1. Rule Changes: These rules will remain unchanged during 2022.
The decisions of the tournament director are final. It is the
responsibility of each contestant to familiarize themselves with and
abide by all rules.
2. Eligibility of Competitors: The tournament will not be open to a
competitor who has: 1) Declined or failed a polygraph screening in a
previous tournament or refused to allow a tournament appointed
observer or media boat in a tournament trail or previous tournament. 2)
Been barred from a tournament trail or a previous tournament. 3)
Conviction of a felony in the last 36 months or still on probation. In
case of any miss conduct or not complying with the standards set forth
above in rule #2, BNB/VBT shall have the right to refuse any
application, or to deny a confirmed application by returning the entire
entry fee of a previously accepted application or to disqualify a
contestant.
3. Participation and Entry Fees: Pick your partner or fish alone.
Participation in the Blue Otter Bass N Bash tournament is open to
anglers with a valid Tennessee in/out state fishing license. At least one
team member must be 18 years in age or older. Entry fee $180.00 per
boat.
4. Registration: A properly completed entry form and entry fee must
be paid no later than safe light day of tournament. Boat numbers will
be randomly drawn at 8pm at the conclusion of the registration
meeting. After the drawing, the boat numbers will be posted on the
Blue Otter Bass N Bash event page. If conditions arise, which preclude
participation in a tournament where you have paid an entry fee, you
may transfer or request a refund of your entry, as long as BNB/VBT is
notified by 6 pm local time Saturday, the day before the tournament.
The burden of notification lies solely with contestants.
5. Pretournament practice: No off-limits
6. Safety: Safe boating will be always observed during competition
hours. Each contestant is required to wear a chest like life preserver
any time the combustion engine is in operation. All boats must be
equipped with an emergency shut off device, which must be attached
to the driver's body whenever the combustion engine is in operation.
During the official tournament hours, a competitor may not use
communication devices such as cellular telephones, marine radios,
walkie talkies, etc. for the purpose of gathering or relaying information
concerning fishing locations, techniques, lures, etc. Mobile
communication devices can be used in emergency situations.
7. Sportsmanship: All teams are expected to follow high standards
of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. At no time during
tournament hours are any alcoholic beverages or drugs, other than
prescriptions, allowed in the boat or consumed. Any violation of this
rule (7) may be deemed cause for disqualification.
8. Boat and Horsepower regulations: All boats must be a
minimum of 15ft. in length. All boats must be equipped with an
emergency shut-off device. Each boat must have all required U.S.
Coast guard safety equipment. Boats must contain a properly aerated
live-well space to maintain a live limit catch. Each boat must have a
U.S. Coastguard Horsepower rating plate attached by manufacturer.
The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the rating
specified on this plate. By signing the entry form, each contestant
agrees to submit his boat and/or motor to an inspection by factory
trained personnel. Falsifying information on entry forms will be cause
for disqualification and loss of entry fee.
9. Permitted Fishing Methods: No trolling, no long lining with
either the combustion engine or trolling motor. All state and local laws,
concerning lures, must be followed. All bass must be caught live in a
conventional manner. Only artificial lures may be used with the
exception of pork trailers. Only one rod per contestant may be used at
a time. Sight fish must be caught inside the mouth, no snagging.
10. Permitted fishing locations: Locking is not permitted.
Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters accessible by
boat except areas designated as off-limits of no fishing by local, state,
federal, or tournament officials. There will be no fishing within forty
yards of another contestant's anchored boat (trolling motor up). During
competition, contestants may not obtain or receive assistance or follow
a non-competitor’s boat for purpose of locating fish. Hole sitting is
prohibited.
11. Equipment Failure or Emergency: In the event of equipment
failure or emergency, there will be only two permitted methods of
returning to the official check-in: 1) both partners remaining in their
boat and being towed by water or, 2) by one partner entering the boat
of another BNB/VBT tournament contestant. Under these two
conditions, catches may be counted (normal penalties apply, dead fish,
late penalty, etc.) No tournament boat may be loaded on the trailer
before the weighing of fish, except first gaining permission from the
tournament director. If a team must violate any part of this rule due to
emergency, or for any reason, their catch for that day will not be
counted.
12. Official Checkpoints: there will be only one official checkpoint
for boat check-in the morning and check that afternoon. Failure to go
through either will result in disqualification. All fishing must cease upon
check-in. No culling after check-in.
13. Scoring: Scoring will be determined by the pounds and ounces
of each team's catch. Only largemouth, spotted, or smallmouth bass
are accepted species. The limit will be five (5) unless the state or lake
limit is less, in which case, the state or lake limit will prevail. At no time
should contestants possess more than the tournament limit. Any team
who possesses more than the tournament limit will have their catch
culled to the tournament limit beginning with the largest fish. The
official length limit for bass will be set at tournament director’s
discretion. Penalty for short fish will be loss of fish plus one pound
penalty off total weight for each short fish. Each team's catch must be
presented in an official weigh-in bag. Bass may not be stringed or
placed in cull nets at any time during the tournament
14. Live Fish: (4) ounces will be deducted from total weight only for
each dead bass presented for weigh-in. Only one dead fish per boat to
be weighed.
15. Late Penalty: Teams that are not at the official check-in area at
the appointed time be penalized at one (1) pound per minute deducted
from the total weight, including any
weight to be counted toward big bass award. Any contestant more than
fifteen (15) minutes late will lose credit for that day's catch.
16. Ties: In case of ties, positions will be resolved by combining the
awards and dividing equally.
17. Polygraph: All contestants, winners, and non-winners, are
subject to a polygraph test. Penalties resulting from polygraph will be
determined by tournament director. Failure to submit to a polygraph
test will result in immediate disqualification. All participants are subject
to an observer or media personnel at any time for any reason. No
Exceptions.