Kotg

[fstr385]

Been thinking about doing my first competition fishing the next kotg. Any tips for a first timer as far as sign up, time of arrival, ect ect. I don't know how it works with weigh ins, or order of dropping boats in the water, leaving, coming back.. pretty much nothing about tournaments lol. I like this one because its all near by, and don't have to be a member of a particular club.

[Sam]

FSTR, go for it!

 

Have some fun at the same time and don't be too concerned how you finish. Your goals are to 1) compete in a tournament and learn what happens and 2) meet others who can give you help in the future or can steer you to a local bass club.

 

Now, on to your queries:

sign up - Some tournaments allow you to walk up an hour before blast off and sign up. Just park your boat in the line wiht the other guys and find someone to back you in and park your truck and trailer and bring the keys back to you. Guys are friendly and they will help you launch your boat.

 

time of arrival - At least an hour before blast off. Guys and gals will have their boats in the water at least a half hour before blastoff. Some even eariler. This is the time to install your front and rear lights; warm up your motor; and organize your tackle. Never, ever allow any lure to hit the water before blast off as that is grounds for disqualification.

 

weigh ins - You either bring your own or get a weigh-in bag at the weigh-in table and gather your fish out of the live well. You make sure you have enough water to cover the bass in the bag. Get in line and the weigh-in guys will dump your fish in a tub allowing the water to run out so don't stand to close to the tub. They will make sure all fish are alive and take the largest one and weigh it for Big Fish. Then they add the remaining fish to the scale and you have your weight. They put the fish in an empty bag and you walk to the water's edge or on the pier and dump the live fish back into the water. You then wait with the other guys, watching the other guys fish being weighed, telling lies and waiting for the final results to be announced.

 

order of dropping boats in the water - You will probably blast off via a numbering system. The tournament director will stand in his boat and yell the time and how many 12-inchers you can have and what the limit is and if there are any "off limits" places. He will then yell numbers out and you blast off. As you register your boat in the morning you will draw a chip or card with a number on it and this is the order you will blast off. Otherwise you will have a "shotgun" blastoff which is dangerous but fun to watch. This type of blast off is when the tournamente director yells "go" and it is everyone for themselves. Lots of waves and bouncing around and boats just missing each other as they take off.

 

leaving - Obey all wake zone signs and hot shot the boat where the one in front of you took off. Be sure to listen for your number over the sound of the motors and just head to your favorite first location you have selected to fish first.

 

coming back - You will know the weigh-in time. Be at the dock at least 15 minutes before that time to trailer your boat. Get someone to help you trailer your boat. As a first-timer the guys will be more than helpful assisting you with your trailering needs.

 

Good luck and be sure to let us know how you do and what happened.

[topwaterrob]

Go for it man.... It's a lot of fun... Kotg is done for this season but there's a tourney out of holiday most weekends.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

Ya, season is over. Basically you just show up, sign up, put your boat in the water. Wait for tourney director starts calling #'s. Once yours is called, you off!!!. See you at weigh-in. During the tourney, you keep your best 5 fish ALIVE, in your live-well. Once you get back to the dock at said time, you put your fish in your weigh-bag and walk up to the scale. They will ask your # and they weigh your fish. That's about it. lol

[bocabasser]

kotg is the best tourny to get your feet wet. you will be competing against the top anglers from lake okeechobe to miami. sam and fishy fingers nailed it. just be respectful and follow the rules. this is my 6th kotg and my partner and i qualified for the classic all 6 years. i still get that butterfly feeling everytime we take off. go for it bro! just to give you a heads up though----once you start tournament fishing, you WILL be addicted. 

 

BTW-piscicidal got big fish on sunday in the last round of the kotg! way to go mike! i believe it was a 7+pounder. 

[fstr385]

dang! cant believe I missed it!! Next year I guess. Thanks for all the above info though, at least I get the idea now. So I guess qualifying was at the beginning of the year, and you have to qualify to compete? Makes sense I guess. Probably cuts down on having 500 boats out at once lol.

[piscicidal]

kotg is the best tourny to get your feet wet. you will be competing against the top anglers from lake okeechobe to miami. sam and fishy fingers nailed it. just be respectful and follow the rules. this is my 6th kotg and my partner and i qualified for the classic all 6 years. i still get that butterfly feeling everytime we take off. go for it bro! just to give you a heads up though----once you start tournament fishing, you WILL be addicted. 

 

BTW-piscicidal got big fish on sunday in the last round of the kotg! way to go mike! i believe it was a 7+pounder. 

 

Yeah, I got big fish Sunday.  I could have used a couple more, though.

 

 

Bruce is right.   This series is great...just show up and fish.  They don't call it "King of the Glades" for nothing though.  A very competitive group...a lot of pros/guides/local sticks(like Bruce!)/glades rats out there.  Very friendly for the most part.  Come on out!

[topwaterrob]

Nice Fish......

[fstr385]

very nice!

[evrgladesbasser]

Great fish Mike that weighed more than my whole bag on Sunday lol

[rabidsquirrel]

Pardon me, but what does 'KOTG' stand for? I'm guessing some sort of tournament trail...

 

Thanks.

[shallow thinker]

King of the Glades.  A south Florida tournament trail.