2012 Official Rules
MAIN OBJECTIVES: Fishing-Fun-Fellowship
ANNUAL MEETING AND MEMBER TOURNAMENTS:
- Annual Meeting – Thur., January 26 at the Smokey Joe's in Nash Texas at 7:00 p.m.
- There are 9 member tournaments in 2012 -- the season runs from Feb – Sept with 2 tournaments in April.
- Year-End Championship is Saturday September 15 and Sunday September 16, 2012.
- Tournaments begin at safe light. Use sound judgment in arriving at ramp in plenty of time to pay entry fees.
TEAM COMPETITION / CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING:
- Teams participating in Championship Qualifying must declare partners prior to take-off of March tournament
- Both members of a team participating in Championship Qualifying must be paid members of RodBenders, no exceptions
- No changes in partners to declared teams for calendar year – no exceptions
- Declared Teams (or one member of the declared team by themself or with a guest) must fish 7 of the 9 monthly tournaments to qualify for the championship. Fishing 7 of 9 tournaments is the only requirement for qualifying for the championship.
- The points system will be the same as last year – a declared team will only accrue points if they fish together as a team with both partners present in a monthly tournament. However, if one of the declared team members cannot fish, the other member can fish the tournament by their self or with a guest or with another member and it shall count toward the minimum 7 tournaments required to qualify for the championship. Alternately, if both declared members wish to fish separate during a monthly tournament with other members or guests -- that shall also count toward the minimum of 7 tournaments required. Fishing by yourself is discouraged – members are encouraged to bring a guest if this situation arises.
- The point system will be used to determine discounted entry fees into the championship.
- 1st place in the points will get free entry into the championship
- 2nd place will only pay 25% of the championship entry fee
- 3rd place will only pay 50% of the championship entry fee
- 4th place will only pay 75% of the championship entry fee
- All other qualifying teams will pay full entry fee to the championship
- Prize money for Championship will be derived from monthly raffles, open tournament, and an entry fee for Classic qualifiers
- Best 7 out of 9 monthly tournaments counts towards final points standings
- Guest are still welcome, but no guest may fish more than twice, after which the membership will vote if that person so desires to join
- Wives and children under 18 may fish as guests an unlimited number of times, but if participating as a team member for classic qualifying, they must join the organization and pay dues in full.
FEES:
- $10 annual dues each member (non-refundable)
- $5 dues per tournament each member (regardless whether fishing or not -- non-refundable)
- Current members paying tournament dues in full in February will have the $10 annual dues waived (pay $45 total for 2012)
- ALL DUES MUST BE PAID IN FULL TO-DATE PRIOR TO FISHING ANY TOURNAMENT
- Member Tournaments -- $50 entry fee per team (includes big bass pot) – 100% payback
TOURNAMENT RULES
- All State and Federal Laws apply at all times
- Club minimum length limit is 12 inches, unless tournament lake minimum length is larger
- Courtesy Board Rule in effect
- Tournament hours: Safe Light to 3:00 p.m.
- 5 fish limit per team
- DEAD FISH WILL BE WEIGHED – THERE WILL BE A 1 LB PENALTY PER DEAD FISH – DO NOT CULL DEAD FISH
- ANY SHORT FISH WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF ENTIRE STRINGER
- No Trailering
- One team member must be on ground by 3:00 p.m.
- All fish are to be returned to lake after weighing, if alive.
- Artificial lures only
- MISCONDUCT – INCLUDING CHRONIC BITCHING/COMPLAINING WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FROM RODBENDERS ORGANIZATION