This is my starting point if I ever start a club.
OKLAHOMA
MINI BOAT
ASSOCIATION
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MEMBERSHIP RULES AS FOLLOWS
OMBA is a non-profit organization
Membership fee is $50.00.
Membership will be free for current member who signs three new members (excluding Tackle & Backwoods show).
Participation is open to anyone who is 18 years of age or older. Any person entering a tournament under the age of 18 must provide a written letter releasing club of liability. The letter must be signed by the children’s parent, or legal guardian, and received by a club officer prior to fishing any tournament.
Children age 15 and under are honorary members of OMBA, and may fish any or all tournaments. Honorary members are not required to pay the $50.00 membership fee. Children 16 or older are required to pay the tournament fee to be allowed in the boat. Children 15 and under are allowed to fish or ride in the boat of a current member, and the tournament fee is optional.
All participants are required to sign a release of liability waiver form prior to fishing any tournament. This waiver form is contractual and binding as long as you are a member in good standing of OMBA.
All members are required to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all functions and club meetings. Any problems that may arise will be handled by club officers, and could result in the dismissal, or disqualification of anymore not complying with club rules.
All tournament fees are to be paid prior to the start of every tournament. If an emergency arises and you are unable to make check-in, you are required to find a club officer prior to start fishing. You will be permitted to locate an officer by cell phone if one is available.
It is the member’s sole responsibility to know all rules and regulations of OMBA
There will be no changing of the rules during the year. All emergency’s and protests will be handles by club officers.
Only club members will be allowed to vote on any issues up for vote.
Mini-Boats must meet the following requirements:
No boat longer than 14ft in length
No gas motor will be allowed to exceed the maximum horsepower coast guard rating.
All club funds will be kept in the club account throughout the calendar year. All club funds will be distributed at the end of the calendar year. The only exception will be the $300.00 start up money for the upcoming year.
TOURNAMENT RULES
1. Club officers will choose the tournament dates for the upcoming year in the December meeting.
2. They will present their recommendations for the dates to the club members at the January membership meeting.
3. Rules of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation are required of every participant. Participants are required to observe the rights of others. A distance of (50) fifty feet is required unless permission to fish inside those limitations is obtained.
4. All participants must comply with regulations to: Lights, Registration, Life preservers, Fire Extinguishers, and Sound devices.
5. Participants are to observe all local, state, federal, and club rules at all times.
6. Participants must fish with artificial lures or baits only. Pork trailers are allowed. No live baits. Fish must be caught on rod and reel only. Bass caught by participants must be taken alive and in a conventional sporting manner. No trolling. Only largemouth, spotted and small mouth bass will be counted
7 Fish must be kept in an aerated system when transporting from one spot to another.
8 . Participants may fish any area of the Tournament Lake except in restricted areas.
9. All “Point Tournaments” are off limits to pre-fishing Monday through Thursday preceding the tournament, with Friday being a legal pre-fish day.
10 A maximum of (5) five bass can be weighed in at each weigh-in, (4) at Okemah. Fish must be at least (10) ten inches in length unless Lake or State regulations are different. No carryover fish will be allowed on (2) two day tournaments.
11. Tournament director will designate check in, start fish, stop fish, and weigh-in times. No one will be checked in prior to check in times. No one is eligible to leave check-in site until you have paid your fees, and had your live well checked. Check in will be the same for day (2) two of a (2) two day tournament.
12. All boats should slow to a courteous speed when approaching, and passing someone fishing. There will be a no wake in sheltered areas.
13. The tournament director will be in charge of all tournaments and the official bump board. If the tournament director deems a fish to be questionable for any reason, then a club officer not directly involved will make the final ruling on weather the fish in question is legal. This decision will be final.
14. A legal fish must touch the mark of the bump board, either by laying flat or by fanning the tail. If a fish is found short, then that fish will be thrown out and a (1) one pound penalty will be assessed. You may use the official bump board to measure questionable fish prior to weigh-in starting; this is called a courtesy bump. Once weigh-in has started there will be no courtesy bumps. No exceptions to this rule.
15. A penalty of 2/10 pound and loss of fish will be assessed to participants weighing in a dead fish. The tournament director will determine if any and all fish are dead or alive.
16. Tournament participants up to (15) fifteen minutes late for weigh-in will be penalized (1) one pound per minute. If more than (15) fifteen minutes late it will result in a disqualification. The tournament director will appoint a member to watch for late participants.
17. Fish must be at least (10) ten inches in length unless the lake limit is larger, then that lake limit will be used. If a “Slot Lake” is used the (10) ten inch minimum will still be in effect.
18. If a “Slot Lake” is selected. Example: If the lake has a 13-16 slot, a fish touching the (13) thirteen inch mark of the bump board it is an “illegal” fish. If the fish is touching the (16) sixteen inch mark it is a legal fish. This is in effect even if fanning the tail
19. A verbal protest of club rules may be protested to a club officer within (15) fifteen minutes of last call for fish to be weighed in. If a verbal protest is made, then all awards will be withheld until the outcome of the protest is settled. The participant protesting has (48) forty-eight hours to put his protest in writing. This should include the date of the infraction, the name of the individual the protest is against, an outline of the reason for the protest, a list of any possible witnesses, and the signature of the individual filing the protest. The club officer’s decision on any and all protests will be final.
20. There are no spotters, and no outside assistance from non-members allowed while fishing any club tournaments.
21. Any person in violation of club rules during a tournament will forfeit their catch for that day on which the rule was broken.
22. This club reserves the right to administer a polygraph test to any member at anytime.
23. There will be 9 regular tournaments, and a “winner take all” Fall Classic tournament. Only the top 10 in the points standings will qualify for the Fall Classic.