Clemons Boats Lake Erie Bass Challenge
Revised February 2, 2022

These rules apply to all the Clemons Boats Lake Erie Bass Challenge (hereinafter referred to as Bass Challenge) Tournament Events.

Understanding these rules is the responsibility of all Bass Challenge members. 

Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Director(s).

Any violation or protest must be made in writing and turned in to the Tournament Director(s) prior to the closing of the scales.

 

Polygraph: By signing the official entry form contestants agree to submit to a polygraph/voice test examination should he/she be accused of any rule violation. Bass

Challenge may also conduct random polygraph/voice test examination throughout the year. Any person convicted of violating tournament rules or failing to successfully pass a polygraph/voice test in this or any other tournament will not be allowed membership or entry into any Bass Challenge event. The administration and interpretation of the polygraph/voice test shall be used (or not used) at the discretion of the tournament director. Without limiting the foregoing, the Bass Challenge shall have sole discretion to select the location, at which such polygraph/voice test shall be administered, the individual who administers such polygraph/voice test, and the scope of the questions that may be asked during such test. Failure to take and pass the polygraph/voice test examination, if required, will result in immediate disqualification without recourse. In the event of a rule violation the Tournament Director(s) may disqualify, hold prize money, trophies, etc.

a. Bass Challenge will consist of a minimum of (5) Qualifier Tournaments. Prize money and plaques will be awarded at each event.

b. Teams must fish a minimum of (3) Qualifier Tournaments to be eligible into the Championship. Teams may buy-in (1) tournament.

c. Entry fee into individual Qualifier Tournament will be $300.00 and Championship Tournament will be $400.00 per Team. All entries must be paid by 5pm the day BEFORE the actual tournament. No tournament day sign ups allowed. Big bass pot will be $20 cash – paid at the ramp at sign in.

 

Eligibility of Participants

a. All tournaments will be opens.
Competitors under the age of 18 fishing without a parent or adult must have a waiver and parental consent form signed before competing.

b. Teams can be comprised of single angler or two persons.

c. During competition days, no competitor shall operate a boat unless the competitor has documented proof of at least $300,000 per occurrence boating liability. Such documented proof must be in the boat at all times and random checks can be done at each event. Random checks will be chosen by assigned boat numbers at each event and these numbers will be changed for each event.

Practice and Competition

a. All Bass Challenge tournament waters will be off-limits beginning at 12:01am the day of event.

b. During competition days a competitor may only accept help from another competitor within the event.

c. During the official competition days a competitor may use a CB Radio, a VHF Marine band radio, or cell phone only in a case of emergencies. Using such devices to help catch or locate fish is prohibited.

d. The Tournament Director(s) or Appointed official(s) have the right to enter any registered boat for inspection as long as the owner occupies the boat. Permission should be requested.

Tournament Entry and Registering

a. Teams must use the online payment system or mail in payment – NO DAY OF PAYMENTS www.lakeeriebasschallenge will have a payment link. All mailed entries must be received no later than 48 hours prior to the tournament day.

b. Teams may register for one event at a time or the entire season.

c. Check ins will begin at 5:00am the morning of tournament to check in and pay for big bass pot

d. Starting boat position will be drawn the night prior by random number generator

Boater Safety

a. Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times. Competitors must wear a US Coast Guard approved chest type vest at all times when the combustible engine is operated above idle speed. This vest must be zipped, snapped or strapped on securely. The boat driver must have the kill switch attached anytime the engine is
operated above idle speed.

b. Tournament officials have the right to cancel, delay or shorten competition at any time. Tournament waters may also be restricted at anytime in case of bad weather. IN CASE OF A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY, ANGLERS WILL BE LOCKED INTO THE SANDUSKY BAY OR HARBOR OF TOURNAMENT LAUNCH.

c. All state regulations and requirements will be observed at all times. In the case of any special regulations, the Tournament Director will post or announce any such
regulations.

Sportsmanship

a. Competitors in any Bass Challenge event are expected to use a high standard of sportsmanship at all times.

b. Any infraction of such sportsmanship may be grounds for disqualification

c. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over-the-counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the practice or during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future Bass Challenge tournaments. No alcoholic beverages, other stimulants or depressants, prescription or otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during official practice or competition days, or when in the weigh-in area.

d. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters and courtesy, shall be reason for disqualification.

Tackle and Equipment

a. Only artificial or biodegradable baits are to be used during competition days. No live bait or prepared baits are allowed with the exception of bottled pork.

b. All rods must have a maximum length of 8 feet.

c. Competitors may only use one rod at a time. Other lines that may have an opportunity to catch a fish must be out of the water before another cast is made.

