I have a couple questions for folks that fish the Thursday Night tournaments on Canyon Lake and Lake Dunlap or any of the smaller tournaments around the Austin area. #1. I was wondering what would be smallest type of boat (not a kayak)someone would use or has used for local (Thursday Night type) bass tournaments on Canyon Lake and Lake Dunlap? The only requirement I see is that the boat has a working livewell. This brings me to question #2. Will a portable (ice chest) livewell pass the inspection? The reason I bring this up is because from looking at maps of the lakes, they don't look like they require a lot of running and gunning like you see on TV with the Big tournaments. Would a non-bass boat participant stand a chance or should I start looking for empty back seats?

Look for empty back seat. Check austinbassfishingforum.com

Have to check the rules, we have had them used in our club tourneys. But I would look for a backseat. You dont have to go far lots of ABC fish around marinas, but like our rules you have to stay like 300yds from weigh in marina. I read recaps in magazines where it said " fishing a spot within sight of the weigh in" or cove over.

I used to fish the TTZ Wednesday night tournament out of a 17 ft aluminum boat with a 25 hp motor. It was a crappie boat and the live well was not big enough for bass. I rigged up a large cooler with a bilge pump connected to a battery to recirculate water I would put in the cooler and the fish were always extremely lively (the bilge bump stayed on the whole time and I would dump fresh water in every hour or so). If it was especially hot and the water was warm I would keep some ice and please release me handy.

Long story short: I used a cooler and I never had an issue - just make sure it is rigged properly to keep your fish healthy.