Tournament Newbie Question About How To Weigh-In

[dragulagto]

Hello all,

I've been reading all over the forums but haven't really found an answer to my question.

I just started bass fishing last year at 44 years old after a pretty bad motorcycles accident permanently ended that hobby.

I've gotten addicted and will be fishing my first small local tournament next weekend. A friend will be my co-angler and it will be his first tournament too.

I have a few questions regarding the logistics of the take off and weigh-in specifically.

1.) I have a place on this particular lake and a private boat ramp. Is it generally not allowed to arrive at the take off location in my boat? Or is the general rule of most tournaments is that everyone is expected to launch from the same ramp, at the take off?

2.) Weigh-in is at 3pm. Does that mean I have to have my boat out of the water and standing in line by 3?

3.) Is it normal practice to leave the fish in the live well until the boat is on the trailer and its time to weigh in? Or can I park my boat at the dock out of the way and load my bag from there?

Sorry if some of these questions sound dumb but I can't seem to get myself away from fishing on a Saturday to watch a local weigh-in to see what people normally do.

Thanks for the help!

[BrianinMD]

1. That is up to the tourney director, personally I have not seen this be an issue before. Just be prepared to have your livewells checked before the tourney starts

2. Are you sure they are weighing in out of the water, most tourney's just use the weigh bags to carry your fish to where the scales are.

3. Odds are you can leave it in the water, and take your fish from there.

 

The caveat to my answers are these are from my experience, no one on here can give you a definite answer like the tourney director can. I suggest giving them a call to be sure.

[ww2farmer]

As someone who runs tournaments, I will give you my take on each of your questions. Be mindful that other tournament directors might do things differently.

#1... I don't care where your boat came from, it could have been dropped on the water via helicopter..... Once you've signed up, your livewell gets checked and you start from the same place as everyone else that's in the tournament.

#2...... If the tournament I am running ends at 3pm (or whatever time really) that means you better be back in the staging/launch area with your rods down by 3. That's been the way it is at other people's tournaments I go to as well. The protocol is usually be back by the set time, then get in line.

#3..... As long as the fish come to the scales in a proper, timely fashion, I don't care if you put the boat on the trailer before you bring them to me, or or you stay on the water. But... Be mindful of the situation. If it's a hot day and 10 guys are waiting in line.... I hate that. I would rather the fish go from the livewell to the bag, to the scale and back into the water quickly... But that's just me.

[Bassintheweeds]

 i wouldnt take the answer from us, get in contact with the tournament director for 100% verification.

[dragulagto]

Thanks for the responses! I appreciate any info!

Normally I would ask the "director" but this is a small local charity tournament and the people that are putting it on don't really have much experience. I should probably leave it at that.

I probably wouldn't get involved normally but they've asked for my participation and I'm happy to help out since its raising money for charity. I generally prefer to fish at my own schedule which doesn't normally start with waking up at 4am. Lol!

I just wanted to kind of hear what is common practice so I wouldn't step too far outside of normal procedures.