How It Works

THE BIG BASS FORMAT
 
Unlike traditional bass fishing tournaments where anglers weigh in five bass at the end of the day, the Minn Kota Owners Tournament provides amateur anglers from all skill levels the opportunity to win multiple cash payouts each day during the hourly weigh-ins. Each tournament day features seven hourly weigh-ins that pay ten cash payouts each hour.
 
That means this event offers a total of 210 hourly cash payouts. The angler with the overall biggest bass of the event will also win the Grand Prize cash payout of $50,000. Anglers may only enter one bass per hourly weigh-in.
 
HOW DO I ENTER?

Entering is easy:

  1. Online registration ONLY here on the website.
  2. Select either the (3-day $275, 2-day $175 or 1-day $125 per angler) entry options. 
  3. You will receive a confirmation of registration upon check out. (Check Spam/Junk folder if you don't receive)
  4. There will be no refunds of the entry fee unless an event is permanently cancelled.
  5. In the event a participant needs to cancel an entry (for any reason), the Minn Kota Owners Tournament will move the Entry Fee forward to next years event as a one-time courtesy.
  6. Registration for the Event closes at 7:00 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the beginning of the Event for a three-day entry. There will be no morning registration on Thursday, Friday or Saturday of the Event.  Participants may register online prior to the Event or in person at the designated time above during check-in.  Once the event begins, participants that register late online on must do so before 9:00 p.m. on Thursday and before 6 p.m. on Friday for the remaining days and must also adhere to the off limits rules listed in section 6.02 
  7. The first 250 anglers to register (three-day or two-day entry) online for any event will receive a promotional rod. If you qualified to receive an early entry rod  you may pick them at The Lodge at Pickwick Landing on Wednesday May 29th anytime between noon and 7 pm.  You may pick up a rod for another angler.
  8. There is no formal meeting but one angler from each boat must come to The Lodge at Pickwick Landing, 120 Playground Loop, Counce, TN 38326 on Wednesday May 29th between 12-7 pm.

TOURNAMENT DAY
 
On the day of the event each angler will receive a “first cast” text indicating it’s time to begin fishing. In addition, each angler will receive a text message from event staff prior to the start of the first hourly weigh in containing a link to our “Live Leaderboard.” The constantly-updated leaderboard provides real-time information on the top ten places for the current hour.
  
LAUNCH
 
Anglers may launch from any ramp they choose. There is no mandatory “host ramp.”
  
HOURLY WEIGH-INS
 
Each tournament day features seven hourly weigh-ins starting at 7:00am and ending at 2:00pm. Each hourly weigh-in awards cash payouts to the top ten biggest bass each hour as follows: 
 
  • 1ST:   $1000.00
  • 2ND:  $500.00
  • 3RD:  $300.00
  • 4TH:  $250.00
  • 5TH:  $225.00
  • 6TH:  $200.00
  • 7TH:  $175.00
  • 8TH:  $150.00
  • 9TH:  $125.00
  • 10TH: $100.00
 
Guaranteed Hourly Payouts are $21,175 per day. 
 
The hourly weigh-ins are held at the official “host site” identified in the “Event Details – Weigh in Site” on our website. Anglers are free to weigh their bass at any time during the designated hourly weigh-in, but you must be checked in at the fish care tanks ready to weigh-in before the end of the designated hourly weigh in. A digital “official time clock” will be on display at the fish care tanks. Anglers may travel to the weigh-in location by boat or may “trailer” back to the weigh-in location.
 
Anglers must use their own weigh bag or may purchase a "Bass Sack" from us for $25, there will be no community weigh bag use. After placing your bass inside the weigh bag (be sure to fill with adequate water) simply bring your bass to the weigh-in line (look for the tents and fish-care tanks). Tournament staff will ask you for your name and you will be called up to the weigh in stage by the tournament director to weigh your bass.
 
After weighing a fish, anglers are free to proceed immediately back to the lake to continue fishing after weighing their bass. No participant may have more than three bass (per participant) in his/her possession at any time during official event hours.
 
Guaranteed Overall Grand Prize: $50,000
 
All winnings will be distributed at the conclusion of the Event. If you are not present at the conclusion of the event, your winnings will be mailed to the mailing address provided at the time of entry.
 
*This information does not supersede, nor does it substitute for reading the official event “Rules.” 
 
Please visit our Rules page at www.minnkotaowners.com/rules