Tournaments

TBF of Michigan Tournament Information

The main tournament event of The Bass Federation of Michigan is the annual adult State Championship, held around the state on different bodies of water. All members are eligible to fish the State Championship. Each TBF of Michigan club sends their club team to the State Championship, or individual members can sigh up as a team to fish as well.

The State Championship is a Team (boater / non-boater) format. Individuals can enter as a Boater or Co-Angler (non-boater). TBF of Michigan will try to match you up with other individual entries based on the order you pay your entry (and membership if applicable). We recommend you find a team partner to sign up with beforehand as we cannot guarantee we’ll find everyone a match. If we don’t find a team match for you we will refund your state championship entry (not including membership dues you may have paid). See the latest TBF of Michigan State Championship Rules for complete details. Entry fee is set and announced each year by the board of directors.

There may be big bass prizes and sponsor bonus prizes, but most of the entry fee collected goes to a payback at the tournament, to pay expenses for the State Championship, and to fund the State Team from each event to the TBF National Semi-Final. Each team can bring in 5 keeper bass to weigh. The top 6 teams will advance to the Semi-Final where the boaters will compete as a boater, and their non-boater partners will compete as a co-anglers (additional members can advance up to top 10% of participants if more than 60 boats).

In addition, each active club is allowed to send 1 additional boater and co-angler (who are responsible for their own entry fees and expenses) to the National Semi-Final. Larger clubs may be able to send an additional pair for every so many members – see below and TBF of Michigan State Championship Rules for details.

The number of entries in each state championship determine how much expense money is shared by the team members towards expenses. TBF of Michigan generally covers Semi-Final entry fees and the cost of double-occupancy hotel rooms first before divvying out additional expense money (if available based on State Championship participation levels). Further details are provided to the state team each year by the board of directors.

It Pays to Fish with TBF!

Through the TBF of Michigan State Championship, members have a shot at a large amount of prizes and prize money for an average of about $200 total dues and entry fees! Clubs can also send additional members directly to the annual National Semi-Final! Here’s how it works!

TBF of Michigan State Championship

Qualify for TBF of Michigan’s State Team through our State Championship tournament. Michigan can send the top 10% of each our adult State Championship participation (unlimited), or a minimum of 12 anglers, whichever is greater, to the National Semi-Final

or TBF of Michigan Clubs in Good Standing

Eligible, active clubs in good standing who meet minimum requirements with the state can advance their top boater and top co-angler (from clubs with 6-19 members – club determines how members qualify) direct to the National Semi-Final (2 boaters and 2 co-anglers for 20-29 members, 3 each for 30-39 members, etc., unlimited)

TBF National Semi-Final

To the TBF National Semi-Finals – Individual payouts (75% payback to National Semi-Final individual, 10% to states, 15% to Federation National Championship (FNC)); One event held annually rotated each year between Michigan and Ohio – $200 entry fee for boaters, $100 entry fee for co-anglers (TBF of Michigan generally covers State Team members entry fees contingent on State Championship participation); Top two anglers from each state ADVANCE (highest finishing National Semi-Final boater and highest finishing National Semi-Final co-angler from the minimum 12 anglers for each state – 1 additional boater and co-angler can advance for each 50 boat/state milestone – 50, 100, 150, etc.)

Federation National Championship

To the Federation National Championship – States with multiple FNC qualifiers will compete from their own boats on Monday and Tuesday, after Tuesday we cut the field to the top Boater and top Co-Angler from each state, Wednesday is final practice day for all State Leaders out of new Ranger Boats, Thursday and Friday the full field competes by division, Friday the field is cut to the top anglers from each of the 7 TBF Divisions who will compete on Saturday’s final day for a National Championship Title with SIGNIFICANT cash and prize increases, and additional ADVANCEMENTS!

LIVING THE DREAM! Packages for BOTH the TBF Federation National Champion Boater and Co-Angler. The top Boater earns the $120,000 ‘Living The Dream’ prize to include a prize check, fully paid entry fees on the FLW Tour as a Pro, travel expense stipends for each event, and use of a tow vehicle and the ‘Living the Dream’ wrapped Ranger boat for the year. The top Co-Angler will receive $30,000 ‘Living the Dream’ package including a $20,000 prize check and fully paid entry fees into the FLW Series division of choice!

ALL 14 TBF Finalists advance as TBF Division Champions to the BFL All-American where all the anglers there have another chance to win!

PLUS the Federation National Champion Boater ADVANCES directly to the NO ENTRY FEE FLW Cup Championship and a chance to win the $300,000 top prize!!