Bass Rattlers Association

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Bass Rattlers Association

Bass Rattlers was founded in 1986 by Dell Hatfield and Eddie Grabenhorst. They use three launch points: Clewiston, Okeechobee City, and Belle Glade.

Today, Bass Rattlers Association is a BASS Federation Club based out of Royal Palm Beach, FL and the club primarily fishes Lake Okeechobee once a month. President: Rick Wilhelm
Vice Precident: / Tournament Director:Bobby Watson
Email: [email protected]
Secretary: Dell Hatfield
Email: [email protected]
Treasurer: Dean Morgan

BASS RATTLERS ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT TRAIL

Introduction

The Bass Rattlers Association is a club affiliated with BASS Nation, organizing a twelve-tournament season from March to February, primarily on Lake Okeechobee. Club meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Hurricane Grille in Lake Worth, followed by a tournament on the subsequent Saturday. The tournament entry fee is $60.00, with membership dues set at $60.00 annually (Match to February) for the club and $55.00 annually (January to December) for BASS Nation/Florida BASS Nation. This club is social, aiming to foster fellowship, sportsmanship, conservation, and competition among members. Established in 1986 with just six members, the club has grown to around sixty members, with an average of thirty-four competing per tournament in the season. They distribute substantial prize money, hold raffles, and organize end-of-season payouts. The club also hosts the Florida BASS Nation South Region tournaments, Pro-Am series, and Team series, providing a pathway to the prestigious Bassmaster Classic. By-Laws Highlights

1. Club Officers and Elections: Positions include President, Vice President/Tournament Director, Secretary, and Treasurer, with annual elections.
2. Membership Requirements: Members must be 16 or older and in good standing with dues. New members must participate in at least one tournament as a guest before a membership vote.
3. Safety Rules: Adherence to all relevant laws and safety regulations, including the use of life vests and kill switches.
4. Tournament Format: Includes a mix of draw tournaments, staggered starts, and strict adherence to rules like catch-and-release and artificial baits only.
5. Scoring and Payouts: Based on a point system, with additional points for big fish. The Lunker Fund and tournament fees are structured to support payouts and club operations. The club emphasizes a community atmosphere, educational opportunities, and fair competition. For a detailed schedule, membership application, and more information, members and interested individuals are encouraged to contact club officers or attend meetings.

07/14/2026

Bass Rattlers Association – July 2026 Tournament Results

What a weekend of bass fishing! Twenty-six anglers competed over two days, bringing 105 bass to the scales for a combined weight of 144.74 pounds.

Congratulations to all of our anglers, and especially to this month’s top finishers!

🏆 Day 1
🥇 Scott Kerslake – 16.64 lbs
🥈 Willie Manning – 14.95 lbs
🥉 Brian Yeatts – 11.71 lbs

🐟 Big Bass – Day 1
• Donnie VanDyke – 7.12 lbs
• Mauricio Marciales – 6.23 lbs

🏆 Day 2
🥇 Jim Joseph – 18.68 lbs
🥈 Jose Leotaud – 16.32 lbs
🥉 Jake Whitman – 14.63 lbs

🐟 Big Bass – Day 2
🔥 Jim Joseph – 8.76 lbs
🔥 Jim Joseph – 8.52 lbs

A special congratulations to Jim Joseph for an outstanding Day 2 performance, including both of the tournament’s biggest bass and to Scott Kerslake who won the two day tournament with 29.31 lbs!

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make another successful Bass Rattlers tournament. We look forward to seeing everyone back on the water at our next event.

📊 Full tournament results:
https://share.fishingchaos.com/tournament/7UF1qHdvBZ8dqpC3xEzX

06/10/2026

🎣 THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? 🎣

Looking for a great group of anglers, friendly competition, and a chance to improve your bass fishing skills?

The Bass Rattlers Association is South Florida’s premier bass fishing club, bringing together anglers of all experience levels for monthly tournaments, camaraderie, and a clear pathway to B.A.S.S. Nation competition.

✅ Monthly tournaments on Lake Okeechobee
✅ Boater and Co-Angler opportunities available
✅ Learn proven techniques from experienced anglers
✅ Friendly, supportive, and competitive atmosphere
✅ Opportunity to advance through B.A.S.S. Nation events

Whether you’re a seasoned tournament angler or just looking to fish with a great group of people, there’s a place for you in the Bass Rattlers.

