All participants must be at signups and register before the tournament starts.

Signup starts 1 hour 15 min before the tournament begins. The sign ups end 15 mins before the tournaments start.

ONLINE REGISTERATION IS NOW ALLOWED.

-Must be registered and paid by 4 hours before start of tournament.

-can live anywhere to register online but you must fish in the area boundaries on the attached map.

-we offer a variety of ways to pay. We offer cash app, Venmo, PayPal, Facebook pay and all these are free. I can also accept credit cards and debit cards for a 4% fee. All members of a team must pay together at once.

-once paid send email to bendareabankcatfishtournaments@gmail.com. For the subject line pls include pre-registration for and date of tournament. In the body of the email in the following order provide the following information. 1- team name- 2nd- all team members names beside any kids 17 and under pls put kid.3rdput your email and number. If you are unsure how much to pay pls contact charles moyers or jeff zerkle for an amount.

-must send location the day of tournament at noon and 15 min prior to start of tournament. Not doing so will disqualify you. And any other time officials request.

-must follow all other tournament rules.

-you will receive your card approximately 15 to 30 mins before start of the tournament. You must print this card off and use this in all pics of fish. You must provide your own permanent marker and index cards to write the codes on we use for checking in fish.

-FISHING BOUNDERIES [only applies to online registration] ……. MUST FISH INSIDE THE FOLLOWING AREA INSIDE THE MAP. THE MAP WILL ALSO BE ATTATCHED FOR REFERENCE. STARTING AT THE NORTH WILL BE ATHENS OHIO DOWN AROUND TO HUNTINGTON WV AROUND TO WINFIELD WV OVER TO CHARLESTON WV AROUND TO PARKERSBURG WV AND UP AROUND TO ATHENS OH. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT CHARLES MOYERS.

-we will go live 30 min prior to start of tournament, this will give everyone time to join. At 15 mins till we will have our meeting. We will go over anything needed so watching this is required. If you’re caught missing these then you can be disqualified.

There will be a $20 fee per team added to any late teams that want to fish. Your considered late if not here by the time we start leaving (15 min before start of tournament).

********Fish Oh or Wv ********

See tournaments schedule for date and times and location.

••$30 per person to enter each tournament. This is a must pay

$25 goes to tournament general pot

$5 goes to fish off

$10 for big fish entry. This is optional. Big fish will pay 100% of single biggest catfish.

** trash fish is optional 15.00 per team. Will pay 100% every time. This will also be determined by all inches total.

** must fish 8 of 10 tournaments to qualify for fishoff.

••Tournaments 1 through 10 will pay

1st will pay 60% of tournament pot take in

2nd will pay 25% of tournament pot take in

3rd will pay 15% of tournament pot take in

If no team places during a tournament the payout will be added to the end of year fish off jackpot. See fish off payouts at end of this page. (if during fish off they will be added to next year’s fish off pot)

**Winners will be determined from the total length of all 25 inch or larger Chanel, blue and flathead catfish caught.

** in case of tie for big fish for tournament or end year all videos will be reviewed by director n co director n official and actual biggest fish will win.

••There will be a One-time $40 yearly membership fee for every angler for 2025 calendar year. Monies collected will be used for fish off trophy awards, tournament supplies and awards ceremony food. Building rent. Left over money will be added to the end of the year fish off jackpot.

••tournament payout amount paid for 1st 2nd and 3rd place and big fish will be announced and posted on this group page during the tournament. The more people that fish the bigger the pots. And bigger the end of year fish off jack pots. Invite your friends and share this post.

••Single anglers Teams or multi angler Teams are all welcome and can fish.

••team members must fish together during the tournament within 50 feet of each other.

••9 rod limit per team

Note****(Ohio has a 3-rod limit per angler so you must follow Ohio laws if your fishing on the Ohio bank.

••every angler must provide a valid fishing license Id number and a emergency contact information at time of signups

••no fishing within 100 feet of another team unless both parties agree, and tournament director or official has been notified. 

••All Wv laws followed in Wv and for all tournament permits and record keeping. all Ohio laws followed on Ohio side. (note Ohio has a 3-rod limit per person) Any questions please ask.

** no fishing within 1000 yards of any angler fishing in another tournament unless both teams directors have been notified. You should notify your own director. This does not apply to boats. 

••Please follow all the laws in the state you’re fishing in and all tournament rules. Any violation is an automatic forfeiture of all fees and disqualification from the tournament for that tournament.

••Must use Approved Bump Board with visible and legible numbers. Bump boards will be inspected before every tournament for accuracy. [no hand written bump boards]

••team cards will be given upon signing up and must be displayed and visible with fish on the bump board at time of video. Then video will be sent for credit to tournament director for approval. Don’t release your fish until you’re approved. Then video the release of your fish and sent to be approved and credited for your fish by tournament director. *****Note card numbers and bump board numbers must be easily seen easily in the picture and must sent gps location with picture to tournament director to receive credit for the fish. If you phone can’t send the gps location or don’t have service at the time of the catch then we can’t count your fish. No exceptions. •• lost tournament cards. There will be a $5 replacement fee for lost cards and must come to any tournament official’s location to get card. Fees collected will be added to end of year fish off jack pot.

