Border Bass Battle Tournament Returns to Del Rio Waters in 2026

Lake Amistad drew anglers from across the region Saturday for the Border Bass Battle, the semi-annual hourly big-bass tournament presented by the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Special Projects and Epic Baits that has become a fixture on the local fishing calendar.

The tournament, held twice yearly at Lake Amistad, structured its competition around hourly prizes rather than a single end-of-day weigh-in, with an overall big fish payout also on the line. Three divisions gave competitors multiple lanes to compete: Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and a Youth Division. For anglers chasing the biggest payoff, the 13-pound ShareLunker challenge added a separate target alongside the standard hourly competition.

Entry ran $125 per angler plus a 3% service fee, with registration having opened online through the Del Rio Chamber's ExploreDelRio platform in the weeks leading up to the event. The tournament carries no limit on the number of participants per boat, an unusual format that distinguishes it from most two-man tournament circuits common across Texas.

Sponsors backing the event included Rudy's Real Texas Bar-B-Q, the beloved local institution on the Del Rio dining circuit, and Rio Bravo Disposal. The Chamber's Special Projects division handled organizational duties alongside presenting partner Epic Baits.

The November 2025 edition of the Border Bass Battle, held on November 1, drew its own round of competitors to Amistad's waters, with in-person registration taking place the evening prior at Rudy's. The March installment completes the semi-annual cycle that the Chamber has built around one of Val Verde County's most valuable outdoor assets.

Anglers or sponsors interested in future editions of the tournament can reach the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce at (830) 775-3551, by email at frontdesk@drchamber.com, or in person at 1915 Veterans Boulevard in Del Rio.