(Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 2-part reprint of the original B.A.S.S. rules as they appeared in Bassmaster Issue No. 1, Spring 1968.)

Bassmaster Issue No. 1, printed in the spring of 1968, was printed on paper, not carved on stone. So allusions to the Ten Commandments, or the Rosetta Stone and other antiquities don't quite work. Yet Bassmaster Issue No. 1 is a remarkable artifact for several

reasons, one of which is that the debut magazine contains the first printed and widely circulated B.A.S.S. rules.

Remember that B.A.S.S. was predated by several other fishing competitions, most notably the World Series of Fishing, which was a multispecies event. And Ray Scott organized two bass-only tournaments before forming B.A.S.S. – the All-American and Dixie Invitational. But again, contestants and their families were likely the only ones to have seen the rules.

Thus in Bassmaster No. 1, there exists the first enduring, circulated, fully public B.A.S.S. tournament rules.

In the interest of history, those rules are reprinted verbatim below, just as they read 42 years ago. Note that Part 1 of this story reprints most of the original rules. Part 2 will reprint the rest of the rules, as well as payout and itinerary for the Seminole Lunker Bass Tournament, which took place Feb. 22–24, 1968, prior to the issue's publication.

(BassFan published another story about Bassmaster Issue No. 1 last week. To read it, click here.)

BASS TOURNAMENTS AND HOW THEY FUNCTION

We have had many requests by BASS members to print the actual rules and regulations governing an official BASS Tournament. We are, therefore, printing below the rules used in the Seminole Lunker Bass Tournament. The rules are fundamentally the same in each BASS Tournament. Variation exist only for the purposes of adjusting to the local tournament site.

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

  • RULE CHANGES: Great effort, study and research has gone into the formulation of these rules. The following rules of this Tournament will remain unchanged. Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Rules Committee. The decision of the judges and Tournament officials shall be final in all matters.

  • PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation in the 1968 Seminole Lunker Bass Tournament is by invitation only. Tournament dates are February 22, 23, 24, 1968. (Thursday, Friday and Saturday.) A properly completed and signed official application form and YOUR ENTRANCE FEE MUST BE RECEIVED AT TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1968. The Executive Committee reserves the right to discontinue acceptance of applications prior to February 2, 1968, and also the right to extend the acceptance date. Each application must be accompanied by the entrance fee of $125.00. Refund of entrance fee will be made only if notification is made to Tournament Headquarters prior to February 5, 1968, of your inability to participate. Your entry fee may be paid by a sponsor. Applications will not be accepted from a person who now or has in the past four years (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968) served as a professional fishing guide in the state of Georgia or Florida. A "professional guide" is defined as a person who earned as a fishing guide more than $500 in any one of the past four years. A person making residence now or during the past two years in any of the following Georgia or Florida counties is also excluded from participation: Seminole and Decatur counties Georgia and Gadsden and Jackson counties Florida. These gentlemen may, however, fish in other All-American Tournaments not held on Lake Seminole.

  • TYPE OF TACKLE: Only artificial lures may be used. No "live bait" or "prepared bait" will be permitted; however, pork or pork type strips, rinds, etc. may be used. Only casting, spinning or spin-casting reels and rods may be used. Only one rod may be used at any one time. Other rigged rods may be in boat for substitute purposes; however, only one "Rig" is permitted in use and in the water at any one time.

  • ELECTRONIC DEPTH FINDERS are permitted, such as the Lowrance Fish LO-K-TOR.

  • BOAT AND MOTOR: Fishing boats may be used that are 13 feet or more in length. Any motor may be used that is 9 1/2 horsepower or larger. A smaller additional gasoline or electric motor may be used to maneuver the boat while casting; however, "trolling" as a method of fishing is prohibited. No "barges" or similar cumbersome craft may be used. Contestant may use his own boat and motor or may rent either or both in the area. Daily fishing partners are expected to work out satisfactory arrangements between themselves as to the use of boat and motor and the operational expense thereof.



    BASS
    Photo: BASS

    Bassmaster Issue No. 1 included the original B.A.S.S. rules.

  • BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each fisherman will be given an official identification sticker and contestant number. It is required that these identification stickers be attached to each side of your boat and remain there throughout the tournament.

  • BOAT OPERATION AND EXPENSE: A full discussion should be held between the two partners prior to a morning departure as to a schedule of the boat operations. A schedule must be set that permits each partner equal time at the controls. It is suggested that gas and oil be furnished by the partner not owning the boat and motor. The contestant who is operating the boat shall have the privilege of selecting their route and fishing water. In the event that one contestant elects not to operate the boat, and such election is satisfactory to his partner, the contestant, waiving his right to operate the boat, shall still have the right to choose the fishing spots one half of the time. Any contestant found operating the boat in an obvious and deliberate manner to handicap his partner shall be disqualified.

  • PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Fishing is permitted any place on Lake Seminole. However, no fishing is permitted within 50 yards of another contestant's boat who was first at that location. All fishing must be done from boat.

  • CONTESTANTS PAIR OFF: Two contestants will be assigned to each boat (except the top 20 leaders on the last two days). Wherever possible no two contestants from the same city or state shall fish together. No two contestants shall fish together more than one (1) day. Announcement of your fishing partner shall me made on the evening prior to each day. It shall be the responsibility of each boat partner to have his partner at the mutually agreed upon departure dock on time for check out. It is suggested that the partners meet at least 30 minutes before check out time at the Booster Club. When two contestants check out at beginning of the day they MUST STAY TOGETHER AND IN SIGHT OF HIS PAIRED PARTNER AND HIS PARTNER'S "FISH" THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND UNTIL THEIR WEIGH-IN IS COMPLETED. A CONTESTANT MUST NOT ALLOW ANY FISH CAUGHT BY HIM TO BE COUNTED ON THE SCORE OF ANOTHER CONTESTANT. In such case, both contestants will be disqualified for this tournament and all other All-American Tournaments.

  • LAKE HEADQUARTERS: Lake Headquarters shall be the Boosters Club on Lake Seminole. All Fishermen must start and end each tournament day at this point. The Official weigh-in station shall also be at the Boosters Club. Fifty-seven covered boat slips shall be available at no charge. Each slip has electrical outlets. Boats and equipment will be guarded all night. These slips will be assigned to fishermen in the order that their applications are received.

  • OBSERVERS: During the second and third day each of the top twenty (20) leaders will fish only with an official observer. (All others will fish with partners.) The boat must be fully operated by the contestant. The observer is not to operate the boat, shall not fish, nor in any way interfere with the fisherman. The observer is to observe only and shall have no other official duty nor responsibility. Fisherman and observer must stay together at all times throughout the day and until the weigh-in is completed.

    – End of part 1 (of 2) –