*** all bump boards must be store bought or have the sticker BABCT is selling. This is being put into place to eliminate any errors in measurements and to ensure we can clearly read all numbers ** all pics must be taken straight over top of the fish and bump board looking straight down to ensure accurate readings. Not doing so will result in you being asked for a new picture.

****CHECK IN FISH PROCESS. Once you catch fish send a message to official checking fish and tell them u need a code u have a fish. once that code has been given write it on your card and take video of fish and card on bump board. official will verify the code is there and tell you to video release the fish. as you start recording and start releasing the fish say the code is and state the code on the video. and you repeat the process for next fish caught. A new code will be assigned for every fish caught.

••all catfish are catch, picture and video release after tournament official approval of your bump board picture.

••tournament director and board members will handle all disputes by reviewing all the given information and will vote. This decision is final. No exceptions.

** no team member is permitted to leave their team once they arrive at fishing location without authorization from a tournament official. Every member at team must be at same location.

•• no boats can be used once the tournament begins or you and your team will be automatically disqualified. Forfeit your sign-up entry fee.

••Fish must be caught in a river, stream or Creek. No ponds. No lakes.

Winning team must be back at sign up location within 1 hour after tournament ends to collect the purse for that tournament. pictures will be taken and by winning you give the right for bend area bank catfish tournaments to use, publish, sale, etc picture for advertisement or promotion of the tournament or its sponsors. Arrangements can be made for electronic pay.

Note failure to Pick up the winning purse within the 1 hour time or make arrangements with in an hour will result in The angler forfeiting the purse(s) and the will then be added to the yearend fish off jackpot.

**all teams have one hour from time released to send location or let us know your still on way to fishing spot. Not doing this can result in disqualification from the tournament.

••anglers must have permission to fish on private property and permission for a random check by tournament personnel to enter the property at any time up to 1 week after the tournaments end for investigations.

•••tournament personnel may check you from a boat, car, walking, by drone, or by visual inspection from a distance or any other means. Verbal contact may or may not be made with the angler(s) Violations will be determined by the inspector and reported to the tournament director and officials for disqualification and forfeiture.

••Any angler caught cheating is subject to prosecution by the fullest extent of the law. And will be banned from fishing any Bend area bank catfish tournaments.

••all Fish must be caught on rod and reel only. using a circle style hook. Kayle style hook or J style hook. No treble hooks are allowed. ••CPR. No catfish are to be kept. All catfish must be released. If your fish is dead or dying. Follow the law in the state for you are fishing. Tournament Official or director must be notified of any dead fish immediately.

••No jugs. No trout lines. No set poles. No traps. No hoops nets. No fixed bank lines. no noodling. no snagging. No bow fishing and No gill netting will be allowed.

** there is absolutely no sharing of fish. No taking pictures of any other teams or anyone else fish other than your own team. If your caught doing this or sending a pic of a fish, you didn’t catch you will be banned and forfeit all winning purses member fees and your place in the tournament for the year.

** if any member is caught selling a product or trying to stop a sponsor from making money by trying to encourage members to buy other products elsewhere you will be banned and forfeit all winning purses and points for the year.

••Cast Nets may be used to obtain bait per DNR regulation for the state you fish in. All laws must be followed on cast net radius and mesh size.

•• Fish must only be caught during tournament hours and picture with correct card sent to tournament director to score within the start and end times of tournament with a video release. If you have a fish on hook and are in the last few minutes of the tournament a video call can be placed to director or official before end tournament so we can verify it’s a legitimate catch. This means if tournaments over at 1700 you must have an official on the phone by 1659 for that fish to be credited to your team. All pictures must be received by tournament end to count. ••must use correct tournament card or your team will be automatically disqualified and forfeit entry monies.

••Tournament director reserves the right to disqualify any fish or angler or team at any time for that tournament or the season.

••all members are subject to a lie detector test at any time for cheating.

**if you have a dispute, bring it to one of the officials preferably through text or Facebook message. no public posting. once this has been done be patient and let us resolve the issue. if you feel you are getting nowhere contact a 2nd official. all disputes must be turned in by the end of the tournament. We will not tolerate and negative posting, comments, etc by any member or their spouses and friends. Anyone angler in violation is subject to disqualification and forfeiture of entry monies

••All catfish must be over 25 inches and released unharmed and swim away to be counted in tournament points

Fish will be rounded to nearest inch on your approved bump board. You must have your own bump board for your team.

•• no littering - all trash you take in must be picked up and taken out with you. If there is trash in the area where you fish we ask you to kindly pick it up and take to a appropriate container for disposal.

••in the event any member is disqualified from any event for any reason. All tournament payouts must be returned immediately upon notification to the member, failure to do that will fully result in criminal charges to the fullest extent allowed of the law.

•• fishing spots is first come first serve.

••be respectful to other anglers.

••in the event of a verbal altercation. All parties involved will forfeit entry fees and be disqualified for that tournament. For physical altercation involved participants will be banned from all events And subject to law enforcement investigation and forfeit all points. Membership fees. Tournament fees. Etc.

