Trader Bill’s High School Tournament Rules 24/25

Trader Bill’s High School Tournament Rules 24/25 Header

1. INTERPRETATION & ENFORCEMENT

These rules will remain unchanged during each school year. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules will be left exclusively to the tournament committee. Decisions of the tournament committee are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. Each angler, boat captain and coach agree to report any rule violation to the tournament committee immediately upon discovery of the violation. Failure to report violations may be cause for disqualification. Protests are to be made in writing before end of weigh-in of each tournament.

2. PARTICIPATION & ELIGIBILITY

Each team who would like to participate in a tournament should pre-register. Pre-registration closes Thursday at 11:59 p.m. before the tournament weekend. There is an annual $25 membership fee for each angler. Tournament entry fee is $50 per team for those who pre-register. If you register the morning of the tournament, there will be a $10 late fee. Registration fee may be paid in the store or online. There is an automatic $5 credit card fee for paying with a card. Once the registration is paid, there will be no refunds.

Participation is open to all student’s 2nd thru 12th grade. Juniors are defined as 2nd –8th grade, seniors are defined as 9th -12th grade. There will be no special allowances for anyone not in those grades. An angler may be permitted to fish alone, but must have an observer over the age of 12 along with boat captain. Anglers must use the same partner with no substitutions. Anglers must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the entry form. Anglers must have in their possession a valid fishing license for the waters they fish if required by law and a current student ID or other proof of grade level. Random checks will be conducted at each tournament. Failure to provide proof of a valid fishing license within a reasonable amount of time when requested by the tournament committee will result in disqualification for that day and any preceding days in which the license was required for the tournament. Anglers are required to follow all applicable federal, state and local regulations and laws. Any violation of such regulations and laws may result in disqualification from the tournament. Each team will consist of two anglers and one coach. For state championships, each team must compete in the state in which their school is located. Teams from all states can participate in open tournaments and challenge events. There is no limit to the number of teams accepted into a tournament from each school or club. Accepted teams will be confirmed and notified via e-mail prior to each tournament. Tournament officials reserve the right to reject any application to compete for any reason whatsoever.

Anglers and/or Boat Captains are to provide a copy of their fishing license, boaters education, and proof of insurance for the boat being used for the tournament.

3. OFFICIAL DESIGNATED TEAM

Trader Bill’s High School Trail is a Team Tournament Trail. Fishing alone is not considered a Team. However, if an emergency arises and a team member has no one to fish with, here are the officially supported replacements for a tournament: another Student Angler (substitute), Observer, or the Team School’s Designated Coach. Teams are responsible for filling observer position in boat. If one can not be found by Tournament Day, please contact the tournament committee. Acceptable Team Combinations:

  • 1. Boat Captain + Team
  • 2. Fish alone with Captain + Observer
  • 3. Start a new team
  • 4. No Substitutions

Observers must be of age 12 or older. If the Coach/Boat Captain is the students’ legal parent they will not require an observer.

4. CONSERVATION

All bass to be weighed in must be presented to the weigh in master in a weigh-in bag filled with enough water to sustain the health of the fish through the weigh in. No team/individual shall possess more than 5 legal bass at any time (Legal culling is permitted). Possession of more than 5 legal bass will be grounds for expulsion from the tournament in question. Switching or sharing fish with other teams or individuals is a violation of these rules and will result in immediate disqualification.

5. PURCHASING OF INFORMATION

The purchasing of, or bartering for, information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters, including but not limited to GPS waypoints (other than through commercially available sources) and the hiring of fishing guide services is not permitted by anglers, coaches, boat captains or anyone working on a team’s behalf within 10 days of the start of any tournament. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

6. OFF-LIMITS, PRACTICE & COMPETITION Off-

There is no lake off limits. Within 10 days of the tournament no anglers, coach or boat captain may practice with, hire, barter for, or engage in services with, for the purposes of locating or catching bass on the tournament waters, any person outside of their team. Within 10 days of the tournament anglers may only practice with their teammate that is confirmed in the tournament, their coach, their boat captain or an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister or grandparent) who also meets the above criteria concerning guides. Nobody else, except a media representative or official approved by the tournament committee, is allowed in the boat. Within 10 days of the tournament and extending through competition, anglers, coaches and boat captains may not solicit and/or receive information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except anglers, coaches and boat captains confirmed in the tournament and through publicly available sources (quasi-public websites, blogs and/or social media pages, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram and Periscope, set up for the specific purpose of sharing information with individuals or a small group of individuals are not publicly available sources). Within 10 days of the tournament and extending through competition, anglers, coaches and boat captains may not follow a no angler’s boat or participate in the placing of markers, brush or other physical fish attractors by no anglers or the practice of “hole sitting” by anyone. During competition days, anglers, coaches and boat captains may not place brush or other physical fish attractors, including chum of any kind, in tournament waters. Flights over tournament waters, including drones, are not permitted on competition days. An angler does not have to be present in the boat while a boat captain, coach, or immediate family member may be pre-fishing for an event.

Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

7. REGISTRATION & PRE-TOURNAMENT MEETING

Anglers must check in the morning of the tournament at the tournament trailer before takeoff. It is mandatory that 1 angler, or coach or boat captain attend the pretournament meeting at the time and place set forth in the tournament confirmation unless prior approval is received from the tournament committee. Anglers and/or coaches or boat captains not present for the pretournament meeting may not be entered in the tournament.

8. BOAT ASSIGNMENTS

Takeoff order (boat number) is determined by random draw. Onsite entries may receive a designated number for lake comers. Each team must be accompanied on the water by their boat captains. At registration, anglers are to pick 2 boat captains and one alternate. These are the only 3 boat captains that can be used through-out the year. If in a catastrophic event, none of the 3 are available, you may be granted an emergency boat captain for your event upon approval of the tournament director and the board.

9. SAFETY

Tournament officials have the right to delay, shorten or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the anglers. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather. Weather delays on tournament days result in half of the tournament day being lost (first flight take-off and check in), will result in cancellation.

Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each angler, coach and boat captain on the water is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved and state approved personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is in operation from boat check until weigh-in each day of the tournament. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition-shutoff device that must be securely attached to the driver’s body whenever the combustion engine is running. All persons in a tournament boat shall remain seated in a manufacturer-recommended on-plane seating location with a driver behind the steering wheel or at the tiller in full control of the boat whenever it is on plane or the combustion engine is running and in gear. Sitting on pedestal seats while the combustion engine is in operation and in gear is not permitted. Anglers are not permitted to drive the boat when the combustion engine is running. Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by anglers, coaches and boat captains. At the discretion of the tournament committee, tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. Anglers, coaches and boat captains may leave their boat and seek shelter in bad weather or when danger is eminent. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

Boat trouble must be reported immediately to one of the contacts on the information sheet given at check in for each tournament to avoid penalties or possible disqualification.

10. SPORTSMANSHIP

All Anglers, Coaches and Boat Captains are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, our sponsors, the school representing, the sport of fishing and Trader Bill’s, efforts to promote the sport. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the 2022 High School Fishing season.
  • Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration, the pretournament meeting or during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure.
  • Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances.
  • Conviction of a felony within the past 36 months.
  • Suspension/disqualification, probation or ban from any tournament or fishing organization.
  • Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of paragraph 8. In case of any conduct not complying with the standards outlined above, tournament officials have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete, to disqualify an angler or impose any penalty outlined in paragraph 1.
    • Negative or non-sportsman like comments in person or on social media pertaining to another angler, boat captain, coach, tournament sponsors or the tournament committee will not be tolerated. Any negative comment is to be reported to the committee before end of weigh in.

11. BOAT OPERATION

Coaches will supply and drive boats for their teams or arrange boat captains to supply and drive boats for their teams. To qualify as a coach or boat captain, the person or persons accompanying a team must be at least 19 years old and reside in the same state as the students comprising the team or be an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister or grandparent) that is at least 19 years old regardless of residence. Bass guides who operate or have operated for hire at any time during the previous 12 months from the tournament date on the designated tournament waters are not permitted as coaches or boat captains unless they are the parent or documented permanent legal guardian of one of the anglers on a team in the event. Written proof of permanent legal guardianship to the satisfaction of the tournament director may be required. The use of a guide as defined above will result in disqualification. Anglers may operate the trolling motor. Coaches and boat captains may provide assistance, including information about locating and catching fish, but are not permitted to fish. Anglers, coaches and boat captains may not use mobile communication devices, including but not limited to, cell phones, tablets, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, etc., to communicate with anyone about locating or catching fish on tournament waters during tournament hours. Mobile communication devices may be used during tournament hours to communicate with lockmasters about locking, to communicate with the tournament director. Anglers, coaches and boat captains may use smart phones and/or tablets during tournament hours for GPS, mapping, weather, power generation, tidal charts, personal fishing notes and related data. At no time during tournament hours may anglers, coaches and boat captains read or discuss social media posts from other anglers. If a special circumstance arises that inhibits a anglers’ ability to compete, the tournament director may allow the anglers to withdraw from competition and maintain the weight caught to that point.

Anglers may load and unload the boat if they have their boater’s education license and are of legal age.

