2023 OFFICIAL RULES
1: RULES: Interpretation of these rules shall be left to The Champlain Bass Series officials. The decision of The Champlain Bass Series officials shall be final in all matters.
2: PARTICIPANTS and ELIGIBILITY: This is an Open trail consisting of either Teams or Individuals. The Champlain Bass Series reserves the right to revoke eligibility/suspend any participant at any time without refunding deposits/payments made. Any competitor not in good standing with tournament deposits/payments will be deemed ineligible, and risk losing their roster spot along with any initial deposits.
3: REGISTRATION: Anglers will be able to sign up for each event at $400 up to 1 week prior to the event. Entries must be received the Sunday before each event or there will be a late fee of $75 after the 7-day cutoff. Anglers are allowed to show up at the ramp and sign up just know that there is a $75 late fee. Boat order also is arranged in order of entries received first, so please get those entries in at least 1 WEEK before that event to avoid late fees and get a good boat draw.
4: DEPOSITS/PAYMENTS/Incentives: Any team or individual that signs up for all four events by 6/1/22 will be entered into a drawing to win one free entry. This incentive helps us plan our season and gives us the opportunity for even more contingency programs. The drawing will be held at the first event’s weigh-in.
5: TRAIL FORMAT: Teams or Individual Anglers. The boater of each registration for Teams will be considered the Captain of that Team.
6: SPORTSMANSHIP: All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and consideration. Violation of this policy shall be grounds for disqualification. Drunkenness shall be cause for automatic disqualification. No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed in the boats. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors.
7: SAFETY: Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant is required to wear a chest type personal flotation device (PFD) anytime the combustion engine is operating and in gear. The PFD must be fastened securely. Violation of this rule may be grounds for disqualification. It is mandatory that all boats be equipped with a functional ignition kill switch that is attached to the driver’s person anytime the combustion engine is operating. Properly functioning kill switches will be tested at each tournament. Unsafe boat operation, whether in violation of a state law or not, may result in penalty up to disqualification from the event or the remainder of the season.
8: TACKLE and EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No live or prepared bait will be permitted with exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only one rod and reel is permitted in use at any given time. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Underwater video cameras are not allowed. Landing nets are legal. All state and federal laws associated with legal fishing methods apply.
9: BOAT and MOTOR: Horsepower of the outboard motor must not exceed the US Coast Guard horsepower rating plate installed by the manufacturer.
10: BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have all the required Coast Guard equipment. In addition, each must have a functional bilge pump and live-well space, properly aerated, to adequately maintain a live limit of bass. Tournament officials shall have sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity are proper and adequate.
11: BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each boat must be given, prior to the day’s start an inspection check by the non boater. Each boat will be assigned an identifying number by way of a random draw. Numbers will be provided by officials. Officials shall have the right to approach and board a competitor’s boat, to ensure compliance with the rules, at any time during the tournament and weigh-in.
12: PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Contestants may fish anywhere on the announced tournament water not deemed off limits by state or federal law. Locking is prohibited. Any specific areas that may be off limits will be announced by the tournament officials. All angling must be done from the boat. A contestant may not leave the boat to land a fish. There will be no fishing or culling of fish after the contestant’s boat passes the official check-in point at the end of the tournament day. Trailering of boats is not permitted during tournament hours or prior to weigh-in.
13: EMERGENCIES: Contestants must remain in the boat at all times (bathroom breaks excluded) except in the case of an emergency/break down. In such an emergency, individuals may enter another competitor’s boat or rescue boat. In the case of an emergency, both boater and non boater may return with another angler from the Champlain Bass Series with their catch.
14: RADIOS/CAMERAS: During tournament hours, a competitor may not use a CB radio, a VHF marine band radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of locating or catching fish. Contestants are permitted to transmit by radio or telephone only in the case of emergency or for business or personal reason not related to fishing. If so equipped, contestants may listen to the marine band weather information.
15: OFFICIAL CHECK POINT: There will be only one official check-in point for the check-in in the afternoon. This point shall be designated at the tournament briefing. At the time for check-out all competitors and their boats shall be in full conformance with the rules set forth by the Tournament Committee. At the check-in all boats shall identify themselves by means of the numbered tags and proceed to the designated weigh-in area.
16: SCORING: Tournament scores will be based on the total weight of a five bass limit for each individual competitor. Contestants possessing more than the tournament limit will have their entire catch disqualified. Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure 12” in length shall accrue penalties at the rate of one pound for each undersized bass and loss of the short fish. Fish will be measured on a flat board with the mouth closed. Only tournament officials will handle the fish during measurement and weighing.
17: DON’T KILL YOUR CATCH: Each competitor is expected to keep their bass alive if at all possible. Four ounces (.25 pound) will be deducted from an individual’s total weight for each dead fish. Culling of dead fish, regardless of the location, is a violation of Champlain Bass Series rules and shall be grounds for disqualification.
18: LATE PENALTY: Start and stop times will be announced at the pre-tournament briefing. Any boat that is not in the official check-in area at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of one pound per minute late, for both the boater and non boater. All fishing/culling must cease upon check-in. After proper recognition at the check-in point competitors will have ample time to proceed to the weigh-in site at a slow idle.
19: TIES: In the event of a tie, prize awards will be split. In the event of a tie in AOY points, the first tiebreaker will be heaviest cumulative season weight with a second tiebreaker of heaviest single tournament weight.
20: LIABILITY INSURANCE VERIFICATION: Any boat used in the tournament must be covered by a minimum of $300,000.00 of liability insurance. By participating in this tournament contestants verify that this coverage will be in force for the date of the tournament.
21: TRUTH VERIFICATION TEST: At the discretion of the tournament officials any contestant may be required to test. Any contestant failing the test will result in disqualification.
22: PERMITTED FUEL STATIONS: Only public fueling stations are legal to access during tournament hours. Competitors are not allowed to stage reserve gas cans for use during tournament hours.
23: CANCELLATION OR RESTRICTIONS: The tournament directors or appointed tournament committee may cancel/reschedule/relocate events or restrict tournament waters in the event of safety concerns.