2009 Silverado Pro-Am Bass Tour Rules
1. Rule Changes
These rules will remain unchanged during the year 2009. Interpretation of the rules will be left exclusively to
the Silverado tournament director. Decisions of the tournament director are final in all matters and are not
subject to appeal.
2. Participation
Amateur participation is open only to tournament anglers who are 16 years of age or older. Any person entering
a tournament under the age of 18 must have the signature of their parent or legal guardian in the provided space
on the entry form. Pro participation is open to anglers 18 years of age or older. All contestants must have in
their possession a valid state fishing license.
Point standings. 59 points will be awarded to the winner of each qualifying tournament, 57 for 3rd, etc. All
anglers who receive weight credit will receive points. The top fourteen Pros and the top fourteen Ams from the
point standings after the four qualifying tournaments (ties resolved by total weight), the winners of each event
along with Wild Card entries (2 Pros & 2 Ams) will be invited to the Shoot-Out Championship consisting of 20
teams consisting of 1 Pro & 1 Am. If an event winner resides in the top 14 in points number 15 will be invited
etc. If any Pro or Am is unable to attend the Shoot-Out Championship, the next person in the point standings
may be invited.
3. Angler Code of Conduct
Anglers participating in any Silverado Pro Am Bass Tour event shall observe this code of conduct and the
applicable rules for the specific event in which they are participating. Anglers shall, at all times, conduct
themselves in a manner becoming professional anglers (including Amateur anglers) that will not reflect
unfavorably on the Tour, its members, officers or representatives, tournaments or sponsors. To this end, anglers
shall use their best efforts to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in support of the sport of professional
fishing. Any angler who violates any of the provisions of the Angler Code of Conduct may be subject to fines,
forfeiture of tournament winnings, suspension from competing in Silverado Pro Am Bass Tour events,
permanent ban from competition, or any combination thereof deemed appropriate by the Silverado Pro Am Bass
Tour officials.
4. Pre-tournament practice
No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating Bass or potential fishing waters after 5
pm the day before the tournament except during tournament hours. The purchasing of information or the hiring
of services will not be permitted for 5 days prior to the tournament and continuing through the tournament day.
5. Registration and Pretournament Meeting
It is mandatory that each contestant register in person at the designated site or send a person who is 16 years of
age or older to represent them. This location will be posted at least one week prior to the tournament on the
official Silverado Pro Am Bass Tour web site www.silveradoproambass.com . Non-contestants can represent
one person; contestants can represent themselves and one other person. This representative must attend the
pretournament meeting to record vehicle/trailer parking directions, flights, ease-off number, takeoff time,
check-in time, off-limits areas, size and creel limits, etc. This representative must also record the partner draw
information to receive the contestant’s boat ease-off number, meet the contestant’s partner, and record the
partner’s lodging information, phone number and exact location for the contestant and partner to meet prior to
takeoff. Registration hours are 4-6 p.m. local time the day before each tournament. Contestants registering
between 6-6:15 p.m. will pay a $50 late fee that will be donated to the YMCA. Contestants more than 15
minutes late for registration may forfeit their entry fee and not be entered in the tournament. Contestants not
present or represented for registration and partner pairings may forfeit their entry fee and not be entered in the
tournament.
6. Parings
Partners will be paired by a random drawing and posted on the official Silverado web site
www.silveradoproambass.com 5 days prior to the next tournament. Ease-off numbers will be given at
Registration. All contestants must arrange to meet their partner prior to the tournament morning. It will be the
responsibility of the Pro Angler to be sure this contact in made however Am partners are encouraged to make
contact also. Partners should advise each other of their respective lodging and phone numbers and establish a
meeting time and place for the following morning’s takeoff. The tournament director, at his or her sole
discretion, may reassign partners prior to takeoff. Boat positions will be handed out at registration.
7. Safety
Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant, under penalty of disqualification for that day, must
wear a fastened, U.S. Coast Guard approved, personal flotation device and have the engine kill switch (console
& tiller boats) attached to the boat operator anytime the combustion engine is in operation from boat check until
weigh-in. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition shut-off device that must be secured to the
driver’s body whenever the combustion engine is in operation. At the discretion of the tournament director,
tournament days may be shortened, postponed, or cancelled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.
8. Cell Phones & Information
All anglers are subject to inspection during the tournament; patrol boats may come alongside and conduct
inspections at any time. No other boats may come in contact with contestants’ boats with the exception of a TV
camera/media boat. No fishing information or schedule information may be given to contestants during
tournament fishing hours by anyone in any fashion. Cell phones are allowed for safety purposes only. No
contact between competitors is allowed during tournament hours. No Internet access is allowed, nor is text
messaging, paging, or walk-talkie to another person during tournament hours. The Silverado Pro Am Bass Tour
may request cell phone records in the course of investigating an incident report; and all contestants agree to
provide such records if requested of them.
