American Bass Anglers, Inc.
How Does the Point System Work and how can I Qualify for the National Championship?

POINT SYSTEM:

One-day divisional qualifying tournaments are worth 200 points. Maximum points are awarded for a minimum of 20 contestants. For tournaments with less than 20 contestants, 1 point per person short of the minimum will be deducted from the total points available. Points will be awarded in 1 point decreasing increments depending on place of finish. No contestant weighing a fish in the tournament will receive less than 75 points regardless of place of finish. All contestants not weighing fish will receive 50 show points. A contestant may fish multiple one-day tournaments for point accumulation, but only the best four places of finish will be counted. The 2-day Divisional Championships are worth 400 points. Maximum points are awarded for a minimum of 20 contestants. Points will be awarded in 2 point decreasing increments depending on place of finish. For tournaments with less than 20 contestants, 2 points per person short of minimum will be deducted from the total points available. No contestant weighing a fish in the tournament will receive less than 100 points, and 75 points will be awarded to those not weighing fish. A contestant may fish multiple 2-day Divisional Championships, however only their best two-day finish will be counted. Contestants must have fished at least four (4) one day tournaments to be eligible to compete in any 2-day Divisional Championship. A perfect score is 1200 points: 4 one-day tournaments at 200 points each = 800 plus and 1 two-day Divisional Championship at 400 points.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:

a. Contestants must have qualified within a Region in order to qualify for that Region's Championship. Minimum requirements for qualification are the successful completion of four one-day tournaments and one two-day tournament within the respective Region.

b. The top 500 regional point holders plus 30 Active Military will be invited to compete in the Regional Championship. If one or more of the top 500 do not accept the invitation, the remaining slots will be filled from a list of qualified and pre-registered anglers.

c. Cut-off date for pre-registration for the Regional Championship will be 15 days prior to the first day of official practice. On the following business day any slots not filled by the top 500 point holders will be filled from a qualified and pre-registered waiting list based on highest points in the same region.

d. Late Entries will be accepted through 12 noon Wednesday the week of the Regional Championship. Late entries will only be accepted to fill the top 500 positions in the Regional. A late fee of $25.00 will be charged for all late entries.

e. Contestants must be paid in full and American Bass Anglers, Inc. headquarters must have a valid copy of boat insurance declaration prior to going on the water to practice.

f. The regional championship lake will be off limits 30 days prior to the first official practice day.

g. Contestants may not receive any assistance or advice from anyone except another contestant of that Regional Championship for the purpose of locating or catching fish once the off limits period begins.

h. During official practice contestants may only pre-fish alone, with a member of his/her immediate family, another contestant of the tournament, a sponsor of American Bass Anglers, Inc. or a member of American Bass Anglers, Inc.staff. Contestants are not allowed to fish with anyone that has been on the lake during the off limits period.

i. The Regional Championship is worth 2000 points to the winner. Points will be awarded in 5 point decreasing increments depending on place of finish. Regional Angler of the Year will be determined by the best four one-day divisional qualifying events finishes plus best 2 day Divisional Championship within a Region plus points received at the Regional Championship.

j. The Regional Championship will be a two day event held on a Friday and Saturday. Official practice will start on Saturday prior to the first day of the event.

k. All registered participants must check in with tournament officials prior to 12:00 noon on Thursday prior to the event.

l. If a draw boat/motor is given away at a Regional Championship only anglers that are registered for that Regional Championship and are present at the time of the draw will be eligible. A member may not win more than one draw boat/motor in the same calendar year.

Angler of the Year (AOY):

a. The top point holder from each Regional Championship (by points) will be invited to complete in the Angler of the Year Final Round.

b. The AOY Final Round will be a one-day practice one-day tournament held on Friday and Saturday prior to the first day of practice at the National Championship

c. The Contestants will be allowed to practice on Friday and will compete on Saturday, observer provided.

d. The Final Round Championship lake will be off limits 30 days prior to the first official practice day.

e. Contestants may not receive any assistance or advice from anyone except another contestant of the Angler of the Year Final Round or National Championship for the purpose of locating or catching fish once the cut off period begins.

f. American Bass Anglers, Inc. will issue a complete set of AOY Final Round Event Rules to the contestants.

g. The angler with the most total weight (five fish limit) on Saturday will be crowned Angler of the Year.

h. Anglers competing in the AOY Final Round will not be allowed to practice for the National Championship on the championship lake until Tuesday following the AOY Final Round, if the Final Round Lake is the same as the Championship Lake.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:

a. Contestants must have qualified through local regions in order to qualify for the National Championship. Minimum requirements for qualification are the successful completion of four one-day tournaments, one two-day tournament and one Regional Championship.

b. The top 50 anglers from each Region, by points, plus the top 10% of anglers from the previous year championship will be invited to compete as boaters in the National Championship. The top 10% from the previous year championship must qualify in order to complete, i.e. fish a minimum of four one-day events, one two-day events and one Regional Championship. If one or more of the top 50 from each region do not accept the invitation, the remaining slots will be filled from a list of pre-registered anglers by region.

c. Anglers in each Region ranked from 51-100 by points will be invited to compete as Non-boaters in the Non Boater Championship. If one or more of anglers ranked 51-100 from each region do not accept the invitation, the remaining slots will be filled from a list of pre-registered anglers by region.

d. Cut-off date for registering for the National Championship will be supplied in the invitations sent to qualified anglers. After the cut off date, any remaining slots will be filled from the waiting list of pre-registered members from that region based on highest points.

e. The championship lake will be off limits 30 days prior to the first official practice day.

f. Contestants must be paid, pre-registered and ABA headquarters must have a valid copy of boat insurance declaration prior to going on the water to practice.

g. During official practice contestants may only pre-fish alone, with a member of his/her immediate family, another contestant of the tournament, a sponsor of American Bass Anglers, Inc. or a member of American Bass Anglers, Inc. staff. Contestants are not allowed to fish with anyone that has been on the lake during the off limits period.

h. Contestants may not receive any assistance or advice from anyone except another contestant of the National Championship for the purpose of locating or catching fish once the off limits period begins.

i. The same person cannot win more than one boat during the course of a tournament year. In the event the same person wins the National Championship and Angler of the Year title the second boat will be awarded to the second place finisher in the tournament and Angler of the Year will receive second place monies.

j. A tournament year is defined as: September 1 of the current year through August 31 of the following year.

k. The National Championship will consist of seven days. Sunday thru Tuesday will be official practice, except as noted in Rule 25 for those in competition for AOY honors and Wednesday thru Saturday will be the official tournament days.

l. All registered participants must check in with tournament officials prior to 12:00 noon on Tuesday prior to the event.

For Added Information about our Tournaments Contact us at:

AMERICAN BASS ANGLERS, INC.
P.O. Box 475
Athens, Alabama 35612
E-mail for info
info@americanbassangler.com
or Call us at
1-888-203-MBAA (6222)
Fax: 1-256-233-2295

American Bass Anglers MBAA since 1975, Tournament Trail, Military Bass Anglers Association, and ABA are all registered or pending collective membership or service marks of American Bass Anglers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2007 American Bass Anglers