Bass Digest/May, 2014
Tournament Talk
WITH the bass challenge
The Bass Challenge. An event catering for kick boat’s, pontoon’s, kayak’s, inflatables and small bass boats propelled by manual or electric means. The Bass Challenge has become a popular event in the Greater Gauteng region with as many as 50 anglers at any given tournament. A modest undertaking by Shawn Willment and Hugo vd Walt in 2008 has seen the tournament grow into an event synonymous with sportsmanship and professionalism.
At the end of 2012 Paul “Madporra” Pereira and Brent Webber joined the team as Shawn Willment made his way to the land of the hobbitshire.
We at the Bass Digest called up the Bass Challenge organisers and organised a day on the water with them and a few of their regular tournament attendee’s. We hit the waters of Fortuna Private Resort where the Bass Challenge just recently held their last event.
The TBC is a socially competitive event where entry fees for the day are shared amoungst the Top 5 bags for the day, along with other sponsered prizes.
Here's hat the organisers had to say.
Bass Digest : What is the format of the Bass Challenge?
Hugo & Paul : You can either fish from a kickboat, kayak, pontoon, inflatable or boat no longer than 4.2m. Follow-me bags are to be used for anyone kicking, live-wells for anyone using oars or electric motors. The tournament is an individual best effort and is not a team based event. It is a 3 fish limit and we make use of the Grandprix points system. Your 9 best scores count towards your final score and the top 15 with a wild card are then invited to a Classic event held at a secret venue.
Bass Digest : So how does it work? Do you have to be a member?
Hugo & Paul : No you don’t have to be a member. You rock up on tournament day, pay your R150 and enjoy the day on the water.
Our rules can be found on our website www.basschallenge.co.za. Follow-me bag and live-well requirements can be found on our site as well under our articles section.
What else does your website have available to tournament entrants?
Our website provides and interactive online community (forum) who are always willing to share information. We also host our scores and leaderboards on the site. Registered members on our site are able to gain access to contour maps of a few of the venues we fish.