WON Bass Online - Miller High Life Tour

Official tournament rules for WON BASS events, as follow, will govern Pro Circuit events. "Lake Specific" revisions, should any be necessary, will be announced at the mandatory rules/partner-pairing meeting prior to the first day of competition. WON BASS reserves the right to refuse entry.

1. PARTICIPATION & ELIGIBILITY - There are no restrictions as to race, gender, creed or color. A participant in a WON BASS Pro Circuit, AAA and Team Tournament program must be a member of WON BASS in good standing. Those under the age of 18 entered must have written consent and release of liability from parent or guardian, the minimum age on the Pro Circuit is 16 years of age, those under the age of 18 in team events must be fishing with parent or legal guardian. NOTE: There are only two classifications in Pro Circuit events - Pro and AAA.

2. COOPERATION WITH MEDIA / PROMOTION - Within the framework of reasonable requests, all contestants in WON BASS events will cooperate with media representatives covering said event. Likewise, participation in the tournament grants WON BASS the use of any pictures of contestants, accounts, or interviews with contestants it gathers for the lawful promotion of WON BASS and its tournament operations.

3. SPORTSMANSHIP - The laws of good judgment and sportsmanship as well as courtesy toward others on and off the water will be adhered to at all times. Specifically the use of obscene language or gestures is strictly forbidden at any time prior to, during, or after the event in the area of the host marina, lodging or tournament headquarters.

4. TOURNAMENT PROTECTION RULE - Any act or inflammatory statement by any contestant that, in the opinion of the Tournament Authority, is detrimental to the operation of the tournament, damaging to organized bass fishing, to WON BASS, or any of its sponsors, or to permitting agencies or their officers (such as rangers, fishery biologists, etc.), during the practice round or tournament, may result in temporary or permanent suspension from all future WON BASS tournaments. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH ENTRANT, to know these rules. A rules violator compromises the entire field, not just his partner for the day.

5. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES/NARCOTICS - Any contestant under the influence of, or in possession of alcohol, barbiturates, marijuana or any other controlled substance in his/her boat will result in the immediate disqualification of the offending party.

6. EXPENSES - AAA's do not choose fishing locations nor do they operate the trolling motor except with the approval of the Pro contestant and are not required to share expenses for the day's fishing. However, the AAA contestant is encouraged to contribute some financial assistance to the Pro towards the day's expenses.

7. SAFETY - Each boat entered in a tournament must be equipped with a working ignition "kill" switch, which must be attached to the driver whenever the outboard motor is running. Likewise, any time the outboard motor is in operation during the official practice period or during the prescribed tournament hours, the driver and all passengers must wear and secure their Coast Guard approved (type III PFD) life jackets. SOSpender types that are approved are allowed. No waist belt type life preservers will be allowed. Unsafe or reckless driving and excessive speed will not be tolerated. Boat drivers who endanger their passengers and/or other boats on the water face the possibility of expulsion from the tournament trail.

8. INSURANCE & LIABILITY - It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to carry and have proof of adequate public liability insurance covering them and passengers. All contestants are required to sign a waiver absolving the tournament sponsors, co-sponsors and their employees from any responsibility for any damage or personal injury sustained as a result of their participation in the tournament or related activities. Contestants are required to have in their possession and provide proof of insurance on demand by the Tournament Director.

9. LICENSES - Each contestant must have in possession a valid and current fishing license with appropriate stamps governing the fishable waters of the event. Penalty for such an offense is disqualification of the day's catch.

10. LAKE CLOSURES / AERIAL SCOUTING - There are no off-limit period for Pro and Team tournaments. (See posted schedules for specific closed periods or for closed periods preceding U.S. Open, Western Classic, and Tri-State Championships). At no time during a thirty day prior to a tournament will contestants be permitted to "fly the lake" for the sake of scouting the waters. No angler or representative, relative, etc., shall be on the lake in the hours after the day's weigh-in and before the start of the next day's activities (except to return directly to launching site for boat retrieval, or other specified action as authorized by the Tournament Authority).

11. SOLICITING INFORMATION - No contestant may solicit or receive information from any non-contestant from the beginning of the "official practice days" through the final round of the tournament. Members of the contestant's immediate family and regular fishing partners are prohibited from being on the water during the closed period and tournament days. Should the Tournament Authority determine that such an occurrence took place; the contestant will be required to withdraw from the tournament.

