MUST READ GUIDELINES / RULES

These are just a few highlighted Rules for West TN Student Bass Trail tournaments.

Download the SAF & WTSBT tournament rules PDFs below.  Be familiar with SAF/TBF and WTSBT rules. All Teams will follow SAF / WTSBT rules for each event.

Important Information for Boat Captains:

Safe Sports Act of 2017 - No student angler can fish ALONE with an adult at an organized youth event. No exceptions. Must have 3 people in the boat at all times, 2 anglers and a Captain makes up a team. In the case of one of the anglers becomes sick or cannot attend one of the events, then that team will be responsible to have an Official Observer in the boat.  Official Observer can be a second parent, mother, brother, sister, friend or just a bystander.  SAF sanctioned events are all team events and do not allow a single member team.  No solo team can register and compete without registering with an active member as their partner.  You cannot intend to fish alone.  

Important Tournament Rules and Guidelines:

• Contestants must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the entry form. 
• By signing the entry form, contestants, coaches and boat captains agree to submit their boat and/or motor to an inspection by tournament officials. 
• Contestants must have in their possession a valid fishing license for the waters they fish if required by law
• Contestants are required to follow all applicable federal, state and local regulations and laws. Any violation of such regulations and laws may result in disqualification. 
• The purchasing of, or bartering for, information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters, including but not limited to GPS waypoints (other than through commercially available sources) and the hiring of fishing guide services is not permitted by contestants, coaches, boat captains or anyone working on a team’s behalf within 10 days of the start of any tournament. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification. A team may not pay a boat captain for their services. A team may reimburse a boat captain for actual fuel and travel expenses related to the tournament. However, a team or anyone acting on a team’s behalf, may NOT pay or “hire” a Boat Captain for their time or knowledge. Contestants, coaches, boat captains, parents (anyone acting on a team’s behalf) may not buy or barter a fishing location from anyone. 
• Boat Captains ARE NOT allowed to fish.
•  There is no practice period or off-limits period prior to the start of onsite registration. There are, however, specific rules defined below that govern practice within 10 days of each tournament. Contestants, coaches and boat captains may be on tournament waters until the start of onsite registration. See the Complete Rules & Guidelines forms for additional information.
• Takeoff order (boat number) is determined by tournament officials. Most events are random draw.  Onsite entries may receive the last available boat numbers. 
•  Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant, coach and boat captain on the water is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved chest-type personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is running from boat check until weigh-in each day of the tournament. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition-shutoff device that must be securely attached to the driver’s body whenever the combustion engine is running. All persons in a tournament boat shall remain seated in a manufacturer-recommended on-plane seating location with a driver behind the steering wheel or at the tiller in full control of the boat whenever it is on plane or the combustion engine is running and in gear. Sitting on pedestal seats while the combustion engine is in operation and in gear is not permitted.  Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by contestants, coaches and boat captains. 
• At the discretion of the tournament director, tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.  Contestants, coaches and boat captains may leave their boat and seek shelter in bad weather or when danger is imminent. 
•  All contestants, coaches and boat captains are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, TBF, SAF, tournaments sponsors, the school the team is representing, the sport of fishing, and our combined efforts to promote the sport.
• In the case of any conduct not complying with the standards as outlined in the complete rules, tournament officials have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete, to disqualify a contestant or impose any penalty outlined herein.
•  All boats must be propeller-driven and a minimum of 16 feet in length.  Pontoon and tritoon boats that meet all other requirements under this rule are permitted. Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Boats must contain a properly aerated livewell space to maintain alive a limit catch of bass. 
• Fishing is defined as having a lure attached to a line and a rod and reel with the rod in hand. All bass must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner. All lures must adhere to state regulations. Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers and biodegradable soft baits. 
• Teams that are not at the designated afternoon checkpoint at the appointed time will be penalized 1 pound per minute, deducted from the total weight. Teams more than 15 minutes late will lose credit for that day’s weight.
• Mechanical failures do not extend your weigh in time.  Call or Text one of the numbers below if assistance is needed during tournament hours.
• Liability insurance with coverage in reasonable amounts is required on all boats used in High School Fishing tournaments. Proof of insurance must be with the boat being used and must cover all passengers in the boat. Random checks will be conducted. Failure to provide proof of insurance when requested by the tournament director may result in disqualification.

• ALL BOATS MUST TURN IN THEIR BOAT NUMBER TO ONE OF THE OFFICIALS AT WEIGH-IN OR IF LEAVING EARLY.  This is how we ensure all teams have safely returned! 

Click the WTSBT and the SAF Rules & Guidelines PDF forms below.  

Important day of tournament phone numbers to save in your phone:

WTSBT Director 731-238-1284 

WTSBT Assistant 731-273-6607