2010 Official Wednesday Night Rules
The
following rules apply to the Wednesday Night Elite River Series
Tournaments. These rules may differ from
those for the Suskie Bassmasters full day tournament rules. These rules may be changed by Suskie Bassmasters
notice of which will be posted on the Suskie website at www.suskiebassmasters.org. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules
shall be left exclusively to Suskie Bassmasters directors, officers, and
designated officials In the event of a
rule violation, Suskie directors and/or officials may impose such sanctions, as
deemed appropriate by them, including, without limitation, disqualification,
and forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition from participation in
subsequent tournaments and events. All
official decisions are final. Penalties
for violations may include, but are not limited to the following: Loss of catch for the day of the violation, Disqualification
from the tournament in question, Disqualification from future Suskie events
either a specific number of events, or specific time frame, or a lifetime
disqualification. Any different or
additional penalties determined by Suskie officials.
1. PARTICIPANTS
AND ELIGIBILITY These tournaments are open to members of Suskie
Bassmasters. Persons 16 years old and
older can join Suskie Bassmasters for $10 per year. Children under 16 years of age can join
without a membership charge, but still must pay the tournament entrance
fee. Junior anglers (under 16) are
eligible to win all prizes, awards, and are eligible to qualify and participate
in the championship.
2. ANGLER
CODE OF CONDUCT Anglers participating in any Suskie event shall
observe this code of conduct and the applicable rules for the event in which
they are participating. Anglers shall at
all times, conduct themselves in a manner becoming of anglers that will not
reflect unfavorably on Suskie Bassmasters, its members, officers, directors, representatives,
tournaments, or sponsors. Anglers shall
use their best efforts to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in support
of the sport of tournament fishing. Any
angler who violates any of the provisions of the Angler Code of Conduct may be
subject to any of the above listed penalties or combination thereof, deemed
appropriate by Suskie Bassmasters.
3. COMPETITION A
designated tournament official must be granted access to the competitors boat
at any time during the official competition.
Failure to grant such access may result in immediate
disqualification. Each competitor agrees
to report to the Tournament Officials any violation or infraction of any
tournament rules. Failure to report violations or suggestions to another
competitor that they violate these rules or false verification of weigh-in
forms will be cause for disqualification.
By participants signature on the official entry form, each competitor
agrees to abide by all tournament rules.
4. REGISTRATION Tournament
registration begins at 4:30 pm. Launch
is 6 pm. Weigh-in is 9 pm. All
participants MUST be back and turn in their marker before 9pm. Only markers turned in by 9 pm on the
official clock will be allowed to weigh-in.
All participants should check their measuring sticks to the OFFICIAL
stick at registration. There will be an
OFFICIAL measuring stick and clock at registration.
5. SAFETY Tournaments will be cancelled if the river
will be at or above 10 ft on the WB
gauge.
Safe boat conduct must be
observed at all times by tournament participants. Tournament officials have the right to delay,
shorten, or cancel the start of an official tournament because of bad weather
or other factors. Tournament waters may
also be restricted at any time because of bad weather.. In the event of an emergency situation, competitors
should call 911 first and then notify tournament officials. Competitors are allowed to leave the boat and
seek safe shelter in bad weather where danger may be imminent. NO WAKE ZONE.
The NO WAKE ZONE is from the
Market St. Bridge to the storm drain on the upstream side of the new fishing
pier. It includes the areas under the
Market St. Bridge. The NO WAKE ZONE
applies from launch to weigh in. All
Boats MUST proceed at a SLOW NO WAKE IDLE speed in this area AT ALL TIMES.
6. SPORTSMANSHIP Participants
in Suskie tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting
principles may be deemed cause for disqualification.
a)Use
of alcohol or illegal drugs, by any competitor during Suskie tournaments or
events, will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification
from the tournament and/or all future Suskie events.
b)Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times,
especially with regard to boating, and angling in the vicinity of
non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects
unfavorably upon efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and
courtesy shall be reason for disqualification.
c)All competitors are bound by the statutes and
regulations of the
d)Chemical-substance addiction or abuse, conviction
of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude, or other conduct
reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair
competition, and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting
any application for participation and/or for disqualification after
circumstances are reviewed by Suskie Officials.
