REVISED January 1, 2008

1. Definitions:

Tournament Contestant
Any current LBC member, LBC family member, honorary member or quest invited by a LBC member.

Family Member
The spouse and/or dependent(s) of any LBC member

Honorary Member
Any past LBC member that has shown continued support of the LBC

Tournament Waters
Any lake, river, stream, reservoir, pond, gravel pit, etc., that is controlled by a governmental body and open for public use.

Away Tournament
Any LBC tournament that is generally held for more than one day and the waters are generally more than 100 miles
from Lincoln. The length, location and number of Away Tournaments shall be determined by the membership on an annual basis.

Local Tournament
Any LBC tournament that is generally held for one day and the waters are generally not more than 2 hours drive
time from Lincoln or 100 miles. The length, location and number of Local Tournaments shall be determined by the membership on an annual basis.

Exhibition Tournament (Fun Tournament)
A tournament held by the LBC for the general intent of fishing new waters or allowing wives to specifically fish.
An Exhibition Tournament shall not be scored and shall not be subject to the guest rules and prefishing rules of
local and away tournaments.

2. Tournament Director’s Responsibilities:

The LBC Tournament Director will be in charge of each LBC tournament. In the event the Tournament Director
is absent from a tournament, another officer will be appointed by the President to perform the Tournament Director functions. If the President is not available, the duties go to the Secretary/Vice President and then Treasurer.

Should a problem arise with regard to a LBC tournament, the LBC Tournament Director has the authority and
responsibility to enforce all LBC rules, or make a decision regarding the problem if not specifically covered in
the LBC Tournament Rules. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final in all matters.

The LBC Tournament Director shall be the primary contact to answer questions regarding a tournament, LBC
tournament rules and standings, or if a contestant changes or needs to change partners for a tournament.

3. Participation and Eligibility:

Participation in any LBC tournament shall be limited to “tournament contestants” as defined in clause of the
LBC Tournament Rules.

Tournament contestants will fish in pairs whenever possible. The pairing of the “boater” and the “non-boater”
will be accomplished at the regular LBC meeting prior to the tournament by a random drawing of names. The club will make an attempt not to pair two same contestants in consecutive drawings. If this does occur the non-boater’s name will be placed back in the drawing and an alternate will be drawn. If it is still not possible to pair with a different contestant then the contestants will be allowed to fish together even though they have fished together in a previous tournament. If a contestant cannot attend the meeting when the drawing for tournament pairs is to be done and they wish to be in the drawing, they must notify a LBC officer of their desires prior to the drawing or they will be in-eligible to fish that tournament!

All LBC members wanting to fish in a LBC tournament must first be in the drawing unless previously discussed and approved by all members present at the meeting. Any LBC boater member not paired with a LBC non-boater member may bring a guest, fish with a LBC boater member or fish alone (fishing alone will only be allowed when there is no contestant available as a partner).

In the case of an away LBC tournament, LBC members participating in the tournament may choose their partner. All “non-boater” LBC members wanting to participate are to be accommodated by the boater members before any guests or pairings of boater members will be allowed.

4. Fishing Hours and Location:

Official fishing hours for each LBC tournament will be decided by a majority vote of the members present at the regular monthly meeting prior to the tournament except for Away Tournaments at which tournament hours may be decided by a majority of the tournament contestants the night before each day of the tournament.

The location of all tournaments shall be determined by the following procedure: (Depending on club size)
In December of each year a Tournament Committee shall be elected. The committee shall include five
current members that plan to be members of the LBC the following year and it shall include the following persons:
Incoming President
Incoming Tournament Director
First Place Finisher for the Previous Year
Second Place Finisher for the Previous Year
A member at large elected by the membership
(If any of the above cannot serve or are the same person, then the replacement shall be selected at large by the membership)

The membership at large can make their recommendations in writing to the committee during December and January prior to the committee meeting.

The Selection Committee shall at the regular January or February meeting of the LBC present the proposed tournament schedule that includes the proposed dates, locations and types of tournaments. At the regular January or February meeting of the LBC the membership shall vote on the proposed tournament schedule as presented by the committee. The proposed tournament schedule shall receive a vote of 50% of the members present to be accepted.
If there is not a 50% vote, the tournament schedule will be discussed and redone until 50% of the members approve of the schedule.

