Tournaments

• TBF Trails are another way a team can quality for Nationals. The trails below will be used to determine the qualifying teams for 2026 TBF/SAF National Championship in June. 

• There are 3 divisions in Iowa, Central, Eastern and Western, both divisions together are a part of the Iowa Govenors Cup 

• There will be 1 team winner from each trail. 

• Teams who compete in a trail will earn points based on their tournament placement, winners of each trail will be determined by the highest combine score on their top 3 tournaments. 

  • If there are 4 tournaments on a trail, the teams bottom score will be dropped. 

Reminder: Anyone can fish worlds!! 

Below is a high level breakdown, for full details review the Eastern Iowa Fishing Trail Rules Sheet.

• Qualifying Tournaments: Top 10% will qualify

  • Major League Fishing Open Qualifiers (9-12 grade only)

  • TBF/SAF State Championship

• Through a TBF Trail 

  • 1 team from each trail will get a bid to Nationals 

    • Bid to nationals will go to the highest score of the hosting team. 

    • If another team is fishing the a host trail, the team can win the trail and prizes. They can also use that trail towards the division and governors cup. 

  • Overall team winner Eastern  Division

  • Overall team winner Western Division

  • Overall  team winner Iowa Governors Cup

    • Points are made up of all the trails plus qualifying tournaments. 

    • For the 2025/2026 Season, Iowa Govenors Cup Points will start with the Major League Fishing Open on May 8th on Grand Lake. 

Qualifying through a tournament will take priority, if a team qualifies through one of the tournaments above AND they win a trail, another team will get a bid to nationals.