Each year the Michigan B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation, Inc. holds a State Championship to select a thirteen-(13) angler team to represent Michigan in the B.A.S.S. Chapter Divisional Championship Tournament. All affiliated Local Chapters may send members to the State Championship provided ALL of the following requirements have been met:

• Each contestant must be a member of the Michigan BASS Chapter Federation, B.A.S.S. and the Federation Nation.
• Local Chapters are allowed to send all of their members to the State Championship as long as they are on the club rosters as of the date set forth by the Board of Directors at the December meeting.
• Each Local Chapter must submit a roster of officers and members of the current year, to the Federation Membership Director by the date designated by the MBCF Board of Directors at the December meeting, to be eligible for the next State Championship. (2008 membership deadline is June 01, 2008)
• The member's name and correct information appears on the roster.
• The Local Chapter is in good standing with Michigan BASS, B.A.S.S. and the Federation.

This year the State Championship is being held at Charlevoix Lake, in Charlevoix Michigan.

Revenues from the State Championship, less expenses, will be used to fund Federation programs. The first priority will be to help fund the Michigan team to the Regional Tournament, with the minimum acceptable amount being sufficient to pay reasonable and customary expenses of each team member.

At year’s end the balance in the State Championship fund will be $00.00.

Entries must be received on an official entry form or the Local Chapter is not eligible.

The Five (5) members of the Local Chapter who will to compete for club award have to be designated on entry form.

Each Local Chapter will be responsible to send equal number of boaters and non-boaters.

Each Local Chapter will be responsible to designate an alternate boater for resolving the pairing problems.

Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament rules committee. The decision of the judges and tournament officials shall be final. Penalties up to disqualification may be assessed for infractions or protests. All rules have "loopholes." It is the intention of the sponsors to provide an honest sportsman-like tournament. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded that the "spirit of the rules" shall prevail in all judgment cases. Note: The tournament rules committee and tournament officials shall be the Tournament Director and The State Championship Tournament Committee. Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament committee. The decision of the tournament officials shall be final in all matters.

Participation in the tournament is by qualification through Michigan B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation, Inc., Local Federation Chapters, persons who are 16 years of age or older. Proof of age to the satisfaction of tournament officials is the responsibility of the prospective competitor. A properly completed official application form MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE TOURNAMENT, ADDRESS POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT OF THE DEADLINE DATE. Entry fees for each person entered are due with the application. There are No refunds of entry fees for the State Championship. Only members who are on active club rosters as of the deadline set forth by the Tournament Director, Tournament Committee and Board of Directors are eligible to participate.

There will be a registration meeting the evening prior to the first day of competition. The time and place will be announced by the tournament committee. There will be a team captains’ meeting at least one hour prior to the registration meeting to finalize the teams. Each competitor must register in person, at the time and place prescribed. Failure to register in person during the prescribed hours shall result in disqualification. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Two contestants will be assigned to each boat. Whenever possible, no contestants from the same Local Chapter, will be paired, nor shall two competitors fish together more than one day. Announcement of pairings for both days will take place at the location announced by tournament officials at the registration meeting. It shall be the responsibility of each partner to appear at a mutually agreed-upon location with sufficient time remaining to check-out at the official check-point and start on time. Tournament officials shall have no responsibility for finding missing partners. It is suggested that a minimum of 30 minutes is adequate for preparation to depart to the check-out point. When two contestants check out at the beginning of the day, they must stay together and within sight of each other and each other’s catch throughout the day until the weigh-in is completed. A contestant must not allow any bass caught by him/her to be counted on the score of any other contestant. Both contestants will be disqualified. None of the above rules shall prohibit a properly designated tournament official from approaching or boarding any competitor’s boat at any time during the "warm-up" period or during competition.

Safe boating must be observed at all times, by all tournament competitors. Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved, chest type life preserver. This life preserver must be strapped, snapped, or zipped securely any time the combustion engine is running. Violation of the rule shall be grounds for immediate disqualification. All boats must be equipped with a KILL SWITCH, which must be attached to the driver when the combustion engine is running.

Fishing boats may be used that are at least 14 feet in length. No barges or similar cumbersome craft will be permitted. Every boat must have all State and Coast Guard required equipment. In addition, it must have a divided or separate live well space to adequately maintain two (2) limits of fish alive. Maximum horsepower for all outboard motorboats used in a federation tournament shall not exceed the horsepower limitations set by the B.I.S./U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached by the manufacturer. Each competitor agrees that the boat and motor used in the tournament may be inspected by factory trained personnel and/or tournament officials if there is any reason to suspect the horsepower is in excess of the rating. Normal maintenance to increase the performance of your engine is allowed. Changing or altering standard factory parts of your engine to increase the horsepower over the factory horsepower rating is forbidden. Falsifying information on entry forms, or altering the horsepower rating numbers on the motor or boat, would be grounds for immediate disqualification from M.B.C.F. tournaments.

Each boat may be given an inspection check by a tournament official prior to the start of each day. A numbered device will be given to each competitor, which shall remain in the boat until turned in at each day’s weigh-in. This device should be displayed upon the request of a tournament official and turned in to the officials at each weigh-in.

There will be an official two- (2) day practice period immediately preceding the first day of the tournament. While on the lake during official practice and during the tournament, a competitor may not have the assistance or advice of a professional guide, state or federal wildlife agency employee, or any other person deemed "professional expert" on these tournament waters by the tournament committee. DURING THE PRACTICE PERIOD, A COMPETITOR MAY NOT FISH WITH, NOR ENTER THE TOURNAMENT WATERS WITH, ANYONE OTHER THAN ANOTHER COMPETITOR OR A MEMBER OF THE COMPETITOR’S OWN HOUSEHOLD WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR/CHAIRMAN. Each competitor agrees to report to the Tournament Officials any violation or infraction of these Tournament Rules. All practice fishing shall cease at 4:00 p.m. the evening prior to the start of the first day of tournament competition. No tournament contestant shall be allowed on the tournament waters, for the purpose of locating fish, once competition has begun. However, this rule shall not be interpreted to prevent contestants from proceeding by water to and from launch or docking facilities during the mornings prior to the start of competition or at the conclusion of each day’s competition.

