The Call, The Research, and Why I’ll Be at Lake Pyramid Anyway!

A few weeks back, Jay Rich with Best Bass Tournaments reached out and asked if I’d help promote their Fall Classic Open at Lake Pyramid on November 7, 2026. I said yes before he finished the sentence. I love that lake. I love what BBT is trying to build in Southern California. And I believe in anybody who’s willing to put their money, their time, and their reputation on the line to grow tournament fishing out here.

But this story doesn’t start with Jay’s call. It starts years ago, back when BBT was first getting off the ground.

I was reached out to by Randy Pringle, and the message was clear: I would never be able to fish one of the local BBT tournaments. The reason? I was “professional.”

And I get it—I’ve been in this industry a long time. But it left me asking a question I’ve never really gotten a straight answer to: What is the true definition of a professional?

Because here’s the thing: I’ve fished against some of the best anglers in Southern California—guys who have competed across the country on the U.S. Open, FLW, Bassmaster, WON Bass, and every other major circuit you can name. I’ve shared water with anglers who have won hundreds of thousands of dollars, who have TV deals, who guide full-time. And yet, somehow, I was the one being told I couldn’t fish a local tournament.

So when Jay called and said I was welcome to fish the Fall Classic, I had to ask—not in a condescending way, but genuinely: Why am I allowed to fish this one tournament, but not the others? What’s the actual rule? Why am I put off to the side?

And here’s what makes Jay different from every other tournament director I’ve dealt with on this issue: He went and did his homework.

He didn’t give me a line. He didn’t dodge the question. He went home, pulled my career up by the roots, and came back with facts.

What came back wasn’t just a tournament invite. It was a full career audit—and honestly, one of the most respectful letters I’ve ever received in forty years of chasing green fish.

He laid out my resume better than my own memory could. Nationally recognized trophy bass angler. Bassmaster competitor with a win on the books. Founder of Big Bass Zone. Lure designer. Author. Educator. Hall of Famer. 500-plus bass over ten pounds. He basically wrote my bio for me—and I mean that with nothing but gratitude.

(Though Jay, if you’re reading this, your research missed a couple of receipts. I won the Bass Cat Invitational in 2000 out of 800 teams. I took home hardware at the K-Frog events. And I cashed more than a few checks and boat wins through ABA and Angler’s Choice TOC's back when SoCal tournament fishing was absolutely on fire. But hey, the file was already thick enough.)

Here’s the part that matters: under BBT’s published rules, I’m “overly qualified.” Rule 15 addresses guiding for the same species. The eligibility clause says highly qualified teams can be asked to fish elsewhere or step up a level. And the Tournament Director has final discretion.

Let me be crystal clear: I have not fished a BASS event since 2000 or been a bass guide since the early 1990s. But that doesn’t change the rules. The rules are the rules. And tournament directors have to make hard calls to protect the integrity of the field for the anglers who are grinding, learning, and building their careers at this level. I respect that. I have to respect that. Because without integrity at the top, the whole ladder collapses.

So no—you won’t see me in the boater lineup at BBT events. And that’s okay.

What you will see is me on the shore, at the weigh-in, behind the camera, and in the parking lot talking to the kid who’s rigging his first swimbait before daylight.

You’ll see me working on my new 2027 Bass Cat Boats Cat Puma—and I’m pushing to have her ready by the time that Pyramid event rolls around this fall. If the timing lines up, she’ll be there. If not, she’s coming soon anyway, and she’s going to be a platform for something way bigger than my own trophy case.

Because here’s the truth: I love tournament fishing. I love the smell of sunscreen and outboard exhaust at 5 AM. I love the chess match. But my real goal—the one that doesn’t bend—is to give back. To the community. To the sponsors who stood with me through health battles and industry shifts. To the youth coming up through programs like the BBZ Junior Championship. To the sport that gave me a life I never could’ve imagined back when I was knee high to a puddle of water.

Now let’s talk about November 7th at Lake Pyramid.