12. PRACTICE / PRE-FISHING - A practice period of two days will exist before each Pro Circuit tournament, practice hours are officially from sunrise until dark on Thursday, and from sunrise until check in on Friday. All contestants must check in between 6 and 8 p.m. Thursday evening or between 3 and 5 p.m. on Friday (other tournaments may have alternate prescribed check-in periods). No practice fishing will be allowed once the tournament has commenced. No scuba diving or snorkeling by contestants will be permitted for 30 days prior to or on the practice rounds or on any competition day. Underwater viewing systems will be allowed during all practice periods. They will NOT be allowed in the boats for usage during tournament hours. "A contestant may not pre-fish with anyone not in the tournament other than his immediate family during the official practice rounds. Members of the media or trade would be an exception, but only with advance permission of the Tournament Authority.

12a. TEAM PRACTICE / PRE_FISHING - There will be no off-limits period for team tournaments.

13. FISH TRANSPORT - Transporting live fish taken in one area and releasing them in another area for the purpose of establishing a population in the new area during the practice period, during the tournament, or thirty days prior to the tournament is strictly prohibited and grounds for disqualification.

14. FISHABLE WATERS / OFF LIMITS - Fishable waters in WON BASS tournaments include any water reachable by boat which is open to all contestants and which is not otherwise restricted by local, state or federal regulations. All fishing and landing of fish must be done from the boat. A contestant may not leave the boat to untangle a fishing line or lure from any structure (trees, rocks, etc.) or part of the boat. No contestants are permitted to leave their boat in an effort to propel or float their boat to or from fishing waters they could not otherwise reach; however, the use of push poles is permitted. The host marina including the area inside the "no wake" buoys is always off limits to fishing. Other marinas or areas may also be designated off-limits due to specific lake rules or considerations.

15. EQUIPMENT / TACKLE / TECHNIQUE RESTRICTIONS - Each Pro tournament entered boat must be a minimum of 16' and equipped with a minimum eighty (80) horsepower outboard (minimum horsepower for Team Tournaments is 10 horsepower). Engines may not exceed the BIA horsepower rating for the boat, and no outboard engines over 250 horsepower will be permitted. Dual engines are prohibited. "Stick" steering is not permitted. Each boat must be equipped with a functioning, aerated livewell. Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait, cut, or prepared baits other than pork rind or animal hide may be used. Fish "attractants or scents" may be utilized. All fishing must be accomplished with one rod and reel combination used at one time, meaning each cast must be made and the line retrieved before another cast may be made. A contestant may have an unlimited number of reels and rods rigged and ready to fish, but no rod shall exceed eight (8) feet in length. Trolling (the act of manipulating the lure solely by maneuvering the boat under any type of power) is prohibited. The intentional snagging of fish is strictly prohibited. Landing nets are permitted in WON BASS events.

16. ENCROACHMENT - A "25 yard rule" is in effect at all times during competition. No contestant's boat may move within 25 yards of another contestant's boat at any time for the purpose of fishing. A boat moving from one area to another may not "tie up," "claim," or "protect" more than a single dock or location at one time regardless of the distance involved (no one can "tie up" even a single dock for more than 25 yards distance from their boat).

17. SIZE LIMITS/BAG LIMITS - Qualifying fish (largemouth, smallmouth or spotted black bass) must be a minimum of 13 inches in length, measured laying flat with the mouth open on a flat board. The daily tournament limit will be five (5) bass per boat. Never shall there be more than a legal fish and game limit in a tournament boat. Tournament boats inside the check-in area must not possess more than the tournament limit, anglers in violation will be disqualified for that day. Should local regulations specify a different method of measurement, a different minimum length, or a different bag limit than the WON BASS tour standard, the more stringent standard will be utilized in the tournament. Short fish will be assessed a one pound penalty plus loss of the short fish.

