SBC Missouri Buddy Bass Tournament

SBC Tournament Rules

Updated February 25th, 2024

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PRIZE MONEY: Prize money paid to top ten (based on 80 boats) of total boat limit weight. Limit is 6 fish per boat. The top three boats in big bass will also be paid. No more than 1 big bass payout per boat.

BOAT PARTNERS: Two contestants in each boat. Each boat must have an AT&T employee, or former Bell System employee in each boat. The exception to this will be a non-company boat sponsored by a company boat. Examples of bell system companies are SWBT, SBC, Lucent, Nortel, AT&T and Western Electric. Newer companies recognized are employees of ACI, Cingular, Yahoo, or Sterling. The chairman reserves the right to decide if a contestant is valid or not. Employees of Century Tel and Verizon are now invited to attend; however, the sponsored boats for this year are still reserved for SBC/AT&T employees and their guests.

No person who receives payment for guide services on Table Rock Lake shall be permitted in this event.

A non-company boat can be sponsored by a company employee, providing it is an active or retired employee of SWBT, SBC or AT&T. These sponsorships are limited to one boat per employee unless otherwise approved by the tournament director.

TYPE OF TACKLE:

  • Rods & Reels: Only bait casting, spinning, flipping, spin casting or fly tackle may be used. Only one rod may be used at a time. Other rods (no limit) may be ready for use at any time as long as only 1 is used at a time.
  • Lures: Artificial lures only. No live bait permitted. Pork strips and chunks as well as salt impregnated are allowed. Power baits also permitted. No trolling of any lure allowed. Alabama rigs are allowed per the extent that is allowed on Table Rock.

WEIGH-IN:

  • Scoring: Scoring shall be in pounds and ounces. Winners will be decided by the total pounds and ounces caught during tournament hours. Each team must have at least one member present at weigh-in to qualify for top ten prize money. If a bass is to qualify for big bass prizes that fish must be weighed separate from the rest of the fish. Again, ONLY SIX FISH PER BOAT ALLOWED!!!!

    In the event of a tie, the tie-breaker will be the weight of the largest bass between the tied teams. It is strongly suggested that you weigh a bass for big bass, regardless of the chances of placing in the top 3 for big bass. For example, your best fish weighed is 2 1/2 pounds. You know it will not place in the top three for big bass; however, if you are tied with another team for overall weight and their largest fish is 2 pounds, your 2 ½ pound bass may be the difference in placing in the money or not. We generally suggest this while weighing in, but ties have occurred more than once and we want everyone to have their best chance at placing, so we wanted to place it in print.
  • Fish: Only Largemouth Black Bass, Kentucky Spotted, Smallmouth and Mean Mouth are allowed for scoring. Fish that are disfigured, appeared to have been frozen or iced are subject to the total limit to be disqualified. Any team bringing in more than six fish to the weigh-in will be disqualified.
  • Dead or short fish will be penalized one pound each!!! The manner in which this is counted is you lose the original weight of the fish as well as an additional one pound penalty.
  • Late Weigh-In: Late contestants will be penalized two ounces or .2 pounds (depending on scale settings) for each minute they are late for weigh-in up to ten minutes. Beyond ten minutes is disqualification.

PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS:
Fishing is permitted any place on Table Rock except for the following:

  1. No fishing within 50 yards of another contestant’s boat who was at that location first.
  2. No fishing in areas marked as ‘Restricted’ or ‘No Boats’.
  3. A contestant must remain in the boat to fish or land a fish.
  4. No trailering of boats during fishing hours. Boats must stay in the water during fishing hours. Boats returning early for severe weather or mechanical trouble may be trailered.

TAKEOFFS:
The past practice of a random takeoff from anywhere on the lake is still the rule. An honor system start time of 6:30AM is in effect. This means you can be on the water at any time but cannot be fishing until 6:30 AM. Boats: however, must make the weigh-in at Cedar Wood Resort by water and arrive no later than 3:30PM at the Cedar Wood location. The tournament director reserves the right to change this practice if the possibility exists of the takeoff honor system not being adhered to.

FISHING HOURS:
Fishing hours are 6:30AM until 3:30PM. All fish caught during this tournament are to be released. An exception will be made for catching a mountable fish. Any questions regarding these rules should be taken to the tournament director. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUEST WINNERS SUBMIT TO A LIE DETECTOR TEST.