A full discussion must be held between the two partners prior to a morning departure as to the schedule of boat operations. This schedule must permit each partner equal time to fish from the front of the boat, and to operate the trolling motor, so as to afford each partner the opportunity to fish his/her selected water an equal number of hours. Any contestant who, in the judgment of the officials, operates the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap his partner shall be disqualified. If you feel that you have had a "bad ride", and that you have not had your fair share of fishing time, or location, you must make this protest to the tournament director, in writing, prior to the closing of the scales.

Artificial lures shall be used. Only one casting, spin-casting, or spinning rod may be used at any one time. No trolling will be allowed, however an electric motor may be used for slow maneuvering. The maximum length for any rod will be 8 feet, butt to tip. CB, marine radios, or mobile telephones are allowed for emergency use only during tournament hours. Communications devices shall not be used during the tournament to acquire fishing reports or information.

There shall be only one official point for check-out in the morning, and check-in in the afternoon. They will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting.

Official check-in is at least thirty minutes before tournament starts for boat owner and rider. Tournament starting and check-in times will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting. Contestants must check-in before the posted time. All contestants must start from the designated check-in area. Both competitors must remain in sight of each other’s catch, in order for their catch of the day to be scored in the tournament. Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except within 50 yards of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored, with trolling motor up. An anchored boat may not block a narrow waterway. If you let one competitor’s boat within this 50-yard area, then you must let all competitors do so. No boat (whether they are a competitor or not) may hold or protect a fishing location for any competitor. This will be grounds for disqualification.

OFF-LIMITS water so designated and posted by State, Federal, or announced by Tournament Officials must be honored by all competitors during official practice and competition. Failure to do so will be cause for disqualification.

Largemouth and Smallmouth bass minimum length of 14 inches in the longest straight line, with the mouth closed. A flat, straight rule will be used to determine the 14 inch length.

Each competitor is expected to keep his/her bass alive by use of a proper live well. All fish must be transported to the scales in designated fish weigh-in bags.

For each legal bass weighed in dead, the competitor shall be penalized four ounces of weight (or 0.25 pounds depending on the scales used).

The final team standings shall be determined by the total weight of each competitor’s catch during the tournament. The limit shall be (5) legal fish of the above species and varieties per day, or the Michigan State limit for each individual. Tournament officials may conduct checks for violations. In the event a competitor is found to have more than the above-described limits in possession, the penalty shall be disqualification. Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure 14 inches shall accrue penalties at a rate of one pound for each short bass. The penalty shall be deducted from the total score of the contestant. Any bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, mauled, or otherwise altered, will be weighted only at the discretion of tournament officials. Note: Culling down to a limit of fish must occur prior to the conclusion of fishing time. Culling shall not be done at the dock or weigh-in area.

In the event of a tie for any of the money winners, the monies shall be added and split evenly. Duplicate trophies, where applicable, will also be awarded. Example: first place tie, money from first and second place will be added and equally divided, two first place trophies will be awarded. The next award will be third place. Ties occur when both total weight and big bass weight are the same. In the case of a tie for last position for the Divisional Team determined from the State Championship Tournament, there will be a sudden death fish-off between the tied contestants under the direction of the Tournament Officials. The Tournament Officials will establish special rules for the sudden death fish-off.

State Championship standings will be determined by the pound-ounce weight system.

Safety is the only reason that the official tournament starting time will be delayed. Delays are at the discretion of the Tournament Director and the Tournament Committee.

You and your partner MUST check-in at the end of the fishing day, even if no fish were caught. Failure to check in may require a search for you and result in disqualification from the entire tournament. Emergency conditions will be up to the tournament committee. All contestants will be penalized one (1) pound per minute, up to fifteen (15) minutes, then they will be disqualified for the day only.

Anyone accused of cheating will be brought before the Board of Directors of the Federation within thirty (30) days for a hearing, and if found guilty, will be suspended from M.B.C.F., for life and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The cheating will also be reported to B.A.S.S. which may lead to a life time removal from all B.A.S.S. membership and participation. Should the Board decide it, the accused must submit to a polygraph test. The location, time, and deadline date will be chosen by the Board. The accused must post the $400.00 fee before the exam. If the angler is found to be innocent, the $400.00 fee will be refunded to the angler. If the angler fails the exam their $400.00 is forfeited. The Board may impose any such penalties, as it deems appropriate. Including removal and prosecution. Failure to appear before the board and/or for the polygraph exam will be considered an acceptance of guilt.

XXII. TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS:

None of the above rules shall prohibit a properly designated tournament official from approaching or boarding any contestants boat at any time during the tournament.

The rider’s fee shall be a minimum of $40.00 payable in advance to the boat owner unless otherwise agreed upon by both contestants. Consideration should be given in respect to cost sharing of the operation of the boat during the tournament.

During the official practice and competition days of any M.B.C.F. tournament no contestant may operate a boat unless that contestant has submitted documented proof of a minimum of $100,000 boating liability insurance to the M.B.C.F. Tournament Director. This documented proof must show an effective date and expiration date and must be received by M.B.C.F. on or before the application deadline date.

Each competitor must take the responsibility to report their anticipated absence from fishing at the second day of competition. Failure to report such absence in advance to the Tournament Director or Tournament Committee Chairman will be cause to disqualify the competitor from fishing the State Championship Tournament the following year.

Revision 7-2-08