To All BBC Readers:

This year the Pa Bass Federation Nation will be making slight changes to their current tournament format. These changes are positive and will improve our overall organization. If you would like move information about starting a club or joining a club in the Pa Bass Federation Nation, you can visit the Pa Bass Federation Nation website at http://www.pabassfederation.com/ or contact me at kimmel65@hotmail.com. You only need six members to start a club in the Pa Bass Federation Nation. Here is some information about the new format:

-We will continue to have three district tournaments in each of the three districts (west, central, east). We will be taking 40 participants (20 boaters, 20 riders) total from these three districts. 13 boaters and 13 riders will make it from the west, 1 boater and 1 rider from the central, and 6 boaters and 6 riders from the east. This was based off the % of total state membership in each of the districts (66% West, 3% Central, 31 % East) from the prior year. Each year this will be reconfigured based off the % of membership in each of the three districts from the prior year. This will allow the membership to be informed on the number of individuals that will go to the state classic before the year begins.

-The federation will be adding a statewide circuit that will consist of two (2 days each) statewide tournaments. This will be a totally separate point system from the districts. At the end of the two statewide tournaments, the points from the two statewide tournaments will be added together and 10 boaters and 11 riders will qualify from the statewide tournaments. These points of course will not go back to your districts.

-We will have the top 3 rider winners at both of the statewide tournaments (not including the state classic or state team) that will win $150, $125, and $100 respectfully. They will also be eligible for the regular pot.

-The two statewide tournaments will be $3000 for first place if we get 100 participants (50 boaters, 50 riders). The rest of the places will vary based off participation. Also, each statewide tournament will pay 10% of the field plus 3 rider winners.

-The state classic will consist of district qualifiers (40 total) and statewide circuit qualifiers (21 total). Also, last year’s state classic winner will receive an automatic bid to the state classic. This will be a total of 62 participants that will fish in the state classic on a yearly basis. We will go down the list in each of the districts and statewide circuit to ensure that we get 62 participants. By taking fewer people, it will be more of an honor when qualifying for the state classic. This will also allow the best anglers from the year to compete for the divisional team. With only 62 people participating, it will increase your chances of making the divisional team from the state classic.

-No minimum tournaments will be required to qualify for the state classic. It will strictly go off the points from the districts and statewide circuit to determine qualifiers.

-The 2011 angler of the year in each of the districts, 2011 angler of the year from the statewide circuit, and last year’s (2010) state classic winner will receive a free entrance fee to the state classic.

-Each state tournament will continue to be $100.

-The federation will not separate the format into a boaters and riders division. This will hurt the overall payout for the tournaments because it will have to be cut in half. Also, this gives individuals the opportunity to be a boater or rider throughout the year. Finally, this does not limit your opportunities for making the divisional team.

-Club Team Tournament (Old State Team) will no longer be a qualifying tournament. It will be a completely fun and fund raising tournament for the federation. We will be going back to only taking up to 6 guys from each club (This makes clubs important). This tournament will be a 3-boat buddy tournament from each club. Each club will take three boats and they will be fishing with three riders from their club. Each boat will be required to have two participants on the boat. The teams will count their 3 boats two-day total weight to determine the winners. The entrance per team will be $600 and 15% of the field will be paid. Lunker will be $120 per team and will be awarded to the club with the heaviest fish after two days (Not individual).

-A new point system for the districts and statewide circuit will be enacted. Each tournament will reward 200 points to the winner and will go down the list in one-point increments until participants receive 50 points. Everyone in the tournament will receive a minimum of 50 points for participating. To receive the participation points, everyone must check in at the end of the day. This new system will reward participants for fishing and catching fish.

-This year (2011 season) the locations for the state tournaments will be determined by each of the three districts. The west will be selecting state team and one statewide tournament, the central will select the state classic, and the east will select the other statewide tournament. The next year, it will rotate where the west will select the tournaments that the east selected the prior year, the central will select the tournaments that the west selected during the prior year, and the east will select the tournaments that the central selected the year before. This will continue to rotate in this manner each proceeding year. All tournament sites will be selected before the state meeting in Nov (This year these need to be in before the end of Nov).

-The state will only keep 15% from each state sponsored tournament for the divisional team and yearly expenses (Two statewide tournaments and state team). Also, $8 will be taken out for the Tournament Director, $4 for Conservation, and $2 for supplies per application (Same as the past). The 50/50 tickets will go towards the youth program (Same as the past).


If you want more details or understanding of the new format, a great place to look on the website is the Road to the Classic Link. Also, the schedule for the year is posted on the website. The first tournament will be held on the Flats on May 20th and 21st. If you have never fished a Federation Nation event, it is a great place to become a better fisherman and make new friends. Hope to see you on the water!


Sincerely,

Christopher M. Kimmel
Pa Bass Federation Nation
State Tournament Director