BBT is putting up a $400 entry fee Fall Classic Open—and that includes Big Fish money. It’s an open team tournament, open to all anglers including pros and guides “THAT’S ME!”. They need 40 boats paid by October 31st or the event doesn’t happen. That means this is on us—the Southern California fishing community—to show up and show out.

They’re even running a Toy Drive—bring an unwrapped toy for a child ages 5–10 and get raffle tickets. All donated toys go to local churches to bless kids in our community. That’s the kind of tournament culture I want to stand behind.

If you’re in Southern California and you’ve been waiting for a shot at bigger paydays and real competition, this is your event. You can register at www.bestbasstournaments.com, pay in full or do the payment plan ($200 deposit to hold your spot, balance due by 10/31). Questions? Call or text Jay Rich at 661-331-2084.

Best Bass Tournaments isn’t keeping me out. They’re keeping the door open for the next generation. And I’m honored to be the guy holding that door.

A couple words of wisdom for the anglers who are fishing BBT this fall:

Fish hard. Fish honest. And remember—the tournament is just the excuse. The real win is the brotherhood you build on the water, the lessons you bring home, and the example you set for the young angler watching from the dock with his grandpa.

I’ll be at Lake Pyramid on November 7th. Maybe not in the field, but in the fight.

Tight lines,

Bill Siemantel

Big Bass Zone

For full transparency, here is Jay Rich’s original letter to me. Class act all the way—he did his homework and followed through.

Good morning Bill,

I have been thinking hard about our conversation of you fishing BBT and not being able to.

So I did my homework and it came out like this.

Now you have an explanation of Randy’s decision.

Bill,

First, I want to thank you for your interest in Best Bass Tournaments. Before making any decision regarding eligibility, I took the time to review both your career accomplishments and our published BBT Qualifications and Rules to ensure the decision would be based solely on the written rules and applied fairly to everyone.

After reviewing your background, it is clear that you are not simply a recreational angler. Throughout your career, you have established yourself as one of the most respected figures in the bass fishing industry.

Your accomplishments include:

• Nationally recognized trophy bass angler. • Bassmaster tournament competitor with a Bassmaster victory. • Professional bass fishing guide. • Founder of Big Bass Zone (BBZ). • Lure designer responsible for several successful swimbait products. • Fishing author and educator. • Industry consultant and seminar speaker. • Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame inductee. • More than 500 bass over ten pounds and a personal best approaching twenty pounds.

These accomplishments place you among the most accomplished anglers in the sport and demonstrate decades of professional involvement in the bass fishing industry.

Because of that background, several BBT rules apply.

Rule 15 – Guides

BBT Rule 15 states:

“Guides who guide for the same species that BBT tournament weigh in, will not be allowed to fish in the BBT Events.”

If you are currently guiding for largemouth bass, this rule alone makes you ineligible to compete in BBT events.

Participant Eligibility

The Qualifications section also states:

“Any individual(s) that are found to be a highly qualified team in any one Region may be asked to compete in a different Region of the BBT Circuit.”

It further states:

“The BBT also reserves the right to ask any team that is found to be overly qualified to move up and fish at the next level, and not participate in the BBT events.”

Finally, it provides:

“Final decision of all contestants being allowed to participate will be at the Tournament Director’s discretion and/or the BBT Advisory Board.”

These provisions exist because the purpose of BBT is to provide a competitive environment for anglers who are developing and competing at this level. The organization reserves the right to prevent situations where anglers with extensive professional credentials could create an unfair competitive advantage.

This determination is not intended as a criticism or reflection on character. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Your accomplishments and professional reputation are exactly what place you within the category that our eligibility rules were designed to address.

For that reason, after reviewing your career alongside the published BBT rules, I believe you fall within the category of an angler who is professionally established and overly qualified under the current eligibility standards.

If you are actively guiding for bass, Rule 15 independently makes you ineligible as well.

This decision is based entirely on the written BBT rules and is intended to apply those rules consistently to all anglers.

Thank you for your understanding, and thank you for everything you have contributed to the sport of bass fishing.

Respectfully,

Jay Rich

Tournament Director

Best Bass Tournaments

Bill Siemantel's Big Bass Zone@