Hill's Bassmasters

Salisbury, North Carolina 

By-laws

I.  PURPOSE 

1.  To support the sportsmanship of competitive bass fishing and to provide an organized arena for the same. 

2.  To promote and encourage the sport of fishing, particularly with youth. 

3.  To actively support and participate in conservation efforts involving environmental factors affecting the sport of bass fishing.

II.  AMENDING BY-LAWS 

1.  Motions to amend the by-laws can be made by any member in good standing. 

2.  Motions require a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at a meeting to be passed and incorporated in the by-laws. 
 

III.  MEMBERSHIP 

1.  New perspective members must be sponsored by a current member of the club and must attend a minimum of one tournament or club function for the purpose of introduction, after which, the members will vote. 

2.  Boater member applicants will be given priority for membership. 

3.  Acceptance of non-boater members will be limited to 20% of the total roster.  This is intended to preclude problems associated with not having enough boat seats in tournaments for the non-boater member. 

4.  A waiting list will be maintained for non-boaters in the order of those seeking membership. 

5.  Honorary membership may be extended by the club to selected individuals upon nomination of that person and a two-thirds majority vote of members present at a posted meeting. 

IV.  CLUB DUES 

1.  Club dues will be $10 per club season payable at the beginning of the season. 

2.  Dues will be the same regardless of when during the season a new member joins the club. 

3.  Dues must be current in order to be eligible for tournament participation. 

4.  Honorary members are not required to pay dues.

V.  CLUB OFFICIERS & DUTIES 

1.  There will be a minimum of three officers in the club.  Additional officers and/or special project coordinators may be elected or appointed at the discretion of the membership or officers. 

     a.  President – Preside over all club meetings and direct the activities of all official Club business.  Direct the activities of other Club officers. 

     b.  Tournament Director – Coordinate all tournament activities.  His decisions on the rules and the weights and length of all fish presented for weigh-in will be final.  To serve as president in his absence. 

     c.  Secretary/Treasurer -   Maintain all the records and correspondence for the Club.  Collect and maintain all of the Club funds.  Report expenditures of the funds to the Club.  Fill in for any of the other Club officers as needed. 

2.  Elections will be held annually after the last tournament of the current season and no later than prior to the first tournament of the new season.  New officers will assume their duties at the first club function following the election or in time to deal with any new business.  Outgoing officers will assist on any unfinished business. 

3.  Any Club member participating in more than one bass club will not be eligible to hold office if they are an officer in the other bass club.

VI.  TOURNAMENTS 

1.  Tournament sites, dates, and times will be established by the membership. 

2.  Members may bring a guest provided all other members have a boat ride. 

3.  Starting positions for the boaters will be established prior to the tournament. 

4.  Legal fish include Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass unless determined otherwise by the Club. 

5.  The creel (size & number) will be the legal limits on the impoundment being fished. 

6.  Fishing is permitted anywhere on the lake being fished reachable by boat from the blast off unless declared off limits by the Tournament Director. 

7.  Use of live bait is not permitted unless voted on specifically by the members for a special tournament. 

8.  All fish must be caught and landed from the boat. 

9.  Travel and boat expenses shall be shared equally by both partners and reimbursement will be made at the tournament site.  No shows will be held responsible for one-half the expenses of the partner. 

10.  Members must fish six (6) scheduled club tournaments to be eligible for the end of year Fish Off. 

11.  Fishing a tournament is defined as putting your boat in the water and making at least one cast. 

12.  Members who plan to be late for a tournament must give prior notification to one of the Club officers. 

VII.  TOURNAMENT SCORING 

1.  A point system will be used for the tournaments and the year-to-date standings: 

            -Tournament Winner-------50 points

            -Second Place----------------49 points

            -Third Place------------------48 points

            -Etc----------------------------47 points

            -Fishing but no fish----------25 points

            -Not fishing--------------------0 points

            -Bonus of 1 point for every 2 pounds.  This counts toward tournament and is

              cumulative for the total year.

            -Penalty of 2 ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish.

            -Penalty of one pound per minute will be deducted from competitors who are

              late to weigh-in.

            -For each fish presented for weigh-in that is determined to be under length, an

              equal number of fish will be forfeited beginning with the largest fish.

            -A member losing all their weight due to being late to weigh-in will still

              receive 25 points. 

VIII. TOURNAMENT FEES 

1.  Each member is required to pay $20 prior to blast off to fish a tournament. 

2.  The entry fees will be split as follows:

            $7   to winner.

            $3   to second place.

            $2   to third place.

            $5   to End of Year Fish Off.

            $3   to end of year Club Champion.

3.  There will be an optional big fish pot for each tournament which will cost $5.   

4.  Guests may participate only in the big fish pot and must pay the $5 fee. 

5.  Members may elect to participate in the optional $10 lunker pot for the year.  Commitment to participate by any member must be made prior to fishing their first tournament. 

6.  The pay back for the End of Year Fish Off will be 60% to the winner, 25% to second place, and 15% to third place. 

7.  Participants in the End of Year Fish Off may have an optional big fish pot for this tournament. 

IX. AWARDS 

1.  The top point earner for the season will be the Club Champion and will be awarded a trophy, and will have their name added to the Club Champion trophy on display at Hills Minnow Farm  store.  The Club Champion will also receive the accumulated $3 set aside from each of the regular tournament fees.  

2.  The member with the largest fish for the regular season, excluding the Fish Off, will receive a trophy, and will have their name added to the Club Lunker trophy on display at Hills Minnow Farm store. 

3.  The member with the largest fish for the regular season, excluding the Fish Off, and has paid their $10, will receive the money in the Lunker pot when the Club awards are presented. 

X. REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP 

1.  A member may be dropped from membership for the following: 

            a.  Failure to pay dues. 

            b.  Failure to pay tournament fees. 

            c.  Cheating in a tournament. 

            d. Any action which could reflect dishonor and disgrace on the club.