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.

 

2021

 

New Pro/Am Format !

 

Non-Boaters & Boaters welcome !!

Join now for $85 and be eligible to fish the two (2) National Semi Final qualifiers being held this year for 2021 & 2022. You will also be eligible to fish five (5) statewide trail events.

 

If you are fishing the trail and haven't paid your NSF Trail (State Team ) Qualifier fee, make sure you pay it before your first tournament.

 

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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.

Also..... Please check your boat before and after you launch. Let's keep our waters free from invasive species.

Be careful and be safe !!.

 

Click to view our facebook page.

 

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Important News, Events & Information !

 

Next Trail Event

Trail Tournament #2

Sunday May 16th 2021 - Lake Zoar

 

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Next Open Event

Open Tournament #4

05/30/2021 Sunday - CT River Haddam Meadows

You do not need to be a member of the CT-TBF to fish an open tournament.

 

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

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

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.

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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First annual CT-TBF Banquet in the works !! Awards and raffles planned.

Please check back frequently for updates.

 

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Website- www.martinscustombaits.com
CT TBF members 5% discount promo code: CTTBF21

Check out CT-TBF member Steve Martin's website for some great lures !!

 

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Invasive Species Alert

Destroy! Don’t Dump!

Invasive zebra mussels have been found in "moss balls,” an aquarium plant product sold at aquarium and pet supply stores.  Zebra mussels are regarded as one of the most destructive invasive species in North America.
What are “moss balls?”
A moss ball is a species of green algae that is formed into a ball and is 2 to 5 inches in diameter. Moss balls are purchased for home aquariums are found in pet stores nationwide.
What should I do if I recently purchased moss balls for my aquarium?
DESTROY, DISPOSE, DRAIN
Do not dispose of the moss balls in drains, waterways, or gardens. Moss balls must be destroyed and disposed of in a sealed container in the trash.

 

For more information visit the US Fish and Wildlife Service website, fws.gov.

 

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****** Press Releases ******

03/04/2021

Governor Lamont Signs Order Opening Connecticut’s Fishing Season Early

Trout Fishing Season Opening Early to Encourage Social Distancing, Anglers Reminded to Exercise Caution if Fishing on Late-Season Ice

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed an executive order removing closed seasons for fishing on all inland waters in Connecticut, and opening additional lakes, ponds, as well as rivers and streams to fishing statewide, effective today. The governor signed a similar order last year to open the state’s fishing season early at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Order No. 10B removes prohibitions on fishing for trout, effectively advancing opening day of trout season from April 10, 2021 to today. The governor said that opening the fishing season early permits anglers to enjoy additional access to outdoor recreation, which has been a help to residents’ mental and physical health.

“Opening the fishing season early helps to reduce opening day crowds and limit the potential for spread of COVID-19,” Governor Lamont said. “Anglers are encouraged to continue to practice social distancing, and we encourage fishing to be enjoyed only with members of your immediate household and not as a group activity.”

 

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2021 TBF National Championship

RED RIVER, SHREVEPORT, LA.
MARCH 8-13, 2021

100 OF THE NATIONS TOP GRASSROOTS ANGLERS HEADED TO SHREVEPORT FOR THE 2021 TBF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

All fifty boaters and fifty co-anglers competing in the National Championship will fish the first two days of the event and only the 7 Division Champion boaters and 7 Division Champion co-anglers will compete on the third and final day for the Living Your Dream Prize packages and the National Champion boater and co-angler titles.  In addition to the cash prizes, all hotel room nights for the actual event days will be paid for by TBF for all the anglers as a part of their qualifying prize and all 14 finalists will earn a Living YOUR Dream prize package of various sizes and can advance to the 2021 BFL All-American if they were FLW competitor members before they qualified.

The National champions and overall winners will leave with the coveted TBF National Champion Boater and National Champion Co-angler Titles and a Living Your Dream (LYD) package. The boater LYD package is valued in excess of a whopping $130,000! In past years of the program, the Federation National Champion Living Your Dream Angler received the USE of a new Ranger boat for the following season. A new benefit was added in 2020 that will continue in 2021 which is that now the Federation National Champion Living Your Dream angler will receive a brand-new Ranger Z520 powered by 250HO outboard engine, Lowrance Electronics and MinnKota Trolling Motor rigged out and all their own to KEEP!  So, in addition to a significant CASH prize they will also earn a new Ranger boat a custom clothing package and more!

The Federation strongly believes in the value of co-anglers, so the 2021 National Champion Co-angler LYD package will be worth over $30,000, including 20K cash PLUS set paid entry stipends into the circuit of choice, clothing package and more!

Good Luck to Team Connecticut, Angler Keith Cleary and Co-Angler Josh Escobar !!

 

 

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From the CT-TBF Tournament Director;

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 we have moved to a full Pro/Am format. For the 2021 NSF, we will take 4 Boaters and 4 Non-Boaters from the Trail.  Another 4 Boaters & 4 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.

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

To qualify to fish the CT-TBF 2 Day events you must be a member at least sixty (60) days prior to the event.

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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CT-TBF Covid19 Fish Care with Fish Whisperer Tim Thompson

 

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CT-DEEP

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

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.

 

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2021 CT-TBF Trail Event #1

Sunday April 25th - Candlewood Lake Results

 

A Division

1st Bob Dattilo 13.99 lbs

2nd Sam Leary 12.55 lbs

3rd Paul Indorf 12.45 lbs

Lunker John Fonda 4.45 lbs

 

B Division

1st Steve Martin 13.47 lbs

2nd John Poe 9.34 lbs

3rd Josh Escobar 7.36 lbs

Lunker Steve Martin 4.97 lbs

 

Congratulations !!

See the Tournament Trail Results page for compete results.

 

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2021 CT-TBF Opens Event #3

Thursday May 6th Candlewood Lake Results

 

1st Cucinello/Czaplinski 23.23 lbs

2nd Todd Rose 18.41 lbs

3rd Cleary/Poe 16.67 lbs

Lunker Cucinello/Czaplinski 4.92 lbs

 

16 Teams/Boats competed. Great job by all & congratulations to the top 3 teams !!

See the Open Tournament Results page for compete results.

 

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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.