West Toronto Bass-Masters

rule 5

PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE: Absolutely no pre-fishing after 4 p.m. on the day prior to the tournament. During the 5 days prior to tournament date, a competitor may not have the assistance or advice of anyone for the purpose of locating or catching bass, nor enter the tournament waters with anyone who has been on the tournament waters, who is or was a professional guide, provincial or federal wildlife agency employee, or any other person deemed an “expert” on these tournament waters by the Tournament Director, unless he is a contestant in the tournament. During the tournament, a competitor may not “SKIN DIVE” or “SCUBA DIVE” on the tournament waters. During the tournament, a competitor may not use a CB radio, a VHF marine brand radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of location or catching fish. A non-boater can not use a GPS device of any kind to record fishing areas/spots. Contestants are permitted to transmit by radio or telephone only in the event of an emergency. If so equipped, contestants may listen to the marine band weather information. Each competitor agrees to report to the Tournament Director of any violation or infraction of these tournament rules. The failure to report violations or suggestions to violate these rules, or false verification of weight-in forms will be cause for disqualification. All violators shall be called to a disciplinary board hearing. The participant shall be available, at his expense, at the location selected by the Tournament Director and shall cooperate in all respects with such examination. 

rule 6

REGISTRATION TOURNAMENT DAY: Each competitor must register in person with officials of West Toronto Bass-Masters, at the time and place prescribed on the schedule of events. Failure to register in person during the prescribed hours shall result in disqualification. No exceptions. No refunds. It shall be each competitor’s responsibility to check the schedule of events for check-out and check-in times plus location or obtain times from West Toronto Bass-Masters Tournament Headquarters.

rule 7

SAFETY: Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by tournament competitors. During the official practice and the tournament, each competitor is required to wear a chest-type life preserver, or float suit (S.O. Spenders types qualify.) This preserve must be worn anytime the combustion engine is in gear. This preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition until the competitor reaches his fishing location and the combustion engine is taken out of gear. Violation of this rule shall be reason for disqualification. Tournament officials have the right to delay or cancel the start of an official tournament day because bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournaments waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather. Kill switch cord must be attached to driver’s person or life vest when main engine is in gear.

rule 8

SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in West Toronto Bass-Masters tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over the counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the official practice or during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future West Toronto Bass-Masters tournaments. 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 unfavourably upon efforts to promote fisheries, conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification. The Prevailing statues and regulations of the Province within which they fish will bind all competitors. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants, prescription or otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during official practice or competition days or when in weigh-in area. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude, or other conduct reflecting unfavourably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and for disqualification. Any disqualification or suspension from, or other disciplinary action regarding, any tournament or fishing organization shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and for disqualifications, as per Tournament Director.

rule 9

TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No “Live Bait” or “Prepared Bait” will be permitted, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only one casting, spin-casting or spinning rod and reel may be used at any one time. All other types are prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat ready for use, however, only one is permitted in use at any given time. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging visible fish will have their day’s catch disqualified. When visually fishing, all bass must be hooked inside the mouth and must be verified by your boat companion, before unhooked, to be counted as a legal fish. No gaffs may be used to boat bass nor permitted in the boat at any time. The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited. If you ask your fellow competitor in the boat to help you land your fish, you are allowing them to handle your fish, therefore they can not be blamed if your fish is lost. Nets are allowed to be used only for the purpose of landing a legally hooked fish.

rule 10

HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: Maximum horsepower for all outboard motorboats used in official tournament practice & in tournament competition will be Manufactures Plate Rating, not to exceed the horsepower limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard/Canadian Coast Guard. When required, each boat must have a Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the engine must not exceed the rating specified on this rating plate. Any boat manufactured prior to Nov. 1-1972 must adhere to the ratings set by the Coast Guard for similar boats. Normal maintenance to increase the performance of your engine is allowed. Changing or altering standard factory parts of your motor to increase the horsepower over factory horsepower rating is forbidden, and will result in disqualification. Falsifying information on altering the horsepower rating numbers on the motor or boat also would be cause for immediate disqualification from West Toronto Bass-Masters tournaments forever.