Any disqualification, suspension from, or other disciplinary action
regarding any tournament or fishing organization, shall be grounds for
rejecting any application for participation in a Suskie tournament and/or
disqualification from a Suskie tournament after circumstances are reviewed by
Suskie officials.
7. TACKLE
& EQUIPMENT Only artificial lures and biodegradable lures may be
used. No “live bait” or “prepared bait”
will be permitted during tournaments with the exception of pork strips or
rinds. Only ONE casting, spin casting,
or spinning rod/reel may be used at one time. Other rigs as specified may be in
the boat and ready for use however only ONE per angler in use at any time. All
fish must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty
of snatching, or snagging visible fish will have their catch disqualified. Fly fishing rods are not permitted.
8. BASIC
BOAT EQUIPMENT All boats must meet all PA Fish & Boat Commission
requirements. Anglers per boat and motor
must not exceed the capacity per the displayed capacity plate on the boat. Boats must have an operating live well
capable of re-circulating water. a) Boat/angler Identification. All boats must be inspected at registration
by a tournament official. Anglers will
receive a numbered marker, (type to be determined by officials). The marker must be kept by each angler and
must be turned in at check-in prior to the deadline in order to weigh-in, b)Gas Tanks.
No additional gas tanks or containers of any kind may be used. During the official practice and during the
tournament, no portable gas tanks or containers capable of holding gasoline can
be placed anywhere on the tournament waters or shoreline for use by any
tournament competitor.
9. PERMITTED
FISHING LOCATIONS For all tournaments launched from the Nesbitt Park
Launch, the fishing boundaries for the Wednesday Night Big Bass tournaments
are: north to a maximum of 1 mile above the Appletree launch, and south to the Hunlock
Creek Launch. Angler’s boats cannot pass
the outermost edges of these areas.. All
waters in-between these locations are fishable waters unless otherwise marked
“Off limits or No Fishing” by state or federal agencies. All angling must be done from the boat. All water considered open to public fishing
will be considered tournament waters.
10. COMPETITORS
MUST REMAIN IN BOAT Boats must remain in tournament waters during
tournaments. Competitors must leave from
and return to the
11. SCORING Winners
will be determined by weight on the official scale. The limit is 1 bass per angler, minimum size
of 15”. Short fish will not be
weighed. Each angler MUST bring their
own fish to the scale in a separate bag.
At no time shall anglers have in their possession more fish than allowed
by law. Any bass that appears to have
been mangled, mashed, mauled, or otherwise altered will be weighed and credited
only at the discretion of tournament officials.
Bass must NOT be stringered at any time during a tournament. Culling tags or clips are allowed. A point system will be used to determine
championship qualifying. See rule 16.
12. CATCH
& RELEASE: CULLING OF DEAD BASS IS PROHIBITED Culling dead bass is
prohibited by regulation of the PA Fish & Boat Commission. A legal dead bass presented for weigh-in
will be assessed a 1/4 pound penalty. Tournament officials have sole authority for
determination of dead fish.
13. LATE
PENALTY As noted in rules 4 & 8a anglers will receive a
numbered marker at registration. They must
keep this marker with them during the tournament. There will be a box with the official time
clock at the registration area. These markers MUST be in that box before the
official clock shows 9 pm. At 9 pm the
box will be closed, and no more markers can be added. ONLY anglers with markers in the box will be
allowed to weigh-in.
14. TIES In the
case of a tie where two or more fish weigh exactly the same on the official
scale, then the length of the fish will determine the winner. The longest fish will be considered the
winner. If the tying fish are also the
same length then the tie will stand and the 1st & 2nd place money will be
combined and split between the anglers.
Both anglers will receive first place points.
15. POINTS. A
200 point scoring system will be used to determine the top 30 anglers eligible
to fish the Championship. The Suskie
Bassmasters Elite Series “ANGLER OF THE YEAR”
will be the angler who finishes the regular Wednesday Night Elite Series
tournaments, (not counting the Championship), with the most points. Points will be awarded each week as
follows: 1st = 200, 2nd =199, 3rd=198 etc.
