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American Catfish Anglers Tournament Series©
(A.C.A.T.S.)©
A.C.A.T.S. Federation Constitution for Year 2007
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This Constitution is set forth to guide all A.C.A.T.S. tournaments and events.
All content is copyrighted and cannot be used or reproduced in part or whole without the written consent of Dennis Rice Outdoors, Wagoner, OK 74477
A.C.A.T.S. MISSION
It is the goal of Dennis Rice Outdoors to provide quality catfish tournaments to all anglers at an affordable cost, with the highest possible pay outs, while uniting catfish anglers from all areas of the US, promoting good family values, good sportsmanship and teaching the youth to respect and enjoy the Great Outdoors.
A. Membership
1. Membership is sold as a family membership to all persons living in the same household as Husband/ Wife, Father/ Mother, and all children 17 years of age and under.
2. Membership will run from the date of registration to the last day of the anniversary month.
3. Membership cost will be $25.00 annually.
4. Membership is subject to approval by ACATS President, Vice President and Directors.
5. Membership fees must accompany Membership Application.
6. Membership is purchased with the understanding that all Tournament Rules must be obeyed. (See section P for list of rules.)
7. All contestants MUST be a member of ACATS to fish an ACATS tournament.
B. Scoring
1. All teams will be given a team number at their first tournament that number will remain with that team for the duration of the year.
2. All scores will be based on a 150-point scoring system.
3. 1st place will be awarded 150 points, 2nd 149, and 3rd 148. Points will decrease by 1 (one) point, down to the first team with no fish weighed in.
4. Scoring will be based on total weight of all legal fish. A legal fish is described as any one of the following, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish or Flathead Catfish which meets a minimum length of 12” except Flathead which has a 20” minimum length.
5. All teams that fish, but have no fish to weigh in will be awarded 10 points less than the last team that weighed fish in.
6. All teams MUST CHECK- IN at the end of the tournament, even if the team has no fish to weigh in. If a team fails to check- in, they will be awarded (0) zero points for that tournament.
7. If a team does not fish a tournament it will be awarded 10 points less than the lowest scoring teams’ points.
8. Team with the highest points at the end of the year will be awarded Anglers of the Year Award. Only ACATS Members can be awarded Anglers of the Year Award. In the event of a tie on points, the team with the highest total weight for the year will be awarded the Anglers of the Year Award. Points will be accumulated up to, but excluding the Classic.
9. A team must qualify to fish the ACATS Classic. Qualification can be done by one of the following, Place in the top 5 (five) places of any participating Club or Associations tournament, in the top 5 (five) places of any ACATS tournament or by being an ACATS member and fishing any of the ACATS regular season tournaments.
10. At the Classic all teams will start with zero (0) points and zero (0) weight. The weight of all legal fish will be accumulated for the two (2) days and the team with the most weight will be declared the winning team. The team with the next highest weight will be awarded second place and on down to the team with the lightest stringer until all teams have been awarded a place.
11. It will be the responsibility of the President, Vice President and Directors to keep track of the points accumulated by all teams.
12. Before a team can fish any ACATS tournaments they must register as a team, a team Captain will have to be established. Once a team has been formed, they are to remain together as a team throughout the year. All points will remain with the captain unless He/ She wishes to drop from the team to fish with a new team partner that is not a current member. In such a case all points will be awarded to the other member. No mixing and matching of points will be allowed. If a team member drops from a team and resumes fishing with a new partner the new team starts with zero (0) points.
13. In the event that a team member cannot make a tournament, an exception will be made so a non-member can fill in for the member that is absent.
14. It will be the responsibility of the original member to find a new team member. The President, Vice President or Directors may help in this matter but are in no way obligated to do so.
C. Tournament Officials
1. A tournament official is defined as the following, a predetermined team that will assist in the check- out and check- in procedures of the tournament. In no way, will the Tournament Officials have an impact on the outcome of the tournament.
