MEMBERSHIP, ENTRY FEES, AND DEADLINES

Membership is $40 per calendar year. Entry fee is $200 per tournament which includes big bass.  There will be an optional $20 side pot.  Deadline for tournament is 7pm the night before the event.  Entries will be allowed after deadline with a $50 late fee.  Registration will be available online, at Bryants Osage Outdoors, 716 N Main, Gravois Mills, MO 65037 or in person before the tournament with late fee. Boat position will be determined by order of payments received.                           

Insurance

 Boating Liability Insurance of $100,000 minimum is required of competitors in the American Bass Trail Events.                         

Tournament Hours

Tournament hours will be as listed on the website.  Tournament Director reserves the right to change hours as needed.                                                    

Safety

Safe boating must be observed at all times.  Every angler must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device fully strapped, snapped or zipped anytime the combustion engine is running during tournament hours.  All boats must be equipped with an engine “kill switch” and it must be attached to the boater at all times while the combustion engine is running. 

Tackle

Only artificial bait or lures may be used.  Pork style baits are allowed.  All bass must be caught on rod and reel, and only one rod and reel is allowed in the water per angler.  Trolling is not allowed.  Snagging is not allowed.  Landing nets are allowed.                                                                                      

PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS

Fishing on tournament waters is permitted anywhere except within 50 yards of a public gas pump, within 50 yards of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored for secured with the trolling motor out of the water, unless angler allows any and all tournament anglers the right to fish within his 50 yard radius.  Any area that state or federal agencies mark as “No Fishing Zones” and any area the Tournament Director states is Off Limits before the take off of tournament.                                                                                          

BREAK DOWNS / SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Anglers may not leave the boat to land a fish or make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Anglers must leave and return to the official checkpoint in the boat they started in. Trailering is not allowed during tournament hours. In case of a breakdown an angler may move their fish to another contestant’s boat. One team member must stay with their fish at all times.                         

TAKE-OFF

Take off will be determined by order of entry.  You must be ready for takeoff  15 minutes prior to start of tournament for announcements and special rules for that tournament.  All boats will idle past Tournament Director for inspection in order of take off.                               

CHECK IN

All boats and anglers must check in prior to end of tournament at official check in site.  Failure to do so will result in immediate disqualification.                               

SCORING

Largemouth, Kentucky(spotted), and smallmouth are counted.  Fish must be of legal size for the body of water or as determined by the Tournament Director.  Fish should be measured on a flat board with the mouth closed.  Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure the official length will not be counted and will cause a 1.00lb penalty.  Presenting more than one short fish will result in disqualification for that event.  Any legal dead bass presented at weigh-in will result in a 0.50lb penalty from their total weight.  Any bass weighed for Big Bass must be alive.  At no time during tournament hours may a team possess more than a 5 fish tournament limit or weigh-in more than 5 fish. Ties will be broke by order of entry.                                                                    

CULLING

Culling must be done immediately before either angler makes another cast.  A sixth fish may be put into the live well for culling purposes only.  Culling inside Host Marina buoys or designated take off area is not allowed and will result in disqualification.  Culling a dead fish is not allowed and will result in disqualification.                             

LATE PENALTY

Anglers not at the designated check in site by official check in time will receive a 1:00 lb penalty per minute up to 10 minutes. Thereafter anglers will be disqualified.               

PAYBACK

Payback will be 90%. We will pay one spot for every six entries.  Big Bass will be a 100% payback for two places at a 65% / 35% split.                                                         

CHAMPIONSHIP

Top 100 boats will qualify for championship. Top 100 will be determined by a point system.  Any team that can’t fish the championship can be replaced by the next team out of the top 100.  Alternates are not allowed in any American Bass Trail Events.                                                  

POLYGRAPH TEST

A polygraph test will be give at the discretion of the American Bass Trail Tournament Director or Official. By his or her signature on entry form and/or participation in any American Bass Trail Event anglers agree to submit to any and all quality assurance tests. Refusal to submit to any or all tests will result in immediate disqualification and possible ban from future American Bass Trail Events. If anglers fail any or all tests the anglers will be disqualified and lose all winnings for that event. American Bass Trail reserves the right to approach, observe, board or place an observer in any anglers boat during tournament hours. Refusal by the angler(s) will result in immediate disqualification.                     

SPORTMANSHIP

See ABT Code of Conduct section