Points will be awarded using this scale for every angler that weighs in a legal
fish. Any angler that participates in
the tournament but does not weigh in a fish will still be awarded 50 points for
that tournament. There will also be
opportunities to win additional bonus points throughout the season.
16. LIVE
WELLS/HANDLING/WEIGH-IN. OUR GOAL IS
NO DEAD, NO STRESSED FISH. All boats MUST have an operating live well
capable of re-circulating water. When
water temps are above 75 degrees re-circ pumps should be continuously run. Get fish back into the water ASAP. For weigh-in, each angler must have a
separate bag. Put fresh water in the bag
to bring the fish to weigh. After your
fish is weighed immediately release it back into the water. ANYONE
OBSERVED MISHANDLING FISH IN ANY WAY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
17. CHEATING. Anyone
caught cheating in ANY Suskie Bassmasters event will be disqualified, removed
as a member, and never be allowed to fish future Suskie events. Violators will
be subject to full criminal prosecution as dictated by
18. RULES COMMITTEE The
rules committee shall consist of 7 (seven) members. Three officers and four regular paid members
of Suskie Bassmasters. The Rules
Committee shall review and approve all rules and hear all protests. Rules Committee decisions on protests are
final.
19. RULES COMMITTEE AND PROTEST PROCEDURES
By entering any Suskie
Bassmasters tournament, contestants agree to submit to a polygraph/voice test
examination should the competitor be accused of any rule violation. Protests
may be registered in person and in writing, before boat launch or after weigh
in and before awards are presented. If it is a problem regarding the weight of
a fish or bag of fish, the protest must be made prior to the fish in question
being returned to the water.
Any person failing to successfully pass a polygraph/voice test in this
or any other tournament will not be allowed entry into future Suskie
Tournaments. All contestants agree that in the event of a dispute or protest of
any kind, or if requested to do so by the Rules Committee, both team members
will submit to a polygraph screening. The administration and interpretation of
the polygraph/voice test shall be the responsibility of the Rules Committee or
designee. The Rules Committee will choose the individual who administers such
polygraph/voice test, and the scope of the questions, which may be asked during
such test and schedule a polygraph session at the place of Rules Committee’s
Choice. The day of polygraph examination shall be based on both team members
choice and must be completed within 2 weeks following said tournament. Failure
to take and pass the polygraph/voice test examination, if required, will result
in immediate disqualification without recourse. Protests must be accompanied by
$100.00 cash. If the protest is valid, the protester shall receive a refund of
the $100.00 protest fee and will be paid a $50.00 good Samaritan award.
Contestants further agree that the results of the polygraph screening will be
accepted without further appeal and will be the final decision in said
tournament. All contestants agree and understand that protested prizes will be
held until the polygraph results are received and any differential in awards
will be mailed to affected winners immediately following results. Both team
members hereby waive and release any and all claims and causes of action
against Suskie Bassmasters, sponsors, and their agents in connection with taking such polygraph
screenings. In the event of no polygraph screening, the Rules Committee
decision will be accepted. Inconclusive results on a polygraph examination will
be considered to be a failure to pass and will be accepted as such by the
examinee. Any angler making an
accusation against another contestant without submitting a written protest
accompanied by a $100.00 deposit may be subject to disqualification from
current and future Suskie Bass events
RULES COMMITTEE
|
|
Name |
Status |
|
1 |
Norm Gavlick |
Officer |
|
2 |
Rob Rosencrans |
Officer |
|
3 |
Chuck Saypack |
Officer |
|
4 |
|
Member |
|
5 |
|
Member |
|
6 |
|
Member |
|
7 |
|
Member |
PROTEST FORM
|
Name of contestant filing the protest: |
|
Date:
Time of Incident: |
|
Location/Area of Incident: |
|
List any witnesses: |
|
Note Rule(s) violated: |
|
Provide details of protest: |
|
Signature of Protestor: I affirm and
verify that the statements made in this protest are true, correct, and
accurate to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief. I acknowledge that making false,
misleading, and/or inaccurate statements regarding other club members may
result in sanctions up to and including disqualification from Suskie
Bassmasters events and membership. I
agree to abide by the determinations of the rules committee regarding this
protest which may include submitting to a polygraph/truth test. SIGNATURE:
DATE: |