2016 BFL Schedule, Rules and Details
Increased Regional payouts, premier destinations highlight upcoming BFL season
FLW recently announced the 2016 Walmart Bass Fishing League schedule, rules and details. The BFL will include 128 tournaments in 24 divisions in 2016. Awards being offered total nearly $8 million, including as much as $120,000 to the winning boater and $60,000 to the winning co-angler in the nationally-televised All-American, plus advancement to the Forrest Wood Cup for the All-American boater winner.
A summary of highlights:
Entry Dates
Entries will be accepted by division beginning at 8 a.m. CT on the following dates:
Dec. 7, 2015 – Hoosier, Michigan, Music City and Volunteer
Dec. 8, 2015 – Bulldog, Cowboy, Great Lakes, Illini and Mississippi
Dec. 9, 2015 – Bama, Buckeye, Choo Choo, Gator and Mountain
Dec. 10, 2015 – Arkie, LBL, North Carolina, Northeast and Okie
Dec. 11, 2015 – Ozark, Piedmont, Savannah River, Shenandoah and South Carolina
Entries will be accepted online at FLWFishing.com, by phone at 270.252.1000 or by mail, to 30 Gamble Lane, Benton, KY 42025.
Angler and Co-angler of the Year
- $1,000 Angler of the Year award in each division
- $500 Co-angler of the Year award in each division
96 Qualifying Tournaments
- $8,000 top boater award
- $3,000 top co-angler award
- Ranger Cup bonuses
- Saturday tournaments
- Winners determined by heaviest one-day catch
- 20 percent of field earns a check
- Every angler receives points
- Entry fees: $230 boaters and $115 co-anglers
24 Super Tournaments
- $11,000 top boater award
- $4,500 top co-angler award
- Ranger Cup bonuses
- Saturday and Sunday tournaments: full field Saturday and top 20 percent Sunday
- Winners determined by heaviest two-day catch
- 20 percent of field earns a check
- Every angler receives points
- Entry fees: $345 boaters and $175 co-anglers
6 Regional Championships
- Ranger Z518C with a 200-hp outboard and $20,000 for winning boaters
- Ranger Z518C with a 200-hp outboard for winning co-anglers
- Top six boaters and co-anglers advance to the BFL All-American
- Top 50 boaters and co-anglers from four divisions qualify
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournaments: full field Thursday and Friday and top 12 Saturday
- Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch
- NEW PAYOUT includes: $10,000 for boaters and $5,000 for co-anglers for second place, $5,000 for boaters and $2,500 for co-anglers for third place, and $1,000 for boaters and $500 for co-anglers for 12th place
- Top 24 boaters and co-anglers earn checks
- No entry fee
1 Wild Card Regional
- Top six boaters and co-anglers advance to the BFL All-American
- Anglers who enter all five events within a division and fish at least two but do not advance to a Regional Championship qualify
- Friday and Saturday tournament, full field both days
- Winners determined by heaviest two-day catch
- No entry fee
BFL All-American
- $120,000 top boater award
- $60,000 top co-angler award
- Nationally televised
- Ranger Cup bonuses
- Winning boater advances to the Forrest Wood Cup
- Top six boaters and co-anglers from six regional championships and the Wild Card qualify
- Wednesday practice. Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournament: full field Thursday and Friday, and top 10 Saturday
- Winners determined by the heaviest three-day catch
- Every boater earns at least $1,500, and every co-angler earns at least $750
- No entry fee
New 2016 Regional Championship Payout
Place Boater Co-angler
1 Ranger Z518C Ranger Z518C with
with 200-hp outboard 200-hp outboard*
and $20,000*
2 $10,000 * $5,000 *
3 5,000 * 2,500 *
4 3,000 * 1,500 *
5 2,000 * 1,000 *
6 1,800 * 900 *
7 1,600 800
8 1,400 700
9 1,200 600
10-12 1,000 500
13-15 600 300
16-20 500 250
21-24 400 200
*The top six boaters and co-anglers advance to the All-American
Qualifying Event Payout
Place Boater Ranger Cup Co-angler
1 $6,000 $2,000 $3,000
2 3,000 1,500
3 2,000 1,000
4 1,400 700
5 1,200 600
6 1,100 550
7 1,000 500
8 900 450
9 800 400
10 700 350
11 630 315
12 580 290
13 560 280
14 530 265
15 500 250
16 480 240
17 460 230
18 440 220
19 420 210
20 400 200
21 390 195
22 380 190
23 370 185
24 360 180
25 350 175
26 340 170
27 330 165
28 320 160
29 310 155
30 300 150
31 290 145
32 280 140
33 270 135
34 260 130
35 250 125
36 240 120
37 230 115
38 220 110
39 210 105
40 200 100
Big Bass 1,000 500
Entry Fee $230 $115
Payback is based on the number of paid entries for each tournament.
