1. RULES AND REGULATIONS: All contestants must follow the guidelines listed on this entry. It is each contestant’s responsibility to read and understand the rules. Entrants can be disqualified from prize money, points and entry fees if there is failure to comply with the rules. The Club president’s decision will be final in all matters. If the president is not present, the next in command will make the final decision.
2. PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY: In order to compete in the Ennis Bass Club, you must be a paid member of the Club. Dues are $20.00 per year, and are required to be paid before the first points tournament of the year. New members must pay entry fees prior to fishing a tournament. A guest may fish with a current paid member of the Club one time each year. In order to fish another tournament within the same year, said guest must pay their dues to join the Club, even if they are fishing with a different member.
3. LAUNCHING AND TRAILERING: Contestants may launch from any public or private boat ramp on the tournament lake in which they have legal access. However, you must check in at the assigned ramp and cannot leave until blast-off time.
4. TACKLE AND TROLLING: Only one rod may be used at one time. Trolling with the big motor is prohibited. No live bait may be used. Pork trailers will be allowed.
5. BOATS, MOTORS AND SAFETY: Any boat may be used if it meets all state and local requirements, including BIA horsepower ratings. All boats must have an adequate, functioning live-well system with aeration. Coast Guard approved life vests must be worn while the boat is on plane. The driver must have a working kill switch attached while the boat is on plane. Note: If mechanical failure occurs, you may transport your catch to the weigh-in site in another boat if needed.
6. CLUB LIABILITY: The Ennis Bass Club and it’s officers will not be liable for any accident or event, whether by air, land or water. It is the sole responsibility of the member and/or contestant-guest to be accountable for their actions. It is the decision of the member/contestant/guest to travel and/or fish regardless of weather conditions. The Ennis Bass Club does not mandate that anyone travel to or fish a tournament if the weather is inclement.
7. SPORTSMANSHIP: No fishing is allowed outside of a contestants boat or within 50 feet of another contestant’s boat that is tied up or anchored {trolling motor in the stored position} unless permission is granted. Platforms and ladders are prohibited while fishing the tournament. “Hole holding” is not allowed. Anyone displaying poor sportsmanship can be disqualified. The officers of the Club reserve the right to suspend or ban anyone from fishing future events if they are observed exhibiting poor sportsmanship during it’s events.
8. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL: No alcohol or drugs may be consumed while fishing a Club tournament.
9. AGE: There is no age limit. However, anyone under the age of 18 must be paired with someone of legal age. The Club will not be liable for any member regardless of age.
10. PRACTICE FISHING AND OFF LIMITS: Guides may not be hired, fished with, or followed during the seven days preceding the tournament. No fishing on the tournament lake will be allowed after 12:00am on the day of the tournament.
11. FISH LENGTHS AND LIMITS: The Club will observe the legal limit assigned to each lake fished. However, All fish wieghed must be a minimum of 14 inches (Slot Lakes are the ONLY exception). Each team will be allowed to weigh in 5 fish. They will be allowed to have 6 fish in possession during the course of the tournament day, but must release one prior to weigh in. Teams that consist of only one person may only have 5 fish in possession at any given time. Only Largemouth, Spotted Bass{Kentucky Bass}, Smallmouth Bass, and Guadalupe Bass may be weighed in.
12. DEAD FISH: Dead fish may be weighed in, but they will be penalized ¼ pound per dead fish.
13. SHORT FISH: Anyone attempting to weigh in a short fish will be penalized ¼ pound per fish and the fish will not be weighed.
14. TEAMS: The team may consist of a male/male, female/female, male/female, as long as those participants are members of the Club. Each team is allowed two ‘solo’ events per year. Note: In the event that a member fishes ‘solo’, he or she must inform one of the Club officers that he or she is fishing alone and must pay both entry fees in order for both members to receive points for the tournaments.
15. FISHING HOURS AND LAUNCH PROCEDURES: These hours will be determined prior to each event. Each member will be notified either through the Club newsletter or by attending Club meetings. It is recommended that meetings are attended monthly to ensure that everyone is clear on times, launch sites, etc..
16. WEIGH IN: This will be determined from event to event. Club officers reserve the right to conduct weigh in as they see fit.
17. TIES: Ties will split the prizes of that place and the next.
18. SCORING: Scoring will be based on a point system. First place 50, second place 49, and so on. In the event a team does not weigh in a fish, they will be awarded 5 participation points. Big bass will award 2 points and second big bass will be awarded 1 point. If the event is two days, big bass points will be awarded as listed above for each day.
19. BIG BASS POT: Big bass will pay 60%, and second will pay 40%. The pot is created by each member paying an entry fee of $35.00, from that, $5.00 is applied to the big bass pot and $5.00 is applied to the Club Championship pot.
20. CONCURRENT EVENTS: The Club has no objection to any member fishing another event as long as the rules of the Club are upheld and there is no conflict of interest. However, you must notify a Club officer prior to the event. You must have a certified weigh slip {or your actual fish} in order to weigh in at a Club tournament.
21. DISPUTES: Any member/team that deems it necessary to file a protest, for whatever reason, has fifteen minutes from the time the last team has weighed in to do so. This must be done in writing. Please be advised, if it is determined that a protest was filed frivolously, disciplinary action may be taken against the responsible party.
22. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP: The number of teams that qualify for the Club Championship will be determined by taking the average number of participants at each points tournaments, then dividing that number in half. These participants will qualify for the Club Championship and will not have to pay an entry fee. However, any member that participates in at least six points tounaments within the same year will be allowed to fish the Club Championship, but will be required to pay an entry fee of $50.00 per person.

THESE RULES WERE VOTED ON AND APPROVED AT THE ENNIS BASS CLUB MEETING ON 1-14-03.