18. SIGHT FISHING - This rule concerns "sight or bedding" bass and is in effect at any time either of these conditions exist, and is designed to eliminate illegal snagging of bass. A sight or bedding fish is defined as one that can be seen and watched as it approaches the lure. Fish being caught under these conditions must be caught by hook and line and by the fish ingesting the lure. Any bass caught that is either a "sight" or "bed" fish must be caught "hook in mouth with the hook point entering from the inside of the mouth" - and must be verified as a legal catch by the angler's in-boat partner. Any "sight" or "bed" fish caught by snagging or with hook starting from outside the mouth shall be deemed an illegally caught fish and must be released. This same fish may be caught again by the legal method - with the hook starting from inside the mouth. Any angler catching a fish under these conditions and not verifying the hook location with the other person in the boat may be disqualified from the tournament.

19. CULLING (replacing a live caught bass with a larger live caught bass) is permitted during the fishing day. At no time during tournament hours may contestants continue to fish while possessing more than the legal fish and game limit. Both anglers must stop fishing until no more than a legal fish and game limit is in the boat. No measuring, releasing, or culling of any bass is permitted by contestants inside the designated host marina boundaries at any time.

20. WEIGH-IN - When presenting fish to be measured, the contestant cannot touch the fish while the official takes the measurement. Once fish are presented to the Weighmaster, they immediately become the "official catch" of the contestant and become the possession of the Weighmaster to measure, weigh, and record as such.

21. DEAD FISH PENALTY - It is the goal of WON BASS to release alive all tournament-caught bass following the weigh-in. Contestants, therefore, are required to do all in their power to preserve their daily catch. Deliberate rough or careless handling of fish while culling is grounds for disqualification. The amount of .20 (20/100) of one pound will be subtracted, as a penalty for each bass not presented "alive" - as adjudged by the Weighmaster.

22. BREAKDOWNS / EMERGENCIES - Anglers are not permitted to leave their boat or touch another boat, with the exception of an emergency or major equipment failure. In the case of a breakdown on the water, the fishing partners may accept assistance in the form of a tow from or a return ride with any other boat on the waters. While in tow or riding, those contestants accepting assistance are not permitted to continue fishing. However, other contestants, if rendering assistance, may continue fishing. Should one of the contestants decide to stay with the troubled craft, he may send his catch with his partner to the Weighmaster. However, the fisherman choosing to remain behind may not continue to fish. Anglers with fish to be taken to the weigh-in may only be transported via another tournament contestant's boat or a method approve by the Tournament authority.

23. CELLULAR TELEPHONES or other communication devices are allowed in boats as an emergency tool only; boat-to-boat communication is prohibited except for emergency purposes.

24. "BACON SAVER" - AAA entrants may at registration declare his/her boat available in case an extra boat is needed for use by a Pro in the tournament. If needed due to an equipment failure, the AAA Bacon Saver will be paired with the Pro whose boat is inoperative. The Pro will pay the AAA $100 plus gas and oil expenses for the day for the use of the boat. The AAA drives the boat, at the direction of the Pro, but Pro may operate the trolling motor. The Pro maintains his right to select the waters fished. Should no "Bacon Saver" boat be available, both the Pro and his/her regularly drawn AAA partner will be retired from the tournament, but will keep their "official" checked weight, if any.

25. LATE RULE - There is no excuse for being late to the weigh-in. Any contestant's (and respective partner's) catch returning to the check-in point after the official tournament deadline will be disqualified.

26. CITATIONS - A contestant cited by officers for violation of State or Federal fishing or boating regulations jeopardizes his daily catch and may be subject to disqualification by the Tournament Authority.

27. STANDINGS / TIES - Final standings in any event will be determined by the heaviest cumulative weight for the prescribed tournament period. The cumulative total will reflect actual weight of fish caught, less assessed penalties, if any. Pro and AAA will score the total weight of each daily boat catch. Their two-day scores will be added, placing Pros and AAA's in their own division. In the case of a tie, prize money and points will be awarded in the following manner: For cash awards, the designated moneys for the given tied positions will be added together and split among those tied for a given place. (Example: A two-way tie for fifth place would split the cash awards designated for both 5th and 6th places and each would receive 5th place points).

28. LIE DETECTOR TESTING - All contestants, by virtue of their entry into the WON BASS event, are subject to testing by lie detection apparatus by authority of the Tournament Director.