Super Tournament Payout
Place Boater Ranger Cup Co-angler
1 $9,000 $2,000 $4,500
2 4,500 2,250
3 3,000 1,500
4 2,100 1,050
5 1,800 900
6 1,650 825
7 1,500 750
8 1,350 675
9 1,200 600
10 1,050 525
11 950 475
12 870 435
13 840 420
14 800 400
15 750 375
16 720 360
17 690 345
18 660 330
19 630 315
20 600 300
21 590 295
22 570 285
23 560 280
24 540 270
25 530 265
26 510 255
27 500 250
28 480 240
29 460 230
30 450 225
31 430 215
32 420 210
33 400 200
34 390 195
35 370 185
36 360 180
37 340 170
38 330 165
39 310 155
40 300 150
Big Bass 1,500 750
Entry Fee $345 $175
Payback is based on the number of paid entries for each tournament.
Ranger Cup: Anglers must be registered with Ranger and meet all Ranger Cup clothing and decal requirements to receive a Ranger Cup bonus. The decision of Ranger Boats is final in all matters regarding Ranger Cup bonus eligibility. Visit the Ranger Cup page at RangerBoats.com, or call 870.453.2222 for additional information.
2016 Bass Fishing League Schedule
Event Date Tournament Site
Arkie
March 5 Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Marina
April 23 DeGray Lake: Iron Mountain Lodge & Marina
June 4 Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor
July 9 Lake Dardanelle: Lake Dardanelle State Park
Aug. 27-28 Lake Dardanelle: Lake Dardanelle State Park
Bama
March 19 Lake Martin: Wind Creek State Park
April 16 Lake Eufaula: Lakepoint Resort State Park
May 7 Lake Mitchell: Higgins Ferry Park
June 25 Lay Lake: Beeswax Landing
Aug. 27-28 Lake Eufaula: Lakepoint Resort State Park
Buckeye
April 23 Grand Lake St. Mary's: West Bank Ramp
May 21 Ohio River/Tanners Creek: Lawrenceburg City Ramp
June 18 Indian Lake: Indian Lake State Park
July 16 Ohio River/Maysville: Maysville River Park
Sept. 10-11 Lake Erie: Shelby Street Boat Launch
Bulldog
Feb. 6 Lake Eufaula: Lakepoint Resort State Park
Feb. 27 Lake Lanier: Laurel Park
April 2 Lake Sinclair: Dennis Station Access
April 30 Lake Oconee: Sugar Creek Marina
Sept. 10-11 Lake Eufaula: Lakepoint Resort State Park
Choo Choo
Jan. 23 Lake Guntersville: Civitan Park
Feb. 13 Lake Guntersville: Civitan Park
March 5 Lake Guntersville: Lake Guntersville State Park
April 30 Lake Guntersville: The Bait, Tackle & Grill
Sept. 24-25 Lake Guntersville: Guntersville State Park
Cowboy
Jan. 23 Toledo Bend Lake: Cypress Bend Park
Feb. 13 Sam Rayburn: Umphrey Family Pavilion
April 2 Sam Rayburn: Umphrey Family Pavilion
April 30 Toledo Bend: San Miguel Park
Sept. 10-11 Sam Rayburn: Umphrey Family Pavilion
Gator
Jan. 9 Lake Okeechobee: C. Scott Driver Park
Feb. 13 Lake Okeechobee: Roland & Mary Ann Martin's
