Cash prizes and bragging rights are at stake once again, with the Louisiana Forest Festival Team Bass Tournament coming up Saturday, April 22, hosted by the Winnfield Bass Club.

Chad Blundell, a member of the Forest Festival board of directors, said the tournament is a good event at which to blend relaxation with competitive spirit.

"Everybody meets up and has a good time," he said. "There's the money, of course, but the prestige of winning is a big part of it, too. Win or lose, you have a good time, but if you win, you have those bragging rights until the tournament rolls back around next year."

He said that last year the tournament drew 20 entries, with roughly 40 people, but that he expects the tournament to grow each year, last year being only the second year for the event. If the size of the tournament outgrows the current landing -- Saline Lake-Mulligan Inn Public Ramp, off Hwy. 84 -- that might mean bigger payoffs for fishermen someday.

"If it would grow, we could raise the level of prize money," Blundell said.

A portion of tournament proceeds goes toward the Forest Festival, and the day of the tournament isn't just for fishermen. "Oh, we have people show up just to watch the weigh-in," Blundell said.

For more information, visit laforestfestival.com, email info@laforestfestival.com , or call 318-628-5928.

General Rules:
1. Entry fee is $60 per team.
2. All contestants must submit to and pass a polygraph examination when requested.
3. All fish must be taken by rod and reel on artificial lures (no trolling allowed).
4. All state, local and federal laws will be obeyed. Any violations of these laws or unsportsmanlike conduct will result in disqualification of the team.
5. Contestants will fish as a two-man team from the same boat. All fish must be taken while fishing from the same boat (no bank fishing allowed).
6. Only five black bass may be weighed in. Only fish measuring 12 inches or longer may be weighed in. In case of a tie for big bass, the longest one will be the winner
7. A contestant is not permitted to fish closer than 50 yards from a boat that is tied or anchored, unless permission has been granted.
8. Fishing hours will be from safe daylight until 3 p.m.
9. Each team must check in at the landing site by 5:30 a.m. At the check-in, each team will be given a colored ribbon that will be attached to the trolling motor or the front of the boat where it is visible to other teams.
10. Weigh-in will be conducted at the landing site at 3 p.m. Door prizes will be given out after the weigh-in.
11. The tournament committee shall interpret and enforce all rules. Any situation not covered by the above rules will be regulated by the committee.
12. It is the responsibility of each contestant to know and understand all rules.
13. All live bass will be released after the weigh-in.

Door prizes will be drawn from the pool of registered fishermen and will be awarded at Saline Lake-Mulligan Inn Public Ramp.

Fishing prizes (weight of five fish) are: 1st--$325, 2nd-$225, 3rd-$120, 4th-$100, 5th-$90, 6th-$80, 7th-$60. The biggest bass garners 1st place (70 percent of special set-aside money from entry fees), and 2nd place, 30 percent.

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