Director Capt Jake Davis (615) 613-2382 or sctnbassnation@gmail.com
General Guidelines...Points...National Seats
Tennessee BASS Nation HS/JR Trail General Guidelines and Tournament Rules for 2022-2023
All times will be local time to the ramp we launch from...
Launch will be “Safe Light” or “Safe Conditions” approx. 6:30am XXXXXX
I will call numbers whether or not you are in the water!
Junior Boats First Flight will be due back in at 2:00pm
First High School flight will be due back at 3:00pm
No Locking up or down at any Tournament
Five Fish any combination
Largemouth 15 inches
Smallmouth 18 Inches – You may only have 1 Smallmouth per ANGLER
Kentucky/Spotted Bass 12
Mean Mouth Bass are categorized as Smallmouth
Anglers MUST use the TBN Weigh In bags that we provide.
At NO time will you:
Ride/stand/sit on the deck of the boat while big motor is running
Boat Captains may NEVER fish during tournament hours
Student Anglers are NEVER to operate a boat using the big motor, unless loading or unloading the boat
All Coaches/School Advisors: If you are paying by check please email all team rosters fishing this event to Jake at sctnbassnation@gmail.com
All rosters or on-line registrations are due not later than 5pm Central on Wednesday
Entries need to be paid at registration or the morning of the tournament.
On-line registration:
High School Division – www-sctnbassnation-com
Junior Division – www-sctnbassnation-com
All entries on-line or rosters MUST include anglers BASS Membership Numbers
Boat numbers will be assigned by random draw and posted Thursday evening
** FLU/COVID Procedures: Use commonsense, Tents will be allowed in designated area, early weigh in only if you must. Please don’t gather in large groups. If you are SICK STAY HOME!
Life Vest/Person Flotation Devices (Type III) must be worn by all individuals on board anytime the main motor is in use, ALL Buckles buckled, and all zippers zipped all the way up **Tennessee State Law require all individuals 12 years of age and younger to wear a PFD at all times while on the deck of a vessel.
1. You must maintain 50 yards away from another competitor, unless you invite the competitor in…once you invite a competitor in all are invited.
2. NO Hole sitting (You may NOT have anyone sit/hold/block and area)
3. Alabama/Tennessee rigs are authorized, must meet TWRA Regulations or Alabama Regulations if in Alabama Waters.
4. All Boat Captains and Anglers must have read and understand the general tournament rules posted by BASS for High School and Junior Tournaments.
5. At NO TIME in either Junior or High School boats will a Boat Captain fish...period! High School Captains shall never touch any rod, reel, line or bait during tournament hours.
7. A Boat Captain can “Coach” anglers while on the water…Captains MAY NOT demonstrate…verbal coaching only. Boat captains can coach but will never touch or handle any fishing rod, lures or line during competition hours. Including lunch break. Captains can net if a single angler is in boat.
8. Trolling Motor Operation – Manually or by REMOTE, In the interest of Safety…High School Teams: A boat Captain may operate the trolling motor to “Make Safe” the anglers and vessel, this is the only time a High School Captain should be operating the trolling motor.
** JUNIOR Boat Captains** if the anglers are not familiar with operating the trolling motor, you MAY operate the trolling motor…BUT PLEASE teach them, once anglers move up to High School level they MUST operate the trolling motor. High School Captain shall NOT operate the trolling motor, unless it’s to make safe the anglers or vessel.
9. Junior Boat Captains- Boat Captain may assist/instruct with tying lures, measuring a catch, clearing backlashes (reel must be detached from rod) and may net fish (the effected angler must be observing the boat captain and not fishing while you teach him/her…again, it is expected that you teach your anglers as once they reach the next level they must be able to do these actions themselves).
10. ALL, it is the ANGLERS responsibility to ensure length limits of all fish and number of fish in the livewells. Anglers MUST cull immediately upon catching the 6th fish…no more than 5 fish are to be in the livewell at any given time.
11. Anglers will present the days catch to the scales. The catch may/will be checked as needed by the weigh master. Bass presented for weigh-in, which fail to measure the official length, shall result in a penalty of 1 pound for each such bass, which penalty shall be deducted from the total score of the competitor. Short fish will not be weighed. Dead fish penalty is .25 pounds.
12. Anglers are not authorized to use electronic communication devices (cell phone, for example) unless emergencies arise. No phone fishing
13. Boat Captains may and are encouraged to video and/or take pictures during the competition hours and post them to Facebook or send them to the tournament directors for use on Facebook.
14. All Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency rules must be adhered to at all times. It is the Anglers responsibility to be familiar with and understand TWRA Regulations. If you have a question, contact the tournament Director. A ticket during tournament hours from TWRA/USCG/TVA is a automatic Disqualification for the tournament day.