12. BOAT & HORSEPOWER REGULATION

All boats must a minimum of 16 feet in length. No barges or similarly cumbersome craft will be permitted. Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Boats must contain a properly aerated live well space to maintain alive a limit catch of bass. Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament competition shall not exceed the horsepower capacity set forth on the “Maximum Capacities” placard described below. Each boat must have a clearly legible “Maximum Capacities” (or comparably titled) placard that includes a maximum horsepower rating affixed to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the maximum horsepower capacity specified on this placard. By signing the entry form, anglers, coaches and boat captains agree to submit their boat and/or motor to an inspection by tournament officials. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating placard will be cause for disqualification from the tournament and may result in ineligibility to compete in future High School Fishing tournaments. Fishing platforms must be factory-installed equipment. No portable platforms may be used in tournament competition. Fuel may be carried only in factory-installed (built-in) fuel tanks or auxiliary fuel tanks that are securely strapped or otherwise fastened to the boat. Any additional fuel used during the tournament day must be purchased from a retail facility open to the public and pumped through a hose with a nozzle. The use of generators, other than solar or wind-powered generators, is prohibited in anglers’ boats during tournament hours.

13. PERMITTED FISHING METHODS

Fishing is defined as having a lure attached to a line and a rod and reel with the rod in hand. All bass must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner. All lures must adhere to state regulations. Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers and biodegradable soft baits. Alabama rigs and similar umbrella-type rigs are limited to a maximum of five wires with a maximum of five spinners, five lures and three hooks (single or treble) unless state regulations are more restrictive, in which case state regulations prevail. Only ONE fishing rod may be used at a time. Students must initiate and complete every cast in order for a catch to be considered. Trolling as a method of fishing is strictly prohibited. Trolling is defined as operating any combustion engine to extend a cast or lengthen a retrieve or using any mechanical propulsion device to move the boat as the sole means of imparting action to the lure. All bass caught while sight-fishing must be hooked inside the mouth and immediately shown to your coach or boat captain for verification.

14. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS & BOUNDARIES

Teams may fish anywhere on tournament waters within the boundaries defined by the tournament director that are available to the public and accessible by boat except areas designated as “off-limits,” “no boats,” “keep out,” “restricted,” “no trespassing” or “no fishing” (or similar language or markings intended to restrict public access) by tournament officials, commercial property owners and/or local, state or federal officials, or within 50 yards of an angler’s boat that was first anchored. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or by a Power-Pole, Talon or similar shallow water anchor with the trolling motor in the up position. All fishing must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a anglers leave the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. The cutting of trees, bushes and/or logs after the start of onsite registration and/or the removal of official local, state or federal barricades at any time to make an area more accessible by boat is strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification from the tournament. The use of cables, ropes, chains or any type of block and tackle system to maneuver a boat into fishing waters is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification from the tournament. Teams must leave and return to the check-in by boat. The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day. No tournament boat may be loaded on a trailer before the team using the boat presents their catch for weigh-in, except with the permission of the tournament director. In the event of equipment failure or emergency, the tournament director must be notified as soon as it is safe to do so. There are then three permitted methods of returning to the check-in: (1) by both anglers remaining in their boat and being towed by water, (2) with permission from the tournament director, by one angler entering the boat of another team or (3) both anglers entering a rescue boat so designated by the tournament director. Under these three conditions the team’s catch may be counted without a penalty (except for late penalties, dead-fish penalties or other penalties pertaining to other tournament rules) provided each team’s fish are adequately marked or separated so as to provide clear distinction of each catch to the tournament director. Teams that elect to return to the check-in by any other means than cited above will forfeit their day’s catch to that point in time of the tournament day. Abandoning a boat and leaving it adrift without proper tie-off or anchoring after a mechanical failure may result in disqualification of that day’s weight. Any team returning to the check-in point will be eligible to restart and resume competition under the supervision of the tournament director or his designated tournament official. It is the sole responsibility of teams to locate the tournament director to request a restart. Teams must remain together at all times and within sight of their coach or boat captain until check-in. The momentary condition of being out of sight of each other for restroom breaks is permitted. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

15. CHECKPOINTS

There will be only one checkpoint for boat check in the morning and one check-in point in the afternoon. Live wells will be checked in the morning at take-off. Failure to go through boat check and checkout in the morning or failure to check in at the check-in point will result in disqualification. All fishing must cease upon check-in. Tournament hours are as listed –

Juniors –Will be due in at 2 pm *unless otherwise announced

Seniors- Will be due in at 3 pm *unless otherwise announced

If you are leaving a tournament early, you must 1) contact one of the contacts on the tournament information sheet, and 2) leave the boat number marker in the designated area at the weigh in.