Horsepower Regulations

a. The maximum horsepower allowed in all Bass Challenge events will not exceed 300 hp.

b. Horsepower cannot exceed the US Coast Guard regulations or the manufacture rating plate.

c. Upon registration, each angler agrees to an inspection of their outboard if requested by the tournament staff.

Boat and Motor

a. During competition days, all boats must have an operable kill switch with a lanyard not exceeding 2 feet in length.

b. Boats less than 12 feet in length are prohibited.

c. Additional gas tanks other than the ones installed by the manufacture are prohibited.

d. Tiller steering motors are permitted with functional kill switch.

e. All boats must have an operating livewell that will be inspected prior to the start of each tournament. A ribbon will be attached to your boat and must remain attached throughout.

f. All boats will have operable navigation lights that will be inspected prior to the start of each tournament.

Fishing Locations

a. Tournament waters will be designated by the Tournament Director(s) and will be announced or posted prior to each event. All competitors must abide by all lake regulations at all times. The Tournament Director(s) has the right to make off limit areas for the purpose of live –release for (2) two-day events. Only waters accessible to the public are open. An angler may not leave their boat to access a fishing area.

Competitors Must Remain in the Boat

a. A competitor may not leave their boat to land a fish or to help access an area of the lake. An angler may however leave their boat to help retreat from an area.

b. In case of an emergency situation, competitors should call 911 first then notifies the Tournament Director(s) or other Tournament Official(s).

c. In case of a rescue situation, the Tournament Director(s) must be contacted, and then an angler may ask for assistance from another competitor to help with returning to the weigh-in area.

d. The Bass Challenge will not ask a competitor to strand their boat. One competitor can stay with the vessel while the other returns to the weigh-in area. In the case of transporting the days catch, the Tournament Director(s) must previously verify the number of fish for each competitor and the catch must be tagged for separation
purposes.

e. In the case that an angler receives permission from the Tournament Director(s) to leave their boat, their partner must cease fishing until their return.

f. Competitors are allowed to leave the boat to seek safe shelter in bad weather where danger is imminent.

Tournament Scoring

a. Pounds and ounces will determine all tournament winners.

b. Catch will be recorded by a (5) five fish limit with the lake size regulation in effect (14 inches). Presque Isle Bay will be a (4) four fish limit with lake size regulation in effect (15 inches). Trophy Division will be a (1) one fish per angler (2) per team fish limit with season lake size regulation in effect (18″ inches). All fish will be measured with the mouth closed, tail fanned or pinched to meet official length. Any bass that is presented to the official bump board that does not meet the lake requirement will be issued a (1) one-pound penalty.

c. Teams possessing more than the tournament limit must immediately upon discovery of the infraction reduce their catch to the tournament limit by releasing live bass. Teams possessing more than the tournament limit will be penalized 2 pounds  for each bass over the limit or largest bass witch ever is greater.

d. Smallmouth, spotted, and largemouth bass will be allowed.

e. No culling of a dead fish.

f. There will be an 1 pound penalty for a dead fish.

g. Puncture type culling systems are strictly prohibited.

Late Penalty

a. Competitors that are not at the official checkpoint designated by the Tournament Director(s) at the described time will be penalized (1) one pound per minute. A competitor’s catch, for that day only, will be disqualified after 15 minutes.

Tie Breakers

a. The largest number of fish weighed in by a competitor will break all ties. The second tie will be broken by the largest number of live fish weighed in by each competitor at that event. The largest fish weighed in by a competitor at that event will break the third tiebreaker. In the instance that neither competitor had weighed a fish for big bass, the forth tiebreaker will be used automatically.

b. In case of a forth tiebreaker, that place and the preceding place will be combined and split between the competitors. A coin toss will be used to decide who is awarded the plaque.

Payouts

a. 95% will be paid at each Qualifier Tournament

b. 5% will be held for Championship

c. Championship will be 100% Payout+ any leftover sponsor money after expenses are paid

d. (5) positions will be paid at each tournament 25 boats or more. (1st Place – 50%) (2nd Place – 20%) (3rd Place – 15%) (4th Place – 10%) (5th Place – 5%) Payout will be adjusted for a smaller field. Plaques to the top 5.

e. Points system used will be 100 points per event for 1st and falling one point per place after. 2nd 99, 3rd 98, so on and so forth. Points will accumulate through the 5 open events and the top 3 will be awarded cash and a plaque at the championship. Running total and results to be post no later than 48 hours post tournament.