9. Sportsmanship
All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conversation and to
conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, the Silverado, Silverado sponsors, the sport
of fishing, and the Silverado’s efforts to promote the sport. Any unfavorable conduct, behavior or action by a
contestant, including a citation from a law enforcement officer whether ultimately guilty or not, will be grounds
for disqualification for that day or rejection of entry application. Examples of conduct not complying with
these standards include, but are not limited to, the following:
--Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the official rules for the 2007 Silverado which may result in
disqualification. --Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mood-altering
substance during tournament hours & until angler has completed weigh-in. -- Abuse of, or addiction to, mind
altering substances. --Conviction of a felony within the past 36 months. --Suspension/disqualification from any
tournament or fishing organization. --Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts
to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to
comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of paragraph 9. In case of any conduct not complying
with the standards, the Silverado shall have the right to refuse any application, or to deny a confirmed
application, by returning the entry fee of a previously accepted application (minus deposits) or to disqualify a
contestant. Amateur anglers will not be allowed to carry portable hand-held GPS units during the tournament
day if their purpose is to record fishing locations to be used for any purpose at a later time.
10. Marshaling of the field
Every competitor is expected to participate in the marshaling of the field in order
to maintain the highest integrity to the competition. Any incidents observed during tournament hours should be
reported to the Director on an Incident Report for further investigation.
11. Boat operation
Pros will have complete control of boat operation and waters to be fished. Amateur anglers will not be allowed
to pilot the boat using either the combustion engine or the electric motor except in the case of an emergency.
Any pro angler that, in the judgment of the tournament director, operates the boat in such a manner that
handicaps or endangers their partner will be disqualified for that day. Amateurs who share their pro partner’s
fishing locations with other competitors will be disqualified along with the person utilizing this information.
During tournament hours, contestants may not obtain or receive assistance from non-competitors, following a
no-competitor’s boat or participate in the practice of “hole sitting” or the placing of a marker buoy by anyone.
The use of mobile communication devices, including, but not limited to, cellular telephones, marine radios,
walkie-talkies, CBs, etc., during tournament hours are prohibited except in an emergency (severe weathers, etc.)
or to communicate with lockmasters or the tournament director.
12. Angler contact
Any contact other than rescue between boats during official tournament hours is strictly prohibited
13. Boat and horsepower regulation
All boats must be a minimum of 16 feet in length. No barges or similar cumbersome crafts will be permitted.
Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment.
Boats must contain a properly aerated live-well space to maintain a live a limit of bass by both contestants.
Maximum horsepower of all outboards used in tournament competition will be 300 horsepower, not to exceed
the horsepower capacity set forth on the “Max Capacities” placard described below. Each boat must have a
clearly legible “Maximum Capacities” (or comparably titled) placard that includes a maximum horsepower
rating affixed by the manufacturer. The horsepower or the outboard engine must not exceed the maximum
horsepower capacity specified on this placard or the 300 horsepower set by the Silverado. By signing the entry
form, each contestant agrees to submit their boat and motor to an inspection by Silverado personnel. Falsifying
information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating will be cause for
disqualification from the tournament and may result in ineligibility to compete in future Silverado events. Fuel
may be carried only in factory-installed (built-in) fuel tanks. Any additional fuel used during the tournament
day must be purchased from a retail facility open to the public.
14. Exotics
All tournament boats must be cleaned of all harmful exotic aquatic plants, including milfoil and zebra mussels
prior to entering the tournament waters.
15. Permitted fishing methods
All bass must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner.
Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers.
Only one fishing rod may be used at a time.
Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited.
16. Permitted fishing locations
Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters available to the public and accessible by boat, except
areas designated as “off limits” or “no fishing” by local or federal officials or the Tournament Director. All
angling must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish or to make
the boat more accessible to fishing waters.
Contestants must leave and return to the official checkpoint by boat.
The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day.
No tournament boat may be loaded on the trailer before the weigh-in except with the permission of the
tournament director.
In the event of equipment failure or emergency, there will be only two permitted methods of returning to the
official check-in:
1. by both partners remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or
2. by both partners entering the boat of another tournament contestant. Under these two conditions the
contestants’ catches may be counted without a penalty (except for late penalties, dead-fish penalties or other
penalties pertaining to other tournament rules). Contestants who elect to return to the official check-in by any
other means than cited above will forfeit their days catch to that point in time of the tournament day.
Any contestant returning to the check-in point will be eligible to restart and resume competition under the
supervision or the tournament director or his designated tournament official. It is the sole responsibility of
contestants to locate the tournament director to request a restart.
17. Official checkpoints
There will be only one official checkpoint for boat check in the morning and one check-in point in the
afternoon. Failure to go through boat check and check-out in the morning or failure to check-in at the check-in
point will result in disqualification. Fishing must cease upon afternoon check-in.