16. LATE PENALTY

Weight is disqualified if the team is not officially checked in at the weigh-in site at the designated time.

17. LIVE FISH

Every effort must be made to keep bass alive through the use of a properly aerated live well. Eight ounces (1/2 lb.) will be deducted from the total weight for each dead bass presented for weigh-in. Ice-Chests as live wells will not be permitted without prior approval from the tournament committee. Short fish will be culled and not weighed.

18. SCORING

Scoring is determined by the pounds and ounces of each team’s catch during each tournament. Only largemouth, spotted, redeye or smallmouth bass are accepted species. No regurgitated forage or other foreign matter may be placed in a bass. The daily limit will be five bass per team unless the state or lake limit is less than five, in which case the state or lake limit will prevail. Teams possessing more than the tournament limit must notify the tournament director immediately upon discovery of the infraction and reduce their catch to the tournament limit by releasing live bass. Teams possessing more than the tournament limit will be penalized 2 pounds for each bass over the limit. The minimum length limit for bass will be 12 inches unless the state or lake limit is more than 12 inches, in which case, the state or lake limit will prevail. Bass presented for weigh-in that fail to measure the prescribed length limit will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound for each short bass presented. Each team’s catch must be presented in an official weigh-in bag. The winning team is determined by the day’s heaviest catch. Only one dead fish can be weighed and there is a ½ pound penalty for dead fish.

All Tournament weight disputes need to be brought up immediately to the tournament committee, as the weights will be official one the fish are released. In the event of a dispute, the tournament committee and coaches will meet to discuss the issue and make a final decision.

19. TIES

If a tie is in place, the place tied and the next place thereafter will be combined and split between the ties.

20. LOGO DISPLAY & MEDIA COVERAGE

Anglers, coaches and boat captains may wear their own apparel. Tournament officials reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to prohibit any anglers, coach or boat captain’s apparel that is determined to be offensive.

21. ALCOHOL & TOBACCO

During all days of competition any and all alcohol and tobacco logos are prohibited and may not be worn or displayed. Anglers, coaches and boat captains may not smoke or use tobacco products during tournament hours, including weigh-in, at any event.

22. TRUTH VERIFICATION TEST

Each angler and coach agree to submit, by signature on the tournament entry form, to a polygraph or voice stress analysis examination and to abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass an examination will result in disqualification from the tournament. Truth verification tests will be used at the sole discretion of tournament officials, and the determination of the meaning of the results will be made solely by tournament officials.

23. INSURANCE

Liability insurance with coverage in reasonable amounts is required on all boats used in High School Fishing tournaments. Proof of insurance must be with the boat being used and must cover all passengers in the boat. Random checks will be conducted. Failure to provide proof of insurance when requested by the tournament director may result in disqualification.

24. SCORING & QUALIFICATION:

A TEAM’S SCORE WILL BE THE WEIGHT OF THEIR CATCH PLUS POINTS FOR THE TOP 30 TEAMS, FIRST PLACE RECEIVING 30 POINTS. ALL TEAMS MUST FISH 3 OF THE 4 QUALIFING TOURNAMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO FISH THE TRADER BILL’S TRAIL CHAMPIONSHIP. ANGLERS WHO FISHED LESS THAN 3 CAN STILL FISH FOR A CHANCE TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS, BUT WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO FISH FOR TB CHAMPIONSHIP. TEAMS WILL RECEIVE 50 BONUS POINTS FOR FISHING WITH ONE OR BOTH TEAM MEMBERS IN 4 OF THE 4 QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS. A TEAM MUST FISH THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE ORIGINAL PARTNER THEY SIGNED UP WITH OR BY THEMSELF. IF A TEAM FISHES ALL 4 OF 4 TOURNAMENTS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DROP THE LOWEST SCORED TORUNAMENT, WHILE STILL KEEPING PARTICIPATION AND BONUS POINTS.

Example: 1st – 30 points, 2nd – 29 points, 3rd – 28 points, etc.

25. CAPTIONS

The captions at the beginning of each paragraph are intended to facilitate convenience in referring to the various rules. The captions are not part of the substance of the paragraph and should not be used in construction of any paragraph or of this overall set of rules.

26. RELEASE OF LIABILITY

Before an Angler, Boat Captain, Coach or Observer is allowed to compete in a tournament, they must have signed a Release of Liability waiver.

27. FINAL SAY

The Tournament Committee will have the final say in all matters concerning the rules interpretation or extenuation or unforeseen circumstances with may arise during any tournament.