rule 11

BOAT & MOTOR: For the safety of all contestants, all boats must be equipped with some type of operable ignition kill switch. This ignition kill device must be attached to the driver’s body any time the combustion engine is in gear. Anytime the combustion engine is operating and in gear there must be a driver in the driver’s seat, in full control of the boat. Fishing boats may be used that are 16 feet or more in length. Any raised platform or decks cannot be higher than the gunnels of the boat. An electric trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering, however, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. All bladder tanks and any other type of Auxiliary gas tanks that are not installed by a manufacturer’s authorized dealer are prohibited. Additional gas tanks that are factory options and installed by the boat manufacturer’s authorized dealer are legal. Boats that do not have factory installed gas tanks are restricted to a maximum of 23 litres of gasoline in tanks that are pre-approved by the Tournament Director. Gas tanks must be properly secured or strapped in a boat. No, “barges” or similar cumbersome craft will be permitted. No boat equipped with “stick steering” shall be permitted to be used during the tournament by any competitor. The definition of “stick steering” shall be made by the Tournament Director. A competitor answering affirmatively the question, “Will you bring a boat & motor?” will be expected to make that boat & motor available for tournament use if so requested by tournament officials. Those answering the same question negatively will be presumed not to have a boat & motor available and will be paired with one who does when possible. It shall be the responsibility of the fishing partners to mutually agree on whose boat to use and a basis for sharing operation expenses. (See rule #14) If the partners are unable to agree, the Tournament Director shall make such determination, which shall be binding upon the partners. 

rule 12

BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have all required safety equipment as specified by the Fisheries and Oceans/Canadian Coast Guard. In addition, it must have a functional bilge pump and live-well space, properly aerated, to adequately maintain a limit catch of bass by both fisherman using the boat. Tournament officials shall have the sole responsibility whether aeration and capacity are “proper and adequate”.

rule 13

BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each boat must be given, prior to each day’s start, an inspection check by tournament officials, and whatever else Tournament Director deems necessary. Tournament Director may chose individual boats and not the field of boats to inspect and may not inspect any boat.

rule 14

BOAT OPERATION & EXPENSE: A full discussion must be held between the two partners prior to a morning departure as to the schedule of boat operation. This schedule must permit each partner equal time, so as to afford each partner the opportunity to fish his selected waters an equal number of hours. Distance travelled to fishing locations must be considered in order not to deprive either partner fishing time while travelling to and from fishing waters. If a contestant waives the above rights, he shall retain the right to select the fishing waters for one-half the tournament day. Any contestant who, in the judgement of the officials, operates the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap his partner shall be disqualified. In view of the large expense involved in operating and maintaining a tournament bass boat, it is suggested that the non-boater will share in the cost of gas & oil for the competition day. This amount will be the minimum of $30.00, to be paid by the non-boater in cash, and applies to boat use only. Note: The boater has the final say as to the total dollar owing based on the pre-arrangements made and the amount of fuel and oil consumed for the boat only, (not his/her vehicle). The launch fee is to be separate from the above fee and split by both the non-boater and the boater.

rule 15

PERMITTED FISHING LOCATION: Tournament waters shall be established by the Tournament Director for each tournament. Each competitor must obtain this information from the West Toronto Bass-Masters Tournament Headquarters. Fishing on tournament waters is permitted anywhere except: Within 50 yards of any marina gas pumps or within 50 yards of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored or secured in a fixed position with the trolling motor out of the water. No such boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the 50 yard circle claimed by him, to the exclusion of any other competitor. Any water within these boundaries posted off-limits or no fishing by the Provincial or Federal agencies will be off limits. Also, the live-bass release area established by the Tournament Director will be off-limits and will be announced at the tournament briefing. Only that water open to all public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to all tournament contestants. All angling must be done from the boat. It is advised that if a boat is fishing a shoreline that the other boat pull in behind and not in front, unless you are 2000 feet forward, any closer is a disqualification.

rule 16

CONTESTANTS MUST REMAIN IN BOAT: Contestants must not depart the boat, to boat a fish, or to make the boat more accessible to fishing water. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days. Contestants must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat unless Tournament Director has directed such. Both competitors must remain in boat at all times except in the case of dire emergency. In such an emergency, competitors may be removed from their boat to: A boat operated by other competitors or a rescue boat. Partners must remain together at all times, in sight of each other and each other’s catch under the conditions cited above, in order for their catch of the day to be scored in the tournament unless deemed necessary by Tournament Director. A competitor may contact a tournament official by phone or other means to ask permission or to report an emergency or breakdown. Both competitors must cease fishing at this point and their catch must be verified by a tournament official in order to be counted in the tournament. If after the emergency situation is resolved by tournament officials and enough time is left for competitors to resume fishing, a restart will be allowed and the competitors will continue and their catch will be counted. This applies only to dire emergency situations. Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited, except by the direction of tournament officials.

rule 17

OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one official point for check-out and check-in. All competitors and their boats shall be in full conformance with all rules set forth by the Tournament Director. Check-in will be at a point designated in the morning. This shall be known as the check-in point. At check-in, all boats shall proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in area. Partners must stay together. Weigh-in may be open to receive competitors one quarter (1/4) hour prior to official weigh-in time. No boat or competitor will be allowed to weigh-in prior to this time, unless deemed necessary by the Tournament Director. Boats may be removed from water only upon the Tournament Director’s approval prior to boat being removed. All entrants into West Toronto Bass-Masters tournaments will, before the first tournament they enter, supply the Tournament Director with photo copies of boat insurance papers if they plan on being a boater in the events, plus photo copy both sides of their fishing license. Failure to provide this will result in disqualification and/or suspension of membership.

