COLLINS $10K CHAMPIONSHIP - AUG 8-9
The NC Bass Challenge returns In 2026 and will continue to offer the best paybacks, prizes, and contingencies of any bass tournament trail in central and eastern North Carolina.
All regular season events in 2026 will have a $3,000 1st place guarantee. This remains unchanged from 2025. Total number of payouts will be based on the amount of competing teams in each tournament. On average, the Bass Challenge will reward 1 team for every 6 that are competing in our regular season tournaments. This also remains unchanged from 2025.
Bonus Cash Option – The Bonus Cash Option will return in 2026. Last year we found this option to be incredibly important to our payouts. Anglers who opted into the Bonus Cash Option were rewarded $29,000 in total winnings last year. It is a great way to earn extra cash after having a great day on the water. Our Bonus Cash option will reward 1 team for every 12 that buys into the option. On average, the top 10 teams in the tournament were rewarded this Bonus Cash reward in 2025.
Sample Payouts for Regular Season Events ***
| 80 Team Payout** | Payout | Bonus Cash * | Total Payout |
| 1st Place | $3,000 | $1,500 | $4,500 |
| 2nd Place | $1,500 | $950 | $2,450 |
| 3rd Place | $750 | $650 | $1,400 |
| 4th Place | $500 | $350 | $850 |
| 5th Place | $400 | $250 | $650 |
| 6th Place | $300 | $150 | $450 |
| 7th Place | $250 | $75 | $325 |
| 8th Place | $220 | $75 | $295 |
| 9th Place | $200 | 0 | $200 |
| 10th Place | $200 | 0 | $200 |
| 11th Place | $180 | 0 | $180 |
| 12th Place | $180 | 0 | $180 |
| 13th Place | $160 | 0 | $160 |
| 14th Place | $160 | 0 | $160 |
| Greenville Toyota Big Bass |
$400 | 0 | $400 |
* Requires all 80 teams entering the Bonus Cash option
** Payouts are subject to change and are based on participation. This sample payout table should only be used as a reference only.
*** The tournament director reserves the right to modify these payouts at any time.
Greenville Toyota again returns as our tournament’s big fish sponsor. We have partnered with Greenville Toyota for more than 10 years and we’re excited to continue our partnership with them for another season. Thanks to their sponsorship, we will reward $400 to the team who catches the biggest bass at each event!
In 2025 we rewarded our biggest payback ever to our 1st place Championship winners. We rewarded $10,000 to our 2025 Champions! This is all thanks to our Championship Tournament sponsor, Collins Boating of Smithfield, NC. 100% of their sponsorship money goes to 1st place in our Championship event. We are thrilled to bring back Collins Boating as our Championship event partner and again reward $10,000 to our 1st place Championship winners!
Returning for 2026 is our EL Jones Development Super 6 Points Championship! This will be our 5th year of rewarding the top 6 Teams competing in NC Bass Challenge tournaments. Your team is rewarded points based on how you finish in each of our 6 regular season events. The top 6 teams at the end of the year will receive cash prizes. The Super 6 is completely FREE for all teams thanks to our ongoing partnership with EL Jones Development!
The following rewards/payouts will be presented to the top 6 teams in our point standings:
1st Place: $1,000 + Boat #1 in our 2-Day Championship + 2 commemorative trophies
2nd Place: $500 + Boat #2 in our 2-Day Championship
3rd Place: $400 + Boat #3 in our 2-Day Championship
4th Place: $300 + Boat #4 in our 2-Day Championship
5th Place: $200 + Boat #5 in our 2-Day Championship
6th Place: $100 + Boat #6 in our 2-Day Championship
The NC Bass Challenge will once again be affiliated with Bassmaster. We are allowed to send one team to the Bassmaster Team Championship for every 25 teams that register with us this season. The top teams are determined by our Super 6 Points Championship Standings. A membership fee of $10 per angler is required by Bassmaster. This fee is covered in your NC Bass Challenge Tournament Angler membership.
This means if 200 teams compete with us in 2026, we will send our top 8 teams to the Bassmaster Team Championship which takes place in December. The location has not yet been announced. The winner of the Bassmaster Team Championship will earn the right to compete in the Bassmaster Classic in 2027!
We are pleased to offer the following contingency prizes for 2026.
Ranger Cup, Triton Gold, Nitro Rewards, Vexus RevRewards, Phoenix First Flight, Falcon High Flyers, Bass Cat Quest, Ikon Rewards, Caymas Cash, Cashion Cash (New for 2026)
Thank you for being a part of the 2026 NC Bass Challenge. We will continue to work with our sponsors and partners to enhance payouts and prizes as much as possible.