5. Pre-Tournament Requirements:

Tournament waters for “Local” tournaments will be off-limits (not allowed to be fished) from midnight the Sunday, prior to the tournament, until the official starting time on the tournament day. This applies to all LBC tournament contestants.

The above mentioned off-limits restriction does not apply to LBC “Away” tournaments. However, other rules may be imposed by the State Federation, such as for the state open tournaments. The LBC tournament director and/or Federation representative shall be responsible for informing LBC members participating in such tournaments about any particular restrictions.

6 Tournament Day Requirements:

Tournament contestants will not be allowed on the tournament water more than one hour before official starting time of the tournament. No fishing will be allowed during this hour prior to the scheduled tournament starting time. This applies to all tournaments except when a “practice day” is allowed prior to the tournament day. When a practice day is allowed, practice time stops at midnight the day before the tournament.

7. Sportsmanship:

Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited for the duration of any LBC tournament. Tournament contestants are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and natural resource conservation at all times, especially in the vicinity of non-tournament boats, recreationists and other anglers.

All LBC tournament contestants are expected to demonstrate sportsmanlike conduct by not intruding on the water being fished by other LBC contestants.

The LBC will adhere to all state aquatic game laws and all state and federal boating regulations. Only “black bass” will be considered as acceptable tournament fish. This includes largemouth, smallmouth, and Kentucky or spotted bass. All bass must be caught alive utilizing conventional sport angling methods.

8. Measurements:

The minimum size limit for all bass measured in a LBC tournament is 14 inches. All fish will be measured lying flat with the mouth closed and the tail lobes pushed together or fanned using an approved, accurate measuring board. The total fish length is to be measured and rounded up to the nearest 1/8 inch. For example, if the fish is slightly over 14 1/8 inches, the recorded measurement would be 14 1/4 inches. If the fish measure slightly under 14 1/8 inches, the recorded measurement would be 14 1/8 inches.

Tournament partners must verify the measurement of each other’s fish. Contestants fishing alone are on the honor system and allowed to measure their own fish. Contestants may have another tournament contestant measure or verify the measurement if so desired.

Tournament contestants are expected to properly handle and promptly release all fish caught during a LBC tournament. This includes wetting the measuring board and handling the fish as little as possible.

9. Equipment:

All fishing during a LBC tournament must be done from a boat, either anchored or in motion. Trolling as a method of fishing is strictly prohibited.

Only conventional rods and reels may be used. Only one rod may be used by any tournament contestant at any one time. No rods over eight (8) feet in length may be used. There is no limit on the number of rods that may be carried in the boat.

Only artificial lures and baits may be used during a tournament. No “live bait” or “prepared bait” with the exception of “pork baits” and “scented baits” will be permitted.

All boats in a LBC tournament must have appropriate Coast Guard approved safety devices on board when afloat.
Each contestant in a LBC tournament must provide their own Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver and it must be worn any time the combustion engine is in operation at any speed other than idle. All boats with combustion engines used in a LBC tournament are required to be equipped with some type of ignition “kill switch” and that it be in operational condition and securely attached to the boat operator when the engine is operating at any speed other than idle.

The use of electric trolling motors and other electronic equipment is permitted at all tournaments.

10. Entry Fees:

Tournament contestants who desire to compete in the LBC tournament “Calcutta” and/or “Big Fish” must notify the LBC Tournament Director or their designated agent and pay the entry fee prior to the start of the tournament.
Any entry fees paid at a tournament will not be refunded.

11. Tournament Expenses:

LOCAL TOURNAMENTS:
It is the responsibility of the “non-boater” to provide the “boater” financial compensation for the operating expenses of the boat (i.e. gas, oil, permits, etc.) for any LBC tournament both “local” and “away”. Currently the LBC membership has verbally agreed upon a range between $10 and $20 for all local tournaments, but it is typical for the non-boater to pay the boaters Calcutta and Big Fish fee but if the boater does not want to be included in the Calcutta or Big Fish pot, the non-boater should pay the boater a minimum of $12. This should be discussed between the boater and non-boater prior to the tournament start time. On all local tournaments, the travel expenses for the tow vehicle to and from a lake will be split 50-50 between the boater and non-boater. If each party should have to drive separately to the lake, then each will pay their own travel costs.

