Would You Suggest Starting In Local Bass Club?

[amishnightmare88]

Like every anglers dream, we dream to one day be in our boat holding that big Bassmaster trophy over our heads with confetti falling over us celebrating our victory winning the Bassmaster Classic. But where do you start? Just like anyone, every pro had to start somewhere. I have the opportunity to live about a mile from a guy that fished professionally for 4 years and placed 14th in the 1984 Bassmaster Classic. I called him and told him my goals and told him i wanted to be where he was then, now, or in a few years anyway. When we started he asked me if i liked fishing mornings or later afternoons? I said both. Of course i knew that was the best times of the day to catch bass. He responded and said, " Then meet me at my house at 8 in the morning". I asked why so late. The old pro brought a great point. He said, I already knew it was good fishing in the mornings and late afternoons. But if you can't catch fish in the heat of the day, or middle of the day, then your are probably going to get beat a lot." We find the worst possible conditions to fish and load up and go. I have learned A LOT! But i am 24 years old and still never fished a tournament. I want to start. He told me the best way is to start in a local bass club. He said, you will learn a lot of forms and different tactics that work. So then, just to reassure myself, I didn't come from a wealthy family where i can get anything i want, and do not have a sponsor where my lures are unlimited. Right now i have to work for everything i get. I do not have a boat, but what i do have is a tackle box with a varitey of lures, a 7 ft Falcon carra with a abu garcia Revo SX, and a 6'9 Falcon lowrider with a Revo S. I plan on getting a good spinning rod and reel in the next few weeks also. Any help or advise is appreciated. Thank you and God Bless.

[Fishes in trees]

Joining a local club is one way to get started in tournaments.  I would suggest that a better way would to be to join a regional circuit like the Walmart BFL.  Since you don't have a boat, you will go as a co-angler to start either way.  Aside from a slightly higher entry fee, your expenses for a club tournament versus a BFL tournament are roughly the same.  The potential payouts from fishing a BFL are much higher than fishing a club tournament.

 

Some people will say, just to get your feet wet, you should start with a local club.  I say, if you think you got skills, go ahead and get into a league that has a steeper learning curve, but a far greater potential payout.

 

From where you live in NW Arkansas, you'd have a choice of Arkie, Okie or the Ozark divisions.  I think that you would learn more quicker fishing BFL or some similar circuit rather than starting at the club level.  JMO

[papajoe222]

You don't list your age in your profile, or I'd suggest checking out a bass club at the college level.  Either way, club tournaments can be valuable in teaching you both how to compete as well as different techniques. Your skill level will be on the fast track to getting better also. 

There are a couple of downsides. One being as a co-angler or non-boater you'll likely be fishing from the back seat and be limited to the boater's choice of spots and to a degree his approach.  This can be a learning experience as well as you can judge what works and what doesn't under different conditions.

The down side to most club circuits is they hold competition on mostly local waters and they can get expensive for the working Joe.

If you have the opportunity, go for it. If you approach it as a learning experience and focus on that and not winning every time you go out, you'll be on the fast track to becoming a better angler, both recreational and in competition.

[Sam]

Amish, let me give you some sound advice about professional bass fishing. Take it or leave it.

 

Join a BASS or FLW bass club. Check out the Links at the top of the Forum's page and try to find a local bass club. If none are listed go to the two bottom listings and contact the BASS and FLW for the name of the state's president and contact that person for club information.

Keep eyes and ears open and mouth shut.

Watch what each guy you fish with does or does not do and keep a diary.

Get maps of all bodies of water fished and study them. Mark them as to where your boater went when you get home.

Get a partner and fish the BASS or FLW region tournaments.

Meet as many people as you can.

Purchase and read Ike's Book - Fishing on the Edge.

Purchas and read all books you can by Kevin VanDam and Denny Brauer.

Find Dr. Keith Jones' book, Knowing Bass - The Scientific Approach to Catching More Fish.

Try to find the Homer Circle and Glen Lau's videos, Bigmouth, Bigmouth Forever and Feeding Habits of Bass.

Purchase all of the Kevin VanDam DVDs you can find.

Purchase all of Ike's videos you can find.

Subscribe to Bass Times, Bass Anger Magazine and all other magazines you can.

Watch the Sunday TV bass fishing shows.

Go to all seminars you can.

Try to make it to a Bassmasters Classic one day. Worth every penny of the costs.

Then you need time on the water. Lots of time. Years of time. Fishing in all conditions, bodies of water and times of the day.

Go to the pros web sites, such as Hank Parker, Woo Daves, VanDam, etc. Check out their articles.

Read EVERY article listed in the Forum's library. Check out the Articles at the top of the Forum page.

Subscribe to BassResource's Videos and go to YouTube and watch every one.

If you hear about a bait or presentation go to YouTube and look them up and view all of the different videos. Always go to Glenn for his input, too. I just learned about a new presentation the pros are using and found it on YouTube and have the tackle to give it a shot. I lucked out finding about it when my nonboater mentioned it to me and showed me how to use it. Sorry, it is a big secret!!!

 

 

Your job is to learn as much as you can. Start a paper and video library. During the winter months read and watch everything you can on bass fishing. No one is going to give you a magic bullet as there is no magic bullet. It takes time to master the science and art of bass fishing plus a lot of money and an understanding family.

 

A boat! You need a bass boat. Get a compression check on the motor and have a professional look at the hull. You don't need a Ranger or Bass Cat. A 17-foot Tracker with a 50 HP motor is sufficient to get you on the water. You need to also learn how to handle a bass boat. Take your state's safe boating course. Know the laws of the water where you fish. Be a good steward of our natural resources.

 

Sponsors - they find you. Don't worry about sponsors. Just go out and do your best. And sponsors are not what you may think they are. You may get a discount on their products but that is about all.

 

Get known. Be a nice person and meet as many people as you can. Volunteer in your bass club to serve on your Region's board or be your Club's Region representative. The more people you know the more you will learn. And we have some wonderful people in bass fishing.

 

I could go on but I think you get the drift of my thoughts. Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing from time to time.

 

But the first thing you have to do is join a bass club and learn from the guys. Don't put a lot of pressure on yourself. You are 24 years old and you need a good career to have the funds to professionally bass fish. It is not cheap and you will be away from loved ones a lot.

 

But never give up on your dreams. Google Charlie Hartley and note the old goat that is now fishing in the BASS Elite Series and who has fished the Classic.

[Felix77]

I started at the local club level and learned a ton in year one. They are generally less expensive per tournament per se. Year 2 I began adding state tournaments.

Do what your budget will allow. Just realize the bigger the events the more serious/cut throat it can be. Just be prepared for that.