Qualifications and Rules

2012 Qualifications

Download the 2012 Qualifications as a PDF document

PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY:
A team may be deemed ineligible to fish if they individually or collectively have won more than $6000 and/or finished in the top 10 in the points race in a Pro-Am event (as a Pro) during a calendar year (Jan 1st - Dec 31st). Money won from the back seat of a Pro/Am event and or any TOC does not count towards an individual’s winnings. Also, any individual(s) that are found to be a highly qualified team in any one Region may be asked to compete in a different Region of the BBT Circuit. The BBT also reserves the right to ask any team that is found to be overly qualified to move up and fish at the next level, and not participate in the BBT events. Any angler who has qualified for a Pro Championship (100% BASS, B.A.S.S., F.L.W., EVERSTART, WESTERN BASS, W.O.N., ANGLER’S CHOICE, ABA, WEST COAST BASS, FEDERATION, REDMAN or CBC) in the past 10 years could be deemed ineligible to fish on the BBT tour. All participants must be current members of the BBT to be eligible to participate. (Once an angler or team has been found eligible for that season, he or she will be allowed to finish and complete that full year including the T.O.C.) Final decision of all contestants being allowed to participate will be at the tournament director’s discretion, and or BBT Advisory Board.

BBT Advisory Board:
Advisory board will be comprised of but not limited to; People in and out of our industry, Anglers, and Directors of the BBT. Board will meet every September to discuss procedures, Rule changes and Angler Eligibility for the up and coming year. Full discloser of all Decisions and Topics will be made Public i.e.; BBT newsletter, BBT website.