AWAY TOURNAMENTS:
Away tournament compensation amounts will be split equally between the boater and non-boater. This includes the costs of travel expenses to the lake and expenses for the boat while on the lake. This includes cost of gas and oil for the tow vehicle and the boat. If there are to be any exceptions to this rule, the will be discussed at the meeting prior to the Tournament. It is customary for the “non-boater” to pay the “boater’s” Calcutta and Big Fish fees.

Damages of any nature to any tournament contestant’s boat, tackle, or other equipment shall be the sole responsibility of the individual who caused the damage or was operating the boat unless a previous agreement has been arranged between the boater and the non-boater.

12. Check In:

Check-in for each LBC tournament will be at a pre-designated time and location. The location may be at the tournament sight or at some other predetermined location. If the tournament is classified as an “open” tournament and there is not a central check-in point, the LBC Tournament Director shall designate, or will be responsible for finding out from the Federation tournament director, the location of the weigh-in.

Tournament contestants must be present at check-in to have their fish scored. If it is necessary for a tournament contestant to leave before check-in, arrangements for scoring the contestant’s fish must be made with the LBC Tournament Director prior to departure.

All contestants must provide a signed score sheet to the LBC Tournament Director at check-in to be eligible for measure points, “Calcutta” and/or “Big Fish” money and participation points.

Any and all complaints or protests for a given tournament must be filed in writing with the Tournament Director no later than 30 minutes after the check-in is completed.

13. Check-In Penalties:

Tournament contestants arriving late to the check-in will be penalized in the following manner: for each minute late, 5% of the total pounds scored will be deducted; if late by 15 minutes or more, the tournament contestant will be considered as not having fished that tournament and will not be eligible for measure points, “Calcutta” and/or “Big Fish” money, and any participation points. The official time will be kept by the LBC Tournament Director.

14. Tournament Scoring:

Points will be awarded to tournament contestants who finish in the first through twenty-fourth places of each LBC tournament as follows:

Measure points will be totaled by each tournament contestant at the end of each LBC tournament, and verified and
signed by their partner. Tournament contestant scores will be prioritized in descending order, with the highest score occupying first place.

A tournament contestant must check-in at least one fish to “place” in the tournament.

Each tournament contestant that fishes but does not “place” will be awarded 10 points for participation. A tournament contestant must fish a minimum of 75% of the tournament to qualify for participation points.

In case of a tie between two or more tournament contestants for any “place”, each will receive the points allotted to that particular “place”. For example: a tie exists for fourth place, each person would receive 39 points.

The tournament contestant occupying the “place” below a tie will receive the points for the “place” they occupy, and not for the “place” opened up due to the tie. For example: two contestants tie for fourth place – each will receive 39 points; no fifth place points will be awarded; and the person in the sixth place will receive 34 points.

Each LBC member is allowed to keep one fish per year without being penalized any points. (For the purpose of a trophy mount).

Each LBC member will drop two tournaments from the total number of tournaments available to fish during the season. (example: if 9 tournaments are held, each contestant will count only 7 of these tournaments toward the final standings).

15. Calcutta and Big Fish Award:

All entry fees for “Calcutta” and/or “Big Fish” will be handled by the LBC Tournament Director or a designated club officer. Payout for the “Calcutta” will go to the top 3 places and all entry fees for “Big Fish” will be awarded to the tournament contestant who catches the largest black bass for that tournament day.

If there is a tie where money awards are involved, the money will be divided equally.

16. Invitational or Grudge Tournaments:

The hours, rules, entry fees, etc. for any “invitational” or “grudge” tournament with another bass club will be mutually agreed upon by officers from both clubs before the tournament is to take place.

17. Rule Changes:

The following rules for the LBC tournaments will remain in effect unless brought before the LBC membership for amendment. Any amendment(s) to the LBC Tournament Rules must follow the procedure outlined on page 4, Article IV, Sections 1 and 2 of the LBC Constitution and By-Laws.