The Trolling Motors Only Bass Tournament Series was started in 2012 by bass fishing diehards Dave Harclerode and Paul Taylor.  The idea for the TMO was conceived several years earlier.  There had been local tournaments in the area for years, but they were stand alone tournaments.  One and done.  No points, no point fund, only basic rules, etc.  Dave and Paul knew the area could really benefit from an organized effort to tie all of these tournaments together under one umbrella, but it had to be done right.  They also realized that most area anglers weren't willing to pay the high entry fees at the tournaments on the bigger lakes, and many didn't have a boat suitable for big waters.  So after weighing all of the factors, the TMO was born.

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The TMO is not a club.  By definition, a club is a group of people who meet to promote their interest, introduce new people to that interest, and teach and share information to make everyone more educated about the specific interest.  The TMO is a tournament series, which means it's all about competition.  They take pride in doing their best to offer a level playing field by enforcing rules, choosing lakes that don't exclude certain types of boats, and providing a schedule that fulfills the competitive nature but doesn't consume entire lives.

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It's Dave and Paul's hope that the TMO will grow in the future into other regions where bass anglers would enjoy having what the TMO has to offer.  They're looking for people in other regions who currently fish electric trolling motor only tournaments but don't have an organized effort operating them.  If you happen to be one of these people, and you would like to start a tournament series in your area under the TMO name, please contact Dave Harclerode at basstmo@gmail.com