Please be sure to check BOTH sets of rules if you are fishing the BBT and the WMPPT tournament circuits.  A link to the payouts for each tournament circuit are at the bottom of each set of rules.

BBT:

Interpretation and enforcement of the following rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. In the event of a rule violation, the tournament director may impose such sanctions, as he deems appropriate.

 1.  There is a one-time yearly membership fee of $20.00 per person.  This must also be paid by all subs.

 2.  Entry fee is $100.00 per boat, fishing team or single. Payback is based on paid entries.  The Classic fund will receive $20.00 per entry.  The payback schedule is posted on the web site.  We will pay back 1 spot for every 5 boats. 

 3.  Entries will be received as a team entry or single entry.  If you enter to fish singly, you must do so for all 5 Classic qualifiers to retain your points.  If you enter as a team, you will be allowed to use one sub per season per team, or you may fish alone.  Everyone must check in prior to the pre tournament meeting.  You must decide on your team or single classification on your first entry.

 4.  There will be a 5 fish limit of bass, largemouth or smallmouth, whether you are fishing as a team or singly.  Fish must be 14" or longer, mouth closed.  Short fish are thrown back along with your biggest fish.  Dead fish are penalized 4 ounces (.250 in hundredths).  You must cull down to 5 fish before moving with your combustion motor.

 5.  Total weight determines the winning team.  We will use Big Bass as a tiebreaker for total weight, and total weight as a tiebreaker for Big Bass.

 6.  Lake Michigan will be closed for Classic Qualifiers.  Off limits will be set at the pre tournament meeting.  You may not fish within of a competitor’s boat if it is anchored (trolling motor up and anchor or power pole down), without the anchored boats permission.

 7.  We will use a 100-point system.  First = 100 points, second = 99 points, etc.  Total points as the end of the 5th Classic qualifier will determine the final standings.  We will average the entrants in the 5 classic qualifiers and the top 25% will be invited to the classic. Any boat that fished team or single in all 5 Classic qualifiers will go into a drawing for the wildcard team to attend the Classic.  The #1 team of the year will draw that boat #.  Any team fishing all five Classic qualifiers will receive 20 bonus points.

 8.  The Classic location will be announced at the end of the 5th qualifier.  This body of water will be off limits at 3 PM the Saturday prior to the Classic date. 

 9.  Anglers must practice a high level of sportsmanship, safety and courtesy during tournament hours.  Participants will refrain from the use of alcohol and or drugs during the course of the tournament event.  This prohibition does not extend to the use of prescribed medications for ongoing medical issues. This is an automatic disqualification.

 10. Any violation of Federal, State or Local Laws is an automatic disqualification.  Observation of no wake zones and having proper safety equipment are your responsibility.  NO WAKE NO PASS

 11.  At least one member of each team must be 18 years of age and have a valid driver’s license.  Each team member or single angler must complete and sign the entry form and pay the entry fee.

 12. Big Bass is optional and will be paid back 100%.  60% to first place and 40% to second place.

 13. Approved life vests must be worn while moving with the combustion engine.                                             

 14. Kill switches must be used when the combustion engine is running.

 15. Only one rod & reel (8 ft. Maximum length) may be used at a time.  Artificial lures only - except pork strips.  No trolling.

 16.  The horsepower of the outboard motor must not exceed the boat (bia) rating.  All boats shall have the required Coast Guard safety equipment, functional kill switch, live well with aeration system.

 17. You must leave and return to the tournament site by boat.  If you break down, one person from the team may return in another contestant’s boat with the fish to be weighed in.

 18. MANDATORY - all boats must check in at the end of each tournament.  It is your responsibility to find the check in person.  You must check in by 3:00 P.M., first flight, 3:15 P.M. second flight, not after you load up or while you are weighing in even if you have no fish to weigh.  If you do not check in on time, you are disqualified for that event and forfeit your 20 bonus points.  Do not bring up fish to be weighed until called for.

 19. Any PROTEST must be made within 10 minutes of the scales closing.

Click here for Adobe (.pdf) format        BBT Payout Sheet

WMPPT:

 

 

~ NBAA Tournament Rules ~

 

 

1. RULE CHANGES:  These rules shall remain in effect and unchanged throughout the current tournament year unless specifically superseded by state or local law.  Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. 

 

2. PARTICIPATION/ELIGIBILITY:  Only current members of the NBAA are eligible to fish in any NBAA event.  Anglers wishing to participate in NBAA events may do so at any time prior to the start of an event.  At least one team member must be 18 years of age or older to participate, however, if both members of a team are under the age of eighteen, then they must present written permission from a parent or legal guardian.  The NBAA reserves the right to deny participation to anyone at any time

 

3.  LIABILITY INSURANCE: All members must carry a minimum of $100,000 of liability insurance on any boat they might use during an NBAA Tournament Event. Failure to do so or reporting of false information will result in disqualification. Anglers must provide proof of insurance upon request.

