Belle City Bass Anglers was founded on the basis of fellowship, conservation, education, and competition-- to further the sport of bass fishing in a professional and safe manner.

1. Membership- Membership will be a minimum of 6 members, and a maximum of 20 members. Members must be sixteen years of age by the first scheduled tournament.

2. New Members- Anyone interested in membership must complete an application, and must be voted in by a majority of the membership. Any member in their first year in this club, will be considered a non-boater at club tournaments, unless asked otherwise by the President for extreme circumstances. If the new member feels they have significant tournament experience to be an exception to this rule, they must submit a request explaining why, to the President in writing. The club officers will vote on this request.

3. Removal of Members- A member shall be dropped from the membership role for the following:
a) Failure to pay dues
b) Any action which would reflect dishonor and disgrace on this chapter
c) Failure to attend 50% of the chapter meetings and 50% of chapter functions during a 12-month period
If any member feels that another member has violated any of these three, he should inform the President, who will then call for a special vote of the entire membership. If the member in question is the President, the Vice-President shall call for a special vote. It will require a two-thirds majority to remove a member. The members can overrule the above three reasons in case of special circumstances.

4. Dues- Annual dues will be $50 payable to the Treasurer.
a) No person will be allowed to participate until dues are current
b) $35 of the above dues will be paid by the Sec/ Treas to the Wisconsin State Federation. In the event of an increase of State Federation dues, the members will be required to pay the difference
c) $15 of the above dues will be paid by the Sec/ Treas to the BASS National Federation for the required life insurance during tournaments. In the event of an increase, the members will be required to pay the difference
d) Dues are not refundable, even if a member decides to quit the club during the year

5. Elections- The Club Officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Club Representative) will be elected annually at the December meeting by majority vote. In the event that an officer resigns before his term is up, the President will appoint a replacement. The youth and environmental project committees will also be elected at the December meeting, comprised of three members each, with the Vice-President acting as chairman of both committees.

6. A complete membership roster, including officers, will be submitted annually by the Sec/ Treas to the W.S.B.F. and B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation Dept.

7. Bass 'N Gals- The Belle City Bass Anglers encourages women to join the club. Wives, daughters, etc. are eligible. All tournament rules and by-laws will apply.

8. B.A.S.S.- BCBA is an official chapter of the Bass Anglers Sportsman's Society. It will be the members duty to keep B.A.S.S. membership current. Members will not be allowed to participate in tournaments after B.A.S.S. membership expires. It will be the members duty to notify the Sec/ Treas of his B.A.S.S. identification number and expiration date.

9. W.S.B.F.- BCBA is an official chapter of the Wisconsin State BASS Federation. All members are responsible for following all regulations as deemed by the State Federation.
a) The Rep will be required to attend the WSBF Rep's meetings and report to the membership
b) The club will support WSBF completely including lobbyist efforts, fund raising, etc.
c) The club will support WSBF conservation and youth programs

10. Competition- Competition will be based on a running point system throughout the club year,
Dec- Nov. Exact point values are specified in the tournament rules.

11. Tournament Schedule- Club tournaments will be scheduled on weekends. The schedule will be determined at the December meeting; all members will have equal opportunity to participate in making the schedule. The schedule must include at least six tournaments, plus an alternate date at the end of the season. No body of water may be in the schedule two years in a row.

12. Schedule Changes- The club officers may cancel or delay a tournament for extreme conditions, ie: severe weather or a great shortage of boats. This tournament will be made up on the alternate date. If the alternate date is not enough to maintain the minimum number of tournaments, the club officers will schedule a new tournament as fairly as possible. No unnecessary schedule changes will be allowed.

13. Partners- The President shall pre-assign partners for all tournaments for the year. It is to be decided between partners which boat will be used. NO member will be allowed to fish alone unless his partner does not show for the tournament. If two boaters are paired together the member with the higher point total would have the choice of which boat will be used. If this occurs on the first tournament of the season we will use the previous year's standings.

14. Tournament Director- The TD will also be appointed by the President to alternate among members. TD duties include weighing and measuring fish, keeping official time, and checking all livewells, kill switches, licenses, and proper safety equipment before each tournament.

15. Club Projects- The club must conduct at least one youth and one environmental project annually. A maximum of 50 show points will be given annually for participation in each of two categories: Youth and Environmental. If a member cannot be present at the function, they may pre-arrange for another way to participate to receive show points.

16. Club Opens- All club members are required to support club fund raisers, including open tournaments. A maximum of 50 show points will be given for working at scheduled Open Tournament. Each April, the members will sign up to work one open tournament. The only way to receive the maximum points is to work, or send someone to work in your place, at the weigh-in for which you are scheduled. Members cannot be contestants in the tournament they are working. Partial points will be assigned by the President, for other circumstances.

17. Zone- The top placing members of the club, based on standings from the previous year, will be eligible to attend the WSBF Zone tournament. The number of anglers eligible is determined by the State Federation. Half of those attending are allowed to bring a boat. Alternates and boat privileges will be offered in the order of previous club standings. Any club member who qualifies at the Zone Tournament is eligible to attend the State Tournament. Each zone qualifier must pay the zone entry fee originally, then will be reimbursed by the club, after the member attends the tournament. No reimbursement if the member does not attend, and an alternate cannot go.

18. Mr. Bass- The member in first place in the club from the previous year is eligible to attend the WSBF Mr. Bass Tournament. It is required that Mr. Bass bring a boat and an observer of his choice. Alternate positions will be offered in order of previous club standings. Mr. Bass must pay the entry fee originally, then will be reimbursed by the club after the member attends the tournament. No reimbursement if the member does not attend, and an alternate cannot go.