📍 Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM at Hurricane Grill & Wings in Lake Worth.

Many of our members started with little or no tournament experience and have gone on to catch personal bests, win tournaments, and qualify for higher levels of competition.

Don’t just watch from the sidelines—come fish with us!

🎣 New members are always welcome.

05/25/2026

The Florida B.A.S.S. Nation South Region Team Trail wrapped up at Lake Okeechobee, and the final stop of the 2026 season delivered some impressive bags and big fish at Scott Driver Park.

Congratulations to Farmer / Stewart for taking the win with a strong 21.96 lb limit, anchored by a 6.36 lb kicker. Bill and Phil stayed close behind with 16.85 lbs and claimed Big Bass honors with a massive 6.84 lb largemouth.

A special congratulations as well to Clay Farmer, who capped off an outstanding weekend by also winning the Florida Bass Nation ProAm Boater Division the day before. Back-to-back victories on Lake Okeechobee against stacked fields is a tremendous accomplishment.

Top 5 Teams:

1. Farmer / Stewart – 21.96 lbs
2. Bill and Phil – 16.85 lbs
3. Carr and Bartels – 15.26 lbs
4. Scarborough / Barton – 13.89 lbs
5. The Little Debbie Ambassadors – 12.00 lbs

Big Bass:
🥇 Bill and Phil – 6.84 lbs

Lake Okeechobee once again proved why it remains one of the premier bass fisheries in the country, and the South Florida Region anglers battled changing conditions and strong competition throughout the season.

Congratulations to all teams and anglers who competed in this year’s Florida B.A.S.S. Nation Team Series.

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Florida B.A.S.S. Nation President and President of the Bass Rattlers Association, Rick Wilhelm, for catching Big Fish at Bass Rattlers Tournament Trail Stop #3 on Lake Okeechobee with an outstanding 7.33-pound bass.

Fishing was tough on Saturday, and Rick had only managed one fish up until around 12:30 p.m. Staying patient and committed, he made a key adjustment on the West Wall and threw a watermelon red 5” Yamamoto Senko into open water near bluegill beds. That decision paid off in a big way when this beautiful giant loaded up on the worm and secured the tournament Big Fish honors.

To make the accomplishment even more impressive, Rick also won Big Fish in the Boater Division of the 2026 South Region Pro Am #4, which was held consecutively with the club tournament.

See 2026 South Region Pro Am #4 Results https://share.fishingchaos.com/tournament/s8tWfsIEHYnESPmSqbpp

A great example of how one bite can completely change a tournament day on Lake Okeechobee.

05/21/2026

Final stop of the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation South Region Pro-Am trail is in the books, and Lake Okeechobee once again showed why it is one of the premier bass fisheries in the country.

Despite some challenging conditions at times, anglers still brought solid bags to the scales and capped off the South Florida Division season with a strong showing.

Boater Division Results
🥇 Clay Farmer – 15.17 lbs
🥈 Scott Kerslake – 14.76 lbs
🥉 Tyler Nekolny – 13.94 lbs
4️⃣ Jim Joseph – 10.49 lbs
5️⃣ Jake Whitman – 10.31 lbs

Boater Big Bass
🐟 Rick Wilhelm – 7.33 lbs
🐟 Scott Kerslake – 6.46 lbs
🐟 Clay Farmer – 6.34 lbs

Co-Angler Division Results
🥇 Christian Farmer – 11.67 lbs
🥈 Taylor Stewart – 10.85 lbs
🥉 Brian Yeatts – 9.17 lbs
4️⃣ Zachary Dunavant – 6.69 lbs
5️⃣ Philip Northrop – 6.19 lbs

Co-Angler Big Bass
🐟 Christian Farmer – 4.33 lbs
🐟 Taylor Stewart – 3.16 lbs
🐟 Brian Yeatts – 2.60 lbs

Congratulations to all the anglers who competed throughout the season and to everyone who qualified and performed well at the final South Region event. Special congratulations to all of the winners and big bass leaders.

