Club Rules

These are the primary rules every KWC Cambridge BassMasters member should know. They summarize the club’s full Guidelines & Regulations, which are posted in the members’ forum. The Tournament Director (TD) interprets and enforces all rules, and their decisions are final.

Our mission

To provide a friendly, fun environment where members learn from each other and advance their fishing skills through low-cost tournaments on a cross-section of waters. We stay active in our community and ask members to take part in conservation projects and special events.

1. Membership & eligibility

  • Only active, paid-in-full members (including the B.A.S.S. membership/subscription) may fish club tournaments.
  • Competitors must be a B.A.S.S. member, 16 years or older, and an active KWC or affiliated-chapter member. Proof of age is your responsibility.
  • Carry a valid Ontario fishing licence on the water at all times. Conservation licences are not accepted. Tournaments on the U.S. waters of Lake Erie/Ontario may require a New York State licence.
  • Some anglers are exempt from holding an Ontario fishing licence and may instead carry the identification Ontario accepts: anglers under 18 or 65 and older (government ID showing name and date of birth); eligible veterans and active Canadian Armed Forces members who reside in Ontario (a Canadian Forces ID Card, NDI 20, a Record of Service Card, NDI 75, or a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran’s Service Card, NDI 75); anglers with a qualifying disability (an accessible parking permit or a CNIB card, with government ID where Ontario requires it); and Indigenous persons fishing within their treaty or traditional area. Exempt anglers still follow sport fishing seasons and limits.
  • Register on or before the Tuesday before each event, online via the forum or with the Tournament Director.

2. Code of conduct

  • Conduct yourself professionally and with respect at meetings and events. As anglers we are seen by the public and are role models for the sport.
  • Offensive, slanderous, or racially, culturally, or sexually charged comments will not be tolerated, nor will loud or disruptive displays of anger. A verbal warning is given first; continued behaviour means being asked to leave.
  • Violations may result in penalties up to and including dismissal. The Executive Committee reviews each case, and the member may submit a written rebuttal within 10 days.

3. Safety on the water

  • An approved life jacket must be worn whenever the combustion engine is running. Inflatable PFDs must be worn at all times unless a vest-type life jacket is on the boat deck.
  • Boats must meet Transport Canada safety standards and carry all required safety equipment. A working ignition kill switch must be attached whenever the engine is running.
  • Operators must carry $1,000,000 liability insurance. Maximum engine size is 250 HP.
  • The Tournament Director may delay or cancel an event for unsafe weather and may disqualify anyone who poses a safety risk.

4. Fair play & tackle

  • Artificial lures only - live bait is prohibited. One rod may be used at a time, and all bass must be caught live and hooked inside the mouth (verified by your partner).
  • Landing nets are permitted; other landing tools are not.
  • No pre-fishing after 5:00 PM the day before the event. In the five days before a tournament, do not seek fishing advice, scuba dive on tournament waters, or use communication devices to locate or catch fish (except in emergencies).
  • Do not let your catch be counted for another competitor. Report any rule violations you witness.

5. Boater & non-boater partnership

  • Boaters and non-boaters must stay together for the entire tournament day.
  • Non-boaters pay the entry fee for both themselves and their boater, and partners share travel/gas costs per the club Travel Policy.
  • Exchange contact information ahead of time and confirm target species, gear, number of rods, PFD, and meeting time/place. Carpooling is encouraged.
  • Respect your boater’s water: do not reveal or return to fishing locations or techniques a boater has shared with you.

6. Weigh-in, scoring & penalties

  • Limit is five bass per day unless otherwise stated; only largemouth and smallmouth bass are weighed, and each must meet the minimum length set by the TD.
  • Standings are based on total bass weight. Late registration adds a 1 lb. penalty.
  • Late to check-in: 1 lb. per minute up to 10 minutes, after which the day’s catch is forfeited.
  • Dead fish: an 8 oz. deduction per fish, and dead bass cannot win the big-bass award.
  • Ties: the biggest bass breaks a tie for first; lesser ties are settled by coin flip, and tied prize money is shared.

7. Sportsmanship & conservation

  • Maintain high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation, and be courteous to non-competitors on tournament waters.
  • No alcohol or non-permitted drugs during official practice or competition - this results in disqualification. Only prescribed or over-the-counter medications are allowed.
  • Take part in the club’s conservation projects and community events.

This page is a summary. For the complete rules - including the full Bass and Pike Regulations, Member Code of Conduct, Non-Boater Guidelines, Travel Policy, and Club Bylaws - see the Guidelines and Regulations section of the members’ forum.