting his or her intention to fish with the son or daughter.  The team may participate in the tournament and will follow all tournament rules.   

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3. TOURNAMENTS

Leaving the boat for lunch, latrine break, etc., is permissible, but anglers must remain near the shoreline area. Beginning late or leaving early is permissible; however, the Tournament Director or his/her assistant must be notified. Any contestant who fails to check in and out with the Tournament Director or his/her appointed assistant prior to leaving early will be disqualified and subject to ineligibility for future tournaments.  All participants will report to the designated meeting place 45 minutes prior to tournament time for all tournaments. Violations of the “45 Minute Rule” will be handled in accordance with paragraph 1 of these rules.

 

During scrambles, anglers may leave one lake and fish another, providing the fish are kept in separate live-wells and returned to their original lake.  The TD must be informed prior to the start of the tournament if a team has plans to fish a lake other than Stilwell or Popolopen.

 

No one will fish two tournaments during a calendar year with the same partner unless approved by the Tournament Director during the monthly draw.  Under certain circumstances (for example, a partner fails to show up for a scheduled tournament), the TD or his appointed assistant may permit contestants who have fished together before to do so again. 3 persons in a boat is allowable at the discretion of the boat owner.           

 

A.  TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used.  No “live” or prepared bait will be permitted with the exception of pork or pork-type strips, rinds, etc.  Only casting, spinning, or spin casting reels and rods may be used that are 8’ or less in length. Only one rod may be used at any time.  Other rods may be present, but only one may be in operation.  If a lure becomes fouled, the angler may continue to finish fishing that area with another rod.  When the angler has completed fishing that area, the fouled lure can be retrieved. Fish finders, depth finders, and GPS devices are permitted, along with hand-held nets to land legally hooked fish.

 

B.  BOAT AND SAFETY:  Members may fish from their own boats or any other boat that meets the tournament criteria.  All boat owners must register their boats and trailers in their respective states and Round Pond at West Point.   All boats must have a system to keep fish that are caught alive (live well).  Normally, boats 12 feet in length or longer will be used, but other boats may be used with the approval of the President or Tournament Director.  Electric- and gas-powered motors are permitted, and all boats must follow the regulations as outlined in USMA Regulation 215-5.

 

Occupants of any boat with an internal combustion engine must wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD, or lifejacket) when the main propulsion system is in operation.  Failure to do so may result in disqualification. On West Point waters, boat speeds will not exceed 30 miles per hour during daylight hours or 10 miles per hour during periods of limited visibility.  Kill switch operation is mandatory.   Safe boating practices must be observed at all times and any violations or unsafe acts should be reported to the Tournament Director.

 

Cold Weather: In accordance with NYS Nav. Law Section 40.1(e), any person underway in a boat less than 21 feet in length between November 1 and May 1 must wear a securely fastened PFD. This includes canoes, kayaks, rowboats and motorboats.

 

Beyond provision 2E in these rules, any costs/expenses for launch fees, etc. are to be worked out by the fishing partners. It is the non-boaters’ responsibility to ensure he or she has a PFD.  Non-boaters can coordinate with their assigned boater regarding the availability of a PFD to make sure that each person has a suitable, well-fitting lifejacket. 

 

C.  PERMITTED LOCATIONS FOR SCRAMBLE/OPEN TOURNAMENTS:  During scramble/open tournaments, contestants are permitted to fish any lake on West Point that is declared open and accessible by Range Control and the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Division (MWR).  Fishing in a closed or restricted area will result in disqualification.

 

D. STARTING:  There will be NO “shotgun” starts.  No boat will leave the start area without having been signaled to do so by the tournament director or a designated starter (generally the last boater listed in the drawn starting order) and having ensured that it is safe to proceed.  Each boat shall leave the start area in order of the draw. Tournaments designated as scramble events rely upon the honor system regarding the start time.  PRIOR TO EACH TOURNAMENT, ALL LIVEWELLS WILL BE CHECKED BY A CLUB OFFICIAL TO ENSURE THEY ARE EMPTY AND OPERATIONAL.

 

4.  WEIGH IN:   The Tournament Director or the designated assistant and the Weigh Master will be the only persons conducting the weigh-in.  A functioning, aerated live well is mandatory, and all efforts should be made to keep fish alive until the official weigh-in. Use of live well treatments to maintain the health of the fish is authorized. Only bass will be kept in the live well. The Tournament Director will have first priority for weigh-in. No DEAD fish will be allowed to be culled at any time. If anyone observes a dead fish being culled from a live well then it should be brought to the attention of the Tournament Director and he/she will determine if the angler should be disqualified at weight in.

