Thread: ACFA 2011 Tournament Schedule

Insurance???? Better think everything through before jumping in.

Originally Posted by WVS

You got: Chicot, Grand, Lake Lee, MS River backwater lakes(when the river levels are right), Pendelton (Ar River), Douglas Lake, White Oak lake, Cane Creek

Don't forget Lake Monticello. It is a very unique style of fishing this lake in the winter months...but also good in the summer! Grand, Lee, Ferguson, Kate Adams and Pendelton/Morgan's point are also all great producers.

Originally Posted by Gomer Snerd

Insurance???? Better think everything through before jumping in.

Insurance is generaly not a concern providing all entrees sign a liability waver at sign in. I know of no case where a judgement has been awarded against members of a fishing tournament due to loss/injury while participating in the event. There has been some suits won due to boat wrecks but they were directed at the driver of the boat at fault.

Snerd, it seems to me that the comments you have made reguarding this tournament all have been with a negative tone. Is there a particular reason you are against tournaments or are there other factors inducing your negativity?

Been through tourney bassin' and seen the worst. Buddy tourneys are rife with problems. Also can't see why anyone would want to take fishing and throw pressure in. As far as insurance there has to be a reason that BASS requires it. Let's say there was a wreck and the tourney fisherman had no liability insurance. Seems a court could find your organization responsible for not monitoring closely. Similar to a bar being held responsible for actions of a drunk leaving the bar.

Maybe you are right on that note. If I was running a $60,000.00 boat It would give me peace of mind to know that if Billy Bob rammed me with his boat he would have the means to pay for it. However, AR doesnt require all boats to carry insurance so I don't see how a club could be held responsible for not requiring it. Nobody ever asks for insurance at a drag strip and all street cars are required to have it. As for me, I carry insurance on my boat because I cant afford to replace it should some uninsured drunk wipe it out for me and it's cheaper to buy a full coverage marine policy than it is to just cover my loss.

I have done and still do the Bass tournament scene, It is not about pressure or winning to me, it never has been. For me I enjoy meeting people in a common interest, and seeing how my skills compare to my friends. Yeah, you can meet people at a boat ramp and make some friends there too. But it is rare that we take the time to do that. It's being part of the group at the weigh in rather than being a bystander that makes it worth my while. Of the few tourneys I fish a year I always fish with my wife or my son because I remember how I felt the first time my dad took me to a tournament. There are few other times in my life that I have felt so equal or so important to anyone. I have been hooked ever since.

I am not talking about damaging or insuring the boat but what about personal injury or even death. Sure everyone can sign waiver but what about someone running over someone not in the tourney who hasn't signed squat. Attorneys can place blame in lots of places.

I haven't chimed in on this tournament topic. I probably won't be able to fish them because of my work schedule. I have been reading the planning and think everyone is on the right track to make this trail a success. The insurance topic mentioned has me confused. If the rules say that all state, local, and federal laws apply to the boats then everything should be ok. The state of arkansas says that all vessels over a certain length(i don't remember what length) must have insurance. If the state of arkansas doesn't have a problem with someone in a 14 ft john boat not having insurance then everything should be ok tournament or not. Also, this is a crappie tournament not a bass tournament. I haven't seen many crappie fisherman skint back running 60+ mph to be the first one to a honey hole. As long as safety is steressed and all laws are followed there should be no worries. That's my two cents. Good luck in the rest of the planning. If any tournaments get close to seark and you guys need anything let me know!!

I'm down, sounds like a good start I'm sure everything will work itself out as it goes