Henderson County Bass Anglers

By-Laws

Purpose....................................................................................... 1

Membership…………………………………………….......…………………...1

Officers………………………………………………….........…………………...1

Amendments to the By-Laws ……………………………………….....….2

Federation ( FLW & B.A.S.S.) Rulings……………..…………….….……2

Federation Selection Guidelines………………………….………….…...2

Federation Meetings (Area or Tournament)……………..…………..2

Federation By-Laws Requirements……………………………...……….3

Tournament Locations………………………………...……………...……..3

Tournaments…………………………………………......………………....…..3

Regular Season Tournaments………………………………………....…..4

Weigh-In………………………………………………........…………….…...….5

Point System…………………………………………......……………......…...5

Purpose

The intent of this document is to establish the rules in which the Henderson County Bass Anglers will be operated under. Any items not specifically mentioned in this document will default to the Tennessee Bass Federation (TBF) Constitution and By-Laws.

Membership

This club will carry a yearly membership cost of $20 a year. All of this money will go towards any operational costs and The TBF State Tournament fees, and accommodations for our top six (6) anglers. A guest will be fishing for the “Big Fish Pot” only. A $5.00 “Big Fish Pot” fee will be required from all guests before blast off. Any guest can become a member at any time of the year by fishing with an existing member and being voted in by majority ruling at the next club meeting. A guest can “ONLY” fish one (1) time as a guest. A $25 yearly club membership fee will be required for new members. A newly voted member must have a FLW membership in order to be added to the club roster. A FLW Membership could cost a new member $50.

A member must fish at least 1 tournament and attend 1 points meeting during the tournament season to remain a current member in the club. Failure to do so will result in the lost of membership, and will have to be voted in the next year as a new member.

Officers

The club will consist of the following officers:

President – Responsible for conducting pre-tournament meetings, responsible for the announcement of the tournament start time and end time before each blast off, and officially starts the tournament.

Vice President – Responsible for insuring the following, either by him/herself, or by appointing a stand-in; the scales, rule and bags, are at the weigh in, verifies catch to maintain TN minimum bass length, and conducts the weigh in as the official weigh master. All weigh-in participants will have their smallest fish of each species measured.

Secretary – Responsible for maintaining the official club records, and to maintain the clubs good standings with the TFN (i.e. current / updated roster, membership fees up to date (both TFN & BASS)

Treasurer – Responsible for maintaining the club bank account, and announcing our current club holdings during every meeting.

Officers will be newly nominated every year at the last monthly meeting of the club year. This will be accomplished by nomination by another club member, acceptance by the nominated and majority vote by the attending club members after all nominations are complete. Any member can be nominated to an office only after a minimum of two year in the club as a member. New officers will assume responsibility at the first meeting of the year.

Amendments to the By-Laws

Amendments can be made to any by-law during the first or the second annual “Points” club meeting. Once the tournament season has started, the by-laws cannot be changed until the following season. In order to make an amendment to the by-laws, a club member must make a motion and express their change. Another club member must then second it. After that it must be ruled in by a majority vote.

Federation (FLW) Rulings

Votes pertaining to the HCBA Federation status and or functions CANNOT be voted on by a club member holding a current Federation (FLW) office (appointed or elected) unless to break a tie. Federation officers (if any) are to put the concerns and best interests of the HCBA first on their priority, Federation is second. If a club (HCBA) member holds both a HCBA office and a Federation Office, the office of HCBA is their main priority at all functions (HCBA & Federation).

Federation Selection Guidelines

The top six (6) point leaders from the previous tournament season (i.e. 2014) will be the six (6) individuals that will represent the Henderson County Bass Anglers in The TBF State Tournament (i.e. 2015). The tournament entry fee and accommodations plus a pre-determined amount of expense money (gas) will be paid to these 6 qualifying anglers. The top three (3) will go as “boaters” and the second three will go as “non-boaters”. If any of the top six (6) members choose to decline this opportunity, it will be awarded to the 7th place member and so on. Due to the Tennessee Federation allowing an unlimited number of entries per club, any current HCBA/TBF member in good standing may option to enter the State Team at their own cost as long as there is a Boater/Non Boater combination. The top six (6) point leaders from the previous tournament season (i.e. 2014) must participate in the preparation and/or running of Coca Cola Classic tournament (i.e. 2015). Failure to do so, could (via membership vote) result in the loosing of a top six (6) position for that year’s TBF State Tournament and said benefits. Beech Lake Thursday Night Tournament participation will be taken into consideration.

All Federation “State” qualifiers will represent the club (HCBA) at the Pre-Tournament State meeting, and weigh-in. All participants are asked to wear the club sanctioned tournament jersey in order to represent the Henderson County Bass Anglers and uphold HCBA’s responsibility to our sponsors.

Federation Meetings (Area or Tournament)

The highest ranking officer attending will be the spokesperson for the club. If no club officer qualified for the Federation tournament, the first boater will be the spokesperson for the club. If the highest ranking officer attending is also a Federation officer, see Federation Ruling.

Federation By-Law Requirements

Under FLW requirements, we HCBA will maintain 100% FLW Membership.
Under FLW requirements, we HCBA will submit a complete membership roster to FLW annually.
Under FLW requirements, we HCBA will belong and support the Tennessee Bass Federation. (TBF)
Under FLW requirements, all members must be in good standing with TBF.