 

4. SAFETY:  Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times while engaged in NBAA sanctioned events and all boats must have a full complement of safety gear as required by USCG regulation.  Any time the internal combustion motor is on both participants must have a USCG approved PFD on and securely fastened.  Operators must have the kill switch armed with lanyard firmly secured to the operator.  Tournament days may be shortened or canceled due to unsafe weather or any conditions that would endanger the safety of the competitors. The decision to shorten or cancel tournament days will be determined by the Tournament Director.

 

5. ALCOHOL/DRUGS:  Participants will refrain from the use of alcohol and or drugs during the course of the tournament event. Participants that are discovered to be using or under the influence of alcohol or drugs during an event will be immediately disqualified. The tournament event is not officially over until the close of scales. This prohibition does not extend to the use of prescribed medications for ongoing medical issues. 

 

6. BOATS AND MOTORS:  Motors may not exceed the horsepower rating on the BIA plate for those boats meeting BIA standards, nor any manufacturer’s plate affixed in lieu of BIA ratings.  All boats used in NBAA events must be equipped with a functioning kill switch as well as aerated livewells capable of sustaining a full tournament limit during the course of the event.  Participants who operate a boat & motor with “tiller steering” shall also have a kill switch lanyard when applicable.

 

7. SPORTSMANSHIP:  Participants in NBAA events are expected to follow the highest standards of courtesy, safety, angling etiquette and adherence to game and fish laws. If an angler or team is found to have not conducted themselves accordingly, disqualification form the event and NBAA may result. 

 

8. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT:  All fish must be caught alive and in a conventional sporting manner using one rod which may not exceed eight (8) foot in length (measured butt to tip). Intentionally snagging fish is not permitted.  Only artificial lures may be used, live and or prepared bait is not allowed, the only exception being “pork rinds” or its equivalent. Trolling with the aide of the internal combustion or electric trolling motor is not permitted.  Communication devices such as cell phones, marine radios or CB’s may only be used for emergency purposes or contacting the director.  After checking in and near the weigh in location, a courtesy board will be provided which will be the same as the official board used for the event.

 

9. POLYGRAPH:  Anyone participating in a NBAA tournament will be subject to a polygraph exam and or voice stress analysis if requested by the tournament officials. Examiner’s decision must be accepted without appeal.  Entrants understand that the failure of such test or refusal to take the test will disqualify them from the tournament.
10. OFF-LIMITS:  Tournament waters are off limits the day of the event with pre-fishing allowed on all bodies of water until 11:59 p.m. the day prior to any tournament.

 

11.  PERMITTED FISHING WATERS:  All angling activities must be done from a previously inspected boat.  No fishing will be allowed within 50-yards of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored or tied, with its trolling motor stowed out of the water, without the anchored boats permission. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or by a Power-Pole with the trolling motor in the up position.  Absolutely no hole-setting or holding of a fishing spot, this will not be tolerated.  Competitors may not exit their boat in order to facilitate access to “other” waters.  Tournament directors will determine, and announce, all off-limit areas.

12. NO-WAKE:  Boats will not pass another’s competitors boat in any no-wake zones at any time during tournament hours except for boats that may be changing course within the zone, boats which have stopped or are engaged in fishing activities

 

13. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINTS:  Teams must depart and return from a specified point by boat unless otherwise noted.  Teams arriving late will be disqualified.  In case of an emergency (I.E. Motor Failed) a team may bring their fish back in a competitor’s boat but there must be at least one member from each team present when checking in.  All fishing must cease upon checking in, disqualification will result for fishing after checking in.

 

14. SCORING:  Teams must cull down to their limit of 5 fish before returning to the official ramp site. The 5 fish must measure a minimum of 14 inches*, mouth closed, tail compressed (*local/state limit applies).  Teams presenting more than a tournament limit shall be disqualified.  Dead fish presented for weight will receive a 4-ounce (0.25) deduction from total weight.  If it’s the big bass, then the penalty shall be accessed against that fish. Tournament standings will be determined by total weight of all competition days.  Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass will be scored.  Teams presenting fish for weight, and which are subsequently determined to be “short”, shall be penalized the weight of the short fish PLUS the big fish of the sack. 

 

15. BIG BASS:  Competitors may choose only one bass out of their bag as an entry into the “big bass side pot/s”.

 

16. TIES:  In the event of a tie at the event, big bass will be the deciding factor.  In cases of a big bass tie, then the money will be split.  In the event that big bass and total weight are the same for two or more teams then both (all) tied teams shall be awarded the same amount of points.  At the end of the season if there is a tie between two or more teams in equal points, then overall weight of the teams will be the deciding factor.

 

17. FISH RELEASE: All fish caught and weighed in at an NBAA event must be released at the official weigh in location.  Failing to release your fish at the official release location will result in an automatic disqualification.

