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These rules are not set for the 2026 season till after all the winter meetings are done
* * * * Everyone is welcome to attend any these meeting * * * *
Meeting dates
| Sunday, February 08, 2026 |
| Friday, March 06, 2026 |
| Saturday, March 14, 2026 |
| Sunday, April 12, 2026 |
| Friday, May 08, 2026 |
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| Rules & Guidelines |
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| 1. All members must strictly obey all state and local fish, game, and watercraft laws and regulations. By Michigan law you do not have to wear life jackets while under way, but they must be visible at all times. All minors under the age 6 must wear their life jackets while the main motor is running. |
| 2. By club rules each team can only have five bass in their live well during any club tournament, anyone having more than five (5) bass could face penalty. All bass must be transported to the weigh-in scales in a bag with adequate water and released after weigh-in. |
| 3. Bow light will be turned on from sunset till sunrise while the boat is on the water. All running lights are to be on from sunset to sunrise while big motor is running. The tournament director can call for limited running when visibility is in question. |
| 4. Anyone who (a) offers a fish to another member; (b) asks for a fish from anyone; or (c) accepts a fish from anyone will be disqualified from the tournament and may be expelled from the club |
| 5. A 100-foot perimeter must be allowed to all other boaters while fishing, the only exception is you must let someone pass you while fishing creeks and channels. |
| 6. No trolling, littering, consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are allowed during tournaments. |
| 7. Only one pole/line per person may be used at any time during a club tournament, multiple hooked baits and drop shot rigs may be used during club tournaments where allowed by Michigan law. |
| 8. All members agree to carry Liability Insurance on their boat at all times. Kal-Valley Bass Club will not be responsible and / or liable any for loss or injury. |
| 9. The tournament director will make all decisions regarding the interpretation of the rules. All disputes involving scoring shall be settled at the tournament, when possible. The tournament director’s decision shall be final. The tournament director’s timepiece is the official time piece. |
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| Launching and retrieval guidelines |
| . . One hour before official start times and the collection of tournament fees will commence. |
| . . Forty-five minutes later we will conclude the collection of tournament fees. |
| . . All launch prep is to be done in the parking area, not in the launch area, if possible |
| . . After your live wells have been checked and your fees have been paid you may head out. |
| . . No running on the plain till the official start time, unless stated otherwise at the launch. |
| . . No one can use live scope/360 to map the lake before official start time |
| . . Anyone fishing before the official starting time will be disqualified. |
| . . Anyone not returning to the launch by the end of the tournament will be disqualified. |
| . . Call the tournament director as soon as possible if you’re going to be late for any reason. |
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| Scoring |
| . . Three fish limit on the Friday trail |
| . . Five fish limit at the Saturday & Sunday, and trails |
| . . All bass will be measured with the bass’s mouth closed. |
| . . You may do a courtesy bump using the club bump board before weighing in. |
| . . The dead fish penalty is one-half pound for each dead fish. |
| . . The short fish penalty is the weight of your big bass. |
| . . Your big bass must be alive when weighed in to be used as your big bass. |
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| Tiebreakers |
| . . Big bass will be used to break any ties between two different bags. |
| . . Total bag weight will be used to break any ties between any two big bass |
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| Pre-fishing for a tournament |
| . . No one is allowed to pre-fish a lakes for three days before a club tournament |
| . . The only exception is if your fish another trail and they are scheduled to fish that lake before our tournament |
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| Tournament schedule for the 2026 season |
| . . Friday Trail – May 29 through Sept. 4 with the classic on Sept. 11. |
| . . Saturday trail – May 23 through Sept.5 with the classic on Sept. 12. |
