Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a member of NCL?

Yes. All team members must be a member of NFL-NCL to participate in any NFL-NCL event.

What are the membership fees?

• Memberships are $50.00 per person per year
• $40.00 per year if a veteran or a current military member
• Family Package is $75.00 for immediate family (2 people) which is a Parent/Son or Daughter over 16 or a Husband/Wife team

What is the entry fee for a tournament?

• Division I events, the entry fee is $300.00
• Open events, the entry fee is $500.00
• Championship Division I entry fee is $400.00 for the 2024 season
• Championship Open Division entry fee is $750.00 for the 2024 season

Are there late fees?

• Yes, a Div I late fee is $25.00 and applies if you have not signed up
by midnight the Sunday before the tournament.

• Open Div late fee is $50.00 and applies if you have not signed up
by midnight the Sunday before the tournament.

What is the difference between a Division I and Open Division tournament?

• In an effort to keep competition at a fair level, we have two divisions. The open division is open to all regardless of the amount of money the individual or team has won in the last two years at major crappie tournaments. Many consider these anglers pro level or seasoned anglers and a very competitive field.

• Division I tournaments are for the average/everyday anglers to compete against others. It is also for the seasoned anglers that have not been placing high in major events and/or have not won much money at those events. These are excellent tournaments for the everyday average angler to get experience in crappie tournament fishing, compete against those closer to their level of experience/ ability, and to have some fun.

• Major crappie tournaments are American Crappie Trail, CUSA, Crappiemasters & Crappie Expo.

Can I fish both Division I and Open Division tournaments?

Yes. Anyone can fish an Open tournament regardless of how much money they have won and where they have placed in the last 2 years. If you have not won $5,000 individually or $10,000 as a team or more in the last two years, you may fish both.

Are both divisions’ events happening at the same time?

No. Each tournament is either a Division I tournament or an Open tournament. They do not happen at the same time. The only time a Division I and Open Division tournament is going on at the same time is during the championship.

What qualifies me for the championship?

• Placing in the top 5 of any NCL event will qualify you for the championship in that division.

Example: Placing 5th in a Division I tournament qualifies you in the Division I Championship.

Example: Placing 4th in an Open Division tournament qualifiers you for the Open Division Championship.

Example: If you fish 2 Div I events and 1 Open event, you do not automatically qualify for the championship in either division.

• Points system will determine remaining spots invited to the championship.

• Bump down will occur for Championship qualification.

Example: You fish a tournament and place 7th. If two of the top 5 have qualified already, the bump down would be to 7th place and you would qualify for the championship in that division.

What if I qualify for both the Division I and Open Division championship?

• You will have to declare which division you are competing in at the national championship. You can not enter and fish both divisions at the championship.

How are the points going to work for the Angler Team of the Year?

• Each division will have an Angler Team of the Year, which is the points of their best 5 tournaments beginning in the 2024 season.

How are the points going to work for qualifying for the championship?

• Once those that have qualified by finishing in the top 5 at an event, the remaining championship field will be invited by their finish in the points race in the division that they have fished.