Every MWBA tournament is fished by two-person teams — a boater and a co-angler — sharing one boat. Teams are paired by a computerized random draw, and the pairings are mixed up for every event. The Tournament Director adjusts the draw so members generally aren't paired twice in a season until everyone has been paired once. It keeps the competition friendly and means you'll fish alongside many different members over the year.
Your membership must be current to fish. Returning members renew before entering the January tournament. Paying the entry fee automatically enters you into the random pairings draw.
The initial online entry deadline is 6:00 p.m. the day before the club meeting that precedes the tournament. In-person entries are taken at the meeting, and both are included in the initial pairings draw. Online entries are then accepted through noon the day before the tournament, but entering late means the Tournament Director has to keep revising the pairings — so be kind and enter early.
Co-anglers pay their boater a lake-specific Fair Share Fee before launch to help cover the boat's operating expenses (fuel and wear). The amount is set per lake.
Tournament payouts run a 1:4 ratio of paid places to boats entered — ranked by total weight. The club retains $350 from the entry-fee total to cover operating costs. In a typical 30-boat, 60-angler event, that leaves about 90% of entry fees in the payout pot (most tournaments tout 80%).
Tournaments include an optional side pot. The $20-per-angler side-pot fee is paid in cash before the pre-launch meeting, and the top three places share the pot.
Boaters must carry at least $300,000 of liability insurance on their boat and sign a liability form. All participants assume personal liability for any damage they cause during pre-tournament and tournament activities. Once paired, boaters and co-anglers should connect as soon as possible to sort out travel, lodging, pre-fishing, the Fair Share Fee, back-deck seating, tackle storage, and how the day will run.
Safety comes first. If conditions are unsafe before launch, the Tournament Director decides at the pre-launch meeting whether to delay, shorten, or cancel. If conditions turn dangerous on the water, err on the side of caution — run or hide, whichever is safer — and call the Tournament Director if in doubt.
An optional Grudge Match is held on the third Wednesday of December in place of a regular monthly tournament. It's the one MWBA event where non-members can fish and anglers choose their own teammate. A member volunteers to run it, regular MWBA rules apply, and the entry fee is $25.
Enter a tournament → Read the FAQ
The full by-laws and official rule book are available to members in the Member Portal. This page summarizes the essentials. Questions? Email the Secretary.
