1. Participation & Eligibility

• Membership Requirement: To fish in a Golden Mussel or BBT Region event, you must become a member. A Membership is good for one year from your first purchase date (anniversary date). This date will never change unless you skip a year. For example, if you join the BBT on March 1st, your due date will always be March 1st of the following year, regardless of whether you fish one event or twenty.

• Membership Fees: Individual Membership is $60. A Family Membership (defined as living under the same roof) is $100. If more than two people live under the same roof, there is an additional $40 fee per person.

• Rule Acknowledgment: All anglers must acknowledge and understand the official rules for BBT/Golden Mussel Tournaments before competing.

• Reciprocity: A BBT membership purchased for the Golden Mussel Tournament Trail is valid for the BBT Team Tournament Series and vice versa. However, any angler participating in the BBT Team Series must meet the specific amateur eligibility and qualification requirements of that circuit. While Professionals and Guides are permitted in the Golden Mussel division, they remain ineligible for standard BBT Team divisions.

• Pro-Level Restrictions: As the Golden Mussel is the highest level of team tournament fishing, no team will be removed for being “over-qualified.” Professionals and Guides are permitted and encouraged to compete.

• Right of Refusal: The Tournament Director or BBT Advisory Board reserves the right to refuse service or remove any team found to be displaying unsportsmanlike conduct, violating any rules, or evidence of cheating.

2. Rules Authority & Interpretation

• Enforcement: These rules shall remain unchanged throughout the season. Interpretation and enforcement are left exclusively to the Tournament Director’s discretion.

• Law Supremacy: Federal, state, local, and lake laws must be obeyed at all times. Any participant found in violation of these laws will be subject to immediate disqualification.

3. Safety & Equipment

• PFD Requirements: A U.S. Coast Guard-approved chest-type life preserver (PFD) Type III or higher must be worn and properly fastened anytime the combustion engine is operative.

• Kill Switches: A functional kill switch must be attached to the driver with a lanyard no longer than forty-eight (48) inches whenever the engine is running.

• Boat Specs: Boats must be a minimum of 12 feet long, Coast Guard approved, and equipped with navigation lights and an aerated livewell.

• Checks: All boats and livewells must be checked by staff prior to competition. A RIBBON will be placed on your trolling motor; you cannot weigh in without this ribbon.

4. Insurance, Liability & Waivers

• Insurance: Boat owners must maintain state-mandated minimum liability coverage for themselves and passengers.

• Waiver & Release Agreement: The participant understands and agrees that as consideration for being allowed to participate in any Golden Mussel or BBT event, whether prior to commencement, during the actual event, and/or during any post-event festivities, they are doing so at their own risk. Golden Mussel, BBT, and its owners, managers, employees, agents, and sponsors (collectively “BBT”), shall not be liable for any damages, claims, or causes of action arising from personal injuries or property damage sustained in, on, or about the premises or waterways used for any Golden Mussel or BBT event. This includes, but is not limited to, all boat launches, bodies of water, parking lots, or other public or private areas used for the events. The participant assumes full responsibility for any injuries or damages which may occur during any Golden Mussel or BBT event, however caused.

• Entry Form Acknowledgment: By signing the entry form, the participant expressly acknowledges that they are relinquishing all rights they may have to file a lawsuit against Golden Mussel or BBT for injuries arising out of participation in any events or activities. This release is intended to be interpreted as broadly as allowed under California law.

5. Sportsmanship

• Professional Conduct: All anglers are expected to act and conduct themselves in a professional manner. Displaying of poor sportsmanship, willful violation of rules and Local, State, or Federal laws, and bringing unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing shall be grounds for disqualification.

• Team Disqualification: If one team member is disqualified, the entire team shall be disqualified.

• Membership Revocation: BBT reserves the right to revoke membership at any time without remuneration. BBT also reserves the right to refuse service to any angler seeking to participate in sanctioned events.

• Official Cooperation: BBT participants are required to cooperate with tournament official’s boats for the purposes of boat inspection, photography, sponsor, and media requests.

6. Alcohol & Drugs

• Zero Tolerance: Alcoholic beverages, narcotic drugs, illegal drugs, or any other substances that may put yourself or other anglers’ safety at risk will NOT be consumed or allowed in the boat before and during the tournament.