 

Fish will be weighed to the nearest hundredth of a pound.  Weigh-in will be conducted 15 minutes after the official end of the tournament, proceeding in boat numbered order unless the Tournament Director or Weigh Master determines otherwise.  Fish will remain in the live well until the boat number is called.  For West Point scrambles, weigh-in will be conducted 30 minutes after the official end time of the tournament at Stilwell Lake. Contestants will be penalized one pound for each minute late, up to 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, contestants will be disqualified, and a club official will be dispatched to search for missing/late contestants.  Under certain circumstances (flat tire, broken equipment), late contestants will be given a fair opportunity to explain the situation.  BCWP officers will then determine whether the situation warrants disqualification or other action.  Immediately after the weigh-in, all fish will be returned to the body of water in which they were caught.  The Tournament Director or a designated individual will be the official timekeeper.

 

5.  SCORING:  Only bass (largemouth or smallmouth) will be weighed and counted toward tournament standings.  All fish will be a minimum length of 12 inches (unless legal requirements for a particular body of water dictate a higher minimum length).  A penalty of 1 pound per short fish brought to the weigh-in table will be assessed against a contestant’s tournament weight and year-end standings.  There will be a penalty of ½ pound for each dead fish brought to the weigh-in table.  This weight will be subtracted from the contestant’s total weight. No fish that is dead will be eligible for Lunker status and winnings. Lunker fish must be alive at weigh-in.

 

Weights of short fish will not be counted.  Fish will be measured on a flat board from the tip of the tail with closed mouth.  Mashing, fanning, pressing, or alteration of a fish to meet the 12-inch minimum length is strictly prohibited.  The tail may be pinched for length measurement.  Tournament standings will be based on total weight of a maximum of 5 fish per angler.  A contestant will weigh in only fish the angler personally caught.  Any contestant disqualified will not be allowed to weigh in fish.

 

Tournament points shall be awarded for individual weight, not boat total weight.

1st place  = 100 pts.

2nd place = 90 pts.

3rd place = 80 pts.

4th place = 70 pt.

5th place = 60 pts.

6th place = 55 pts.

7th place = 50 pts.

8th place = 45 pts.

9th place = 40 pts.

10th place 35 pts.

All other competitors = 30 pts.

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6.  PRIZES:  Tournament fees are $20 per angler. Tournament results will be determined based upon the total weight for each boat, including any applicable penalties for tardiness, short fish, or dead fish. For tournament payout purposes, single boaters who meet the criteria as stipulated in section 2 of these rules shall receive weight-and-one-half (the actual weight will be indicated in season standings). In the event of a tie, the boat weighing the higher total number of fish finishes higher. If the tie has not been resolved, the boat weighing in the heaviest fish finishes higher. If the tie still has not been resolved, the boats in question will be assigned the same place in the finishing order and the payout will be divided equitably.

 

Each tournament with 10 or more participants will recognize 1st (40%), 2nd (25%), and 3rd (15%) places based on the combined weight of both individuals’ total fish weight.  Tournaments with fewer than 10 participants will recognize 1st (50%) and 2nd (30%) places.  The remaining 20% will go to the club treasury.   Separate (non-mandatory) lunker and Calcutta competitions will be conducted (refer to Annex A).

 

7.  INCLEMENT WEATHER:   In the event of inclement or potentially dangerous weather (lightning, tornado, hail, etc.), the Tournament Director will make the decision to delay or cancel the tournament.  Unless informed in advance, contestants should report to the designated tournament site at the predetermined time to hear the decision.  No tournament will be cancelled or postponed because of rain.  All contestants are encouraged to use common sense and seek safety by leaving the lake in the event of dangerous weather, communicating with the Tournament Director or a club official.

 

8. SEASON STANDINGS:   Every club member will accumulate weight for the season standings based on individual performance in bona-fide bass tournaments to determine the “Angler of the Year.” The season weight will be accumulated with your lowest two tournaments being dropped, including dead fish penalties. Adjusted weights determine standings status.  Points will also be awarded for tournaments, meetings, and work details to determine the “Sportsman of the Year.”  At club officers’ discretion, other awards may be approved.

 

APPROVED BY MAJORITY VOTE ON:   6 Sept 2023

 

 

                                                               Original Signed

                                                            SCOTT F. GRANGER

                                                            President

Bass Club at West Point

 

ANNEX A – Lunker and Calcutta Competitions

 

Lunker: (Optional)

 

The fee is normally $5.00 per contestant.  The contestant with the heaviest weighed fish for the tournament will be awarded the total amount of money collected by contestants entered in the lunker prize pool. DEAD fish are not eligible for winning lunker pool. In the event of a tie, the prize pool will be divided evenly among the contending participants.

 

Calcutta: (Optional)

 

The Calcutta is an individual, winner-take-all, side competition that is not officially sanctioned or conducted by the BCWP. The angler with the highest individual weight of fish wins the entire Calcutta prize pool. In the event of a tie, the angler weighing the heaviest single fish will be declared the winner.