05/20/2026

Congratulations to Trevor Whitman on taking 1st Place at Bass Rattlers Tournament Trail Stop #3 on Lake Okeechobee with an impressive 16.87-pound bag.

Trevor put together the winning pattern fishing around 3rd Point, using a simple but effective “1-2 punch” approach:
🎣 Casting a big worm
🎣 Pitching a beaver bait

That combination produced the quality bites he needed to secure the win against a strong field of anglers.

Great job, Trevor, on a well-earned victory and an excellent day on the water.

05/19/2026

Another solid day on Lake Okeechobee for Bass Rattlers Tournament Trail Stop #3 out of Scott Driver Park on May 26.

The morning started with a little wind, but it turned into a beautiful day on the lake with some strong fishing throughout the field. We had 29 anglers competing, with the majority bringing fish to the scales. In total, 88 bass were weighed for 197.19 pounds, averaging an impressive 2.24 pounds per fish.

Congratulations to all of our top finishers and thank you to everyone who came out and supported the trail.

Top Finishers
🥇 Trevor Whitman – 16.87 lbs
🥈 Scott Kerslake – 14.76 lbs
🥉 Tyler Nekolny – 13.94 lbs

Big Fish
🐟Rick Wilhelm – 7.33 lbs
🐟 Scott Kerslake – 6.46 lbs

04/30/2026

Congratulations to all of the teams that competed in the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation South Region Team Trail Qualifier #3 held on Sunday, April 26 out of Harney Pond on Lake Okeechobee.

A special congratulations goes out to Florida B.A.S.S. Nation and Florida Bass Rattlers President Rick Wilhelm and Bass Rattlers hammer Jake Whitman, who brought in the winning bag of the tournament with 26.72 lbs for 5 fish.

We also want to congratulate Team Piperata/House for landing the tournament’s Big Bass with an impressive 7.06-pounder.

Top 5 Teams

1. Wilhelm and Whitman – 26.72 lbs
2. Okeechobee Steakhouse – 21.40 lbs
3. Scarborough/Barton – 20.96 lbs
4. Piperata/House – 20.22 lbs
5. Team Con Todo – 18.16 lbs

Big Bass Standings

1. Piperata/House – 7.06 lbs
2. Team Con Todo – 6.79 lbs
3. Wilhelm and Whitman – 6.55 lbs

Great job to all the teams that came out and competed.

04/28/2026

Congratulations to all of the anglers who competed in the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation South Regional Qualifier #3 ProAm held on Saturday, April 25, out of Harney Pond Canal on Lake Okeechobee.

It was a hot day, and the fishing was definitely slower than earlier in the month, but there were still some solid bags and quality fish brought to the scales. Congratulations to our winners and top finishers.

Boater Division
1st – Steve Burlington – 15.66 lbs
2nd – Mike Saleeba – 14.63 lbs
3rd – Bobby Watson – 13.80 lbs
4th – Tyler Nekolny – 13.24 lbs
5th – Jim Joseph – 9.41 lbs

Boater Big Bass Jackpot
Steve Burlington – 7.98 lbs

Co-Angler Division
1st – Michael Davis – 14.31 lbs
2nd – Christian Farmer – 13.29 lbs
3rd – Zachary Dunavant – 12.42 lbs
4th – Brian Yeatts – 10.96 lbs
5th – John Owens – 7.94 lbs

Co-Angler Big Bass Jackpot
Michael Davis – 5.75 lbs

Great job to everyone who came out and competed. Lake Okeechobee always has a way of keeping anglers honest, and on a tough, hot day these anglers still got it done.

04/18/2026

South Florida anglers, please note: the Florida Bass South Regional Qualifier #3 on April 25–26 out of Harney Pond is open only to members of Florida B.A.S.S. Nation affiliate clubs.

If you are an affiliate club member, now is the time to register for ProAm or Teams and make sure your club is represented.

ProAm: https://share.fishingchaos.com/tournament/jfVYizljY4xMXHIoZ7tj
Teams: https://share.fishingchaos.com/tournament/QIXh4SwQxC2MpgDqK8iC

This is an affiliate club members-only event, so please share with qualified anglers in your club network.

Address

Royal Palm Beach, FL

Website

https://www.bassrattlersassoc.com/

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