CONNECT FISHING LEAGUE BIG BASS SHOOTOUT

One tournament – Four rounds

• Round 1 – May May 30
• Round 2 – June 6
• Round 3 – June 13
• Round 4 – June 20

Cost  = $10 (Entry Fee $5 plus $5 processing fee for each round)

This is an open tournament for anyone to participate.  Anglers can enter one or more rounds.  The more you enter, the better your chances to win.  There is a $50 bonus prize pack if the winner is a Connect Fishing League member.

Bass Tournament – weight based single biggest catch.

50% of the entry fee for each round paid to the winner of each round.  Remaining prize money awarded to the single biggest bass caught.

Tournament Code will be posted on this page just before each round and will be available on the ConnectScale app.

In order for this tournament to go smoothly, do some preparation ahead of time. Each angler must have either an iPhone or Android and install the free ConnectScale app to record your catches.  To get the ConnectScale app iPhone Users – Download on iTunes App Store and Android Users – Download on Google Play.

Your entry fee and processing fee will be collected as an in-app purchase. Go to the Events tab in the app, find the Event listing for the appropriate round you want to enter and tap to View/Join and complete payment with PayPal or Credit Card powered by Stripe.

All catches must be weighed with a ConnectScale.  No other weighing devices are allowed.

We recommend the use of one of the measuring boards listed at the end of the rules as a confirmation for each catch.

Big Bass Shootout is a single best catch Black Bass tournament (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, or Spotted Bass).

Read the rules carefully.  Failure to comply with the rules will result in disallowed catches and possible disqualification.

Prizes (100% payout of the collected entry fees)

• Round 1 winner – 50% of round 1 entry fee.
• Round 2 winner – 50% of round 2 entry fee.
• Round 3 winner – 50% of round 3 entry fee.
• Round 4 winner – 50% of round 4 entry fee.
• Grand prize winner (the biggest of the four rounds) – the remainder of the prize pool.
• Bonuses – 1) One (1) Prize Pack ($50 value) available for best social media shares using #BigBassShootout  2) One (1) Prize Pack ($50 Value) for the biggest catch from a Connect Fishing League Member.  Winners for both bonus prizes will be announced after the completion of all four rounds. 

What to do now?

1. Get the ConnectScale app and become familiar with the app in advance.  The app can be found here for iPhone and here forAndroid.
2. Instructional videos for the app can be found here: https://connectscale.com/pages/videos

When:

• Round 1 starts – Saturday May 30 at 6AM Eastern and ends at 6PM Eastern time same day.
• Round 2 starts – Saturday June 6 at 6AM Eastern and ends at 6PM Eastern time same day.
• Round 3 starts – Saturday June 13 at 6AM Eastern and ends at 6PM Eastern time same day.
• Round 4 starts – Saturday June 20 at 6AM Eastern and ends at 6PM Eastern time same day.
• Grand prize winner announced on Father’s Day June 21, 2020.

Where: 

• Any public waterway in the United States or Canada.  No private ponds allowed.

Who:  

• Any angler in the United States or Canada who is not under a Shelter In Place Order from Local, State, or National Government.  All anglers must follow all applicable laws and have appropriate licenses.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1 – The ConnectScale APP

All anglers must use the ConnectScale Fishing App to register and log entries.

• iPhone Users – Download on iTunes App Store.  
• Android Users – Download on Google Play.

Once you have downloaded the app.  Complete setting up your User Profile with First and Last names, Email and a Profile Picture that shows your face. 

The night before the event starts we will post the unique tournament ID code on this rules page.  You can also find the tournament ID in the ConnectScale app once the event begins.  To join the tournament, use the ConnectScale app, tap the Events Tab on the Bottom Menu. Select the My Events page on top of the page and select the Join button for the Big Bass Shootout event.  Be sure to select the correct round.

Step 2 – Measuring Devices 

The Big Bass Shootout Tournament is a single catch weight based tournament.  All entries must be verified using one of the recommended measuring devices listed at the end of the rules.

Step 3 – Go Fishing and Catch a Bass

Only “black bass” (largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass) are eligible for scoring in this tournament.

Step 4 – Measure and Log

Record your catch weight with the ConnectScale and enter into the ConnectScale app.

Measure the length of the catch with your measuring device and enter the length into the ConnectScale app.  The measurements are used to confirm validity of catch.  The length of the catch is not used to determine the winning catch but to validate the integrity of the entry.

The nose of the catch must touch the bump on the measuring device.  Lengths should be recorded in the nearest quarter inch rounded down.

Using the ConnectScale app, input the following data:

• Weight of the catch in the Weight Field automatically obtained from ConnectScale. 
• Length of the catch in the Length Field.
• Select appropriate species of catch. (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, or Spotted Bass)
• Tap the Event Code Field and make sure the Tournament Code for the Big Bass Shootout Round “X” where “X” is the round you are participating in.  The event is selected with a Green Checkmark. 
• Verification Photos – Two verification photos for each catch must be entered into the ConnectScale app at the time of the catch.  One photo must show a “fish selfie” with the entire catch in the photo.  The other photo must show the weight and length verification.

Verification photos must show the Unique Tournament ID on a card.  Tournament ID cards can be printed using the official Connect Fishing League Tournament card.  The Tournament Code will be posted on the rules page the day before each event and will be available in the ConnectScale app.

Photo Requirements:

• Each submission must be a unique catch.
• Each submission must include Unique Tournament ID.  This code will be published the night before the event starts and sent to you via email.
• Each photo must show the entire fish from mouth to tail.
• The mouth/lip, eye, and tail fin must not be covered or obstructed in photo.
• Tail of the fish may be pinched.
• The mouth of the fish must be closed and placed against the beginning of the board.
• The measurement must be from left to right with dorsal fins on top of photo and pelvic and anal fins downward.
• Measurement markings on board must be clearly visible.
• Photos must be taken with participants’ own phone using the In app photo feature.
• Photos should be taken straight on or from directly overhead and not at an angle to ensure verification of the catch.  If the tournament director is not able to easily read the measurement, entries may be disallowed.  
• Blurry photos or photos where the length marker is unclear will be excluded.
• Second generation (screen shot, or photo of photos) will be excluded.
• Catch must be in a natural state and unaltered.
• Any catch submitted that does not meet all of the criteria will be excluded from total.
• Tournament judges and the tournament director will have final decision on any violations and rulings.