OBN COVID-19 Update: May 13, 2020
This update is in follow-up to the update posted on May 9th 2020: http://ontariobass.com/obn-covid-19-update-may-7-2020/
The Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation is dedicated to helping clubs have a safe and successful season. It is important that OBN Clubs and Members follow updates from municipal, provincial and federal health authorities during this pandemic. OBN Executive asks that OBN Clubs know what is required by their municipal health authorities if they are planning on hosting events in 2020. We also ask that OBN Clubs strictly follow municipal health directives where proposed events are being held. This is because health directives can vary between municipalities.
The following information from B.A.S.S. Nation is only suggested. Please do not assume the following is permitting OBN events (tournaments, meetings, etc.) to occur during this pandemic. The following is meant strictly for information.
The OBN Executive Committee plans to have additional direction for OBN clubs as we get closer to bass season.
Sincerely,
David Spence
President, Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation
Email: president@ontariobass.com
Suggested Best Management Practices for B.A.S.S. Nation State and Club Bass Tournaments during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Registration and Briefing:
- Encourage use of electronic registration (phone, web-based, email, phone apps) Email or make liability waivers available online for download and allow electronic signature.
- For in-person registration, check current state restrictions and follow guidelines on numbers allowed in group settings. Limit number allowed in the registration area. Staff monitors
numbers entering and leaving, keeping 6-foot distances among all anglers and staff. - If state has quarantine requirements for people coming from suspect locations, they may register but must show proof of state-required number of quarantine days before being allowed to fish.
- For any signature required, use disposable pens and wipe down between uses.
- Staff would wear PPE and disinfect equipment regularly.
- Participants required to wear face covering during registration and briefing (if on site).
- Briefings should be video recorded for viewing online via FB or web link, sent to all contestants with information about a set time for a limited live Q and A session prior to the tournament day
Launch & Take-off:
- No one in another person’s boat or vehicle except immediate family or team member when launching boats. If a draw-for-partner tournament, only boater drives boater’s vehicle (will slow
launch so adjust times accordingly). - Limit people on docks to contestants only, maintaining 6-foot distancing, adhere to state restrictions on group size
Weigh In:
- More flights so fewer anglers in a flight, more spacing between flights to avoid crowding at docks & ramp.
- Anglers wait in boats until your flight is called for weigh-in. Staff provides bags or one angler per boat comes to bag line, maintaining distancing.
- Tournament Staff/Volunteers will wear PPE
- Participant encouraged to wear face protection during weigh-in and encouraged to wear
disposable or washable gloves - Limited number of bags handed out.
- Drive-thru weigh-in encouraged – trailer boats with fish in live-wells, aerators running on manual, pulling one boat at a time to scales, one angler bags and hands bag to weighmaster, fish
are weighed and handed off to staff to release. - If waiting line tanks are provided, only one angler per tank (6 feet apart)
- If no tanks, one angler from each team bags and brings fish to scales — only after being called by
Tournament Director:
- Bag of fish is handed to weigh-master, placed on scales, weighed and handed back to contestant.
- Contestant exits and is responsible for releasing their own fish.
- No microphone interviews, on stage, of anglers.
- Following fish release (or placing them in release boat or trailer) bags are sanitized with hydrogen peroxide (the only fish-safe disinfectant – submerge bag and keep wet for at least
three minutes). - Bags are returned to bag line for another team/individual to use.
Awards Ceremony:
- Facebook live or another digital platform encouraged, do not attract crowds. If present, follow state restrictions on grouping, maintain social distance.
- Checks mailed, electronic transfers or placed on a table where one angler per team comes to pick up when name is called.
- Teams or individuals not weighing fish leave location immediately after loading boat.
- Contestants, family, friends are discouraged from gathering in groups during or following weigh-in, observing state guidelines.