17a) Team Tournaments: When we have team tournaments they will be as follows. A draw will be done 1 week before no more, no less unless deemed necessary by Tournament Director. The pairings will be released, if two boaters do not have partners then they can choose to join up or not, plus they have the option to get a guest. Only boaters with no partner may bring a guest. After the draw there will be no changing of partners unless a member can not make it for some reason. (No refund unless Tournament Director is notified 24 hours prior.) Scoring will be total weight of five (5) fish, all payouts will be split 50/50, unless prior mutual agreement. Big fish is by boat. All standard rules will be in force, and prevail over these team events. Scoring will be by weight, both people per boat will carry the same weight. Team of the Year (TOY) will be highest weight of a boater and highest weight of a non-boater, will be TOY. They may never have fished together but total weight for boater and non-boater will be called TOY.

rule 18

SCORING: Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be determined by the pound & tenths weight of each competitor’s catch during the competition days of the tournament. Only Largemouth & Smallmouth bass will be weighed. The limit shall be 5 of the above species per day, per competitor, or a special limit for team events, shall be the tournament limit. The official length for bass shall be determined by the Tournament Director and announced at the tournament draw. In most cases this will be 12 inches nose to tip in a straight line closed mouth. Only bass as described above which measure the official length or more, shall be weighed in. Bass presented for weigh-in that fail to measure the official length shall accrue penalties at a rate of one (1) pound for each such bass (bass will not be weighed). This penalty shall be deducted from the total score of the competitor. Any bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered will be weighed and credited only at the discretion of tournament officials. After a competitor checks-in at the official checkpoint, all fish in their possession must be presented to a tournament official to be counted, measured and weighed. Until catch is measured, counted and weighed by a tournament official, that constant may not return to his boat.

18a) Bass must not be stringered at any time during the tournament. Specially designed bags/boxes which increase survival rate will be furnished by the Tournament Director, and these bags/boxes must be used for weigh-in.

18b) Culling systems (self provided) should be used to help minimize handling of fish.

rule 19

DON’T KILL YOUR CATCH: Each competitor is expected to keep their bass alive using a properly aerated live-well. The use of Catch & Release products is advised. No non-boater shall be penalized for breakdown of live-well. Boater has the responsibility to make sure live-well works properly. This does not include fish that swallow the hook and die, or die for any other reason other than live-well break down.

rule 20

DEAD FISH PENALTY: For each legal dead bass presented to weigh-in officials, the competitor shall be penalized 5/10ths or 1/2 lb. of weight, to be deducted from his daily score. The fish will be weighed. (Big fish can not be dead.) More than 3 dead fish at any one time, is an automatic disqualification, 2nd such offence will mean suspension for 2 tournaments or until live-well works properly. The Tournament Director and designated appointees shall have sole authority for assessing penalty points.

rule 21

LATE PENALTY WEIGH-IN: Competitors who are not in the official check-in area, as described in Rule #17 at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute to be deducted from the total weight of the competitors catch that day, for each 1 minute or part of you are late. Non-boaters can not be classed late because of the boater. Any competitor more than 15 minutes late shall lose all credit for that day’s catch. There shall be no excuses for tardiness. In no case shall the competitor be allowed to make up “lost time”. The preceding is for check-out & check-in. After proper recognition at check-in point, competitors will be allowed time to proceed to the weigh-in site.  All fishing must cease upon check-in. After the tournament begins, fishing the tournament waters is prohibited except during tournament hours. This is for two day events only. Exact check-out and check-in times will be announced at tournament draw.

rule 22

TIES: In case of a tie for first place, the following tie breakers will be used in order. Rule #1: The competitor with the most weight, having the least fish. Rule #2: The competitor with the biggest fish. Rule #3: Then the flip of a coin will be used to determine the winner’s and the money, if any, will be equally split. Ties for lesser positions, shall be resolved by means selected by the Tournament Director (flip of a coin) for position only. Money for each of the tied positions will be added with the following position if any, then it will be divided and split equally. No fish, can not win money nor a position. If only one person catches a fish then they can only win first and big fish in an individual event and first and big fish in a Team event. All remaining money will be retained by the club.