2012 Rules

Download the 2012 Rules as a PDF document

1. All Anglers must Acknowledge and understand rules for the BBT Tournaments.
2. RULES:
   These rules shall remain unchanged throughout the 2012 season. Interpretation and enforcement of BBT rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director’s discretion at each event. Federal, state, local, lake laws and rules must be obeyed at all times and shall supersede BBT rules when in conflict.
3. SAFETY:
   Boating safety must be observed at all times during practice and competition. A U.S. Coast Guard approved chest type life preserver (PFD) Type III or higher, must be worn and properly fastened any time the combustible engine is operative and the kill switch must be attached to the driver with a lanyard no longer than forty-eight (48) inches. All boats must be equipped with the minimum recommended USCG safety devices. These requirements can be viewed online at www.dbw.ca.gov
4. INSURANCE AND LIABILITY:
   It is the sole responsibility of all BBT boat owners to carry and maintain the mandated, state required minimum liability coverage for themselves and their passengers. Contestants also need to be aware that not all insurance policies cover tournament participation, therefore all parties involved with the BBT must consult with their insurance company prior to competing in any BBT event. By participating in a BBT sanctioned event, all contestants by virtue of their entry agree to release, hold harmless, and absolve BBT, BBT Staff, Tournament Sponsors, Co-Sponsors, and their employees, officers, or agents from any and all responsibility for any damage or personal injury that results from their participation in the tournament or related activities. Contestants are required to have in their possession and provide proof, upon request, of coverage to the tournament director.
5. SPORTSMANSHIP:
   All anglers are expected to act and conduct themselves in a professional manner. Displaying of poor sportsmanship, willful violation of rules and Local, State or Federal laws, and bringing unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing shall be grounds for disqualification. If one team member is disqualified, the team shall be disqualified. BBT reserves the right to revoke membership at any time without remuneration. BBT also reserves the right to refuse service to any angler seeking to participate in sanctioned events. BBT participants are required to cooperate with tournament officials on the water boat(s) for the purposes of boat inspection, photography, and sponsor and media requests. 
6. ALCOHOL & DRUGS:
   During tournament hours, NO alcoholic beverages or narcotic drugs may be consumed or allowed in the boat while on the water. Operator must be coherent at all times.
7. REGISTRATION:
   All tournaments will require a payment of entry fees in advance of the tournament. Deadline for payment of entries is 5 pm on Thursday prior to the event for all BBT team tournaments or a late fee of $10 will be assessed. Entry forms must be filled out completely and mailed to your appropriate tournament director with checks made payable in your tournament director’s name – NOT to “Tournament Director”. Please see your region’s home page for mailing addresses. Late sign-ups, however, will be accepted the night before from 4 PM to 6 PM or the morning of the event at the designated location.
8. START OF TOURNAMENT:
   A random draw will be done to determine the starting boat position, the day of each event, with The Small Boat Division always being allowed to start first.
9. PARTNERS:
   The BBT is a team tournament circuit. A member may fish the first two events of a trail’s season solo without a designated partner. Members accumulate points for the designate team when fishing alone providing the other team member does not participate in that same event. Either member of a team is allowed to fish up to 2 events alone and represent the team, providing that the team fishes at least 4 tournaments together. No substitution of partners will be allowed except in cases of partner death, catastrophic illness and military duty. BBT Team events are just that – team events. Once you choose your partner, you must fish with that partner throughout the season for championship qualifying and points accumulation.
10. TACKLE & EQUIPMENT:
    Intentional snagging of fish will not be allowed. Trolling with the aid of combustion or electric motors is not permitted. Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait or prepared bait permitted with the exception of pork rinds. Liquid fish attractants are allowed. Only one (1) rod may be used at any one time by each angler. Other rods may be in the boat and ready for use, however, every cast and retrieve must be completed before another cast is made. Rods may not exceed eight feet in length. The use of underwater cameras is not allowed during competition. Nets may not have a handle in excess of eight (8) feet in length.
11. BOAT AND MOTORS:
    Each event will be divided into two horsepower divisions. Small boat will be engines with horsepower ratings between 25 and 115 horsepower. Large boats will be engines greater than 115 horsepower. All boats in BBT events must be a minimum of 12 feet long and have the proper aerated live well systems to keep fish alive. Any team with a boat that qualifies for the small boat division who prefer to participate as members of the large boat division will be allowed to do so as long as prior approval from the tournament director has been obtained. All boats must be equipped with a kill switch with lanyard attached to the operator when combustible engine is running. 
12. BOAT & LIVEWELLS CHECK:
    It is the responsibility of the anglers to have their boat and livewells checked by a BBT official or staff member immediately prior to competition. A RIBBON will be placed on your trolling motor Best Bass Tournaments (BBT) Rules Page 3 of 6 once your boat has been checked. You will NOT be able to weigh in your fish without the ribbon on the trolling motor and you will be disqualified.
13. 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.
14. GUIDES:
    Guides may not be used on official practice days, such as the Tournament of Champions pre fish days. Guides will not be allowed to fish in the BBT Events.
15. SPEED-RESTRICTED AREAS:
    No boat may pass another contestant's boat in a restricted speed zone, in an effort to gain an advantage. Speeding in a 5 mph zone is ground for disqualification if you are protested.
16. PERMITTED FISHING WATERS:
    Fishing is NOT allowed inside the host marina unless lake specific rules allow for such. If fishing is allowed within the marina, no boats may fish within 100 feet of the launch ramp. No fishing is allowed within 25 yards of another anchored or tied tournament boat with trolling motor out of the water, without the anchored boat's permission. Both team partners must fish from the same boat. Unless otherwise directed by the tournament authority, only contestants may be in the boat during the tournament hours. Having anyone hole-sit for anyone shall be grounds for disqualification. Contestants cannot leave the boat to land a fish or gain access to a fishing area. Restricting natural movement of fish by any means is automatic disqualification. Navigable waters are the only waters to be fished during a tournament and restricting boating access to an area by any means shall be grounds for disqualification.
17. LAKE OFF-LIMITS:
    There is No off limits period for any BBT regular events with the exception to the off limits for the championship/TOC event. You may not receive or solicit fishing related information from anyone who has fished the Championship waters during the off limits period.
18. RESERVED AREAS:
