Qualifying for the State Team and the
Pathway to the Bass Master Classic

Requirements: (1) Membership with National B.A.S.S., (2) Membership with the Maryland Bass Federation, and (3) a member of a Maryland local Chapter Bass club.

There is a sponsorship and benefit program that our federation participates in for members of our State Team. Follow the link for more information about The B.A.S.S. Federation Alliance Program.

The public is always invited to attend our tournament weigh-ins. We are proud to show off the extreme care we take to conduct tournaments with the highest standards of competition and honor, and to preserve the resources with catch and release tournaments.

Through the Maryland Federation, you can qualify and be a member of our state team to represent Maryland at the Eastern Divisional Tournament. This is the first step for a grassroots angler to participate in being an angler in the Bass Master Classic. Ways to qualify for the state team are as follows:

Mr. Bass Tournament
This is a statewide competition in which each first place finalist from each of our official chapters is invited to compete against each other to determine the "best of the best". The top two anglers from this two-day event advance to the State Team and the overall winner is crowned Maryland's Mr. Bass and becomes the captain of the team.

Tournament Trail Circuit
The Maryland BASS Federation Trail Circuit offers another means of making the Maryland State Team. The Circuit is comprised of five tournaments on Maryland waters and ending with the top 35 anglers advancing to the Federation Classic. The top two anglers from the two-day Federation Classic will advance to the state team.

The Trail follows a draw tournament format and has an excellent cash payout. The Trail is open to Federation members only.

S.Q.T. Tournament
The SQT features the top 200 anglers that qualified through four regional tournaments. This tournament is the last step in the progression of competitions leading to the make up of the State Team that will eventually lead to the National Bass Master Classic! The top eight competitors from this two-day event will advance to the Maryland State Team. This completes the 12-man State Team. From here the State Team will compete against twelve other states in the National B.A.S.S. Federation Eastern Divisional Tournament in 2002.

Alternate
There will be an additional alternate that will travel with the 12-man State Team. This shall be the President or Designee appointed by the President.

The 2003 Maryland Bass Federation State team will represent Maryland at the Eastern Divisional Tournament on the Lake Champlain, Vermont. This Divisional Tournament is a three day competition. The State Team competes against teams from the other states in their Division. One member from our State Team will hold the title of State Champion. While the tournament is a team event, the state champion from each state within the Division advances to the National B.A.S.S. Federation Championship.

The National B.A.S.S. Federation Championship Tournament brings together the top fifty anglers from all the states and International Federations to fish a National tournament to qualify 5 national division winners who go on to the Bass Master Classic. The Federations consist of forty-six states, Canada, Japan, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, which is divided into five Divisions. Maryland competes in the Eastern Division. So you see, you really can advance through the ranks.

The National B.A.S.S. Federation Championship tournament is a three day competition, where the top angler of each Division is determined. These five anglers advance the Bass Master Classic representing the Federations.