Welcome To The Big Bass Tour Africa!

Hello Fellow Anglers

We would like to welcome everyone to the Big Bass Tour Africa! 

Before getting into the very badly written first blog, please note the following:

a. We are always open to suggestions,  please email us: info@bigbasstour.co.za 

b. We are always open to suggestions on venues please email the events team who are researching new venues events@bigbasstour.co.za 

c. Brands and Sponsors: We are open to discussions provided we are aligned in our visions. Please email our marketing team: marketing@bigbasstour.co.za

d. Please support us in growing awareness by joining our social media pages and sharing. 

Lets get to the first newsletter: 

This was, and is, a massive undertaking and we thank the work of our entire team who for the last 6 months have been visiting venues, trying to contact associations and of course researching and researching about how we can stand out. 

The first major attraction has been the addition of a dedicated Small Craft Bass Series. We are all anglers ourselves and this is probably the fastest growing sector in the industry, we made this a priority. 

The second has been to introduce a High School Bass League, we do not want to be like any other promotion and therefore we are going to take our time for this to be something special. This is the future, these anglers are who will be buying the brands, supporting the tournaments and keeping the industry alive in a short 5-10 years time. 

Obstacles We Faced

Associations

We have been asked if we have spoken to the Associations, we did try, for 6 months we have emailed about advertising and then about rules. We did not get a response.

In the end, if the Associations wish to become part, or wish to associate themselves with the Big Bass Tour Africa, then our contact details are there. We have no intention of disrupting their tournaments, we have booked our dates over one year ahead of time, have spent countless hours researching about the dams and the best possible places to stage events and this is where we are. We either wait and hope or we make it happen, this promotion is about ACTION. 

Barrier To Entry For Anglers

Our major obstacle has been trying to get around the barrier of entry, it is extremely expensive to take part in the major tournaments. EVERY single series has a place in the market and we hope we can support all of them too and we have.

We just wanted to come from a different angle and this is where we have developed a set of rules and tournament format that is a little unique.

BBT Main Tournament - We have no limit on boat size other than it must be licenced to carry two anglers and must have a motor of 15HP or more. This is more about ensuring safety is the priority. 

We spread the prize money through the use of the multiple weigh-in flights on Day one. This just allows the opportunity for everyone to have a realistic chance of getting a win! 

Small Craft Bass Series - Next to no set criteria except it must be an approved vessel for water. We have added an optional motor component, this is not compulsory. 

We are going to sit and develop a better set of rules, unfortunately there is not too much of an example in this country to follow but we are taking advice from a number of pros in the USA who we have been fortunate to meet and develop a relationship with.

Please use our invitation to send suggestions, we are here for anglers.

Entry Fees

We are not going to be the cheapest. We decided to be the fairest. We are here to launch a bass tournament series that is going to grow to be the biggest in Southern Hemisphere. Thats our vision. Thats not a goal, it will happen.

We have set the main tournament entry fees at R3500 per team of two and the Small Craft Bass Series at R1000 per angler. 

This covers a multitude of expenses and allows us to pay full time staff to dedicate themselves to making this the best tournament series in the world.

The prize money is guaranteed, we have no minimum limit on entries, we are prepared to grow. We hope we get your support. 

Sponsors 

We approached a few, we got ignored again. As we said above, we are about action, so a team went to iCast 2024 and through our partnership with Mad Rhino we secured some of the most exciting niche brands that are ALL rated top class, superior quality brands.

As an example, Kistler Rods and Cashion Rods are two massive brands in the USA. They are the two best bass fishing rods in the world. Are they expensive? If compared to the factory manufactured options then yes, but, if you want the industry to grow, the best available tools need to be in the hands of anglers.

These are the two best custom made, USA made, rods available on earth.

Svivlo Baitcasters, they are incredible, thats essentially all we have to say. Any technology that is able to make fishing easier is what we want to support. Baitcasters are renowned for being incredibly difficult to learn and its not really the skill, it is the technology not being able to come up with a solution to avoid backlash, birds nests and over runs, UNTIL now.

They not radically more expensive than the well known brands BUT they radically better quality and remember, there is no electronic components, this is pure mechanical engineering from a Swedish watchmaker! 

EGO Fishing Gear, South Africa would not know that these guys make THE best landing nets in the world and have been awarded the accolades recognising that from both iCast and Red Dot Design. 

Dry Pocket Apparel, what more can you want as an angler than a pair of shorts with a pocket that has an IPX8 waterproof rating to over 50m Deep? They then have the coolest dry bags that are not just dry bags but are used by the US Coastguard because they have the same waterproof rating but you will struggle to get these underwater as they are designed to be a flotation device too.

These are innovative brands that we are proud to be associated with and we are still working to get more onboard. Please support them. 

We have struggled with a boat or small craft sponsor but the team at Mad Rhino are in discussions with a US manufacturer to get the licence to bring a small craft to Africa. Its amazing.

We are working hard to find a local boat manufacturer to partner with. It is not easy, everyone is taking strain in these economic times, but if we do not have a boat sponsor or motor sponsor, then so be it. We have many brands at our door. This is a nice to have and we not just going to take what we can get, we believe we can bring something great to this industry and put the anglers first. 

Sponsors must be partners in the Big Bass Tour not dictators, if their vision differs from ours then we will walk away as friends in the industry. We want to develop a system that:

1. Promotes the development of the sport

2. Makes every experience one that the angler is EXCITED to come to. We have been fortunate to visit some of the biggest tournaments in the USA and we can attest that anglers, their families and supporters or visitors are treated like royalty. The brands really go out of their way to give everyone a great time. We are not interested in just a sponsors cheque, we want to have brands that are excited to be at the events. This automatically creates a positive environment. 

3. Are willing to give back to our community projects. 

We are supporting Adventure Ministry, they are doing great work in promoting the use of outdoor activities like fishing, hunting and camping to bring the values of the Christian faith back into the lives of South African families. 

There cannot be a better calling to serve God and we had absolutely no hesitation when they agreed to come onboard and help and be a part of our tour. 

EVERY sponsor, as a condition, have to sponsor a weekend trip to one of their experiences. This means they are able to get families from disadvantaged backgrounds to be able to have the joy they are bringing. 

If you made it here, thank you! Please share our vision, please support our initiatives and PLEASE support our sponsors. These are brands who have never been available to South Africa and they are coming to support our industry.

Take care, God bless!

The Big Bass Tour Africa. Get hooked.