Tournament Locations

All tournament locations, including boat ramp will be decided by the “Tournament Selection Committee.” The tournament selection committee is the top three (3) club finishers and President of the previous tournament season. These members shall take in consideration when certain lakes are the most productive and avoid launching at sites being used by other big tournament circuits on the same date. The tournament selection committee is responsible for completing the tournament schedule for publication at the first monthly meeting of the club year (January meeting), before the club tournaments start. The tournament selection committee has the ability to make any necessary changes, at any time, to an upcoming tournament if unforeseen conditions occur (i.e. dangerous weather conditions, dangerous ramp conditions, and dangerous water conditions ONLY).

Tournaments

There will be at least 11 tournaments per year. The length for the day tournaments will be no less than 9 hours and no longer than 12 hours. On the scheduled day (Sunday/Tuesday etc) before the tournament, a pre-tournament meeting will be held. The cost to enter a club tournament is $20.00, divided into $10.00 for the club fund, $3.00 for big bass, and $7.00 to the tournament winner. During “Team” tournaments, all non-boaters will be paired with boaters and all the remaining boaters will be paired up. The boat that the team chooses to fish from will be left up to them. No member (Boater or Non-boater) will fish with the same partner twice until all member combinations have been exhausted this includes (Team, back seat request or any other condition that allows two members to fish out of the same boat). If an odd number of participants, the odd man out has the choice to fish by himself or find a guest (SEE MEMEBERSHIP). During “Single” tournaments, a “Non-boater” (if any) can be “drawn out” with a boater or has the option to ask a fellow boater for the back deck position. All tournament entry fees must be paid by the end of the pre-tournament scheduled meeting. Special circumstances can be made after the draw date to get into the upcoming tournament. A member in good standing can contact a minimum of 2 club officers (i.e. President/Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer) and be eligible for the tournament. Under these circumstances only, the tournament fee must be paid before tournament blast off and that member is responsible for his own partner or fish alone.

Regular Season Tournament Rules:

Each participant will fish and weigh in their best five (5) fish separately when fishing individual tournaments. Culling begins with the 6th fish.

All participants must wear lifejackets at blast-off.

All participants must stay with-in 50 yards of blast-off site before blast-off.

There will be a 1 pound penalty for every minute late up to fifteen (15) minutes. Fifteen (15) minutes or more – Disqualified.

You must be in clear sight of the boat ramp to be deemed not late.

You must use a weigh-in bag or plastic bag (with water) to bring your fish to the scales. This will help us return the fish back alive.

Each participant weighing in will have their shortest fish measure of each species (Largemouth, Smallmouth & Spot). They will be measured by the Vice President on the clubs official measuring board.

Bring a “Short Fish” to the scales – Lose short fish plus a 2 pound penalty

Over the limit (more than 5 fish) at the scales – Culling of biggest fish.

Weigh-In

Weigh-in will be conducted by the Vice President. If the Vice President is not available (not fishing), then the next ranking officer will conduct the weigh-in or the Vice President will have the option to appoint a 2+ year member to take his place. Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, Kentucky/ Spotted Bass shall be weighed in. All bass shall meet the minimum length required by the state of Tennessee for Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass and 12” Spotted Bass for that particular tournament location. All complaints or rule violations must be submitted to the acting club officers no later than fifteen (15) minutes after scales are closed.

Point System

The following point system will be used to determine ranking for Federation tournament and “Angler of the Year” within the club.

5 Points – Meeting (You receive 5 points per scheduled meeting/activity attended.) You will be entitled to 5 points if you cannot attend the meeting and you are working. You must contact an officer at least one (1) hour prior to the meeting before points can be awarded for working if not on a normal schedule. Anything else will result in a meeting vote.

2 Points – Fishing (You receive 2 points for fishing.)

2 Points – Big Bass (You receive 2 points for catching the heaviest bass during the tournament. If caught during a “Team” tournament, only the member that caught the heaviest bass will be entitled to the 2 points.)

2 Points – 5 lb+ Bass (You receive 2 points for every bass in your weigh-in that is 5 lbs or more for the max possible additional 10 points for a limit of bass)

2 Points – Limit Bonus (You receive 2 points for a limit of bass brought to the scales)

20 Points – 1st Place

18 Points – 2nd Place

16 Points – 3rd Place

14 Points – 4th Place

12 Points – 5th Place

10 Points – 6th Place

8 Points – 7th Place

6 Points – 8th Place

4 Points – 9th Place

2 Points – 10th Place

0 Points – 11th thru

The maximum amount of points possible during a tournament segment is 41 points. 5 points for attending the meeting, 2 points for fishing, , 20 points for first place, 2 points for the heaviest bass during the tournament, 10 points for a limit of 5 pound bass or bigger during a tournament (all fish are 5 pounds or bigger), and 2 points for a limit of fish brought to the scales. The top six (6) anglers will be decided by all twelve (12) tournament segments. (2 drops) “Total weight” will be used as a “Tie Breaker”. If still not settled, then “Heaviest single tournament weight” will be the deciding factor.