Welcome to The Bass Federation of Connecticut.

Join Connecticut's most friendly & affordable bass fishing tournament trail for as little as $25 per tournament. More tournaments, more fun and more chances to advance to a National Semi Final or National tournament.

No boat ?, No Problem !

Non-Boaters & Boaters welcome !!

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Please check on your neighbors and friends. Remember to wear a face mask when in public, wash your hands and stay at least 6 ft. apart. Lets work together to end this and get back to fishing.

Be careful and be safe !!

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Important News, Events & Information !

 

2021 Trail Event #2, October 18, 2020 - Candlewood Lake

(Squantz Ramp; 7-3).

 

Open Tournament #8, Saturday October 24th - Candlewood Lake

(Squantz Ramp; 7-3).

1. Twenty five (25) boat limit !!!

2. Spots will be filled on a 1st come, 1st served basis. Applications will be taken by mail or at the ramp.

If you want to be guaranteed a spot preregister by mail !!!!

3. Masks/Face Covering are required to be worn on shore, both before and after the event. Masks must also be worn in the cockpit area of the boat, while driving and are required when both participants are fishing on the same deck. Masks may be removed when one partner is on the front deck and one is on the back deck.

4. To minimize cross contact during the tournament, please bring a completed application and exact change for the entry ($100), Lunker ($20). We will not be making change.

All rules, including the special COVID related restrictions will be strictly enforced and any violation will result in an immediate disqualification.

Please check back frequently for updates.

 

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Hello Everyone,

I just want to make sure everyone is aware of the upcoming trail events and what is necessary to qualify for next years TBF National Semi-Finals event (Fall of 2021).

First of all, for the 2021 NSF, we will take 4 Boaters and 4 Non-Boaters (including the top 2 non-boaters) from the Trail.  Another 4 Boaters & 4 Non-Boaters (including the top 2 non-boaters) will come from the Two-Day.

To be eligible to qualify for the NSF from the trail, you must fill out the attached Trail Qualifier Form and pay the $150 Qualifier Fee prior to the 1st tournament you want to count towards qualification.

The eligible trail events for the 2021 trail include:

August 23, 2020 - CT River
October 18, 2020 - Candlewood Lake
April 2021 - Date and Location TBD
May 2021 - Date and Location TBD 
June 2021 - Date and Location TBD

We will count 4 out 5 trail events (1 drop). 

 

The 2021 Two-Day will be in July 2021 - Dates and Locations TBD

(Think Spring !)

 

Please mail in your Tournament Applications and Trail Qualifier forms this week.

Any questions, please let me know.

Also, please share this email and instructions with your clubs to ensure everyone is aware of all associated deadlines.

Thanks,

Keith Cleary

Tournament Director, TBF of CT
keithpcleary@aol.com

 

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A Message from the President

Hi Everyone:
  I guess that it’s time to address how we are going to move forward with the rest of this year and moving into next year.  We will start with here and now.

First – We will continue to hold all of the tournaments including “The Opens” which are scheduled for this year.  Although everything is up in the air with the Corona virus, we have to continue to move forward as an organization if we plan to survive.  Membership is way down (to be expected) and who knows what participation will be, but we will work with it and bounce back in the long run.  Opens Tournaments continue, if you want to get an early number I would get an application into Keith before the deadline, otherwise sign up at the ramp.

 Second - The Division 15 National Semi-Final Tournament will be held on the Hudson River, at Catskill New York, during the first week of October.  We are not sure at this point of the lodging, and as usual The Federation will support the team as finances allow.

 Third - Those who fished “C” division at the end of last year already know that their money is being refunded as if the division did not exist.  For the next two tournaments of this year and the first three of next year (one drop) the “C” division will be starting again.  Members who wish to fish the division will pay the $150.00 entry fee, prior to fishing their first tournament.  Basically we have just rolled everything back for a year, because of the virus.  To the best of my knowledge nothing has changed as regards to the National Semi-Finals.  This could change if New York has another spike, but currently New York is allowing large tournaments, and I have heard nothing from either New Jersey or TBF National to indicate  that any changes will be required.

  If things go well (the virus slows down and a vaccine is developed)  next year will see a change back to some form of normalcy as we were accustomed to.  If not then there will be a new normal and we’ll learn to live with it, but hopefully we will at least have some form of stability with parameters that we can live within.  I am currently trying to work with the CT D.E.E.P. to allow us to hold (Outdoor) tournaments using ppe and safe social distancing practices.

The board is working to resolve the issues that we are currently facing.

  Take Care,                                                 

Fred Perry

President, TBF of CT

 

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A Message from the TBF of CT Tournament Director

Hey everyone, 

Some Key Changes

- Beginning with the July 2020 2-Day Tournament: All boaters will get to use their boat (up to the boat limit on the state tournament permit). Four (4) hour rules on boat operation still apply. The Top 2 Non-Boaters fishing the 2-Day will be guaranteed non-boater positions at the 2020 National Semi-Final Tournament.

- Beginning with the August 2020 Trail Event: Entry fees will increase: A Division entry fees will be $50. B Division entry fees will be $25. The Trail Qualifier, “C” Division, fee will be $150. The Top 2 Non-Boaters fishing the Trail Qualifier, “C” Division, will be guaranteed non-boater positions at the 2021 National Semi-Final Tournament.

