Tournament Rules

[Scott F]

I've don't fish tournaments and I don't follow the Pros so I don't know what kind of rules they have. I was wondering if tournaments in general have any rules about how close a competitor can fish near another competitor or any fisherman? Once in a while while lake fishing along a shoreline, I'd have another boat pull up right in front of me and cut me off. Sometimes within a boat length of me. It's rude no matter if it's a tournament or not, but I have them tell me "get outta my way, I'm fishing for money!"  I know it is not representative of tournament fishermen as a whole, but it has happened often enough with bass and muskie tournaments. Are there rules against this sort of behavior?

[quanjig]

It's tough to fix rude! I guess you could fight fire with fire and go around him and cut him off, not sure you would want to perpetuate that kind of behavior! I've had it happen as well and just find some place else to fish, really not worth my time or energy to argue with that type of mentality!!

[james 14]

Put your anchor out, pull your TM up and take a picture with your phone. Then tell them you're reporting them to the tournament director.

 

Each club is different but a lot have a rule about being within 50 yds or so of a boat with the anchor down and TM up. I'm not sure what the purpose of the rule is but I imagine it'll make them think twice about running you over. Even if you just took the pic that clearly showed how close they are it could at least raise some eyebrows about sportsmanlike behavior. Some also have rules about being within casting distance of another competitor or fisherman.

[BuckMaxx]

We fish a lot of small water generally its a cast distance is the limit. If you are fishing banks coming towards each other its one thing but you don't just motor up on someone and make camp. I generally will pull in behind someone and not infront of the direction their boat is heading. I have had it done to me a couple times this year and it REALLY gets my goat. I put that in my little mental rolodex. They may need something sometime.

[slonezp]

Put your anchor out, pull your TM up and take a picture with your phone. Then tell them you're reporting them to the tournament director.

 

Each club is different but a lot have a rule about being within 50 yds or so of a boat with the anchor down and TM up. I'm not sure what the purpose of the rule is but I imagine it'll make them think twice about running you over. Even if you just took the pic that clearly showed how close they are it could at least raise some eyebrows about sportsmanlike behavior. Some also have rules about being within casting distance of another competitor or fisherman.

I think ours is 100' of an anchored opponent. I had a guy try and pull that crap on me a couple years back. I was trolling up the shoreline about 100' from him. I picked up a bass and he immediately put down his anchor, pulled up his trolling motor and told me to be on my way because it was against club rules to be fishing within so many feet of an anchored boat. I have mixed feelings about the guy. I've learned over the years, he's a real tool and likes to manipulate the rules, but one day during practice I broke down and he lent me a hand getting running again.   

[Scott F]

I was trying to find out what the rules are so if I turned the guy in to the tournament organizers would there be any penalties or would I just be wasting my time.

[mjseverson24]

I think the tournaments I fish are within 50' of any other boat is off limits, but it is up to the director to interpret the rules appropriately, and there is always the catch all clause of proper sportsmanship. that being said whenever there is a tournament on the water I will usually ask if someone pulls up near me if I am on one of their waypoints, If I am I will leave and let them fish their spot. I do this because often enough people do that for me in tournaments as well. 

 

Mitch

[slonezp]

I was trying to find out what the rules are so if I turned the guy in to the tournament organizers would there be any penalties or would I just be wasting my time.

If there's money involved, the penalties will be forfeiting a check. If not, I wouldn't hold your breath.