American Bass has been supporting West Coast bass anglers since 1983!!! We are the oldest organization supporting Team Tournaments in the West. There have been a lot of changes over the years with anglers wanting the entry fees raised for a chance to win more money, and the paybacks deeper so that more teams would get a check, etc. In 2016 will are lowering our basic entry fee. This change is designed to make our events more affordable to all anglers. We are excited and proud to announce these improvements.
American Bass is lowering the basic entry fee and changing the Team Classic format. Starting immediately for the 2015/2016 Season. American Bass is lowering the Basic Entry fee to only $135. The “All-In” entry fee, including insurance, conservation fees & options will be $200 for teams entering all options in most regions. (There will be a couple of regions that have a total cost a little higher, so be sure to check out your regions registration form) We are lowering the entry fees per the request of many anglers that would like to compete, and qualify for the Team Classic, for a more affordable cost. With fees, a team can now fish American Bass event for only $150, that’s only $75 per angler!! The most you will spend is $100 (unless your region has extra fees) per event! The American Bass membership is still only 30. This is a 1-year membership from date of purchase. We believe there are several anglers that have not participated in recent years due to the cost of the events, we feel with this price drop that these anglers will come out allowing the regions to grow and have even bigger paydays with the reduced entry fee!
Paybacks: Less money will be reserved for the Team Classic from each event, which means a higher percentage payback at qualifying events. No money will be reserved for a cash payback at the Team Classics. Instead, there will be a $100 basic entry fee at the Team Classic that will be paid back 100% starting at 2nd place paying 20% of the competing field. Nominal event fees will still be in place for these events. Options will also be offered as in the past. The options of course will pay back 100%. A full payback schedule will be published prior to each event showing Team Classic paybacks based on the number of entries. The Northwest Division used this structure this year, 2015. Everyone is welcome to see the Northwest Team Classic pre-tournament and results issues of American Bass e-Magazine.
This means that a team can participate in a full season (5 event minimum) with American Bass for $750 (plus memberships). That’s only about $400 minimum for the entire year to compete in 5 events and qualify for a Team Classic! If you decide to fish only 5 events and you want in all the options the most your team will spend about $1,000, only about $500 per angler!!!
We are excited to offer these more affordable events and look forward to attracting more anglers to your region to continue to make our sport grow in 2016. Please pass this info along to fellow anglers that maybe have not yet competed in American Bass team tournaments.
- American Bass
Here is a reminder of the qualification requirements for the Team Classic events:
Team Classic Qualification: A teams best 5 finishes in a single region will count towards their year-end final points total for that region. All teams that fish in a minimum of 5 events in a single region AND finish in the top 30 in the final standings for that region are qualified to compete in one American Bass Team Classics at the end of that season. If a team fishes more than 5 events in a region, their “worst” finish, including the “Show-up” points for that event will be dropped for the final standings calculation in that region. In addition, any team that competes in all 6 events in a single region will qualify for one American Bass Team Classic, regardless of their position in the final points standings. Any team must compete in a minimum of 5 events in any region to qualify for any American Bass Team Classic. The best 5 finishes for each team in each region will be counted to determine the regional “Angler’s of the Year” title. “Angler’s of the Year” info is provided below.
Traveler’s Regions: A team will be automatically entered into Traveler’s when they compete in more than one American Bass Team Region within any one Division during a season. Anglers competing in the American Bass Traveler’s region must compete in a minimum of 5 events in any one Division (North, Northwest or South) to qualify for one American Bass Team Classic. Points will be accumulated by totaling the best 5 finishes with no more than 3 finishes counted in any one Region. 100 points will be awarded for first place with 10 or more teams competing in any event. Only 90 points will be awarded for first place with 9 or less teams competing in any event. Each event fished will count towards the 5 event minimum but the “points total” will be limited to only allow a maximum of 3 events from a single region. Any team competing in more than 3 events on the same body of water for Traveler’s will receive points based on a 90 point scale for a 4th or 5th event on that same water. This occurs when more than one region shares common waters. All teams that have competed in a minimum of 5 events and finish in the top 50 in the final Traveler’s standings will qualify for the Team Classic’s. In addition, any team that competes in 8 events in the Traveler’s region will qualify for one American Bass Team Classic, regardless of their position in the final Traveler’s points standings. The “Angler of the Year” title in Traveler’s will be awarded to the team that accumulates the most points from their best 5 finishes, no more than 3 in a single region, in each Traveler’s Division (North, Northwest and South). Many American Bass “Special Events” award Traveler’s points. Additional information is available on www.americanbass.com.
Multiple Team Classic Qualifications: A team may earn multiple invitations for American Bass Team Classics. A team can earn spots through more than one region or through one region and Traveler’s with 10 total events. If a team fishes “only Traveler’s”, they can earn 2 invitations with a total of 11 events. Any team competing in a minimum of 15 events in a single year will earn 3 invitations.
“Anglers of the Year” for each region will be determined by the team that has the most points based on their best 5 finishes in any one region. If a team fishes more than 5 events in a region, their lowest finish(s), including the “Show-up” points for that event(s) will be dropped for the final standings calculation for “Anglers of the Year”. A minimum average of 10 boats throughout the season is required in any region to qualify for “Angler of the Year” awards. Ties in the “Anglers of the Year” final standings will result in the “splitting” of awards between the tied teams. Not all regions listed in the event schedule award “Anglers of the Year” awards at the end of the season, even if the average participation is greater that 10 boats. Many “Special” regions do not award “Anglers of the Year” awards. Call for specific details on these regions.