March 5 Lake Toho: Big Toho Marina
April 23 Lake Okeechobee: C. Scott Driver Park
Sept. 17-18 Lake Okeechobee: Roland & Mary Ann Martin's
Great Lakes
May 14 MS River/La Crosse: W. Copeland & Clinton
June 25 Wolf River Chain: Winneconne Waterfront Park
July 23 MS River/La Crosse: W. Copeland & Clinton
Aug. 20 MS River/Prairie Du Chien: Washington St. Ramp
Sept. 17-18 MS River/La Crosse: W. Copeland & Clinton
Hoosier
April 2 Patoka Lake: Newton-Stewart South Ramp
May 14 Lake Monroe: Cutright Ramp
June 25 Patoka Lake: Newton-Stewart South Ramp
July 30 Ohio River/Rocky Point: Rocky Point Marina
Aug. 27-28 Ohio River/Tanner's Creek: Lawrenceburg Ramp
Illini
April 23 Rend Lake: Wayne Fitzgerell Sailboat Landing
June 18 Lake Shelbyville: 9th Street Ramp
July 16 Ohio River/Golconda: Golconda Marina
Aug. 13 Rend Lake: Wayne Fitzgerell Sailboat Landing
Sept. 17-18 Lake Shelbyville: 9th Street Ramp
LBL
March 5 KY/Barkley Lakes: Kentucky Dam Marina
April 16 KY/Barkley Lakes: Moors Resort & Marina
May 21 KY/Barkley Lakes: Kentucky Dam Marina
July 9 KY/Barkley Lakes: Kentucky Dam Marina
Sept. 10-11 KY/Barkley Lakes: Moors Resort & Marina
Michigan
June 25 Detroit River: Elizabeth Park Marina
July 16 Lake St. Clair: Harley Ensign Boat Launch
July 30 Detroit River: Elizabeth Park Marina
Aug. 20 Detroit River: Elizabeth Park Marina
Sept. 10-11 Lake St. Clair: Harley Ensign Boat Launch
Mississippi
March 5 Ross Barnett Reservoir: Tommy's Trading Post
April 9 Pickwick Lake: JP Coleman State Park
May 14 Columbus Pool: Columbus Marina
June 4 Ross Barnett: Tommy's Trading Post
Oct. 1-2 Pickwick Lake: JP Coleman State Park
Mountain
March 19 Dale Hollow Lake: Star Point Resort
April 9 Dale Hollow Lake: Star Point Resort
May 7 Lake Cumberland: Conley Bottom Resort
June 18 Barren River: Port Oliver Recreation Area
Sept. 10-11 Barren River: Port Oliver Recreation Area
Music City
March 12 Dale Hollow: Star Point Resort
April 23 Percy Priest: Fate Sanders Marina
May 21 Center Hill: Ragland Bottom
July 16 Old Hickory: Bulls Creek Access (Flipper's)
Sept. 17-18 Old Hickory: Bulls Creek Access (Flipper's)
North Carolina
Feb. 20 Lake Norman: Pinnacle Access Area
April 9 Kerr Lake: Nutbush North
May 14 High Rock Lake: Tamarac Marina
June 18 Lake Wylie: Buster Boyd's Landing
Oct. 1-2 High Rock Lake: Tamarac Marina
Northeast
April 23 Potomac River: Smallwood State Park
May 21 Chesapeake Bay: Anchor Marina
July 9 Oneida Lake: Oneida Shores County Park
Aug. 13 Oneida Lake: Oneida Shores County Park
Sept. 24-25 1000 Islands: Clayton Village Ramp
Okie
March 19 Grand Lake: Grove City Ramp