 

18. PROTESTS/DISQUALIFICATION:  Directors must be notified of all protest before close of scales.  Protests also, must be submitted in writing within 10 minutes of the closing of the scales.  A “protest committee” consisting of three (3) fellow anglers, randomly drawn by the tournament director will address all protests. Teams disqualified from individual events will still receive show-up points.

 

19. SUBSTITUTIONS: Up to 2 substitutions may be used during the regular season as long as one team member fishes with the sub.  A sub is allowed to participate in the Classic provided that they had previously fished at least 50% of the regular events.  Teams with a member who unexpectedly cannot attend the Classic may utilize a sub from the division qualified from or, if none are available, then a sub from another division within the same color bracket may be used.  Exceptions to this rule maybe made by the executive director in cases of death, disability, employment status, or military duties. *No subs will be allowed in the One on One Divisions. 

 

20. TEAMS:  Teams must be declared at the first event fished in any one specific division by either member of the team.  If both members of the team are present for any event in a specific division that they have declared themselves as a team they must fish together for their points to count towards their total team points.  Members of a team that decide to fish apart during the same event in a specific division where they have declared themselves as a team no points will be awarded to the original declared team.

 

21. DIVISION’S POINT CHAMPIONS: Points Champions of each division will be determined based on all tournaments fished in that division.  No points will be awarded for Divisional Championship events.

 

22. DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Divisional Championships are for Overtime Divisions and specific Weekend Challenge Divisions.  To qualify for an Overtime Divisional Championship, anglers must have fished in at least 8 events in a specific Overtime Division.  Teams must have fished all events in the specified weekend challenge division to qualify. Subs may be used in Divisional Championship events, but they must meet the above requirements. There will be no points awarded for Divisional Championship events.

 

23. SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP & FALL CLASSIC QUALIFIERS:

 

• Overtime Challenge Events – Tournament anglers that fish 11 of 12 events or 5 of 6 events in any Overtime division will automatically qualify for the Spring Championship and Fall Classic. Divisional Championship events do not count towards qualification.

·         Weekend Challenge – Fish at least 4 tournaments in any Weekend Challenge Division and you will automatically qualify for the Spring Championship and Fall Classic.        

 

Overtime and Weekend events must be completed 5 days prior to the beginning of the Spring Championship and Fall Classic to count towards qualification. 

 

24. ONE ON ONE QUALIFIERS: The championship qualifiers for the One on One Championship will be based on all 5 events or all events scheduled for that division. Any angler competing in all 5 events or all events schedule for the One on One division will automatically qualify for the championship.

 

25. Buy In: Anglers and teams will be allowed to buy into any NBAA event during the regular season.  This does not include championships, classics and other special events.  Entry fees must be giving to the director before the start of the event to be counted. These entry fees will go into the tournament payout. Anglers/teams who buy into an event will receive show up points.

 

26. TAKE OFF:  Take off position for the spring championship(s) and 1 on 1 championship will be determined by an angler/teams finish in their division. Point Champions will take off in the first group, divisional qualifiers highlighted in green in the second group, followed by other qualifying anglers or teams. A random draw of each group will determine take off positions.  Fall Classic qualifying teams will all be put into a hat and a random drawing will be completed before the start of the event. All teams that have returned their championship registration form by “set” date will be put into an early draw.  Their take off position and a number will be assigned before the championship registration.  Any championship qualifier forms received after “set” date will be assigned a number as they are received.  If a team does not send in a championship registration by “set” date an alternate may be chosen for their spot at the championship.

 

27. EMERGENCY CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWINGS:  In the event that NBAA is unable to conduct a planned major tournament due to weather, safety concerns or circumstances beyond NBAA’s control, a drawing or raffle may be held in lieu of the scheduled competitive format to award the guaranteed prizes.  The conditions to warrant the implementation of this rule will be determined by the tournament director.  This rule is designed for major tournament events with guaranteed prizes including, but not limited to the National Championship, Fall Classic, One on One National Championship and other special NBAA and open events.  The location, time and method of the drawing will be determined by the tournament director and explained in detail to all participants.  All participants must be present for the drawing or raffle.  All attempts will be made to avoid the implementation of this rule and will only be considered in the event of an emergency.

 

28. PRO/GUIDE EXCLUSIONS:  Participants, who have fished two or more events, in the preceding 12 month       period, with an entry fee in excess of $1,499.00 per event (does not apply to amateur participants in pro/am events) will not be eligible to participate in any NBAA event with an guaranteed 1^st Place prize in excess of $2,400.00. Individuals’ serving as licensed guides, or are paid for guiding on tournament waters within the pre-ceding 30-day period are not eligible to participate in events held on those waters for tournaments with a guaranteed 1st Place prize of $2400.00 or more.

 Click here for Adobe (.pdf) format             WMPPT Payout Sheet