‘••no boat or kayak use permitted during the hours of a tournament for any reason.

•• youth 16 and under must fish with a licensed adult.

•• kids 17 and under fish for free with an adult. Any fish a youth catches count for that team. If 17 and have license and you wish fish alone you must pay entries.

••a team captain must be elected for each team as an emergency contact. And should be the one submitting pics and videos to the officials. They should also be the go between, between the officials and the team. This is to help make our officials’ jobs a little easier.

License numbers. Vehicle license and emergency contact info and address must be provided for DNR per Wv law. If you can’t provide this required info. You cannot fish.

••50/50 drawing. 45% pays to winner 45% to end of year pot and 10% to end of year drawing with a free entry to fish off.

••all sponsor cash donations will go to fish off jackpots or as they designate it to go to.

••Team captains cannot join as a new team and keep current points. If the team splits the points will be divided equal between the members. Team captain has the final say if the team shall split.

••The newly formed team will be given equal % of the current team’s points.

••not responsible for any accident. In case of emergency notify 911 and then tournament director

.•• if you leave before the tournament ends, please notify tournament director via text message for safety purposes that you have left the tournament.

••have fun and enjoy some good clean competitive fishing for everyone. Be safe

**must fish where you have phone service and your able to send pics and videos.

** No Facebook messenger pics due to the fact the pictures could be missed and delay the release of the fish.

********* scoring system *******^

••In the event of a tie. The place, points and pay outs shall be shared. The points for that place and the one under it shall be totaled divided and shared. 1/2 points rounded up to next point. Pots combined and divided equally Example.

1st team John 100 inches 50 points 2nd TIE team frank 80 inches TIE team Betty 80 inches.

4th team Larry 65 inches 44 points

2nd is 48 points

3rd is 46 points

48+46=94 94\2=47.

2nd team frank would receive 47 points

2nd team Betty would receive 47 points 3rd place would then be skipped 4th team Larry 44 points Any questions please ask.

••winners must be back at sign up location within 1 hour after tournament ends to get pictures and prize money.

*total of 10 tournaments will be held in 2025. (weather permitting) tournament director reserves the right to change, cancel or move any tournament date or location.

••to be eligible for points you must fish 8 of the 10 tournaments

*5 points will be awarded for the biggest fish caught per tournament

1st place will receive 50 points

2nd place will receive 48 points

3rd place will receive 46 points

4th place will receive 44 points

5th place will receive 42 points

6th place will receive 40 points

7th place will receive 38 points

8th place will receive 36 points

9th place will receive 34 points

10 place will receive 32 points

11th place thru will receive 30 points show up Per tournament. No fish caught will receive 30 points show up

** top points winner will receive a plaque for 2025

**biggest blue and biggest flathead for the point tournaments will receive a trophy or plaque

••Tournament score board will be posted ASAP during the tournament and winners will be posted asap after each tournament. (On this group page)

** updated total points standings will be posted asap (on this page).

**if you fish 10 of the 10 tournaments you will automatically qualify for end of the year fishoff

••The team with the largest blue catfish caught in a tournament for the 2024 year will qualify to go to this fish off.

••The team with the largest flathead catfish caught in a tournament for the 2024 year will qualify to this fish off.

For a total of 20 teams total competing for the top 3 places to receive the trophies and the jackpots.

A team must fish 7 tournaments to qualify in the points standings to go to the fish off. ** all 20 fish off teams will start with zero points for the two day fish off tournament. A big fish place will be awarded during the fish off. A big fish place will be paid for the fish off along with a trophy

••Fish off jackpots will be announced before the fish off tournament begins. Only 1st 2nd and 3rd place and big fish will be paid for fish off.

**trash fish will be $30.00 per team

** $75 for big fish for fish off per team. Only single biggest cat will be paid out.

**100% pay out of fish off jackpot pots. All money collected from tournaments

•• if no team places in a payable spot, then the money will be added to the next year’s fish off jackpot.

**fish off monies will be paid at the awards banquet

** awards will be posted for the year om a separate post and posted to featured links.

••50/50 drawings. Sponsor donations. Will be added to fish off jackpots.

•• 1st place 65% jackpot with trophy

•• 2nd place 25% jackpot with trophy

•• 3rd place 10% jackpot with trophy

••Fish off entry fee will be $80 per person.

••all team members in your team must be present at fish off to qualify to fish it.

••all tournament rules apply for fish off.

••not responsible for accidents or any personal injury

**At registration of your first tournament we will have you to sign a paper stating you have read and understand and agree to follow all rules. a copy will be kept on file.

We (bend area bank catfish tournaments) or director reserve the right to correct. Add. Delete. Or modify any rules at any time with or without notice to any individual.

Founding Father-- Jack Reitmire

Director/ Treasurer-- Charles Moyers Jr. (304) 942-6477

Co-Director—Jeffrey Zerkle (304) 675-0623

Official-- Michael Welsh

Official—Jeromy Allen (740) 541-4955

Official- mike collins

Official- william stucky 681-237-3006

Official-dom kisamore