Participation
Tournaments will be held at the scheduled start date, time and location on this website and are scheduled to run 8 hours. Launch time may be affected by sunrise or sunset times and therefore will be announced at the ramp prior to take-off. It is the responsibility of the director to announce the weigh-in time prior to take off, however it is the responsibility of the angler to know the weigh-in time. If the angler misses the announcement, they should ask the director prior to take-off or on the water during competition.
There is a $50.00 yearly membership fee per angler (not team) to participate. This fee covers your membership for WMB and the membership Bassmaster Team Trail. All members 18 years and older must read and sign liability waiver before participating in any WMB tournament. A signed waiver is considered valid for one tournament season.
The membership fee is waived for participants 15 years of age or younger. These participants must be accompanied by a chaperone who is 18 years of age or older. Minors fishing with non-related or non-legal guardian partners as chaperones must also have a signed permission slip from a parent or legal guardian expressly permitting the activity. Donating sponsors and directors are also exempt from this fee, but must however pay all entry fees in full at every event.
The entry fee for HOTD or Super Saturday weekend events is $120.00 per boat. This includes $10.00 entry for a big bass pot. $10.00 from each entry will be held from the payback and kept for the year end classic tournament.
There is no boat limit. Commitment to participate will be decided upon by the angler by paying the entry and membership fees. Parking tickets or other infractions because of limited space or creative parking are the responsibility of the angler.
General Rules
The winner of the tournament is determined by the weight of the best 5 bass or less. All fish must be culled prior to end of the tournament. Only largemouth or smallmouth bass can be weighed. In the event of a tie, big bass weight will be used to determine the winning team.Anglers may only activley fish with one rod at a time. Anglers may not drag one bait/rod while activley fishing with another.
Tournament Participants are only allowed to use artificial baits during the tournament.
The Great Lakes are off limits on any body of water that is connected to the Great Lakes. You may not go past the end of the pier heads.
The resolution of protests will be handled by the director(s) at the time the protest is presented. All protests must be presented within 10 minutes of the scales closing.
Boat and Boat Operation
West Michigan Bass requires the use of USGC approved life vest and kill switch lanyards at any time when using the outboard engine.It is the boat owner’s responsibility to comply with all state and local regulations and have the watercraft equipped properly with safety equipment.
It is the boat operator’s responsibility to know and understand any and all boating laws, no wake restrictions, high speed boating restrictions, lake speed limits or other similar rules or restrictions.
Boaters are not allowed to pass other competator boats while in a no wake zone.
Teams
Tournament Conduct
Sportsmanship and courtesy will be shown by all teams entered towards fellow tournament anglers as well as any local fishermen, other boaters or property owners. Failure to comply can result in disqualification at the discretion of the Director(s). Disqualification will include forfeit of entry fees. Participants are not allowed to use illegal drugs or alcohol during tournament hours.
No Wake Zones
No wake zones are also no passing zones at all times. It will not be considered passing if the overtaking vessel is not following the same route or coming from a different angle as the boat being overtaken. No wake zone violations must be brought to directors attention prior to the closing of scales and must be accompanied by - video or photo evidence of a violation, existence of a written ticket or warning issued for the violation or corroboration or the violation by 2 or more separate boats participating in the tournament.
Life Jackets
Life Jackets must be worn at all times the gas motor is running and in gear. Life Jacket violations must be brought to directors attention prior to the closing of scales and must be accompanied by - video or photo evidence of a violation, existence of a written ticket or warning issued for the violation or corroboration or the violation by 2 or more separate boats participating in the tournament.
Off-Limits
Areas which are to be off limits will be announced by the director prior to each tournament. In addition to these specific areas, any and all areas publicly marked as private, no tresspassing, non-motorized craft only or otherwise off-limits to powered boats will be considered off-limits to all participants. Violations must be brought to directors attention prior to the closing of scales and must be accompanied by - video or photo evidence of a violation, existence of a written ticket or warning issued for the violation or corroboration or the violation by 2 or more separate boats participating in the tournament. Additionally, a single boat can request the directors verify GPS tracks on the accused as evidence of a violation.
All other Legal/Regulatory Violations
Unless specifically outlined above, any and all other protests must be accompanied by a written ticket or warning with description of the violation issued to the accused party during tournament hours.
Dead Fish
Short Fish
Points & Scoring
Points can be accumulated as follows (per team, per event):
Points per Boat One point per boat will be given based on the number of boats (Number of Boats - (Place + 1) = Points) for example with 11 boats, 1st place receives 11 pts, 2nd 10pts, 3rd 9pts and so on. Zero fish ties and/or last place will be awarded 0 additional points.
Team of YearHOTD T.O.Y top 5 highest overall points getters will recieve a cash award from The Outdoorsmen Pro Shop.Team of the year will be determined by a fish off between the top points getters from each division. The fish off will take place during the classic and the top finishing team will be presented an award.
Year End Classic & Eligibility
A team must participate in all 5 HOTD or Super Saturday tournaments to be eligible to fish the classic. The classic entry fee will be free to those teams that qualify through a division point’s race. Teams that have fished all 5 HOTD or Super Saturday tournaments, but didn’t qualify with points, may participate in the WMB Classic for an entry fee of $100.00. Payouts can include any paid entries topped with the money kept from each tournament, sponsor donated cash or prizes and trophies/awards.
The top ~30% of boats that have fished the required amount of events in each division will be eligible for free entry. Eligible boats must commit to participating in the classic no later than one week prior to the event. Launch order will be determined by point standing.
Please note, Classic qualifying team pairing rules have been updated for 2016.
Points per team are calculated as the sum of:
Directors
West Michigan Bass directors will be allowed to fish the tournament(s) they run at no cost providing there is at least 5 boats present not including the director’s boat. Directors will be required to be the launch boat at each and every tournament.