2. Three teams will be selected prior to the start of the season; a team or teams will be notified the day before the tournament if they are to be used as an official. The teams will alternate as officials. Officials must be at the tournament site one hour prior to the start of the tournament and one half hour prior to weigh- in. Officials must be launched with- in 10 minutes of tournament start time.
3. Tournament Official(s) will be allowed to fish any and all tournaments at no cost, with the exception of the Classic and if they choose to enter the Big Cat Jackpot, then the fee for the Jackpot must be paid. Payout will be base on entry fees collected and not the number of teams.
D. Entry Fees
1. All entry fees to tournaments must be paid prior to the start of the tournament. Cash only will be accepted at the tournament site, no checks will be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the President or Vice President. There will be a $50.00 fee for any returned check. No team will be allowed to fish with out first paying the entry fee, with the exception of the Tournament Officials.
2. No credit will be extended to any team.
3. Tournament entry fees for all participants will be $100.00 except at the Catfish Round Up which has a $150.00 entry fee and the ACATS Classic which has a $200.00 entry fee.
4. Biggest cat Jackpot is optional; any team wishing to enter is to pay the $10.00 entry fee. All Biggest Cat Jackpots will have a 100% payback.
E. Polygraph Test
1. Polygraph Test will be performed at a minimum of 50% of the tournaments. It will be the responsibility of the President and Vice President to make arrangements for the test.
2. Polygraph test will be performed at random.
3. Any tournament that a polygraph test is given the following place’s will be given a polygraph test; 1st place thru 3rd place and the winning team of the Biggest Cat Jackpot, in the event that the Biggest Cat Jackpot is won by a team placing 1st thru 3rd then one (1) team will be picked at random.
4. Any team failing a Polygraph Test will be disqualified. If a team fails two (2) Polygraph tests in any one (1) year, they will be banned from fishing any and all ACATS tournaments for one (1) year.
5. Any team caught disobeying any of the tournament rules will be disqualified.
F. ACATS© Name and LOGO
1. American Catfish Anglers Tournaments Series, ACATS and the ACATS Logo are the property of Dennis Rice Outdoors and are copyrighted. No unauthorized use of the above will be allowed. Anyone wishing to use the above must obtain written consent from Dennis Rice Outdoors.
G. Advertising
1. Any and all advertising is to be done with the direction of the President and Vice President. No newspaper, radio, television or any other form of advertisement or promoting will be performed without the written consent of Dennis Rice Outdoors, the President and Vice President.
H. Joining Other Associations
1. ACATS will not become a chapter or member of any other association, club or organization without the consent of Dennis Rice Outdoors.
I. ACATS Classic
1. A team must qualify to fish the ACATS Classic. Qualification can be done by one of the following,
· A team may qualify through a local chapter of ACATS by placing in the top 5 of a tournament or by fishing a minimum of 2 tournaments through a local chapter.
· By placing in the top 5 places of the ACATS Federation tournament trail or by fishing a minimum of 2 tournaments with the Federation.
· By placing in the top 5 places of a local catfish club where an ACATS chapter does not exist.
· All teams must be members of ACATS in order to fish the Classic. All anglers of a local chapter of ACATS must be an ACATS member in order to fish and qualify for the Classic. All teams MUST be pre-registered 1 week prior to the tournament. If a team is to receive an Anglers of the Year award they must fish the Classic in order to receive the award, if they do not fish then the award will be handed down to the next team in the standings.
· If a chapter of ACATS allows a youth (under the age of 16 years) to fish as a third person to a team and the team qualifies to fish the ACATS Classic, the entire team will be allowed to fish. The team will be limited to the 10 rods per team unless otherwise prohibited by state law.
J. Payout
1. 80% payback on entry fees plus prizes.
1-12 teams: Pays two places. 1st place= 55%, 2nd place= 25%
13-39 teams: Pays three places. 1st place= 40%, 2nd place= 25%, 3rd place= 15%
Each 10 additional teams will pay one place.