- Beginning with the 2021 2-Day Tournament: The entry fee will be raised to $200, but Participants who have fished 2 or more of the 2021 Trail Events will get a $50 discount and need to pay only $150. Buy-Ins will be limited to the participants “Mother Club” only. Each club will be required to submit their qualification criteria prior to the start of the qualifying season.

 

Any questions, let me know.

Thanks,

Keith Cleary

CT-TBF Tournament Director

 

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CT-DEEP

CT-DEEP Urges Safe Boating, Social Distancing Practices at State Boat Launches During COVID-19 Pandemic

 
To this end, DEEP has developed a suite of common-sense practices and recommendations that can help improve boaters’ safety at state boat launches and on the water.  

To use Connecticut’s boat launches safely, DEEP offers the following guidance: 

• Do not raft or tie-up your vessel with other vessels. 
• Do not share your equipment or vessel with other boaters. 
• Wear gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) and practice proper social distancing when using public equipment such as gas pumps or pumpout facilities. 
• Coastal and inland water temperatures remain cold and boaters should wear life jackets at all times. A reminder that state law requires anyone operating or riding in a manually-propelled vessel such as a canoe or kayak is required to wear a life jacket until May 31st.  

DEEP also wishes to provide some additional information for out-of-state boaters using Connecticut’s waters: 

• Per Governor Lamont’s guidance, any person coming to Connecticut by means of transportation, including by boat, are strongly urged to self-quarantine for 14 days. 
• Out of state boaters are reminded that prior to operating on Connecticut’s inland waters, an Aquatic Invasive Species stamp is required to be purchased online. The demarcation line between inland and coastal waters can be found on the DEEP Boating website.  

DEEP will continue to closely monitor capacity and use of the state boat launches and may consider alternate management strategies for these facilities as demand increases. DEEP staff  are currently developing operational plans for the state’s most popular boat launches, including Squantz Cove and Gardner Lake, including possible targeted reductions in parking availability and other measures on a launch-specific basis to ensure the safety of Connecticut’s boaters. 

Please visit the DEEP Boating website for news and updates: www.portal.ct.gov/boating

 

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Great job at the 2020 TBF Nationals on Grand Lake by Ryan Kusmit and Keith Cleary. Congrats to Keith Cleary on winning the Eastern Division and placing 5th overall. Keith will be going to the BFL All American on Lake Hartwell.

 

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2020

TBF National Semi Final Div. 15

Congratulations to the following qualifiers:

Boaters - Tony Viccaro, Tim Thompson, Jeff Misaiko, Keith Cleary, Matt Marinelli, Jim Johnson, Jordon Doucette, Kevin Jaracy

Non-Boaters - Eric Baba, Lee Tracy, Tom Moleski, Bob Dattilo, Jason Myslak, Bob Panico, Fred Perry, Ken Bugden

On Oct. 11th and 12th these anglers will be competing against anglers from Rhode Island and New Jersey on the Hudson River in Catskill New York.They will be competing for prizes and a chance to qualify for the 2021 TBF National Tournament and possibly the BFL All American.

 

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2019

TBF National Semi Final Div. 15

( Connecticut, New Jersey & Rhode Island )

Congratulations to 2019 NSF Division 15 Overall Tournament Winner & Top CT Boater Keith Cleary (above) and Top CT Non Boater Ryan Kusmit (below in yellow). They will be representing CT. at the TBF National Championship in 2020.

Congratulations to Non Boaters (1st) Ryan Kusmit, (3rd) Jeff Misaiko

Congratulations to Boaters (1st) Keith Cleary, (3rd) Ken Bugden and (4th) Matt Marinelli.

 

Check out the National Semi Finals page for pictures, results & more.

 

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2019 CT-TBF AOY

A Division Jake Roczniak

 

2019 B Division Martin Schaffmeier

 

2019 2 Day Champion ... Rich Schumacher

Congrats to Rich, Jake and Martin !!

 

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2021 CT-TBF Trail Event #1 (2021 Early Bird)

08/23/2020 - CT. River Results

 

A Division

1st Tony Viccaro 10.86 lbs

2nd Jordon Doucette 4.82 lbs

3rd John Fonda 4.32 lbs

 

B Division

1st Derek Moran 2.69 lbs

2nd Jim Sherman 1.51 lbs

 

Congratulations !!

See the Tournament Trail Results page for compete results.

 

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2020 CT-TBF Opens -

August 16th Candlewood Lake

Results

 

1st Lampkin/Young 22.13 lbs lbs

2nd Rose/Rose 20.83 lbs lbs

3rd Kalechman/Parker 19.81lbs lbs

4th Mayo/Dziob 19.49 lbs lbs

5th Marinell/Bodmar 19.27 lbs lbs

Lunker Kalechman/Parker 6.47 lbs

25 Teams competed, Congratulations to the top 5 teams !!!

Complete results will be posted on the Opens page.

 

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To become a member of our federation one must either join an existing club (check the club listing page) or form a new club with a minimum of 6 members. By doing either it will automatically enroll you in the federation and entitle you to all our member benefits and protect you under the TBF insurance coverage. Most clubs in the state are actively recruiting new members at this time and welcome new faces enthusiastically.