May 7 Arkansas River: Three Forks Harbor
May 21 Lake Eufaula: Eufaula Cove (South Point)
June 18 Fort Gibson: Taylor Ferry Marina & Resort
Sept. 17-18 Grand Lake: Grove City Ramp
Ozark
March 12 Lake of the Ozarks: Public Beach #2
May 14 Grand Lake: Grove City Ramp
June 25 Table Rock Lake: Port of Kimberling Marina
July 16 Lake Truman: Sterett Creek Resort & Marina
Sept. 24-25 Lake of the Ozarks: Public Beach #2
Piedmont
April 2 Kerr Lake: Nutbush North
April 30 Lake Gaston: Americamps Lake Gaston
July 9 High Rock Lake: Tamarac Marina
July 30 James River: Osborne Landing
Sept. 10-11 High Rock Lake: Tamarac Marina
Savannah River
Jan. 30 Lake Keowee: South Cove County Park
Feb. 20 Clarks Hill: Wildwood Park
April 9 Lake Russell: Richard B. Russell State Park
April 23 Lake Hartwell: Green Pond Landing
Sept. 17-18 Lake Keowee: South Cove County Park
Shenandoah
March 19 Smith Mountain Lake: Parkway Marina
April 16 Lake Gaston: Americamps Lake Gaston
May 7 Potomac River: Smallwood State Park
June 4 Chickahominy/James River: Riverfront Park
Aug. 27-28 Potomac River: Smallwood State Park
South Carolina
Feb. 13 Lake Murray: Dreher Island State Park
March 5 Clarks Hill Lake: Dorn Fishing Facility
April 16 Santee Cooper: John C. Land III Landing
June 4 Lake Wateree: Clear Water Cove Marina
Sept. 24-25 Lake Wylie: Buster Boyd's Landing
Volunteer
March 12 Norris Lake: Brogan's Hollow
April 2 South Holston Reservoir: Observation Knob Park
May 14 Douglas Lake: Mountain Cove Marina
June 4 Cherokee: Hamblen County Dock, Cherokee Park
Sept. 17-18 Lake Chickamauga: Chester Frost Park
2016 Regional Championships
Lake Chickamauga/Dayton Boat Dock – Sept. 29 – Oct. 1
Dayton, TN
Divisions: Arkie, Hoosier, LBL, Mountain
Off-limits: Sept. 26-30, 2016
Kerr Lake/Nutbush North – Oct. 6-8
Henderson, NC
Divisions: Northeast, Savannah River, Shenandoah, Volunteer
Off-limits: Sept. 26-30, 2016
Kentucky Lake/Moors Resort & Marina – Oct. 13-15
Gilbertsville, KY
Divisions: Buckeye, Great Lakes, Illini, Michigan
Off-limits: Oct. 3-7, 2016
Lake Seminole/Earle May Boat Basin – Oct. 13-15
Bainbridge, GA
Divisions: Bulldog, Choo Choo, Gator, South Carolina
Off-limits: Oct. 3-7, 2016
Lake Hartwell/Clemson Marina – Oct. 27-29
Seneca, SC
Divisions: Bama, Music City, North Carolina, Piedmont
Off-limits: Oct. 17-21, 2016
Lake Dardanelle/Lake Dardanelle State Park – Oct. 27-29
Russellville, AR
Divisions: Cowboy, Mississippi, Okie, Ozark
Off-limits: Oct. 17-21, 2016
Wild Card – Nov. 11-12
Location TBA
2016 BFL All-American
Lake Barkley/Lake Barkley State Resort Park – June 8-11
Cadiz, KY
Off-limits: May 30-June 7, 2016