Our Club is dedicated to serving the Central Valley fishing community.
Our membership is growing at a steady pace. With this growth, we have been able to accomplish more, and have a larger impact upon our community.
We welcome you with open arms. Please inquire today about how you can become a part of our growing membership.
For More Information email kelster1574@aol.com
Outing Rules:
1. RULE CHANGES
Great efforts, study, and research have gone into the formulation of these rules. The following rules of this club may be reviewed for changes bi-annually. The decision of the Board shall be final in all matters. However, additional rules may be added to adjust to individual tournament locations for safety reasons and/or reasons set forth by California Department of Fish and Game (D.F.G.). Any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates any of the Modesto Am-BASS-Ador rules, federal boating regulations, or violates the fish and game laws will be disqualified. Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Board of Directors.
2. SAFETY
Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by all tournament competitors. Each boat shall contain two persons if possible. No unauthorized trading of partners to be permitted. Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved type 1, 2, or 3 life preserver. This preserver must be worn anytime the boat is on plane. The preserver must be strapped, snapped, or zipped securely and maintained in that condition until the competitor reaches his fishing location. If a member must leave an outing early, he must leave word with someone in the club before departing. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants (prescriptions excepted) are allowed during tournament hours.
3. SPORTSMANSHIP
Competitors in outings are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation.
4. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT
Only artificial lures may be used. 'no live baits" or "prepared baits" will be permitted with the exception of pork strip rind, etc. Only one casting, spin casting, or spinning rod and reel may be used at any one time. No rod longer than 8 ft. will be permitted; all other types 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. In the event of hang-ups, the lure must be retrieved immediately or the line severed and retrieved later, but the fouled rod cannot be left in the water even though hung up. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. The use of marker buoys is permitted. However, a contestant may not use marker buoys to "protect," "reserve," or make claim to any area of more than 50 yards distance from his boat position. NOTE: If a contestant desires to distribute marker buoys in excess of the 50-yard limit, he may do so with the understand that others have the right to fish any areas located more than 50 yards distance from any boat.
5. BOAT AND MOTOR
All boats must be equipped with some type of ignition kill switch and must be secured to driver when boat is on plane. Fishing boats may be used that are 15 ft. or more in length with no less than 40 HP during club outings. A small electric motor is required for slow maneuvering. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. No "barges" or similar cumbersome craft will be permitted. Having been determined that boats equipped with "stick steering" present greater than normal safety hazard, no boat so equipped shall be permitted to be used during tournament hours by any competitor with engines of 65 HP or larger. The Board of Directors shall make the definition of “stick steering”. All boats must be equipped with a functional depth finder. Every boat must have a functional live well space, aerated, to adequately maintain a live limit catch of bass by both fishermen using the boat. Tournament officials shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is proper and adequate. ALL BOATS MUST MEET B.I.A. AND COAST GUARD REQUIREMENTS. ALL BOAT OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CURRENT PERSONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE AND ON FILE.
6. BOAT OPERATION AND EXPENSE.
A full discussion must be held between the two partners prior to a club activity as to the schedule of boat operations and/or expenses. This schedule must permit each partner equal time to fish from the front of the boat and to operate the trolling motor, so as to afford each partner the opportunity to fish his selected waters an equal number of hours. Persons fishing a club outing, as non-boater will pay a fee of $25.00 plus half of the lake entrance/launch fee to boat owner, with exception of out-of-town outings. They can and will be negotiated and are the sole responsibility of the boater and the non-boater. If a contestant waives the above right, both shall retain the right to select the fishing waters for 1/2 the tournament day, providing his pre-fishing findings are current (current being within prior 15 days). Partners should agree on fishing waters and time on such waters prior to take-off. However, a partner may not be required to leave an area that is producing keeper fish for both partners, unless he agrees to do so. If both contestants are catching keeper fish, the situation may void the agreement made prior to take-off. However, both contestants must agree. Any contestant, who, in the judgment of the tournament officials, operates the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap his partner, shall be disqualified. All speed zones shall be complied with.
7. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS
Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except waters posted off limits, i.e. no fishing by lake officials or stated by D.F.G.-this being designated by signs and/or buoys, or within 50 yds of another competitor's boat which is anchored. A non-anchored boat shall not permit any competitor to fish within a 50-yd circle claimed by him, unless these rights are surrendered. All angling must be done from the boat. Contestants must not depart boat to land fish, boat must remain in tournament waters daily but not into different waters. A contestant may not leave his boat for the purpose of carrying, towing, or pushing his boat to fishing waters which are otherwise inaccessible. A contest may not get out of his boat to reduce weight or improve floatability for the purpose of gaining access to fishing waters that are otherwise inaccessible. Contestants must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat. Both competitors must remain in boat at all times except in case of dire emergency. Trailering of boats to a different location during tournament hours is prohibited. Additional "OFF LIMITS" AREAS WILL BE ANNOUNCED PRIOR TO TOURNAMENTS.
8. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT
There shall be only one official point for check-out and check-in and this point shall be designated at the draw. At the time of check-out, all competitors and their boats shall be in full conformance with all rules set forth by the Tournament Committee. All fishing must cease upon check-in. Disqualification will result from culling inside the buoys or 5-mile per hour zone after official weigh-in time and all fish in possession must be weighed.
9. FISHING HOURS
To be announced prior to the tournament at draw. Contestants may not start prior to the official start given by Weigh Master, or club Director in his absence.
10. PENALTIES
Anyone weighing in a fish smaller than the 13-inch minimum size length, will have one (1) lb. per each short fish subtracted from the remaining total weight of fish. Any member bringing in only one fish and being short will lose that outing's points (5). Measuring will be done with the fish's mouth open on the Wil-E-Go Board or otherwise specified. Once a contestant has turned in his bag of fish to the tournament officials, those fish then become the property of Modesto Am-BASS-Adors and cannot be added to or subtracted from. Any contestant weighing in a larger limit (number of fish) than specified as the tournament limit shall be disqualified.
Dead fish - ½ pound deducted for each dead fish from total weight.
Anyone coming in ten (10) minutes late will lose all weight for that days' fishing. One (1) pound per minute will be deducted during the ten (10) minute grace period. Any exceptions must be approved by the Board of Directors.
All “member” contestants must wear club apparel with official logo or a 5 point penalty will be charged for that outing.
11. PAIRING OF PARTNERS
Dues must be current to qualify for fishing club outings. It shall be the responsibility of each partner to appear at a mutually agreed upon location. Tournament officials shall have no responsibility for finding missing partners. If a member desires to not fish with another member he has drawn, may decline at the time of the draw, contestants will be allowed one re-draw only. In Club outings there does not have to be 2 persons to a boat if a person deems to go solo.
Partner selection to be by draw, except on out-of-town and night outings. They will be a “pick your own partner."
Both out-of-town outings each year (2) shall be a 2-day outing. Outing date and hours of the outing will be decided by the membership prior to the outing.
All out-of-town pairings are the sole responsibility of each member. May only go solo or take a guest when all non-boaters are paired. In the event of a two-boat draw, first boater drawn will take his boat. In the event of a boat-on boat draw, the “no boater” may at his discretion elect to fish out of his own boat. In this case, in the interest of safety, both fishermen should attempt to find a guest.
No member may intentionally pair to fish with the same person on a regular club outing more than four times (4) a year, twice (2) by pick, and twice (2) by pick for out of town, all other times will be solely by “luck of the draw”.
Members may fish club outings with non-club members who are not prospective members (subject to paragraph #4, only two (2) times during the outings year, either picks or draws. providing:
§ It has been cleared with the outing coordinator so that no active club member is without a ride.
§ This will exclude all out of town outings.
Members should attend the first meeting of the month for partner selection, or notify Weigh Master if unavailable, then the club president, as to intent for that month's outing: boater or non-boater, fishing or not fishing.
12. PROTEST
Any protest or appeal must be registered with the Weigh Master within 30 minutes after weigh-in and will be decided upon by Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be required to enforce all the rules and regulations of the Modesto AmBassAdors regardless of who the discrepant party(s) might be.
No member will have more than his five (5) fish limit in his possession during a club outing.
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.
Competition is based upon individual efforts, with scoring determined by total weight of each participant's catch for the overall event. The Weigh Master may measure the smallest fish in your catch with a “Wil-E-GO Board”. Heaviest single bass among contenders will determine the winner in the event of ties. All contestants must possess a valid fishing license. All club standings will be on an individual basis; Scoring in the event of a tie and there is no bigger fish to break that tie, then the points will be given the same for each. Each contestants best 10 out of the 12 outings will count toward the year's total points (2 throw outs). All points associated with a “throw-out” will be deducted from the angler’s points total for the year.
Big Fish and Option Pools are strictly members only.
14. WEIGH-IN
Weigh Master has full control of take-off and weigh-in and his decisions are final. You must check in with the recorder whether you have fish or not. Big fish for each stringer will be weighed separately. This is in case of a tie. Heaviest fish will decide winner. All live fish will be released at club outings except trophy fish. All guests are required to weigh in all fish.
15. DAMAGES
Damages of any nature to a contestant's equipment, tackle, or boat during a Modesto Am-BASS-Adors supervised event are the responsibility of the individual causing the damage.
16. LAKE SUGGESTIONS
Lake outing selection may be changed up until one month prior to outing. No one lake will be fished as a club outing more than two consecutive times. Night outings will be scheduled on the weekend closest to that month's Full Moon.
17. NON-CLUB PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS
Any prospective non-club member's previous 2 months outing weights for the year will count when he becomes a Modesto Am-BASS-Ador, providing he pays the current dues and insurance.
