Xtreme Bass Series has announced an update to the Big Bass of the Year side pot for the 2026 season. After consistent feedback from anglers over the last few seasons, the Big Bass of the Year side pot will now feature a Big Bass of the Year award for each Division, in addition to the Overall Series Big Bass of the Year award. The side pot remains 100% payback for both divisional and overall awards.
Here is how the new structure will work:
1. Entry Fee & Allocation
The entry fee has increased from $40.00 to $50.00 per team. This one time, single fee covers your team for both pots:
$30.00 goes to your specific Divisional Pot.
$20.00 goes to the Overall Series Pot.
Side pot entry must be paid prior to the start of the tournament where the fish is caught.
Note: Funds are allocated to the primary division the team registers for.
2. Divisional Big Bass of the Year
This prize is awarded to the largest bass caught in each specific division.
To be eligible to win the Divisional Big Bass of the Year, a team must compete in 7 of the 9 events in that specific division.
This ensures that the prize money rewards teams who compete in a particular division all year. It prevents a team from “cherry-picking” one event, catching a giant fish, and taking the pot from teams who competed in the division all season.
If the team with the largest fish does not meet the 7-event minimum requirement, the prize goes to the next largest fish caught by a fully qualified team.
3. Overall Series Big Bass of the Year
This prize is for the largest bass caught in the entire Xtreme Bass Series, regardless of division.
There are no changes being made on qualification criteria for Overall Big Bass of the Year.
To win this pot, your team must qualify for the Championship (by fishing 7 events in one division OR 8 events combined), and you must compete in the Championship event, as has always been in the past.
Even if you don’t fish enough divisional events to win the Divisional prize, your fish can still counts toward Overall honors.
4. The “Double Dip” Opportunity
You can win BOTH prizes. If you meet the 7-event requirement for your division and that fish also holds up as the largest bass caught across the entire series, your team will take home BOTH the Divisional payout and the Overall Series payout.
You can read the entire rule set for the 2026 season here: https://xtremebassseries.com/event-rules/