rule 23

PAIRING OF CONTESTANTS: Two contestants will be assigned to each boat. Wherever possible, no two competitors will fish together, more than once, per qualifying season, except if there they have fished with everyone and except on team events. Announcements of your fishing companion shall be made at tournament draw. It shall be the responsibility of each partner to appear at a mutually agreed upon location with sufficient time remaining to check-out at the official checkpoint and start on time. Tournament officials shall have no responsibility for finding missing partners. The Tournament Director, at his sole discretion, may reassign partners prior to the morning take-off. It is suggested that a minimum of 1 hour is required for preparation to depart to the check-out point. When two contestants check-out at the beginning of the day they must stay together, within sight of each other and each other’s catch throughout the day, until the weigh-in is completed, except in case of dire emergency (see Rule #16). A contestant must not allow any bass caught by him to be counted on the score of another contestant. In such a case, both contestants shall be disqualified from this tournament and from all future tournaments conducted by West Toronto Bass-Masters.

rule 24

ADVISORY: None of the above rules shall prohibit a properly designated tournament official from approaching or boarding any competitor’s boat at any time during the official competition days.

rule 25

BIG FISH: Only one big fish will be weighed for each competitor. Only the competitor may pick this bass. And is by competitor’s choice only & is not mandatory to weigh your bass. You can not win big fish with a dead fish.

rule 26

FEE: Team $120.00 per event.

rule 27

TEAM PAYBACK: Payback is to third place for 3+ boats. 1st - $50.00, 2nd - $30.00, 3rd - $20.00, Big Fish - $10.00, Club - $10.00

27a) Only the position you finish with fish will be paid back, no multi position pay back for any reason in all events.

27b) IF NO FISH CAUGHT: Then all money is retained by the club. You can only get paid back if you catch fish in any event.

rule 28

ENTRY DEADLINE: Entries will only be received up to and including the posted draw date of event. No exceptions for any reason for late entries. No non-member shall fish any event before a member. Before the draw if a boater does not show and a member is left without a ride and we have a guest or a non-member, then the member may be added to another boat. Unless someone wants to voluntarily step down and not fish, then a refund will be given to that person. A guest after the draw, does not have to step down if a member does not show. A guest is classes as a member once entry is paid. Note: Entry fees must be paid in full prior to the tournament draw. Non-boaters are set on a first come, first paid in full basis only.

rule 29

TOURNAMENT: Only members in good standing on the West Toronto Bass-Masters current club roster as of June 30th of the current year are eligible according to West Toronto Bass-Masters membership rules can compete. A new membership can be accepted at any time during the year, and they may fish. West Toronto Bass-Masters tournament eligibility is  #1 - Be a West Toronto Bass-Masters member   #2 - Paid in full entry    #3 - Member in good standing with West Toronto Bass-Masters or be a guest of a member in good standing (if there is no member who has entered).

rule 30

START POSITIONS: Start positions will be done by “TaySys” software, or hat draw. In the case of guest, the Tournament Director will pair the guest and who ever brought them then draw the balance of entrants. The list will be in order of start position and your partner will be the name below or beside. If determined by the first entry paid in full, down in progression to equal the amount of boaters. If more boaters than non-boaters, the “TaySys” or hat draw will match boater to boater, then it is up to them to choose which boat is used or the boaters may fish alone. It is up to the boaters as to what happens. This decision will not interfere with the start or the completion of the tournament.

rule 31

DRAW NOTES: The draw will be done by the Tournament Director using “TaySys” software or hat draw. Please feel free to visit the draw first hand. This draw will be held at Tournament Headquarters on the published draw date for event. Draw should be the Wednesday of the week before but may be changed due to holidays or Tournament Director is out of town, fishing someplace else on that date. Notification in advance will be given to make sure all participants have the same time to enter. Failure to enter on the specified date and time, will eliminate you from that event, as per Rule #28.

rule 32

START: All boats will stage as directed. Absolutely no excuses for non compliance. If a non-boater does not show up for the tournament, the boater will be allowed to fish the tournament. No refund will be given to the non-boater. All monies will be added to the club. If a boater does not show up then every effort will be made so the non-boater can fish. Possible to have 3 in a boat as long as there are 3 different culling systems being used.

rule 33

TOURNAMENT HOURS: Start time will be 7:00 A.M. sharp. Weigh in will be at 3:00 P.M. Times may vary from event to event. Times will be set on draw date. In the case of weather delay, only if possible, the tournament will be extended the same time as the delay.

rule 34

CHECK-OUT TIMES: Boat check and registration (sign-in) will commence at 6:30 A.M. and end at 7:15 A.M. Late arrivals see Rule #6 and Rule #21. Tournament Director has the right to extend or shorten hours at his sole discretion. Late comers will wait until after official start time to be inspected. If the boater is ready and does not want to wait for the non-boater, the boater will be allowed to leave and fish the day. The Tournament Director may reassign a partner and must make affirmation of the boater leaving.

rule 35

DRESS CODE: Club attire is preferred but not mandatory.