Ozark Mountain Bassmasters has been a BASS Federated club since 1987. Club membership is open to any BASS member at least 16 years of age. We meet on the first Wednesday night of each month, excluding holidays, in the lower level of Sunshine Lanes Bowling Alley, 1500 W. Sunshine, Springfield. MO. Meeting start at 7:00 PM. Any person interested in bass fishing is invited to attend. We fish one draw tournament a month, on Sunday. We also support both the State and National BASS federations.

Article 1. Name, Purpose and Affiliation.
Section I. Name This organization shall be called: Ozark Mountain Bassmasters

Section 2. Purpose
To stimulate the public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport. To offer State Conservation Department our organized moral and political support and encouragement, to promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to demand adequate water quality standards and legal enforcement of existing regulatory standards. To detect and report any polluter, and call public attention to the crime. To improve our skills as bass anglers through fellowship and friendly exchange of bass catching techniques and ideas. To promote and encourage youth fishing and a love for this great recreation. To promote sportsmanship, courtesy, and boating safety at all levels.

Section 3. Affiliation
This chapter called: Ozark Mountain Bassmasters shall be affiliated with the Missouri B.A.S.S. Federation and the National B.A.S.S Federation and supports its conservation and youth programs. It must maintain 100% B.A.S.S. membership and update B.A.S.S. with a chapter membership roster once a year.

Article II. Membership and Dues
Section 1.  Membership Membership in this chapter is open to any person 16 years of age or older. All members must be B.A.S.S. members. If the B.A.S.S. membership expires, said member is no longer a member in good standing and has until May to renew the membership or be dropped from the roster. All members who wish to fish any chapter tournaments must be a "member in good standing." To ensure each member has an opportunity to fish each event the number of "non-boating" members will never exceed the number of "boating" members. Non-boating members will be accepted on a first come basis with a paid membership.

Section 2.  Member in good standing
A member in good standing is one whose dues and membership requirements are current. One who abides by the rules and bylaws of the Ozark Mountain Bassmasters and who has not been dropped from the roster.

Section 3. Dues
Dues for the Ozark Mountain Bassmasters will be $50.00 per year payable any time before or at the December meeting.

Article III. Tournaments
Section I. Entry Fee   Entry fee to all Ozark Mountain Bassmasters club tournaments, excluding any special or open tournaments will be $5.00 per member or guest, $30.00 will be for an optional pot. Optional payouts shall be as specified in subsection a. Entry fees will go into the club treasury. Tournaments will be open to members in good standing or guests of members in good standing. (See Section 3. Guests) Tournaments will be scheduled for a minimum of 8 hours

Subsection a:   One place shall be paid for each 5 entries in the optional pot. Big Bass pays $20.00.
Suggested Payout
6-9 entries, 1st place 60% second 40%
10-14 entries, 1st place 50%, second 30%, third 20%
15-20 entries, 1st place 45%, second 25%, third 20%, fourth 10%

Section 2. Drawing Partners
Drawing for partners is done at the meeting prior to the tournament. Members must be at the meeting to fish the tournament or have notified any member that they intent to fish. If not, they will not receive any points for that tournament. All names will be put in a hat and drawn out pairing boaters with non-boaters. In the months of December, January, February, and March, boaters must be paired with boaters if there are not enough non-boaters. No one should voluntarily fish alone during these months. If there is an odd member drawn, they may try to find a guest to fish with or will be paired with the next available member. If after drawing for the tournament the boating member cancels, the stranded non-boater must contact any unpaired boating member and request a ride for the tournament, bring a boating guest or bring their own boat. The member originally drawn as the boater has the responsibility of taking the non-boating member, if no other arrangements can be agreed upon by the members involved. Members paired that were also paired at the previous tournament may request to be redrawn.

Section 3. Guests
Guest may be invited to fish any tournament in which there are available openings. Non-boating members have priority over non-boating guests. Non-boater guests will not allowed to fish any tournament in which a non-boating member is unpaired. Boating guests may fish with a member. Guest will be allowed to fish only one tournament per calendar year, and then they must either pay their dues in full and join or wait until the next calendar year to fish. If a guest joins after the first tournament, points from that tournament will count for their season total.

Section 4. Limits, Penalties, Methods
All tournaments will be "Buddy Boat" with each angler receiving equal point for the finishing place. All fish taken to the scales must be weighed and measured at the designated place by the tournament director. The Tournament Director or acting director will call out the weighs and the Secretary or other officer will record them. There will be a five fish per team limit. Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, Kentucky (Spotted) or "mean-mouth" bass will count. The length limit for the tournament will be determined by the legal length requirements at the launch site. Any fish that appears to be mangled, mauled or mashed will be weighed only at the tournament director's discretion. A 4-ounce penalty for each dead fish weighted in will be assessed. A two-pound penalty will be assessed to any angler who brings in a short fish. Two short fish and the angler will be disqualified and all points including show points will be forfeited. Catch and release for all live fish at the weigh in except a trophy that is to be mounted. Only one rod and reel may be used at a time. All fishing must be done from the boat. All contestants must leave and return to the official launch site by boat. Fish must be taken legally using artificial lures. No live or prepared baits may be used except for pork rind type strips, chunks, etc. Trolling is prohibited. Life vests with the kill switch attached must be worn at all times the combustion engine is running with the intention of going "on plane". All anglers late for weigh in will be penalized one pound per minute up to five minutes, after five minutes the angler(s) will be disqualified, receiving only show up points. The tournament director will have the official time. It is the angler's responsibility to know the official time. ALCOHOL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN TOURNAMENT BOATS DURING TOURNAMENT HOURS.

