Indiana Bank Anglers  /(Matchfishing Rule Sheet)

1.  Pegs/flags shall be 10-35yds apart and must be staked out by club officers and numbered. (prior to drawing peg numbers)

2.  The draw will begin exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes before the start of fishing.

3.  Anglers may go to their pegs immediately after the draw is completed.

4.  During the preparation time competitors may set up their gear, test their rigs, and plumb the depth.  No feeding/chumming is allowed and hooks must not be baited.

5.  Five minutes prior to start of the match, the timekeeper will announce (horn/whistle/shout) that feeding may begin.  Five minutes later, fishing will begin.

6.  Groundbait/chum may be thrown in by hand, by catapult, throwing stick, or pole cup.  No bait shall be introduced with a pole cup attached to extra pole while continuing to fish.

7.  Anglers must be positioned not farther than 1 yard to either side from their peg/flag.  Anglers may not move their peg/flag.  Any angler may fish as far as half the distance between their peg/flag and the pegs on either side.

 8.  Anglers will be restricted to the use of one rod or pole, one line, and a single plain hook at one time in the water.  (Anglers may have several rods or poles assembled on the bank)

9.        13 meter – 43 foot limit on poles.

10.  No artificial baits (ie. Plastics, Spinners, Lures).  Natural baits mounted on bare hook only.  Bait limits:  will be determined on match by match basis. (Illegal Baits – Crayfish, Amphibians, Fish or Fish parts.)

11.     Float (Bobber) fishing, Ledgering (Bottom fishing), Feeders, Hair rigs allowed in club matches.

 13.  Unintentionally foul hooked fish count.  It is illegal to intentionally snag fish.

 14.  A competitor must strike, play and land his/her own fish.  No physical outside help allowed.

 15.   Sportsman rule: If big fish is hooked and swims into another anglers peg – Other angler will remove line and not impede angler from catching fish.  Likewise, angler must control fish in own peg as quickly as possible or break line after 5 minute time limit.

 16.   Any angler under age 13 requires adult supervision.

 17.  Anglers must stop fishing when the end of the match is signaled.  At this time, all lines must be quickly removed from the water.  Fish must be out of the water, and in possession, at the time of the final horn to count. Fish landed after the final horn will not count and are released.

 18.  Anglers are responsible to keep their catch alive during the duration of the match.  A keepnet or bucket may be used.

19.     Any fish may be weighed.  All species.  State Regulations must be followed.  Length & Possession Limits.  Fish to be released following weigh-in.

 

 20.      Length limits:      Bass (12inches –river, 14inches other waters), Walleye 15 inches on St. Joesph River – 14 on other waters, Channel Cats – 10 inches

            Possession Limits:    Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass -5 total,  Walleye – 6, Rock Bass, Redear, Crappie – 25, Cats – 10 on lakes

 

21.     If any angler observes blatant rules violation he should immediately report infraction to Match Foreman/Board.  Match Foreman/Board will determine appropriate penalty, including disqualification if necessary.

 

 Example Schedule:                 Morning Draw:     7:30am

1^st Whistle:                            8:55am                    (Groundbaiting/Feeding begins – no fishing)

2^nd Whistle:                           9:00am                    Fishing begins

3^rd Whistle:                           12:55am                  5 minutes left

4^th Whistle:                            1:00pm                   All lines clear – End fishing*  (Weigh In & Cookout)

 *Fish must be clear of water and in possession to count