U.S. Angler's Choice Bass Tournament Trails, America's Largest Team Tournament Trail

Team Rules for 2007
Region 3 & 4 Only
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1.) RULES: These rules shall remain unchanged throughout 2007 season . Interpretation and enforcement of Angler's Choice rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. Federal, state, local and lake laws and rules must be obeyed at all times and shall supersede Angler's Choice rules when in conflict. Regional and local circuits rules may differ from these rules at the discretion of the tournament director or regional vice president.

2.) PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Membership is required to participate in all Angler's Choice regular team, pro-am, and semi-pro tournaments. Tournament eligibility and entry is open to all members in good standing with at least one team member at least 18 years of age or older.

3.) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND DRUGS: During tournament hours no alcoholic beverages or narcotic drugs may be consumed or allowed in the boat while on the water, except prescription medications.

4.) SPORTSMANSHIP: Displaying of poor sportsmanship 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.

5.) BOATS & MOTORS: There is no horsepower limit, however, no engine may exceed the BIA horsepower rating for the boat in use. All boats must meet US Coast Guard and state regulations. All boats must have an emergency kill switch. All boats must have a functioning aerated livewell suitable to sustain a tournament limit in reasonable condition. Extra gas tanks are not allowed. 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. Boats used in Angler's Choice tournament must have an insurance policy in effect with a minimum of $100,000.00 liability coverage.

6.) SAFETY: Boating safety must be observed at all times during practice and competition. A US 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 fourty-eight-48) inches.

7.) 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. 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 are not allowed during competition.

8.) PROTESTS: All protests must be submitted in writing prior to the official closing of the scales.

9.) POLYGRAPH: All contestants are subject to a polygraph testing. Failure to submit is grounds for disqualification. Any contestant who has failed a polygraph test for cheating in a bass tournament or whose results are found to be inconclusive shall not be eligible to compete in Angler's Choice tournaments. Polygraph and voice stress testing are performed at the discretion of the tournament director and all participants are bound by the findings and any penalties resulting from a failed test. Including but not limited to disqualification and forfeiture of prizes.

10.) SCORING FISH: Each team or couple may weigh-in five-5) fish per day, a minimum of 12 inches in length unless state or lake limits are greater, measured on a flat board with mouth closed and tail compressed. Any team weighing-in a fish shorter than the legal tournament length will be assessed a one-1) lb. 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 big bass brought to the scales deceased, will be directly subject to the .20 lbs. penalty. Only Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass will be scored. Any team returning to the checkpoint late will be penalized at the rate of one pound per minute up to 5 minutes. After 5 minutes no weight will be allowed.

11.) BREAKDOWNS: Contestants must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat. In the event of equipment failure, there shall be two permitted methods of returning to the check-in and weighing fish. (1) By both partners remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or (2) By one partner entering the boat of another Angler's Choice Team Tournament contestant or staff member along with the days catch. Teams fish must be kept separate.

12.) CULLING FISH: It is the responsibility of each team to keep no more than a maximum 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. No culling is allowed in the host marina.

13.) PERMITTED FISHING WATERS: No fishing is allowed inside the host marina. 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. 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.

14.) GUIDES: Guides may not be used on official practice days. Guides are allowed to participate in Angler's Choice tournaments if they have fished a preceding tournament in a circuit's series of seven. If it is their first tournament, guides must pay for the next tournament in advance.

15.) OFF LIMITS PERIOD: Angler's Choice does not impose an "Off limits period" however, each tournament director at their discretion may do so. Clarify this rule with your local tournament director.

16.) CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: Qualifying will be based on a points and pound format beginning with 100 points for first place and descending down by one 1) point per place. In each event "First Place" will receive 100 points plus their weight, e.g., 1st Place = 100 points + 20.50 lbs. = 120.50 points, 2nd Place = 99 points + 20.00 lbs. = 119 points. This procedure will be followed for all teams weighing fish. The lowest team having weight will be the last points given based on the point's structure. All remaining teams that fished but did not weigh fish will receive one-half (½) of the next possible points based off the point structure. Example: The last team weighing fish in a 45-boat field ended at 40th place with 2.0 lbs. They would receive 60 points + 2.0 lbs = 62 points. The remaining 5 teams without weight would receive 29.5 points each (59/2 = 29.5). No points shall be awarded to contestants that pay but do not fish.