    No person may "hold" or "reserve" a fishing area for a contestant at any time. Infraction of this rule will result in disqualification of all parties involved.
19. INFORMATION SHARING:
    Once an event has started it is against the rules for any contestant to receive help or information about how/where to catch fish from someone else outside of their own boat. This includes help from another contestant.
20. RADIO OR PHONE TRANSMITTING:
    Transmittal of information via phone, radio, and text messaging or other means concerning any aspect of fishing during a tournament is prohibited. Communication between contestants and/or landlines may be used for breakdowns, emergencies, business, or personal reasons.
21. OFFICIAL BOATS:
    Officials may be on the lake during contest hours and can approach or observe any contestant’s boat. Each contestant is required to cooperate with all reasonable requests from media representatives or officials. Official boats may not be used as contestant replacement boats.
22. FISH TRANSPORT:
    Restricting natural movement of fish by any means such as but not limited to: use of nets, tanks or dams will result in immediate disqualification. Restricting access to waters normally accessible to anglers by any means such as but not limited to: felling of trees or placement of obstructions will result in disqualification. Transporting live gamefish 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 30 days prior to the tournament is strictly prohibited and grounds for disqualification.
23. SIGHTFISHING:
    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. Intentional snagging of fish will not be allowed. A sight or bedding fish is defined as one that can be seen and watched as it approaches the lure. Fish 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. Standing on seats, or motor or the use of ladder or raised platform for the purpose locating or fishing for bedding fish in not permitted.
24. LIMIT and WEIGH-IN:
    During all BBT events, teams will only weigh in five (5) fish for the days catch measuring thirteen inches (13”) lying flat on a flat board with mouth open, we will swish the tail. BBT may allow for a larger or smaller tournament limit on waters where state or lake limits are greater. Any team weighing in a fish shorter than the legal tournament length will be assessed a one (1) pound penalty plus the loss of the short fish. Any team bringing more than five (5) fish to the scales will be disqualified. A penalty of .20 lbs. per dead fish will be deducted from the total weight. Any team asking for a re-weigh will be given one; however no matter the outcome that team will take the re-weighed weight for their official weight.
25. CULLING FISH:
    It is the responsibility of each team to not have more than the local laws allows of fish in a live well. If more than the local laws allow are present in the live well during the event you will be subject to disqualification. However, a team may not possess more than a five (5) fish limit once inside the host marina. No culling is allowed in the host marina.
26. BIG FISH:
    The big fish award is an option at all BBT events. You may not weight in a DEAD fish to claim the big fish award, however, a dead big fish will be counted toward your overall weigh with dead fish penalty applied.
27. BREAKDOWN-EMERGENCIES:
    Anglers are not permitted to leave their boats nor touch another boat, with the exception of an emergency or major equipment failure during the tournament. In this case, it is permitted to be towed either to safety or back to the weigh-in area by any safe means available. You may not transport fish by land if you choose to trailer back to the weigh-in area; however, you may have Best Bass Tournaments (BBT) Rules Page 5 of 6 your fished transported to the weigh-in by another tournament boat participating in the same event. Transported fish must be held separate from another contestant’s fish. At least one person must stay with your fish at all times and neither angler is permitted to fish while under the assistance of another boat during the breakdown period.
28. CHECK IN FOR OFFICIAL WEIGH IN:
    It is the responsibility of each team to check in with the BBT staff prior to weighing in their fish. Late check in is grounds for disqualification.
29. SCORING:
    Is determined by the total weight of each participants catch for the overall event, less any penalties or dead fish weighed in. There is no bonus for live fish. Points are awarded to each entrant of the event on a declining scale starting at 150 points for first, 149 for second, 148 for third, etc… Five participation points will be awarded to all entrants of the event. Participation points are not revocable.
30. WINNINGS/MONEY:
    Each division will compete only within their own division for points. Payback for all events will be in cash/check and will be based on a 1 in 5 format. Winnings/Money will be discussed at each event if winnings/money will be combined due to the lack of participant in the Small Boat Division.
31. PRIZES:
    Prizes during all BBT Events require the winners to be present at the Awards Ceremony immediately following the tournament. Winners not present at the Awards Ceremony will forfeit any and all prizes selected for them. This does not include money won as a result of placement in the tournament. If a team wins money and is not present at the Awards Ceremony to collect it, it is the responsibility of the team to call your tournament director to make arrangements on how to collect your winnings; at the next tournament you will fish, meet up with him, etc. Monetary winnings will NOT be mailed to you. Any prizes not awarded during a specific event will be carried over and awarded at the BBT Team Championship.
32. ANGLER OF THE YEAR:
    Will be determined by the team with the most points accumulated at the end of the year, based on their best 6 events in one region with the same partner.
33. TOC:
    The TOC will be a separate event, to be held at the end of the season. BBT anglers are eligible to win a grand prize given away to the overall winner of the event. All other BBT money will be kept separate. 25% of the total number of registered teams fishing in each region throughout the entire season will be invited to the TOC. BBT reserves the right to invite more teams based upon participation levels during the season. Qualifying will be based on the best 4 out of 6 events fished in one region with the same partner with 2 throw outs. Teams fishing more than 4 events will keep the 5 show up points on throw out events. Any team fishing 7 events in the BBT with the same partner will automatically qualify for the TOC.
34. TRAVELERS:
    Any team fishing 7 events or more in the BBT with the same partner will automatically qualify for the TOC. There will NOT be any points given for the travelers division. There will not be anglers of year in the travelers division.
35. TOC PARTNER:
    An angler who qualified to fish the TOC but has a partner who cannot attend can be placed with another qualifying angler with the same situation. Partners will be determined by a random draw. These situations will be reviewed and approved by the tournament director.
36. PROTEST:
    All protests must be submitted in writing within 15 minutes after the official closing of the scales.
37. POLYGRAPH:
    All contestants are subject to a polygraph test. Failure to submit is grounds for automatic disqualification. Any contestant who has failed a polygraph test in any bass tournament or contest or whose results are found to be inconclusive shall not be eligible to compete in the BBT. Polygraph and voice stress testing are performed at the discretion of the tournament director.
38. Photograph and Video:
    All photos and or video taken at a BBT event are the property of the BBT and may be used for promotional purpose.