US OPEN 2004

2004 US Open Championships Match Rules

1. The championships will be contested over two 4-hour heats.
2. Matches will be divided into 2 sections. Anglers fishing in section A on day 1 will fish in section B on day 2 and vice versa.
3. Pegs/flags shall be 10-20 yards apart and must be staked out by the officials and numbered prior to drawing peg numbers.
4. The draw will begin two hours before the start of fishing.
5. Anglers may go to their pegs after the draw is completed.
6. During the preparation time competitors may set up their gear, test their rigs, and plumb the depth. No feeding/chumming is allowed during this time. Hooks must not be baited.
7. Five minutes prior to the start of the match, the timekeeper will announce that feeding may begin. Five minutes later, fishing will begin.
8. Groundbait/chum may be thrown in by hand, catapult, bait cups, and swim feeders. No bait shall be introduced with a pole cup or bait dropper attached to an extra rod or pole while continuing to fish.
9. Anglers must be positioned not farther than 1 yard to either side from their peg/flag. Anglers may not move their peg/flag. An angler may fish as far as half the distance between their peg/flag and the pegs on either side.
10. Anglers are not permitted to leave their peg except for emergencies & calls of nature.
11. Wading/standing in the water during the match is not permitted. Anglers may enter water only to position their keepnets, banksticks, before the match. Front legs of seat boxes, platforms or chairs can't be placed in  the water, anglers feet may be in the water only if seating.
12. Anglers will be restricted to the use of one rod or pole, one line, and a single plain hook at one time.  Ledgering and swim feeders are allowed. Hair rigs are allowed. An angler may have spare rods and poles assembled on the bank.
13. Any natural bait can be used except live or dead fish or crayfish. Artificial baits, lures and jigs are not allowed.
14. A competitor must strike, play and land his/her own fish. No physical help is allowed.
15. An angler under the age of 13 needs adult supervision.
16. Five minutes before the end of the match a 5-minute warning will be signaled. No feeding/chumming is allowed after this time.
17. Competitors must stop fishing when the end of the match is signaled. At this time, all lines must be immediately removed from the water. Fish must be out of the water or inside landing net at the time of the final horn. Any fish landed after the final horn will not count and must be released immediately.
18. Anglers are responsible to keep their catch alive during the duration of the match. A keepnet (preferred) or a bucket may be used.
19. Weigh-in will be conducted by designated officials. All fish must be released after the weigh-in.
20. Any species of fish may be weighed. Any undersized or out of season fish must be released immediately and must not be placed in a keep net or other receptacle.
21. Anglers who willfully cause damage or harm to fish, wildlife and the environment while in attendance at the US Open Championships will be immediately disqualified from the event.
22. Anglers will not discard their groundbait/chum in the water or on the ground after the completion of the match. Anglers will discard their groundbait/chum in their supplied garbage bags. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
23. It is the responsibility of all anglers to remove all garbage from their pegs. Garbage bags will be supplied to all anglers for the removal of garbage from their pegs.
24. In case of any violation of the above rules, where a complaint was launched, the joint decision of the match committee will be final.
25. Anglers shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner not prejudicial to the sport of match fishing.

Bait Limits

Ground bait/Bread: (Dry) 4 lbs.
Corn: 12 oz (one small can)
Maggots/Grubs: one pint total
Worms: one cup
Seeds/legumes/hemp etc: one pint total

Pre-fishing rules

Reserving your peg before the match

1. Anglers must reserve their pegs prior to the match. Peg reservations will be validated only after we receive your entry fee.
2. To reserve your peg please E-MAIL CBA or call Derek at (630) 855-2710.

Entry Fee

1. The entry fee for the 2004 US Open Championships is $20.00.
2. The entry fees should be mailed to CBA at least one week before the match. Please make the checks payable to CBA.
3. Please mail checks to:
   CBA
   7525 Wedgwood Drive
   Hanover Park, IL 60133
4. We will accept entry fees on the day of the match only from anglers who reserved their pegs and only before the draw - 7 AM June 26, 2004. No entry fees will be accepted after that time.

Voluntary Money Pool

1. There will be a voluntary money pool. It will be $20.00 per angler, paid to top 3 overall finishers (50% 30% 20% split).

Point System

1. The section points will be awarded as follows:
   first place: 1 point; second place: 2 points; third place: 3 points, and so on.
2. In case of a tie in a sector, the anglers will take the average points. For example: 2 anglers tie for 3rd place:
   ADD 3+4 DIVIDE by 2 = 3.5 points.
3. Anglers who do not catch fish will receive points equal to the number of anglers in their section plus 1 penalty point.

4. The angler with the lowest combined points total after 2 days will became the US Open Match Fishing Champion. In case of a tie, the total weight will be used to determine the winner.

Time Schedule

Saturday, June 26, 2004.

7:00 First day draw (All entry fees/money pools must be paid by this time)
8:55 Start Feeding (2 short horns)
9:00 Start Fishing (1 long horn)
12:55 Five minutes warning, feeding must stop (2 short horns)
1:00 Stop Fishing (1 long horn)

Sunday, June 27, 2004.

7:00 Second day draw
8:55 Start Feeding (2 short horns)
9:00 Start Fishing (1 long horn)
12:55 Five minutes warning, feeding must stop (2 short horns)
1:00 Stop Fishing (1 long horn)

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