17.) CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING: You must fish a minimum of 5 regularly scheduled team tournaments during the year to qualify for a championship berth based on points system. You must fish a minimum of 6 regularly scheduled team to qualify for a championship berth based on the "Wild Card" system. Championship qualifiers will be determined after the last regularly scheduled tournament in each division. Angler's Choice reserves the right to allow alternate teams to participate in regional championships to ensure full fields. To qualify for a "Wild Card" berth teams must fish 6 of 7 qualifying events. "Wild Card" qualifying shall be determined by their finishing position in the last tournament of the year and after points qualifiers have been removed.

20 or less boat average will qualify 8 teams plus 2 wild cards.
21 - 25 boat average will qualify 12 teams plus 5 wild cards.
26 - 30 boat average will qualify 16 teams plus 5 wild cards.
31 - 40 boat average will qualify 18 teams plus 6 wild cards.
41 - 50 boat average will qualify 20 teams plus 7 wild cards.
51 - 60 boat average will qualify 22 teams plus 8 wild cards.
61 - 70 boat average will qualify 24 teams plus 9 wild cards.
71 - 80 boat average will qualify 26 teams plus 10 wild cards.
80 and above boat average will qualify 40% of average plus 14 wild cards.

18.) PARTNERS: (Regions 3-4 only) A member may fish one event alone per season, per region. Members accumulate points for the designate team when fishing alone providing the other team member does not participate in the same event. Any team may use a substitute if one member cannot fish a given tournament. Any substitute partner must be a member of Anglers Choice. Two substitutes will be allowed per team, per region, per year. No substitution of partners will be allowed at regional classics except in cases of partner death, catastrophic illness, military or police duty. Anglers Choice Regional Vice Presidents shall have the final approval on any classic substitutions. Anglers who professionally Guide on the body of water being fished are not acceptable substitutions.

19.) CHOICE DIVISION: Teams may fish an unlimited number of tournaments within a single region in order to qualify in that region's “ Choice Division “ and for that region's championship but only their best 7 point events will be calculated toward a championship berth regardless of the number of tournament fished. A team that fishes in 2 or more divisions within a region automatically accumulates points in that region's “Choice Division”. A team can qualify for a regional championship via more than one-1 division. However, a team may not represent more than one division e.g. “Oroville” or “East Delta” or “Choice”, although qualified in all three-3 at the regional championship. The division in which a team accumulates the highest ranking will be the division they represent at the championship. Choice Division championship qualifying shall be calculated by taking the total number of entries in that division during the year divided by seven - 7 to produce an average number of entries. That average shall be the number used for which qualifying shall be based as per our championship qualifying criteria. Points in the Choice Division are only for place finished. Weight is not calculated in the Choice Division Standings. For Example: A team finishing in 1st place receives 100 points, a team finishing in 2nd place receives 99 points and so on.

The “Choice” division affords Angler's Choice members an additional opportunity to qualify for a regional championship they might not otherwise be able to meet the minimum qualification for. Example: If a team misses the first few regularly scheduled tournaments within a single division, which requires a minimum of 5 tournament participations for qualification, they can still meet this 5 tournament minimum requirement by fishing in other scheduled tournaments within a given region. Another example can be found in; a team that has “Bad luck” in their first few tournaments and scored low points, thus missing the point's requirement for qualification, can make it up by fishing and qualifying via the “Choice Division”.

20.) CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING: You must fish a minimum of 5 regularly scheduled team tournaments during the year to qualify for a championship berth based on points system. You must fish a minimum of 6 regularly scheduled team to qualify for a championship berth based on the "Wild Card" system. Championship qualifiers will be determined after the last regularly scheduled tournament in each division. Angler's Choice reserves the right to allow alternate teams to participate in regional championships to ensure full fields. To qualify for a "Wild Card" berth teams must fish 6 of 7 qualifying events. "Wild Card" qualifying shall be determined by their finishing position in the last tournament of the year and after points qualifiers have been removed.