15. All Boat Captains and Anglers must have read and understand the general tournament rules posted by BASS (can be found at Bassmaster com high school) for High School and Junior Tournaments.
16. All Protest or complaints shall be filed either prior to the start of the weigh in or immediately following the weigh in…once we start issuing scholarships it’s over. Period!
17. Failure to report a rules violation to the tournament director SHALL result in both the offending team and the team who fails to report said violation to be disqualified, points removed for that event or complete suspension for the remainder of the tournament season. In other words, if you fail to report the day of the tournament, but later report a violation or complain that you saw a violation…this rule will be enforced.
These tournaments are meant to be a teaching, learning and enjoyable experience. It is the responsibility of all Coaches, School Advisors, Boat Captains and Tournament Officials to teach and ensure good sportsmanship and prepare our anglers for the next level of life and tournament competition. If you have questions, please contact the Asst State Director Capt Jake Davis at 615.613.2382 or via email at sctnbassnation@gmail.com or the SETBN Director Christina Goins 423-664-2339
TN B.A.S.S. High School Boat Captain Rules
Captains may only fall in the following criteria:
- Official faculty member of the student’s institution
- Close family friend/State Nation member
- Parent of the student’s High School B.A.S.S. Club
*If a potential Captain is a local guide, then they will be ineligible for the tournament.
TN B.A.S.S. reserves the right to deny any Boat Captain.
During Competition Boat Captains MAY:
1. Coach
2. Give advice (send in plays)
3. Verbally explain techniques, how to…….
4. MAY NEVER Fish
High School Boat Captains MAY NOT:
1. Fish
2. Teach by example
3. Tie knots
4. Land fish with or without a net
5. Run the trolling motor
During Competition, anytime the combustion engine is running, Boat Captains MUST be seated in the driver’s seat in full control of the boat with kill lanyard attached. Never operate the combustion engine with an angler standing or sitting on the cast deck.
Required safety equipment- all TN BASS Nation Trails
Life jacket for everyone on board
Fire extinguisher
Alternate sound device (whistle or horn)
Throw cushion with 50’ rope attached
Working lights
Working live well
Working kill switch
300,000 Liability Insurance
Current boat registration with numbers displayed on the hull
Golden rule
Items We Strongly Suggest:
First aid kit
Jumper cables
Small basic tool kit
Extra change of clothes
Tow rope
Please release me/ G Juice
Landing net
Ties or ropes
Flashlight
* ONLY ANGLERS OVER 16 CAN WEAR INFLATABLE PFD’s (personal flotation devices) THIS IS THE LAW
* Please check life vests for rot and holes. If you can grab your child’s vest with him or her in it, pull the straps and feel or hear the fabric tear and rip toss it!
Tournament Rules in Addition BASS Nation
Additional Rules Information
Tournament Rules which will be emailed and posted each tournament
All times will be Central Time
Launch will be “Safe Light” or “Safe Conditions”
I will call numbers whether or not you are in the water!
All Junior Boats will be due back in at 1:00pm
First High School flight will be due back at 2:00pm
No Locking at any Tournament
Largemouth 15 inches
Smallmouth 18
Kentucky/Spotted Bass 12
All Coaches/School Advisors: Please email all team rosters fishing this event to the XXXXXXXXXXXX Not Later than 6pm on XX XXX XXXX. Entries need to be paid at registration or the morning of the tournament.
Life Vest/Person Flotation Devices (Type III) must be worn by all individuals on board anytime the main motor is in use, ALL Buckles buckled, and all zippers zipped all the way up **Tennessee State Law require all individuals 12 years of age and younger to wear a PFD at all times while on the deck of a vessel.
1. You must maintain 50 yards away from another competitor, unless you invite the competitor in…once you invite a competitor in all are invited.
2. NO Hole sitting (You may NOT have anyone sit/hold/block and area)
3. Alabama/Tennessee rigs are authorized, must meet TWRA Regulations or Alabama Regulations if in Alabama Waters.
4. All Boat Captains and Anglers must have read and understand the general tournament rules posted by BASS for High School and Junior Tournaments.
5. At NO TIME in either Junior or High School boats will a Boat Captain fish...period! High School Captains shall never touch any rod, reel, line or bait during tournament hours.
7. A Boat Captain can “Coach” anglers while on the water…Captains MAY NOT demonstrate…verbal coaching only. Boat captains can coach but will never touch or handle any fishing rod, lures or line during competition hours. Including lunch break. Captains can net if a single angler is in boat.
8. Trolling Motor Operation – Manually or by REMOTE, In the interest of Safety…High School Teams: A boat Captain may operate the trolling motor to “Make Safe” the anglers and vessel, this is the only time a High School Captain should be operating the trolling motor.
** JUNIOR Boat Captains** if the anglers are not familiar with operating the trolling motor, you MAY operate the trolling motor…BUT PLEASE teach them, once anglers move up to High School level they MUST operate the trolling motor. High School Captain shall NOT operate the trolling motor, unless it’s to make safe the anglers or vessel.