Section 5. Points
Points shall be awarded as follows,
1st Place 1000 points 2nd Place 900 points 3rd Place 800 points 4th Place 700 points 5th Place 600 points 6th Place 500 points 7th Place to the last member who catches a fish will receive points reduced in 1O-point increments i.e. 7th 490, 8th 480 etc. Stranded members will receive tournament show points if they follow the procedures listed in Article III Section Two.

Section 6. Non-Boaters
Non-boaters must make an offering of $25.00 for gas and oil. The non-boater has the right for equal time in the front of the boat and to fish his or her water. The non-boater must make his rights known to the boater before takeoff. If the non-boater chooses to go to an extreme distance he or she will agree to pay all the extra fuel costs incurred. If the non-boater damages the owners boat in any way while operating or controlling the front of the boat they must agree to pay a reasonable amount to repair or replace any damaged equipment. If no agreement can be reached the officers of the club will make the decision.

Section 7. Weather Rules
The night before a tournament is held there must be a forecasted high above 36 degrees F. The tournament director has the right to cancel a tournament due to bad road conditions. Any questions call the president or tournament director.

Section 8. State Tournament
Ozark Mountain Bassmasters will send a 4, 6, 8, or 10 person team to the state championships. Standing will be determined by the final point standings. Point standing for State Championship qualifying runs September thru August. The team size will be determined by the vote of the membership. The club will defray all lodging expenses of the state team and alternate(s), and may provide expense money for each member.

Section 9. Tournament Committee
The board may select the tournament Committee. It will consist of three members in good standing and will be headed by the Tournament director. The Tournament Committee will consider all lakes submit in writing and select the tournament schedule for the year (times and dates may change or may be unavailable pending corps permissions.)

Section 10. Open Tournaments
Members may or may not be allowed to fish any open tournaments held by the Ozark Mountain Bassmasters depending on member availability to run the tournament

Section 11. Championship Tournament
The August year end tournament may be scheduled as a two day double points event. The tournament should be scheduled far enough in advance to allow maximum participation.

Article IV. Officers

Section I. The Board
The board shall consist of all officers of the club the President, Vice-president, Secretary-Treasurer, Federation Director and Tournament Director.

Section 2. Duties
President-Shall prepare an agenda and preside over all scheduled, special and emergency meetings of the board and club. Directs all official business, supervises all club activities, is the official representative of the club in relationship to other organizations, delegates such duties as may be appropriate to better serve the club.
Vice president-Assists the President upon request, presides in the absence of the president, and assumes the office of the president if it is vacated.
Secretary-Treasurer-Records accurate minutes of the meeting, maintains and updates rosters of all club members, notifies members by mailings if deemed necessary. Receives and disburses all monies upon approval of the membership. Receives dues and forwards them to state and national federations with updated rosters, maintains accurate financial records and presents a current balance at the March, July, October, and December meetings or upon request. Disbursements over 25.00 must be approved by a 2/3's vote of the current membership. Expenses the club may incur, included the purchase of scales, weigh-in bags, cost of mailings, etc.
Director-Represents Ozark Mountain Bassmasters to the State Federation, reports to the club at the next monthly meeting after quarterly Directors meetings. Must attend 3/4ths of the quarterly director's meetings.
Tournament Director-Presides over all club tournaments including special tournaments, unless the President appoints a special tournament director, collects all club tournament entries and disburses the proper amount at the tournament site, appoints two or more numbers to help him at the weigh ins to measure and weight fish, has final decision on weight and length. The tournament director has the right to cancel any club tournament because they feel it unsafe.

Article V. Meetings and Grievances

Section I. Place
Meetings will be held at the location designated by the membership.

Section 2. Time
Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of the month, excluding holidays, at 7:00 P.M.

Section 3. Business Meeting
The annual business meeting will be held in November it will be used to nominate officers. The election will be held in December. By-law changes require that a written proposal be submitted at least one meeting prior to the vote and 2/3s of the membership is present at the vote.

Section 4. Member Removal From Roster
A member may be removed from the roster if:
  1. They are not members in good standing.
  2. Misrepresent the Club, Federation, either National or State, or B.A.S.S. in any way.
  3. Cheat in any club tournament or fail to turn someone in for cheating.
  4. Causing any unnecessary problems for the club or causing friction between members or guests.

Complaints will be brought before the board, if voted on and approved then brought before the members. 2/3 's of the membership must be present to vote, other wise it will be brought to the next meeting or until 2/3's are present. Majority rules.