Our goal in hosting the 2010 TCBFT is threefold:

1) To provide a competitive and affordable tournament trail in Tennessee, that is centrally located for many colleges (Tennessee borders eight states).

2) To fish different lakes across the state as to learn multiple fishing techniques.

3) To reward the top anglers (with plaques and prizes) for each qualifying event as well as for overall performance throughout the TCBFT.

Our format offers a traditional invitational or two-man team competition.  At the end of each four qualifying tournaments, the heaviest three weights as well as big bass will be rewarded with plaques and prizes. Each angler that fishes each event will also be competing for points that will count towards crowning the TCBFT Champion after the completion of all five events.

The four qualifying events and dates are as follows:

TCBFT Qualifier #1 – February 20th – Tims Ford Lake in Winchester, TN            Event Flyer       Entry Form

*TCBFT Qualifier #2 – March 6th – Kentucky Lake in Camden, TN*                      Event Flyer       Entry Form

*TCBFT Qualifier #3 – Sunday, April 25th – Nickajack Lake in Jasper, TN*          Event Flyer       Entry Form

TCBFT Qualifier #4 – May 8th – Watts Bar Lake in Spring City, TN                       Event Flyer       Entry Form

TCBFT Championship - June 10-11th - Chickamauga Lake in Hixson, TN         Event Flyer

Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass will be weighed in the 2010 TCBFT. The “maximum” length of any species of bass will be used to measure all types of bass. The limit will be five (5) fish per boat. Culling will begin as soon as the sixth (6) fish is boated.  Any team found to have more than five (5) fish in their live wells will be disqualified.  All fish will be measured on the Golden Rule Tournament Board.

A penalty of loss of big fish and loss of short fish will be assessed to those who weigh in a short fish. A .50 pound (1/2 lb or 8 oz) penalty will be assessed for every dead fish weighed in.  All live fish will be released. Courtesy length checks are available upon request before fish are weighed in. Culling will not be allowed at the weigh-in site. Dead fish may not be culled; however, a team weighing a limit of five bass will be awarded an extra point regardless if dead fish are present. 

The following length limits apply for each species of bass during each event: 

*Note only one smallmouth bass per angler can be weighed in each day.  In other words, a boat with two anglers is allowed to bring in two smallmouth given they meet the minimum length requirement. 

To ensure the fairness and integrity of the 2010 Tennessee Collegiate Bass Fishing Trail, an off-limits period will be enforced.  The two days before each tournament will be used as an unofficial or optional practice days. 

Each lake will be off limits during the following times:

The 2010 TCBFT will allow anglers to “lock through” (go up and down) during each event including the Championship at each angler’s discretion.  Each angler must keep in mind that late penalties will be enforced if they get “locked out”.  Each lake may have off limit areas designated by buoys or signs. Additionally, the launch area inside the idle only/ no wake buoys will be off limits unless otherwise stated.  Any other off limits restrictions will be discussed in the pre-launch meeting the morning of the tournament.

*Please note that teams found in violation of these off limits times and areas will be disqualified from the 2010 Tennessee Collegiate Bass Fishing Trail.* 

Tournament hours are from safe daylight until 3:00 P.M. for TCBFT Qualifying Events.  Several flights may be assigned for each event depending on number of tournament participants.  Flight times and boat numbers will be assigned at the pre-launch meeting the morning of the tournament.  

The official checkpoint will be designated by a tournament director at the pre-launch meeting that will take place the morning of the event at least one hour before launch.  All boats must be at the checkpoint at the predetermined time by flights given out during the pre tournament meeting. Failure to be in at the official time will result in a 1.00lb/per minute penalty and after 15 minutes it will result in the disqualification of that day’s catch.  Please note that if you weigh in a limit of five bass in a TCBFT Qualifying Event, you will receive an extra point unless you are fifteen or more minutes late to the official checkpoint.   

To be considered eligible for tournament winnings and TCBFT points, all boats must return to the tournament launch site to bring their catch to the scales to be weighed.  In the event of equipment failure or other emergency, there will only be two permitted methods of returning to official check-in:

It is the sole responsibility of the team involved in the emergency to contact a tournament director and make them aware of the situation.  Cell phones may be used during the tournament to communicate with your team members. The only other use of cell phones will be to call the tournament directors Alex Craw at 615-479-5225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              615-479-5225      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Taylor Massingill at 423-667-8228 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              423-667-8228      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

All boats and motors must be equipped with an ignition kill or shut off switch and must be attached to the driver when the motor is running (idle, no wake, or on plane). When the boat is running (no wake, or on plane) both driver and passenger must be seated with life vests secured

• Aerators: All boats must have aerated livewells.
  
• Lights: All boats must be working bow and stern lights. A minimum running time (5 minutes up to an hour) may be determined at the pre-launch meeting if certain weather conditions exist.
  
• Life Vests:  Boater and non boater must have a US Coast Guard approved life vest and worn once the main motor is in idle drive or greater.   

Sportsmanship

State of Tennessee Marine regulations are to be followed at all times. Each angler should familiarize themselves with these regulations.  Each member of each team is representing themselves, their club (and its sponsors), their university, and this trail.  Please maintain a professional demeanor throughout the entire event.  Several additional rules will be in effect:

• No alcoholic beverages will be used or allowed in the boat during the entire time of the event on or off the water.
• No illegal chemical or substance use will be allowed during the entire time of the event on or off the water.
• Horseplay will not be tolerated to the point of injuring a person on or off the water.
• Please bring all trash back to the check in point, do not litter the lake or banks.    

Tournament Disputes

All disputes must be verbally submitted to a tournament director within 30 minutes of the final team weigh in.  These disputes will be resolved by the tournament directors, Alex Craw & Taylor Massingill.  Discrepancy in posted scoring will be adjusted as needed and will not hold to a time limit.

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