| . . Sunday trail – May 24 through Sept. 6 with the classic on Sept. 13. |
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| Tournament times |
| . . Friday Trail |
| . . . . May 29 till Sep 4 – 7:00 am till 12:00 pm |
| . . . . Sep 11 – 7:00 am till 2:00 pm – Classic |
| . . Saturday trail |
| . . . . May 23 – 7:00 am till 1:00 pm. |
| . . . . May 29 till July 25 – 6:00 am till 12:00 pm. |
| . . . . August 1 till Sept. 5 – 7:00 am till 1:00 pm. |
| . . . . Classic Sept. 12 – 7:00 am 2:00 pm – Classic |
| . . Sunday Trail |
| . . . . May 24 till Sept. 6 – 7:00 am till 12:00 pm. |
| . . . . Classic Sept. 13 – 7:00 am 2:00 pm – Classic |
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| The club has three different trails / four divisions |
| . . Friday trail (also known as the retirement trail) |
| . . Saturday trail – is divided into two divisions & they fish on Saturday mornings. |
| . . . . . . . North division – fishes the odd-numbered weekend during the summer. |
| . . . . . . .South division – fishes the even-numbered weekend during the summer. |
| . . Sunday trail – is divided into two divisions & they fish on Sunday mornings. |
| . . . . . . .East division – fishes the odd-numbered weekend during the summer. |
| . . . . . . .West division – fishes the even-numbered weekend during the summer. |
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| Team memberships |
| On Friday trail |
| . . Up to 24 memberships (12 boats) will be sold |
| . . Memberships are done by the person |
| . . Must be 50 or over to fish the Friday trail |
| . . Each person will be given a personal number for the club records |
| On Saturday and Sunday trials |
| . . Up to 50 memberships (or 25 boats) will be sold on each trail |
| . . Memberships are done by the team |
| . . Each team will be given a boat number for the club records. |
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| Club membership cost |
| . . Friday Trail – $10 person |
| . . Saturday trails – $40 for one division and $50 for both divisions |
| . . Sunday trail – $40 for one division and $50 for both divisions |
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| Club tournament fees |
| . . Friday tournaments are set at $15 per person and $5.00 for big bass |
| . . . . . Classic is set at $15 per person and $5.00 for big bass |
| . . All Saturday & Sunday tournaments are set at $35.00 per boat and $5.00 for big bass |
| . . . . . Classic fees are set at $35 per boat and $5.00 for big bass |
| . . The tournament director’s boat is exempt from all tournament fees. |
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| Payouts at regular club tournaments |
| . . We payout one in four boats |
| . . At five dollar increments |
| . . A big bass plaques will handed out to one kid under 17 at each Saturday and Sunday tournament |
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| Requirements to fish any of the club’s classics |
| . . Friday Trail |
| . . . . . .Each person must fish at least eight out of the fifteen tournaments |
| . . . . . .Each person may buy one point if needed to attend the classic at $20 |
| . . Saturday and Sunday Trails |
| . . . . . .Teams fishing only one division need to attend 8 out of the 8 tournaments |
| . . . . . .Teams fishing in both divisions need to attend 9 out of the 16 club tournaments. |
| . . . . . .Teams may buy one point if needed to attend the classic at $40 |
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| Classic Payouts |
| . . On the Friday trails |
| . . . . . Big bass at the classic will receive $5 for each boat attending the classic |
| . . . . . All the teams bring in fish at the classic will get paid by their bag weight |
| . . Saturday and Sunday Trails |
| . . . . We will be paying the top three places & by the total weight of each bag |
| . . . . . . First place will receive 2/6 of all money collected the day of the classic |
| . . . . . . Second place will receive 2/6 of all money collected the day of the classic |
| . . . . . . Third place will receive 1/6 of all money collected the day of the classic |
| . . . . . . Big bass at the classic will receive $5 for each boat attending the classic |
| . . . . . . All the teams bring in fish at the classic will get paid by their bag weight. |
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| Classic awards |
| . . Saturday and Sunday Trails |
| . . . . Big Bass of the year will get a big bass plaques at the classic |
| . . . . The team winning the classic will also get a set of classic plaques |
| . . . . “Anglers of the Year” all four divisions will get a set of A.o.Y plaques |
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