19. 4-Man Classic- The top four club members, based on club standings of the previous year, will be eligible to attend the WSBF 4-Man Classic. Half of those attending must bring a boat. Alternates and boat privileges will be offered in order of previous club standings. The team qualifying must pay the entry fee originally, then will be reimbursed by the club after they attend the tournament. No reimbursement if a member does not attend, and an alternate cannot go.

20. Expenses- The club will reimburse any member for a reasonable portion of any expense due to official club business or State Federation tournaments, beyond the club level. The member must obtain receipts for all expenses and submit a request to the Sec/ Treasurer.

21. Meetings- The club officers will be responsible for planning club meetings in December and April, and an annual awards banquet for the club, usually in January. Club officers may call other meetings as necessary throughout the year. All members must be notified at least seven days prior to an official meeting, preferably in writing.

22. Money Pools- are permitted at club tournaments, as long as they are completely unofficial and on a voluntary basis. No one will be permitted to enter a money pool after take-off.

23. Penalties- The penalty for any infraction of club by-laws or tournament rules will be determined by the club officers. Penalties may include tournament disqualification, points deducted, or other action.

24. Spirit of the Rule- All rules of this club have been tried and proven over the years. Therefore, "Spirit of the Rule" will prevail. Simply stated, there will be no "bending" of the rules or arguing technicalities.

25. Amendments- Any amendments that must be made must be brought up during a meeting and approved by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Any changes that may affect club standings may not be made during the tournament season.



Belle City Bass Anglers
Catch & Release
Official Tournament Rules & Regulations

1. All Boats must meet state and USCG regulations.
2. A personal floating device must be worn while operating gas engines.
3. Only largemouth and smallmouth bass will be weighed.
4. Size limit will follow state guidelines-- measured mouth closed, tail any way.
5. Half weight will be given for each dead fish.
6. No live or prepared bait will be allowed. Artificial lures only.
7. All bass under the lake size limit must be returned to the water immediately after measuring.
8. No fishing within 50 feet of an anchored boat.
9. It is the members responsibility to be aware and observe all state, local, and lake rules and regulations.

10. Members must be on the water for at least half of the tournament hours, to receive show points for a club tournament. Members leaving tournament early must check out with the tournament director. If the member MUST be late for take-off, he may pre-arrange with the tournament director to meet another member to check-in. The other member may be allowed a pre-determined amount of extra fishing time.

11. Any unsportsmanlike act or conduct, or any actions which may be detrimental to the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society or Belle City Bass Anglers will be cause for disqualification.

12. All boats must be equipped with an aerated livewell or similar equipment to keep alive a catch of bass. No stringers or baskets allowed, under penalty of disqualification.

13. Any member wishing to protest the score of another member must do so in writing within one half hour after weigh in.

14. Any member not at weigh-in within five minutes after quitting time will be disqualified-- no exceptions, no excuses.

15. Exact starting and quitting times must be announced at the start of the tournament.

16. No trolling of any kind will be permitted.

17. In case of ties in a single BCBA club tournament, the points will be combined and split evenly. If tied for the year-end total points, the member with the highest total weight shall prevail. If still tied, club officers shall be responsible for determining a fair method of breaking ties. Officers decision will be final.

18. The non-boater will be required to reimburse boat owner a reasonable amount of compensation for gas, launch, towing, battery charging, etc. This usually amounts to $2.50 per hour, or whatever is mutually agreed upon.

19. Largemouth bass over six pounds, and smallmouth bass over five pounds are considered "trophy" fish and may be kept for mounting. There will be a 5 pt. deduction of points for all fish kept for mounting.

20. All boats must be equipped with a kill switch to be checked by T.D. If it does not work, first time grace period, five point deduction after that.

21. Only casting, spinning, or spin casting reels may be used. Only one rod may be used at a time, however, other rigged rods may be ready in boat.

22. All boaters must give the Sec/ Treas proof of current boat insurance with a minimum of $100,000 liability coverage, prior to using the boat in a club tournament.

23. Horsepower of boat motor must not exceed manufacturer's rating plate.

24. All club members in a boat are to be given equal time in the areas of their choice.

25. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in boats during a club tournament.

26. All fish must be weighed in a consistent manner throughout the tournament season. All fish will be transferred from water filled bags to one official dry weighing bag with holes cut out to keep the bag dry.

27. Any member who cannot attend a tournament must notify the tournament director or a club officer, at least by the day prior to the tournament. There will be a twenty point deduction from current or future point totals, for anyone who does not show at a tournament, without a very good reason why he could not notify officials in advance.

28. No fishing of any kind will be allowed on tournament waters within three days prior to any club tournament within a two hour traveling distance. It must be determined which lakes this applies to at the time of scheduling.

29. The Release boat must weigh-in their fish first.

30. Belle City Bass Anglers was formed in the belief that "Catch and Release" is the only way to preserve our sport today and in the future. For this reason, it is mandatory that every effort must be taken to see that all fish under the "trophy" weight be released alive. Intentionally injuring or harming a fish, or failure to release live fish will result in disqualification.

Scoring:
-First place based on total wieight will recieve 200 points. Each consecutive place will have 10 less points. All those who do not weigh in fish will receive 10 attendance points.
+10 pts for a limit of bass
+ 10 pts for the biggest bass of the day
-5 points for keeping a trophy fish
-5 points for faulty kill switch
-20 points for unexcused no-shows

Automatic Disqualification:
-Weighing-in a short fish
-Unsportsmanlike conduct
-Use of stringers or baskets
-Over 5 min late to weigh-in
-Intentionally harming fish
*disqualification means negating any points earned for that event, including show points