The Colorado River Fall Classic brings competitive and recreational anglers together each fall

The Colorado River Fall Classic is an annual bass tournament held on the Colorado River, typically in the lower Colorado River area near Arizona. The event draws both serious competitors and anglers who fish for the community and the chance to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass during fall conditions, when water temperatures drop and fish feed more actively. The tournament usually takes place over a weekend in September or October, though the exact dates shift year to year.

This is a real tournament with real stakes — cash payouts for top finishers, entry fees, and rules about boat registration, life jackets, and catch documentation. If you are thinking about entering, you need to know the current year's dates, entry cost, and whether you fish solo or need a partner, because those details change and determine what you actually have to do.

Key Takeaways

  • The Colorado River Fall Classic is held annually in fall, usually September or October, and requires advance registration with an entry fee that varies by year.
  • Most bass tournaments on the Colorado River require a current Arizona fishing license and proof of boat registration, and some divisions allow solo anglers while others require a two-person team.
  • The tournament typically runs a morning takeoff and an afternoon weigh-in, with specific rules about which fish count, how they must be handled, and what gear is permitted.
  • Local marinas, tackle shops, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department website are the best sources for current tournament dates, entry fees, and the official rules packet.

Where to find the current tournament details

The Colorado River Fall Classic information changes each year, so calling ahead or checking online is not optional — it is the only way to get accurate dates and entry fees. Start with the Arizona Game and Fish Department website, which lists major tournaments and often has links to tournament organizers. Local marinas along the Colorado River, particularly those near Needles, California or Laughlin, Nevada (which border the lower Colorado), usually have flyers and entry information at their docks.

Tackle shops in the area — especially those that cater to bass anglers — often have entry forms and can tell you whether the tournament is running that year and when registration closes. If you know anyone who fished it before, ask them directly; tournament regulars know the organizers and can point you to the right contact. Do not rely on social media posts alone, because dates and rules get updated and old posts stay visible.

What you need before you enter

You will need a current Arizona fishing license, which you can purchase online through the Arizona Game and Fish Department website or at any sporting goods store that sells licenses. The license is valid for one year from the date of purchase. You will also need proof that your boat is registered — either a current registration certificate or a photo of it — because tournament rules require it and you will need to show it at the launch.

If you are fishing as a team, both anglers need their own licenses. The tournament will ask for your boat's make, model, and registration number when you enter, so have that information ready. Some tournaments also require proof of a current boating safety certificate, though this varies; ask when you register whether your state's boating safety course is required or whether Arizona accepts out-of-state certificates.

Tournament structure and what happens on the day

Most Colorado River bass tournaments follow a similar format: anglers launch at a set time in the morning (often 6 or 7 a.m.), fish for a set number of hours (usually five to eight hours), and return to a designated weigh-in location by a specific time in the afternoon. You fish alone or with a partner depending on the division you enter, and you keep the fish you catch in a livewell — a tank on your boat that keeps them alive and healthy until weigh-in.

At weigh-in, tournament officials measure and weigh each fish you bring in. Most tournaments count your five largest bass, though some count three or four; the rules packet will specify. Fish that are too small (usually under 12 inches for largemouth bass) do not count and are released immediately. The angler or team with the heaviest total weight wins the division. Some tournaments also award prizes for the largest single fish caught that day.

Rules that matter for your catch

Bass tournaments have specific rules about how you handle fish, and they exist to keep the fish alive and healthy. You must keep fish in a livewell with fresh, circulating water — not in a bucket or cooler. You cannot cull fish (swap out a smaller fish for a larger one) after weigh-in starts, so you need to manage your livewell carefully during the day. Dead fish usually count as zero weight, which is why livewell maintenance matters.

You also cannot fish with live bait in most tournaments; artificial lures only. Check the rules packet for specifics on what lures are allowed — some tournaments ban certain types of soft plastics or require hooks of a certain size. Catch-and-release rules are strict: any fish you weigh must be released alive into the river after weighing, and you cannot keep fish for eating. If you want to eat bass, you fish a different day on your own time with your own license.

Entry fees and what winning looks like

Entry fees for the Colorado River Fall Classic vary by year and by division. A typical entry might cost between $50 and $150 per angler or team, though this changes. Some tournaments offer a big-fish pool — an optional side bet where anglers pay extra for a chance to win money if they catch the tournament's largest bass. Prize payouts depend on how many people enter; more entries mean a larger total prize pool to distribute.

Payouts usually go to the top three to five finishers in each division, with the first-place team or angler taking the largest share. A tournament with 20 teams might pay out $500 to first place, $300 to second, and $200 to third, but this is an example only — your actual payout depends on entry fees and the number of competitors. Ask the tournament organizer for a payout structure before you enter so you know what you are fishing for.

Preparing your boat and gear

Before tournament day, make sure your livewell pump works and that you can control water flow — you want enough circulation to keep fish alive but not so much that it stresses them. Fill your livewell with river water the night before or the morning of the tournament and test it. Bring extra water or a backup aerator in case the primary system fails during the day.

Stock your tackle box with artificial lures that match the rules — soft plastics, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwater plugs all work on the Colorado River for bass. Bring more than you think you need, because you will lose lures to snags and fish. Pack sunscreen, a hat, water, and food; you will be on the water for six to eight hours. Bring a headlamp or flashlight if your tournament starts before sunrise, and wear a life jacket — it is required by law and by tournament rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to fish as a team or can I enter alone?

Most Colorado River tournaments offer both solo and team divisions, but this varies by year. Some tournaments require a two-person team; others allow single anglers. Check the rules packet or call the organizer before you register to confirm which divisions are open that year.

What if I have never fished a tournament before?

Many anglers fish their first tournament without prior experience. Read the rules packet carefully, arrive early to ask questions at registration, and do not hesitate to ask tournament officials how weigh-in works or what happens if your livewell fails. Most tournaments are welcoming to newcomers.

Can I fish the Colorado River the day before the tournament to practice?

Yes. Most tournaments allow practice fishing on the days leading up to the event. This is a good way to learn where bass are holding and what lures are working. Just remember that you cannot keep fish from practice days — catch and release only.

What happens if I am late to the weigh-in?

Late fish usually do not count, and you may be disqualified from that day's competition. Tournament rules are strict about weigh-in times because fairness depends on everyone following the same schedule. If you think you will be late, contact the tournament director immediately.

Where should I launch my boat?

The tournament organizer will specify the launch location in the rules packet — it is usually a public boat ramp on the Colorado River. Arrive early on tournament day because launch times fill up quickly and you do not want to miss your window to get on the water.