2. The Big Cat Jackpot will have a 100 percent payout. i.e. With 75 teams entering the Big Cat Jackpot, the payout would be $750.00
K. Alcoholic Beverages
1. No alcoholic beverages may be consumed during tournament hours.
2. No alcoholic beverages may be in the possession of any team during tournament hours or at the weigh in.
L. Protest
1. All protest brought to the Tournament Director must be in writing with-in 15 minutes of the conclusion of the weigh –in. The Tournament Director’s rulings will be final.
M. Guides
A Guide is defined as a person who promotes him/herself for the purpose of monetary gain while taking clients fishing, whether from a vessel or from the shores of a lake, river or other body of water. A person who promotes him/herself as a “Catfish Guide” is prohibited from fishing any ACATS tournament on a body of water in which he/she has acted as a guide within the 20 days prior to a tournament on said body of water.
N. Pontoon Boats
1. Only one (1) Team per boat will be allowed with the following exception; If an adult is the team captain of team one (1) with a child as his/her team partner then there may be a second team on board providing that both of the team members on the second team are under 16 years of age.
2. A separate live-well and/or stringer must be kept for both teams.
3. There will be no mixing and matching of fish or adding from one team’s stringer to the other. There will be a “No Tolerance” policy to this rule. Any team or teams who are caught violating this rule will be disqualified.
4. It will be the responsibility of the adult onboard to ensure that all children obey all Federal, State, and Local laws as well as all tournament rules.
5. It will be the responsibility of the adult to ensure the safety of any and all children.
6. If either team onboard is required to submit to a polygraph test, the adult will be the team partner that must submit to said test as well as pass the said test. Refusal to submit to and pass any polygraph test will result in disqualification of both teams onboard.
O. Weigh-In Procedures
1. A member of each team must be in the weigh in line by the dead line, teams not in the line by that time will not be allowed to weigh their fish. The number of fish and species will be placed on their weigh-in form and they will continue to the scales where their fish will be weighed. The weight will placed on the form and the member will then sign it stating the information is correct. Once the weigh in form is completed, the team will receive a copy for their records. No changes will be made after the form is signed.
P. Chapters
1. All chapter presidents are responsible to ensure their tournaments are held within the laws of their state and ACATS requirements.
Q. Rules and Regulations
2. ACATS Federation tournament Officials, Officers, or Board of Directors shall reserve the right to bar or refuse tournament entry or association membership to any person or team.
3. Entry fee for an ACATS Federation tournament will be $100.00 per team. Except the two day Classic, Entry fee will be $200.00 for the two days and the Catfish Round Up which will have a $150.00 entry fee.
4. No checks will be accepted at the tournament site for entry fees unless prior approval.
5. All teams will have the option to enter the Biggest Cat Jackpot for $10.00. 100% payback.
6. We will obey all State Fishing laws and Boating Regulations for the state we are fishing in.
7. NO TROT LINES, JUG LINES, LIMB LINES, YO- YO's or DROP LINES. All fish must be caught on a rod and reel. Anyone caught with the above will be DISQUALIFIED and any and all prizes will be forfeited. All lines will be attached to a reel in such a manner as to bring it completely to the boat without the aid of any device or by hand.
8. Only 10 (ten) rods per team while fishing unless other wise restricted by law.
9. Any live bait, dead bait or artificial bait may be used.
10. Fishing from the bank will not be allowed all teams must fish from a boat. A boat is defined as a registered vessel which is powered by either an electric motor or a gas powered motor. All boats must have a current registration.
11. All tournaments are catch and release. To preserve our resources, all fish brought the scales will be come the property of ACATS and will be released back into the body of water from which they came.
12. All persons 15 years of age and under must fish with a licensed fisherman.
13. DEAD FISH: Dead fish will be weighed with a one (1) pound penalty per dead fish. Any team that is caught throwing away a dead fish to avoid a penalty will be disqualified. A live fish is defined as the following; any fish that is able to move its gills on its own will be considered alive; any fish that is not able to move its gills on its own will be considered a dead fish. If a fish dies after a team passes the weigh in check point the fish will be considered a live fish. Any team that brings a frozen or iced fish to the weigh- in site will be disqualified. No exceptions.
