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Pdf copy of the 2015 Atikokan Bass Classic Rules for printing

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Atikokan Bass Classic

2015 Tournament Rules


  1. Tickets: $500 per team - maximum two (2) people per boat. Competitors are provided a free steak supper the Friday night of the tourney. The Atikokan Legion Branch #145 and Legion Ladies Auxiliary are catering the meal.

  2. Decisions by the Tournament Officials are final and not subject to appeal.

  3. Safety, Fish and Wildlife Regulations are in effect and shall be monitored by representatives of the O.P.P. and M.N.R., (Ontario Provincial Police and Ministry of Natural Resources).

  4. Only manufactured baits and artificial lures may be used. No live or dead bait!

  5. The Weigh-Master will start the boats off both days from a Pontoon Boat in four flights. Each flight will take place in fifteen (15) minute intervals, and each boat will be sent off five (5) seconds apart.

  6. In the morning, when the Weigh-Master calls out a Team's number, he is giving the Team permission to proceed out of the Holding Bay marked by buoys. The Team must proceed out of the Holding Bay at a No Wake Speed, only speeding up when they are safely past the marker buoys and the pontoon boat.

  7. The Sluice Gate (see Marmion Lake Map posted at the Rules Meeting and available for sale) will be monitored by an ABC volunteer. All teams must use caution and proceed through the Sluice Gate at idle or “no wake speed’ and as directed by the volunteer stationed there. It is imperative that Competitors heed and adhere to these instructions as it’s hard to determine if another boat is approaching from the other side of the Sluice Gate, and logs often wash into the exit zones because of boat wake and current.

  8. Tournament fishing hours on Friday and Saturday are:

    1. First flight: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

    2. Second flight: 7:15 AM to 3:15 PM

    3. Third flight: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM

    4. Fourth flight 7:45 to 3:45 PM

  9. Entry/registration fees will not be refunded after the Draw to determine the Start Order. Exceptional circumstances such as an unforeseen illness or accident to be decided by the Executive. The Draw Date will be posted with the Roster on the ABC Website.

  10. Saturday starting positions will be determined by each Team's total weight of bass on Friday - the first fishing day, e.g., the team in 32nd place on Friday will be in Flight 2 and the 32nd boat called to start their fishing day on Saturday.

  11. All boats must return to the Anderson Dam Landing at the end of the fishing day and cross the start/finish line as identified by marker buoys by their allotted time (e.g., if you’re in the second flight and start at 7:15 you must cross the marker buoys at 3:15). Late finishers will be penalized .25 pounds for each minute late. After five minutes, they will not be allowed to weigh in.

  12. Every team, whether weighing bass in or not, must at the end of each fishing day, report to the Pontoon Boat, so they can check off that you arrived safely. If no one is on the Pontoon Boat, be sure to report to the Landing Master, Jill Leduchowski, and if by chance she isn't there, a tournament official under the big tent or the ABC Office. That way, if a team doesn't report in that they've left early, we can mount a search for them.

  13. Other than to allow for safe passage, all boats must remain 50 metres (about 150 feet) apart after the official act of fishing begins. Failure to do so means disqualification. The boat that enters another Team's fishing area will be the one disqualified. A Team may not ask another Team's permission to fish in their area as the two teams involved could be helping one Team out.

  14. A maximum of five (5) fish a day, per team, may be presented for official weigh-in. Each team shall start the day with no fish and are allowed to hold up to a maximum of five (5) smallmouth bass in their live well at one time. Culling is allowed at any time but no more than five (5) are allowed in the live well at one time. There will be a minimum bass size of twelve (12) inches. NO species of fish other than small mouth bass shall be kept. All live fish will be returned to the Marmion Lakes Reservoirs after the official weigh-in, by tournament volunteers.

  15. The teams must fish in the Upper and Lower Marmion Lake Reservoirs in accordance with the Official Tournament Map.

  16. The tournament is open to all persons. Those under the age of sixteen (16) must be accompanied by an adult and they must sign a waiver at the rules meeting.

  17. All contestants must have paddles and life jackets.

  18. Fish must be kept in live wells. All contestants must try to keep the fish in the best possible condition. Boats may be inspected at any time of the day by the Tournament Officials, the O.P.P. or the M.N.R.

  19. All boats must be inspected before starting each fishing day. It’s the Captain’s responsibility to ensure that boat checks are performed by ABC Boat Checkers and that the Boat Check Form is signed by him/her self.

  20. If a Team arrives late for their Flight, or a later Flight, they will be allowed to set off at the end of that Flight.

  21. Any bass checked at the dock that is dead or in dire condition, shall suffer a 0.25 pound penalty in loss of weight, per fish. Fish that die in transport will be our responsibility.

  22. All garbage is to be kept in the boat and returned to the Lower Marmion Lake Reservoir Landing (Anderson Dam Landing).

  23. Contestants are responsible for their personal property and safety.

  24. There are a number of narrow areas in the Marmion Lake Reservoirs. One of them is known as “Hole in the Wall.” When traveling through “Hole in the Wall,” it must be at an absolute no wake or idle speed as in the Sluice Gate. If a Team is fishing in this area, they are to extend courtesy to any boat that wishes to pass, by moving towards shore, if necessary, and then returning to their fishing spot.