9. Junior Boat Captains- Boat Captain may assist/instruct with tying lures, measuring a catch, clearing backlashes (reel must be detached from rod) and may net fish (the effected angler must be observing the boat captain and not fishing while you teach him/her…again, it is expected that you teach your anglers as once they reach the next level they must be able to do these actions themselves).
10. ALL, it is the ANGLERS responsibility to ensure length limits of all fish and number of fish in the livewells. Anglers MUST cull immediately upon catching the 6th fish…no more than 5 fish are to be in the livewell at any given time.
11. Anglers will present the days catch to the scales. The catch may/will be checked as needed by the weigh master. Bass presented for weigh-in, which fail to measure the official length, shall result in a penalty of 1 pound for each such bass, which penalty shall be deducted from the total score of the competitor. Short fish will not be weighed. Dead fish penalty is .25 pounds.
12. Anglers are not authorized to use electronic communication devices (cell phone, for example) unless emergencies arise. No phone fishing
13. Boat Captains may and are encouraged to video and/or take pictures during the competition hours and post them to Facebook or send them to the tournament directors for use on Facebook.
14. All Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency rules must be adhered to at all times. It is the Anglers responsibility to be familiar with and understand TWRA Regulations. If you have a question, contact the tournament Director. A ticket during tournament hours from TWRA/USCG/TVA is a automatic Disqualification for the tournament day.
15. All Boat Captains and Anglers must have read and understand the general tournament rules posted by BASS ( can be found at Bassmaster.com/ high school) for High School and Junior Tournaments.
16. All Protest or complaints shall be filed either prior to the start of the weigh in or immediately following the weigh in…once we start issuing scholarships it’s over. Period!
17. Failure to report a rules violation to the tournament director SHALL result in both the offending team and the team who fails to report said violation to be disqualified, points removed for that event or complete suspension for the remainder of the tournament season. In other words, if you fail to report the day of the tournament, but later report a violation or complain that you saw a violation…this rule will be enforced.
These tournaments are meant to be a teaching, learning and enjoyable experience. It is the responsibility of all Coaches, School Advisors, Boat Captains and Tournament Officials to teach and ensure good sportsmanship and prepare our anglers for the next level of life and tournament competition. If you have questions, please contact the Asst State Director Capt Jake Davis at 615.613.2382 or via email at sctnbassnation@gmail.com or the State Director David Lowrie at 931-235-6216
Conservation, Community Service Competition
Additional Information
Central Tennessee BASS Nation High School/Junior Trail
Community Service, Conservation, TN Promise Competition 2021-2-22
To be announced
Some may remember last year (Christmas/Winter Break) we had a Community Service competition. We will be continuing this again during the 2021-2022 tournament season. It will run from 15 Sept 2021 to 1 May 2022. Thanks to several sponsors who really liked everything we did the last two years with the lake clean ups, habitat rehabilitation, and kid’s events.
In order to keep this fair across the board and provide equal opportunity for ALL community or school-based teams to have a reasonable chance at the awards, here is what I have come up with after talking to several coaches.
1. The Central Region High School Trail will schedule three (3) lake clean ups (Tims Ford, Normandy and Percy Priest).
2. The Central Region Trail is dedicated to Tims Ford, Woods Reservoir and Normandy Lake. We will schedule several workdays for these projects.
3. As you may have noticed we have teamed up with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation to help promote “Fishing in Tennessee.” Part of that effort is our commitment to exposing fishing to young future anglers and people that would normally not get a chance or take the opportunity. So, if CTNBN Trail with the help of a school or community team wishes to set up an event such as the disabled angler’s event that Scotts Hill or Livingston Academy conducts this would count.
4. If a school or community team wishes to conduct a lake clean up or habitat restoration project, it needs to be coordinated and approved with/by the CTNBN Director and all school teams/programs allowed to help.
** Note: This is not just limited to anglers! Boat Captains, Parents, Siblings, Boy Scout Troops, FFA Clubs can all help… (Example: Say Coffee County Bass Team talks the Coffee County Football Team members into helping, who ever showed up to help for that event would count towards Coffee County) (Everyone that showed up will get TN Promise credit but the hours will also count towards the respected school/team)
Community Service/Conservation work/TN Promise is not working a sponsor event, party, outing, tournaments, fishing show support…that is sponsor support which your team agreed to with that sponsor. Community service is participation in conservation activities, lake clean ups, habitat restoration, take a kid fishing events, actually working a benefit tournament whose primary cause is Kids Cancer, Homelessness, Saint Judes, helping challenged kids learn to fish or enjoy the outdoors… If anyone has concern whether or not an event qualifies call or email Capt Jake beforehand.