20 or less boat average will qualify 8 teams plus 2 wild cards.
21 - 25 boat average will qualify 12 teams plus 5 wild cards.
26 - 30 boat average will qualify 16 teams plus 5 wild cards.
31 - 40 boat average will qualify 18 teams plus 6 wild cards.
41 - 50 boat average will qualify 20 teams plus 7 wild cards.
51 - 60 boat average will qualify 22 teams plus 8 wild cards.
61 - 70 boat average will qualify 24 teams plus 9 wild cards.
71 - 80 boat average will qualify 26 teams plus 10 wild cards.

80 and above boat average will qualify 40% of average plus 14 wild cards.

In the event a partner is unable to make the TOC for some unforseen reason, two qualifying members can join up to fish the TOC. For Example: John Doe and Bill Smith qualify for the championship, as does Jim Jones and Jerry Wilson. If John Doe and Jim Jones are unable to make the TOC, Then Bill Smith and Jerry Wilson may team up and fish the event together. This can only take place if both teams have qualified for the championship based on the standard Angler's Choice Regional Qualifying Rules, laid out above and is approved by the Regional Director.

21.) 7 EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM : All Teams who fish Anglers Choice Pro Team Tournament Trails a minimum of 7 events and qualify for their respective Regional Championship now have a new added benefit in return for their support. You will now be elgible to fish any other Pro Team Regional Championship in the country. There are some very important restrictions on this benefit. You must Register with Anglers Choice @ 800 360 7112 to fish this event no later 30 days previous to the event

21b.) OFFICIAL PRE-FISH PERIOD FOR TOCs : Official pre-fish for all lakes hosting TOCs begins 2 days prior to the event. Official Pre-Fish means that no one other than your team member or a member of your immediate family is allowed on the boat with any angler wishing to participate in the event. This eliminates the use of guides for the days immediately prior to the event. Life Jackets and kill switches must also be worn at all times, while the gas motor is running, during this official pre-fish period. Failure to follow these rules during the pre-fish period will result in disqualification from the event.

22.) 2007 ANGLER OF THE YEAR CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM : At the conclusion of each divisions tournament year the team with the most points shall be deemed the Anglers of the year. This shall also include the Choice division. As Anglers of the year, those teams will then advance to the Regional championship and fish against all the other divisional Anglers of the year at the Regional Championship. The top 3 Angler of the year teams shall be awarded the following prizes.

1st Place $1,500.00 in Cash and Prizes plus Entry Fees for 2006 Team Events

2nd Place $1,000.00 in Cash and Prizes plus Entry Fees for 2006 Team Events

3rd Place $500.00 in Cash and Prizes plus Entry Fees for 2006 Team Events

These prizes shall be independent of the regular Regional Championship prizes and the Anglers of the year shall be fishing for both prize pools.

23.) PARTNERS: (Regions 1-2 only) A member may fish the first event alone without a designated partner. Partners may be switched through the 2nd event fished. You may only switch your partner 1 time and and it must be prior to the 3rdevent of the season. Members accumulate points for the designate team when fishing alone providing the other team member does not participate in that event. Either member of a team is allowed to fish up to 3 events alone and representing the team, providing that the team fishes at least 4 tournaments together. After the 2nd event no substitution of partners will be allowed except in cases of partner death, catastrophic illness or military duty, or at the director's discretion.

24.) PARTNERS: (Regions 3-4) A member may fish one event alone per season, per region. Members accumulate points for the designate team when fishing alone providing the other team member does not participate in the same event. Any team may use a substitute if one member cannot fish a given tournament. Any substitute partner must be a member of Anglers Choice. Two substitutes will be allowed per team, per region, per year. No substitution of partners will be allowed at regional classics except in cases of partner death, catastrophic illness, military or police duty. Anglers Choice Regional Vice Presidents shall have the final approval on any classic substitutions. Anglers who professionally Guide on the body of water being fished are not acceptable substitutions.

What is a “Division” or "Trail" ? A “Division” is another term for the local tournament trail. An example of a division is Ray-Bend, Southern California, Gold City, Illinois, Alamo, or Wappapello.

What is a “Region”? A “Region” is a group of divisions in one of six geographical parts of the USA. The six U.S. Angler's Choice Regions are Northwest Region, Southwest Region, Central Region, Southeast Region, North Region, and Northeast Region. Further, each “Region” shall have its own “Choice Division”.