  25. All weights called by the Weigh Master shall be deemed accurate and non-contestable. The Team is responsible to ensure that the correct weight is recorded. Once the weight is printed and verified by the Weigh Master, it will be deemed the official weight. It's the team's responsibility to inform the Weigh Master that they have a big bass to weigh.

  26. Tournament pre-fishing shall be allowed up to 4:00 P.M. on the day before the tournament starts. No competitor therefore, may be on the water beyond the Holding Bay after 4 pm, the Thursday of the tournament.

  27. Teams must, at the end of the fishing day, take note of and abide by the following End of Fishing Day Boat Retrieval and Processing Procedure:

    1. All boats returning to the Anderson Dam Landing at the end of their fishing day, must first report to the Pontoon Boat.

    2. There the Team will be directed, by the Marshal on the Pontoon Boat, to a holding area representing their flight number. See End of Fishing Day Boat Retrieval and Processing Procedure Map.

    3. Teams must only proceed into the marked off section of the Holding Bay when directed to by the Pontoon Boat Marshal, as she will direct Teams into the Holding Bay, marked by buoys, when there is room to do so.

    4. Teams are then, and only then, allowed to proceed to the dock in an orderly fashion for inspections. Note: This is a no wake zone!

    5. To save time, we would appreciate if Teams have their Weigh-in sheets filled out and ready to present to the Landing Master on the dock. The Weigh-in Sheets are included in the Competitor Bags given to every Team at the Thursday Rules Meeting.

    6. Your Weigh-in sheet must be signed by the Landing Master, Jill Leduchowski, to be valid when presented to the Weigh-Master under the Event Tent in Atikokan.

    7. When at the dock, a team member should exit the boat and catch a ride with the Shuttle Van to the Competitors' Parking Lot, to retrieve their vehicle.

    8. The other Team Member, in the meantime, will position the boat to be ready to promptly trailer it, when their partner comes back with the trailer.

    9. Once the boat is trailered, immediately proceed to the Oxygen Station located in the parking lot at the top of the landing (see Anderson Dam Landing Map). Please don't strap the boat down until you arrive at the Oxygen Station.

    10. At this station, Sheldon Haw and his Oxygen Crew will check and record the oxygen levels in the live well(s) and charge them with more oxygen for the trip to town and add ice. Please make sure the live well drain hole is plugged for the trip to Atikokan to prevent water leaking out.

    11. A Tournament Marshall will be stationed at the highway and send Teams off to Atikokan in groups of three or more. Once a group leaves, all drivers, must at all times, be in visual contact of each other. E.g., if one vehicle has to stop, all vehicles have to stop. Any Team that goes to Atikokan without the Marshal's approval - will be disqualified.

    12. A Team's catch of bass must remain in their boat until they are called by the Weigh-Master to have them weighed in under the Event Tent in Atikokan.

  28. At least one member of each team shall attend the Registration and Rules meeting the Thursday of the tournament, 7:00 PM at the Atikokan Legion Branch #145. The Legion is located on O'Brien Street across from Atikokan Foodland. If a team is unable to attend, they must meet with ABC officials at the Anderson Dam Landing prior to fishing on Friday.

  29. Team numbers must be affixed to both sides of their boat's motor, so that they are clearly visible at all times.

  30. If an emergency situation arises that requires a Team to break any tournament rule to aid person(s) in distress, and that includes other Atikokan Bass Classic teams; the Atikokan Bass Classic executive will review the situation, and are given the authority to forgive the breaking of a rule to assist people in peril.

  31. Refueling on shore will only be allowed at the Anderson Dam Landing.

  32. No competitor shall step on shore during the fishing hours other than at the Anderson Dam Landing, the Sluice Gate (if the Sluice Gate Marshall is present) or if supervised by a spotter/patrol boat, the exception being in the event of a thunderstorm.

  33. All prizes are TEAM prizes. The cash prize structure is based on one hundred (100) teams.

  34. Any fish deemed dead or not capable of returning to the lake and surviving when released, shall be turned over to tournament executives.

  35. The Weigh Master, at the Rules Meeting, will announce the Official Time, so Competitors can set their watches accordingly.

  36. Spotters are authorized to board any boat at any time. Competitors must raise their fishing lines for inspection if so requested. Spotters are equipped with high power binoculars and digital cameras. Teams will be disqualified on the spot for any rules infraction.

  37. Nothing of ANY nature shall be passed from one boat to another. This includes while waiting to be weighed in.

  38. Only an Atikokan Bass Classic Spotter Boat can bring a Team's catch of bass to the Anderson Dam Landing if that Team's boat breaks down. One Team member must accompany the bass.

  39. There will be no “rafting up” while waiting to be weighed in.

  40. Registration for the following year's Atikokan Bass Classic will go on sale after the Draw to determine the Start Order.

  41. If there is a tie, say, for first place, we will add the First and Second place prizes together ($7,000 + $5,000) and then split that amount ($12,000) so each Team receives ($6,000). Ditto for any tie for any top 20 prize.

  42. The tournament directors retain the right to change and or amend these rules at their discretion without prior notification. The final approved Tournament Rules will be supplied to all competitors at the Thursday night Rules Meeting.

  43. Cheating is fraud and punishable by law. Competitors will be disqualified for any violation of the rules and will not receive a refund of their entry fee.

  44. A Team that wins any cash prize may be subjected to a lie detector test.