18. Severe weather
In the event of a thunderstorm, lightning and/or severe weather, contestants may pull into the nearest shoreline
until it is safe to continue fishing. Contestants may not leave their boats during tournament hours except at the
official weigh-in station or if severe weather forces them ashore.
19. Late penalty
Contestants who are not at the official check-in area at the appointed time will be penalized 1 pound per minute
deducted from the total weight including any weight to be counted toward a big bass award. Any contestant
more that 15 minutes late will loose credit for that day’s weight.
20. Live fish
Every effort must be made to keep bass alive through the use of a properly aerated live-well. Silverado
recommends the use of livewell additives that promote the healthy return of bass to their natural habitat. Four
ounces will be deducted from total weight for every dead bass presented for weigh-in.
21. Scoring
Scoring will be determined by the pounds and ounces of each contestants’ combined catch of six bass for that
day.
Only largemouth and smallmouth bass are accepted species. Contestants possessing more than twelve bass will
have their catch for that day disqualified.
The official minimum length limit for bass will be 12 inches unless the local limit is more than 12 inches; in
which case, the lake limit will prevail. Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure the prescribed length
limit will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound for each non-legal bass presented. If a state or local violation
occurs by bringing a “short” fish to the scale, the team, Pro & Am will automatically be disqualified from that
Silverado Pro Am Bass Tournament.
Each contestant’s catch must be presented in an official weigh-in container and verification by either the Am or
the Pro angler.
22. Ties
The BIG FISH will break all ties; if a tie still remains it will be broken by a one-hour fish-off between the 1st
places tied Pro Anglers, under the direction and special rules established by the tournament director.
23. Polygraph
Each contestant agrees to submit, by their signature on the official tournament entry form, to a polygraph
examination and abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass the examination will result in disqualification.
Polygraphs will be used at Silverado’s sole discretion and the determination of the meaning of the results will
be made solely by Silverado director.
24. Protests
The director or any participating angler has a right to protest another angler. An official written protest with
$150 fee must be made with the Director within 30 minutes of completion of the weigh-in. The fee will be
returned if the protest is found valid. Following interviews with concerned parties, a ruling will be made. In the
event rules infractions are brought to the Director's attention and investigation indicates a violation occurred, a
penalty of daily and/or tournament weight may be applied, in addition cash, prizes and awards must be returned
if so requested. A polygraph or CVS Voice Stress Analyzer may be utilized if so decided by the director. The
director will interpret rules according to the spirit and intent of the rule and his/her decision in all disputes is
final. If the protest is valid the disqualified party must pay all investigative costs. If the protest is invalid, the fee
will not be returned and the protesting angler must pay all investigative costs.
25. Insurance
Liability insurance, with coverage in Minnesota, with minimum amounts of $300,000 is required, for all boats
used in tournaments.
26. Refunds & Credit
No refunds apply at any time. At the discretion of the director, a credit may extend to an angler if a life-
threatening emergency situation (or death in the family) has arisen that has caused the angler to miss a
tournament. Credit must carry over to the angler the following year or it is forfeited. Disqualification from a
tournament for any reason will result in forfeiture of entry fee.
27. Angler’s waiver & acknowledgement
Participation Agreement: I understand that this is a professional sporting event governed by the rules that have
been established by tournament officials. I acknowledge that I have received a copy of these rules and that these
rules relate to the safety of all participants as well as the fair sporting conduct of this event. The Tournament
Official(s) shall act as the referee in all disputes and their decision based on their interpretation of the rules will
be final and without legal appeal. I understand there are never refunds for tournament entry fees.
Release of Liability: I acknowledge that I am participating voluntarily in the Silverado Pro Am Bass Tour. I
agree to assume all risk of injury, death, damages, theft and loss to personal property, which may result from
my participation in the Silverado Pro Am Bass tournaments. I recognize that loss of property, injury or death
could arise from the fishing and boating activities contemplated by the tournament and the risks normally
encountered in open-water fishing from a boat may be enhanced by exposure to the elements and other risks
inherent in outdoor competition. I warrant that I am in good physical and mental health and am physically
capable of withstanding the rigors and requirements of a professional fishing competition.
Photo & Video Release: I understand and agree that any and all photographs, videos or films taken during the
course of my participation in the tournament which includes me, my name and/or my boat may be used by the
tournament organizers, sponsors or media without my prior consent and without royalties
28. Captions
The captions at the beginning of each paragraph are intended to facilitate convenience in referring to various
rules. The captions are not part of the substance of the paragraph and should not be used in the construction of
any paragraph or of the set of rules.
For entry information and all other questions, please contact Billy Hildebrand at 612-747-4337 or hildefish@aol.com
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