29. PROTESTS - Protests regarding violation of these rules must be declared immediately to the Tournament Director and then submitted in writing within 30 minutes of the end of weigh-in. The Tournament Authority will hear protests and the decision of the Director will be final. TO AVOID PROTESTS, if you suspect a possible infraction is about to take place - ALERT THE WOULD-BE OFFENDER and check the rules!

30. GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCE POLICY - Any AAA entering the tournament with a Pro contestant will receive guaranteed status in the tournament. To ensure guaranteed status, the AAA entry form and appropriate entry fees must accompany those of the Pro, and be received in our office before the tournament entry deadline. In any other situation, Pro entries will be matched against available in-house AAA entries. Such matching of entries is based on a first-come; first-served basis by date entry is received in our office. FAX orders accepted only with credit card payment. FAX (949) 366-0804. Should the Pro's AAA not show up for the tournament, the Pro loses his/her guaranteed status.

31. TOURNAMENT CHECK-IN - All pro tour contestants are required to check-in with the tournament registration staff between the hours of 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, or from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Those failing to check-in prior to 5:00 will be assessed penalties as directed by the Tournament Director. Tournaments on days other than Saturday and Sunday will have check-in set by office. Team tournaments shall have check in times set by the tournament director.

32. RULES / PARTNER PAIRING MEETING - All contestants, unless excused by the tournament authority, are required to attend the tournament Rules and Partner Pairing meeting on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. Unauthorized absence will result in weight or start penalties as directed by the tournament authority. Tournaments on days other than Saturday and Sunday will have meeting set by office.

33. PARTNER "NO SHOW" RULE - After the pairing of partners is completed, it is the responsibility of the Pro to insure his AAA partner is available for the morning start. Should the AAA partner not show for the start, the Pro may be required to wait until the last flight has departed. The tournament authority (if possible) will make an effort to find a replacement, but is under no obligation to secure a replacement or locate the missing partner. However, the Tournament Director may, at his discretion, allow the Pro to fish solo. Further, if a no-show occurs on the second day of the event to the tournament leader, he will not be allowed to go solo under any circumstances. Should the Pro boater fail to show for the start, the AAA partner will have to withdraw from the day's fishing.

34. AWARDS CEREMONIES ATTENDANCE - While it is generally recognized that attendance at presentation of awards ceremonies is an act of respect for others, it is not always possible for all to attend. Those not attending the awards ceremonies will forfeit any claim to trophies or merchandise earned in competition. The Tournament Authority will mail the purse share. Another party may not pick up purse checks.

35. DEPOSITS / REFUNDS - A $100 Pro or $50 AAA deposit will hold a spot in any Pro Circuit tournament up to the cutoff date prior to the contest when the balance of fees is due. There is no provision for refunding tournament entry fees or deposits; however, entry fees or deposits may be transferred to another like event or to another contestant's entry application if notification is received at WON BASS headquarters prior to the event, ONE TIME ONLY. A $25 fee will apply to all cancellations. A $20 fee will be charged on all returned checks. Persons that have had returned checks may enter only with certified funds. No entries shall be accepted after official practice has started for any tournament.

36. DECISIONS of the Director and/or Tournament Director shall be final.

WON BASS TOURNAMENT ETHICS
I. Passing of Information during the Tournament: It has long been understood that the AAA is not to pass along information to his second day partner regarding the techniques used or waters fished by his first day partner. Further, it is a violation of fair play and professional ethics for a Pro to interview or interrogate his second day partner as to the techniques used or waters fished by the AAA's first day partner.
II. Appearance at Weigh-In: It is the responsibility of each angler to dress and conduct themselves in a presentable manner at the weigh-in ceremonies. Tank tops and shower sandals are not considered appropriate apparel when weighing in before the observing public. Contestants approaching the weigh station who are barefooted or without a shirt will be required to return to the boat for proper dress.
III. Conduct at Meetings: All contestants should do their best to see that those receiving awards are afforded the courtesy of their attention during the announcement and introduction of winners and trade representatives.
IV. It is the responsibility of all contestants to understand and be constantly aware that their actions and words speak for all of organized bass fishing in the eyes of the observing public.
V. Contestants who establish a reputation of ignoring the "code of ethics" and/or the laws of good judgment are subject to review by the Tournament Advisory Committee and are subject to suspension from all WON BASS activities.