How does everyone think a big bass only tournament trail would go. I have a buddy that runs his schools bass club and we are considering a big bass only trail backed by the school which would give the school a certain percentage of the entry fees.  Ohio has a million traditional style trails and we are thinking something like this could be a positive change for guys

Our bass club ran a big bass buddy tournament for many years.  I did MC duties a few of those years. Those tournaments were very popular.  One year we had a cheater who tried to weigh a dead fish, so we disallowed any dead bass.  Some big bass tournaments went to an hourly weigh-in format.  Our wildlife officials brought tanks so the fish could be properly revived. 

 

I would like to see all bass tournaments reduce the number of bass brought to the scales.  Three fifteen inch bass would be about right.  If they did this, a lot less bass would die riding around in a live well and more big bass techniques would be developed.  I say go for it.   

We have a lake down here where the size limit is 20" and you are only allowed to keep one fish. They have tournaments on this lake. I don't know how many people fish them are what the fees are since I don't fish tournaments.

We have a lot of slot lakes around here as well. And we also have a few hourly pay out and one big bass tourney at the beginning of every year but I would really like to start a big bass only circuit. I think it would really take off around here. 

Does anyone remember HBC tournaments? HBC stsnds for Heavy Bass Championship.

The 1st event was held at lake Casitas, I wanted to fish it but was in England at the time. The series was sponsored by Ranger boats and died after 3 events. Big bass are rare fish and take Hundreds of hours to catch and not on anyones time table.

Tom

Alpine Marina on Toledo Bend holds one every Thursday from 3 PM to 7:30 PM.

 

Not very well attended 

 

Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash is the most famous, they payout hourly for the top 8 places, big bass of the day, & big bass for the tournament.

 

The payout last year was $516,000 ?

Fish 2 different styles of lunker tournaments.  Can fish solo or with a partner.

 

Wednesday night format;

Nightly payout- 40% payout to the big fish, 20% to 2nd.  35% to yearly pot and 5% to the club. 

12 week season-  Four biggest bass from all 12 weeks pay out.  Must fish 10 weeks to qualify.

Dead fish cannot be weighed in.

 

Thursday night is similar, expect there is a total weight calculation at the end of the year by angler.  Always controversy of a boater using the co's bigger fish to boost total weight. 

 

I'm a bigger fan of Wednesday's format as it doesn't promote putting a 15" fish in the live well.  Most guys/ladies don't bring anything under 3 lbs. to the scales. 

18 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

We have a lake down here where the size limit is 20" and you are only allowed to keep one fish. They have tournaments on this lake. I don't know how many people fish them are what the fees are since I don't fish tournaments.

I grew up within walking distance from the creek before it was impounded. I live a couple of hours away now but try to hit it a few times a year. You fish it much?

Great replies guys. The two big bass events at the beginning of the year here have great turn outs. I think they cap them at 60 boats each which is alot for the 1300 acre lake they're held on and the top spots are always 5+# fish.

 

      If we move forward with this the lakes will obviously be hand selected to get the biggest fish possible.

 

     We're thinking one tourney a month March through September and then a championship in October. Possibly even a 2 day event.  Not sure what entry fees would be yet. 

2 hours ago, Hower08 said:

How does everyone think a big bass only tournament trail would go. I have a buddy that runs his schools bass club and we are considering a big bass only trail backed by the school which would give the school a certain percentage of the entry fees.  Ohio has a million traditional style trails and we are thinking something like this could be a positive change for guys

I think this could work.

Lots of tourney anglers in NE Ohio.

 

You just have to make it worth their time.

Why fish your event instead of any of the other 5 fish events going on that weekend?

 

One thing to consider is that it's easier to cheat with only 1 fish being weighed

 

 

The HBC event the anglers had to qualify by having caught a DD bass. The minimum weigh in was 10 lbs, no live bait allowed, 50 angler field.

Sounds good but lasted 3 events. The last and final event was in Texas with zero bass weighed in.

Tom

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

The HBC event the anglers had to qualify by having caught a DD bass. The minimum weigh in was 10 lbs, no live bait allowed, 50 angler field.

Sounds good but lasted 3 events. The last and final event was in Texas with zero bass weighed in.

Tom

Seems like a dumb concept to expect a DD bass in a timed tournament.  

I could see a one bass tourney basically.  Biggest fish wins, plain and simple.  it would change the strategy of many for sure.

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

Seems like a dumb concept to expect a DD bass in a timed tournament.  

I could see a one bass tourney basically.  Biggest fish wins, plain and simple.  it would change the strategy of many for sure.

