Sherwood Bass Club Tournament Entry Fee Set to Double

Anglers who fail to participate in the upcoming Sherwood Bass Club Tournament will pay double the entry fee to secure a slot in the annual fishing event. The bass fishing tournament on Saturday, February 17th, is the 2nd installment of the 8-part series that kicked off on January 20th, 2024. 

The Sherwood Bass Club holds monthly bass fishing tournaments every 3rd Saturday of the month, from January to September (except in August), leading up to a 2-day classic in October. 

The team with the heaviest catch in each tournament carries the day and bags a $500 cash prize while improving their standing in the classic championship race. 

Sherwood Bass Club Tournament Eligibility

The tourney is open to all amateur anglers with a Sherwood Club Membership. While registration is ongoing until September, the club membership fees vary. 

Entrants who fish in the February tournament will pay a $30 annual membership fee. The membership fee will double in the later tourneys, starting in March. 

There’s also a $100 entry fee per boat and an optional $10 Big Bass pot, and all entry fees count toward the tournament’s payout. Amateur anglers can join the race by paying their entry fee to a club official 15 minutes before commencement.  

Sherwood Bass Club Tournament Rules

The tournament is a strict catch-and-release event, and all anglers must adhere to the Sherwood Bass Club fishing rules. A team shall comprise two anglers, and there can only be two team members per boat. All anglers must hold a valid fishing license from the State of Arkansas. 

Only fishing rods with artificial rods are permissible, and contestants may not troll or use live bait. Anglers may not use any form of technology to gain an undue advantage during the tournament. Team members must remain in the boat, in the tournament waters unit, at the 3 p.m. weigh-in, except in the case of an emergency. 

Only three bass species—largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass—are eligible for the tournament. Each boat must have a live well, and there’s a 5-fish limit per boat. All legally caught bass must be at least 12” long, and contests may cull any short bass as they fish. 

The tournament uses a Gator Grip Golden Rule Board to measure the bass length. Any attempt to weigh in a short fish attracts a penalty—one pound is deducted from the team’s total weight. While contestants may weigh in a dead fish, each dead bass carries a half-pound penalty and isn’t eligible for the big bass of the day. 

The number of winners in each event depends on the turnout. Three teams will be feted in tournaments with less than 19 boats, while those with 26 or more boats will award 5 teams.