14. A member of each team must be in the weigh in line by the dead line, teams not in the line by that time will not be allowed to weigh their fish. The number of fish and species will be placed on their weigh-in form and they will continue to the scales where their fish will be weighed. The weight will placed on the form and the member will then sign it stating the information is correct. Once the weigh in form is completed, the team will receive a copy for their records. No changes will be made after the form is signed.
15. Once the tournament has STARTED it will end at the Scheduled time. If inclement weather occurs before the Start of the tournament, a vote will be taken by the members present as to fish or not. Safety is a MUST and will come first. No tournament will be canceled without a vote of the members.
16. A team consists of no more than two persons. Members of a team must fish together from the same boat.
17. Only 7 fish per team will be weighed- in. If a team shows up to the weigh- in site with more than 7 fish, tournament officials will start culling starting with the biggest fish. No team shall have in their procession more than eight (8) fish at any given time. Minimum length for any fish is 12” except Flatheads which have a 20” minimum length. Only Blue, Channel and Flathead Catfish will be weighed- in. No fish may be tied off to a tree or any other object and left. Once a team places a fish either on a string or in a live well it must remain in their immediate procession unless it is being released. Scoring is determined by the team’s total weight. In the event of a tie, the team with the biggest fish will win. If a tie still exists the team with the most fish will be declared the winner. If a tie still exists, the prize will be divided between the two teams.
18. ACATS, Dennis Rice Outdoors and its sponsors are not responsible for any accidents, injuries or lost equipment.
19. A team must qualify to fish the ACATS Classic. Qualification can be done by one of the following,
· A team may qualify through a local chapter of ACATS by placing in the top 5 of a tournament or by fishing a minimum of 2 tournaments through a local chapter.
· By placing in the top 5 places of the ACATS Federation tournament trail or by fishing a minimum of 2 tournaments with the Federation.
· By placing in the top 5 places of a local catfish club where an ACATS chapter does not exist.
All teams must be members of ACATS in order to fish the Classic. All anglers of a local chapter of ACATS must be an ACATS member in order to fish and qualify for the Classic.
20. Random polygraph test can and will be performed, all teams agree to take and pass said test upon request.
21. CHUMMING: Chumming is allowed on the day of the tournament only. Any chumming done while pre-fishing a tournament will be considered a baited hole and will be off limits during tournament hours. Only 5 gallons of chum per team will be allowed.
22. Trailering of Boats: Trailering of boats will be allowed. It is the responsibility of the team to make it to the weigh in site on time. If a team fails to arrive on time they will be disqualified.
23. Stringers: Stringers may be use but it is to be put through the lower lip and will not be run through the gills at any time.
24. Pre-fishing: Pre-fishing a tournament is allowed. All pre-fishing will end at official sunset the evening before a tournament.
25. Catfish Guides: A person which acts as Catfish Guide for monetary gain can not fish a tournament in which he/she has guided on with-in 20 days prior to the tournament on that lake.
26. News media and cameras will be at the weigh- in so dress appropriately.
27. Locking through will be permitted. It is the teams’ responsibility to make it to the weigh in on time.
28. By signing the entry form all contestants give Dennis Rice Outdoors, ACATS and all sponsors permission to take and use any and all photographs, still and motion. All pictures, negatives and filming done by Dennis Rice Outdoors, ACATS or any sponsors are the sole property of them and contestants have no claims written or oral to them.
29. Cell Phones; No cell phones are to be used in the weigh in line, no headsets or any part of a cell phone device may be worn while in the weigh in line. Cell phones can not be used to receive or give fishing information to or from any team during tournament hours.
30. Smoking; Smoking is not permitted in the weigh in line or on or around the stage area.
31. Hook Limits; Only 2 hooks per line will be allowed. All hooks must be attached to the main line of the reel being used.
32. Mechanical Devices; NO power drive device, electrical or gas may be used to deliver a baited hook to a specific area.