The 1st was at my home lake and couldn't participate was out the country. They had no problem getting the 50 anglers. The day turned out cold and windy but a few DD's were caught with a 12 winning the event. It was a big deal until the 3rd event busted.

I see 1 event but trying to make a series of national events crowning a overall champion was far fetched.

Big bass takes the pot derbies are common. These derbies are called turkey shoots or jelly jar local events. This is how organized bass tournaments started.

Tom

5 hours ago, Todd2 said:

I grew up within walking distance from the creek before it was impounded. I live a couple of hours away now but try to hit it a few times a year. You fish it much?

I don't fish it very often. I may go once or twice a year. I haven't been there at all this year. I hate fishing a lake where everyday is like a weekend it is so packed. Right now with so many people being out of work it is probably worse than normal.

Definately would not put a minimum weight. That would just be silly and push majority of guys away. And payback would be around 95%  my buddy and I personally know most of the guys that own our local boat dealerships and tackle stores so getting sponsors to add in some extras will likely not be an issue. 

 

Yes Ohio is flooded with tournaments. The issue is they are all the same. Nothing different. The two big bass tourneys at the beginning of the year are the most anticipated by everyone which is why I feel this could turn into something very successful. 

I think a big bass tournament is great. I think the strategy would be different.  Less fish in the livewell, less stress. Id do it if such an event existed around here.

Would an angler be able to weigh in at any given time to make sure the fish doesn't die (assuming a dead fish is not allowed)? If I caught a 9lber at 6:30, I would not like to take the chances on hauling it around till 3:00 or whatever time the weigh in was. If they did weigh in, could they go fish for a bigger one? I have had big fish die in the box, really sucks for the penalty, but sucks more so to kill a nice fish.

No we will not go the direction of an hourly pay out. Their is already one of those that happens every year here and it gets alot of mixed feed back. It will be a single fish tournament with a set way in time like a regular tournament. Theirs a B.B tournament like that and then an hourly at the beginning of every year and the first one where it's one way in time gets alot more love

3 hours ago, Hower08 said:

No we will not go the direction of an hourly pay out. Their is already one of those that happens every year here and it gets alot of mixed feed back. It will be a single fish tournament with a set way in time like a regular tournament. Theirs a B.B tournament like that and then an hourly at the beginning of every year and the first one where it's one way in time gets alot more love

Didn't say anything about an hourly payout....Asking if someone could weigh in at any time. I wouldn't want to fish all day if I put a toad in the box first thing in the morning. I would want to get it weighed and released. I wouldn't want to keep it in the live well all day if it was going to get hot and take a chance. It happens in 5 fish tournaments but getting docked a pound is different than not being able to weigh in at all. How many can you keep at a time? Just one at any time, or two, three?

What would you all consider the average tournament big bass weighs in these local events?

Tom

Between 5 and 6.5 down here.  In sure you would have a good number of 7s and the occasional 8 or 9

    Jbsoonerfan it would be a set time to weigh in as who ever is in charge of running the scale will also likely be in the tournament.  

 

    WRB the few big bass tournaments we have here always takes one over 5 to win and it's not uncommon to have fish over 6 pounds weighed in. I would say 4 1/2 is usually the lowest weight that will be in the money. There is typically multiple 5+ # fish weighed in 

Our annual big bass tournaments are popular events.  I have always been surprised that they aren't more popular than they are.  There is some element of luck involved in a one bass tournament format.  Still, the same top ten anglers seem to win most of the time.  Our average winning bass is normally from 6 to 9 pounds.

 

If you are going to have one of these events, you need to be able to weigh your fish at any time during the day.  No dead fish allowed.   Optional lie detector tests if the prize is substantial.   The entry fee in our tournaments is about $100 a boat.  First place has been as much as $2,000.  We pay down ten places depending on the turnout.  We also have a big raffle after the weigh in where we give away rods, reels and other merchandise.  Sponsors pay for the prizes.  The money raised at this tournament is used to supplement our membership dues. It's a lot of work to put on a tournament.  Everyone chips in and has a good time.

On 7/25/2020 at 9:34 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

Didn't say anything about an hourly payout....Asking if someone could weigh in at any time. I wouldn't want to fish all day if I put a toad in the box first thing in the morning. I would want to get it weighed and released. I wouldn't want to keep it in the live well all day if it was going to get hot and take a chance. It happens in 5 fish tournaments but getting docked a pound is different than not being able to weigh in at all. How many can you keep at a time? Just one at any time, or two, three?

I think someone weighed in several hours early at the BASs st Lawrence this weekend because his fish were struggling