Bass Fishing
Rules
1) "Team Tournaments". It is the responsibility of each entrant to know these rules. Ignorance of the rules is not a defense for violation of them. Tournament Coordinator shall apply penalties for rule infractions. Protests must be made in writing within 30 minutes of the official check-in time of the final flight at each tournament. The Tournament Coordinator may assess a penalty/disqualification without a written protest. The results of any event where protests have been filed or penalties or disqualifications have be assessed shall be considered unofficial until a review of the incident has been conducted by the Head Tournament Coordinator.
2) SPORTSMANSHIP - Any contestant, who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules or violates the state fishing laws or lake rules may be disqualified.
3) PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY - Participation is open to everyone. At least one (1) partner of each team shall be 18 years of age or older. Those anglers under the age of 18 years must have written consent of parent or guardian. No one under the age of 18 may fish alone. A "Team" consists of two anglers. Exceptions may be made in order to accomodate a disability, but only with permission of the Tournamnet Coordinator or Utah Summer Games Director.
4) BOAT AND HORSEPOWER REGULATION (TEAM TOURNAMENTS) - There is no minimum length or minimum horsepower requirements to compete in the Utah Summer Games,” Team Tournament." No internal combustion engine is required. Each boat must contain all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Boats must contain a properly aerated or recirculation live well to maintain alive a team limit catch of fish. Ice chests with an aerator are acceptable upon approval of the tournament director. Any vessel deemed "unsuitable" by a Tournament Coordinator will not be allowed to participate in that event.
5) SAFETY - All boats must meet Coast Guard regulations. Boat owners must carry proper liability insurance. Safe boating shall be observed at all times. During competition, each contestant is required to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket anytime the combustion engine is in operation. Anyone found operating a boat in an unsafe manner in the opinion of the Tournament Coordinator may be disqualified. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition shut-off device which must be securely attached to the driver's body whenever the combustion engine is in operation. Any non-lanyard shut-off systems must be approved by the tournament director. All boats 16 ft. must have a float cushion on board. Each contestant is responsible to have proper safety equipment to meet state and local regulations. It is not the responsibility of Utah Summer Games or any tournament sponsor to provide assistance in on-the-water repairs or rescues at any time. Each contestant shall provide their own on-the-water assistance if needed. Utah Summer Games and its sponsors are not responsible to assure that any contestant has returned at the end of any contest. For safety, each contestant should inform another contestant as to the location(s) that they will be fishing and have that contestant check to assure that the other contestant has returned safely at the end of the contest and have a plan for assistance if needed.
6) PERMITTED FISHING METHODS AND TACKLE - All fish must be caught live in a conventional and sporting manner. Trolling, also referred to as ripping/sweeping or jerking, is prohibited. Cast and retrieve methods of ripping and jerking are legal. Only artificial lures may be used with the exception of pork rind or deer hide. No prepared or live bait may be used. The intentional snagging of fish is strictly prohibited. Landing nets are permitted in the Utah Summer Games. Only one "rod and reel" may be used at a time. Rods may not exceed 8 feet in length.
7) PERMITTED FISHING WATERS - Contestants may fish anywhere accessible by boat, except areas designated as "off limits" or "no fishing" by the tournament director, local, state or federal officials or within 50 yards of any marina gas pump. All angling must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. No contestants are permitted to leave their boat in an effort to propel or float their boat to fishing waters they could not otherwise reach; however, the use of push poles is permitted. The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day. Contestants must leave and return to the official check-in by boat. Consult the schedule of call the Coordinator for details.
8) ENCROACHMENT - A "25 yard rule" is in effect at all times during competition. No contestant's boat may move within 25 yards of another contestant's boat at any time for the purpose of fishing without the consent of all contestants' involved. A boat moving from one area to another may infringe upon this zone as long and the parties that are moving do not fish and do not intentionally disrupt the area. Judging distance is very difficult on the water. As a general rule of sportsmanship all anglers should give all others enough room to make a reasonable cast to fish an area. Exception: In the case of fishing docks or piers, no contestant's boat may "tie up," or "protect" more than a single dock at one time regardless of the distance involved.
9) EQUIPMENT FAILURE OR EMERGENCY - In the event of equipment failure or emergency, contestant's boat may be towed to the check-in. If it is necessary to transfer fish to another boat, it must be another contestant's boat. At least one member of the team must accompany the fish to the weigh-in site.
10) FISHING HOURS AND LATE PENALTY - Official fishing hours will be announced at tournament sign-up prior to each event. All contestants must check in at the weigh-in site. Contestants who are not at the official check-in area at the appointed time may be disqualified. DON'T BE LATE! No culling of fish in the host marina or weigh-in area.
11) LIVE FISH - Contestants shall make every effort to keep all fish alive through the use of a properly aerated live well. Utah Summer Games strongly recommends the use of chemical additives in live wells. .20 lbs will be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish presented for weigh-in. The Tournament Director or a designee will make all judgments of fish mortality. Culling of dead fish is prohibited and may result in disqualification.
12) SCORING - Scoring will be determined by the total weight of each teams catch. The limit shall be five (5) fish per two angler team. The official laws state that Quail Creek Res. is a slot limit fishery, therefore you are allowed (4) bass over 20" per boat or (5) bass under 10". Any bass between 10" and 20" must be immediately released. Bass will be measured lying down, mouth open / tail fanned, on a FLAT board. Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure the prescribed minimum length limit shall be removed from the catch and a penalty of one (1) pound will be deducted from the remaining weight. Each team's catch must be presented in an official weigh-in bag. The" Team" with the most weight, with five (5) fish will be the winners of the (Gold Medals.) The second biggest weight will receive (Silver Medals.) Third biggest weight will receive the (Bronze Medals.).
14) WAIVER AND RELEASE - Each contestant must sign a Utah Summer Games waiver / release form prior to entering the event.
15) PRETOURNAMENT PRACTICE (PRE-FISHING) - Pre fishing is allowed, until 3:00 p.m. the day before the tournament. If caught on the water fishing after this time you will be disqualified from the tournament. No SCUBA diving or snorkeling will be permitted by contestants during or before the tournament days.
16) NO ALCOHOL - No alcoholic beverages are allowed during tournament hours. No alcoholic beverages are allowed in any tournament boat.
17) BOAT INSPECTION - Boat inspection instructions will be given at the sign-up site. Failure to obtain a sign-off at boat inspection may result in disqualification.
18) LOST WEIGH SLIP - The loss of a weigh slip during tournament hours may result in disqualification.
19) COOPERATION WITH MEDIA/PROMOTION - Within the framework of reasonable requests, all contestants in the Utah Summer Games will cooperate with media representatives covering said event. Likewise, participation in the tournament grants Utah Summer Games the use of any pictures of contestants, accounts or interviews with contestants it gathers for the lawful promotion of Utah Summer Games and its tournament operations and sponsors.
20) TOURNAMENT PROTECTION RULE - Any act or inflammatory statement by any contestant that, in the opinion of the Tournament Authority, is detrimental to the operation of the tournament, damaging to organized bass fishing, to Utah Summer Games or any of its sponsors, or to permitting agencies or their officers (such as rangers, wardens, fishery biologists, etc.) during the practice round or tournament, may result in disqualification of the team.
21) CITATIONS - A contestant cited by officers for violation of State or Federal fishing or boating regulations may be disqualified.
