Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit Registration Now Open
OutdoorHub 01.31.13
Registration is now open for the 2013 Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit. Two-person teams can sign up online at northamericanbasscircuit.com for their chance to enjoy great bass fishing and compete for hefty payouts at professionally-run qualifiers scheduled for premier fisheries in the Upper Midwest and Southeastern states.
Founded in 2011, the circuit quickly set the standard for team bass tournaments, and the tradition continues this season with a stellar four-state lineup that includes a major Southern expansion. Along with two qualifiers each in Minnesota and Wisconsin, with a championship on Wisconsin’s bass-rich Chippewa Flowage, the NABC is also opening a southern front. The Circuit’s new South Region will feature two team events in Georgia and South Carolina, followed by a southern championship.
Registration for North Region events opened January 28, and opens for South Region tournaments on February 15. Northern destinations include Lake Michigan’s storied Sturgeon Bay and the Mississippi River at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, plus the world-class fisheries of Pokegama and Leech lakes in Minnesota. Southern dates and destinations will be announced shortly.
Due to the Circuit’s growing popularity and full fields in the 2012 season, the NABC also expanded its field size from 50 to 75 teams for 2013. With more teams also comes an increase in payouts. Based on a full field, the payout runs from a cool $15,000 for first place on out to $500 for 15th place, with a total payout of $30,000 in cash and coveted Cabela’s gift cards. Sponsor contingencies such as Cabela’s Angler Cash add even more to the pot at each event.
Teams competing in multiple events can reap even greater rewards. Those fishing at least two NABC tournaments have a shot at qualifying for the prestigious, high-stakes championship for their respective NABC Region, which offers a $20,000 first-place purse. Regional Team of the Year titles will also be awarded to the team from each region finishing the regular season with the highest point total from any three NABC qualifiers. Each title is worth a $2,000 Cabela’s gift card, plaques and paid entry into their regional championship. In all, the Team of the Year races will award nearly $10,000 in cash and prizes to the top four teams in each region. And finally, teams competing in all four qualifiers in their region earn an automatic invite to their regional championship.
With the circuit’s recent sale NABC anglers will enjoy a variety of additional benefits, including an annual membership that expands opportunities beyond the Circuit to other events including National Bass Anglers Association (NBAA) tournaments. The NABC also updated its rules, including the creation of a simplified points system for qualifying for the regional championships and team of the year races. Teams are encouraged to review all of the new rules carefully at northamericanbasscircuit.com.
Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the Cabela’s NABC is open to two person teams regardless of club or sponsor affiliation. Entry fees are $500 per regular season tournament and $600 for each 2 day Region Championship. Payback is eighty percent at the event with the balance to support the championship and angler of the year prizes. In addition, a small donation is included in each entry fee and matched by NABC and other conservation organizations up to 3 to 1 in support bass conservation projects anywhere NABC does business.
Registration remains open through the Sunday night prior to each tournament or until the field fills. Already, some North Region NABC events were a third full after just one day of registration. Teams that sign up before the earlybird deadline in each region enjoy additional perks, including installment billing and improved odds of qualifying for the championships and more. For more information, visit northamericanbasscircuit.com, email info@northamericanbasscircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.