• Safety Standard: Operators must be coherent at all times. Use of any substance that impairs judgment or physical ability is strictly prohibited and is grounds for immediate disqualification and removal.

7. Registration & Starting Position

• Entry Fees: All tournaments require payment in advance of blast-off. Electronic registration deadlines are typically 12 PM on the Thursday preceding the event for discounts.

• Launch Order: A random draw is conducted to determine the starting boat position on the day of each event.

8. Tournament Format & Partners

• Team Structure: This is a team series (2 anglers). A member may fish solo representing the team for up to 2 events, provided the team fishes at least 4 events together.

• Golden Mussel Solo Rule: An angler may fish solo for any Golden Mussel event provided the full team entry fee is paid.

• Substitutions: No partner substitutions are allowed except in cases of death, catastrophic illness, or military duty.

9. Tackle & Equipment

• Lures: Only artificial lures may be used (pork rinds allowed). No live or prepared bait. Liquid attractants are permitted.

• Methods: Only one (1) rod may be used at a time per angler. Every cast and retrieve must be completed before another is made. Rods may not exceed 8 feet.

• Prohibited Items: No intentional snagging, no trolling (combustion or electric), and no underwater cameras during competition. Nets may not have a handle exceeding 8 feet.

10. Permitted Fishing Waters

• Marina Rules: No fishing inside host marinas unless lake-specific rules allow. No fishing within 100 feet of a launch ramp.

• Gas Docks: No fishing within 50 feet of a dock that has a gas pump on it. 

• Encroachment: No fishing within 25 yards of another anchored tournament boat (with trolling motor up) without the anchored boat’s permission.

• Navigation: Only navigable waters may be fished. Restricting boating access to an area or “hole-sitting” is prohibited.

11. Information Sharing & Communication

• Assistance: Once an event starts, contestants may not receive help or information about how/where to catch fish from anyone outside their boat.

• Electronic Communication: Transmittal of fishing info via phone, radio, or text is prohibited. Devices may only be used for emergencies, breakdowns, or personal/business reasons.

12. Sight Fishing

• Hook Verification: Bedding fish must be caught “hook in mouth” with the hook point entering from the inside of the mouth. The catch must be verified by the in-boat partner.

• Platforms: Standing on seats, motors, or using ladders/platforms to locate bedding fish is not permitted.

13. Limits, Scoring & Penalties

• Limit: Maximum of five (5) bass per team.

• Size: Minimum length is 13 inches (flat board, mouth closed).

• Penalties:

  • Short Fish: 1 lb penalty plus loss of fish.

  • Dead Fish: 0.20 lb penalty per fish.

  • Late Check-in: 1 lb per minute late; disqualification after 15 minutes.

• Culling: No culling is allowed inside the host marina or 5 MPH check-in zone.

14. Winnings & Big Fish

• Payouts: Based on paid entries (1-in-5 format). W-9 forms are required.

• Golden Mussel Big Fish: A mandatory Big Fish side pot is included in the entry fee and paid back 100% to the Top 3 Big Fish. Dead fish are not eligible for the Big Fish award.

• Awards: Winners must be present at the awards ceremony to receive physical prizes.

15. 2026 Championship (TOC) & AOY

• Angler of the Year (AOY): Awarded to the team (same partners) with the most points across all 6 season events in the division.

• Delta TOC: The Golden Mussel Delta division follows the BBT TOC qualification (top 40% of teams fishing 4+ events). 

• Clearlake TOC:  There is not Clearlake TOC for the 2026 season. *HOWEVER, Anglers who meet the BBT TOC qualification (finish in the top 40% in the Clearlake division), CAN Participate in the Delta TOC. 

16. Protests & Testing

• Protests: Must be submitted in writing within 15 minutes of the official close of scales.

• Polygraph & Voice Stress: All contestants are subject to polygraph or voice-stress testing at the Tournament Director’s discretion. Failure to submit, refusal, or inconclusive results are grounds for disqualification and removal from the event.

17. Photography & Media

• Ownership: All photographs and video taken at Golden Mussel / BBT events are the property of BBT and may be used for promotional purposes.

• Cooperation: Each contestant is required to cooperate with all reasonable requests from media representatives or officials for the purpose of photography and video.