My First Tournament

[DILLY07]

Hello Bass Resource,

 

I recently got back from Lake Okoboji, Iowa up north. Its about 10 miles away from Minnesota border. I have to say this place is a beautiful fishery in Iowa. I was there since May 7th from May 11th. I practiced May 7th locating fish. It was somewhat rough one Day one practice. I finally found some fish under the docks on East Okoboji on the Upper Gar right by the canal. Using Bluegill alike swim jig. Rolling into the weeds but non keepers.  Day 2 practice, one keeper, on West side Okoboji in clear water. You can see 10 to 20 ft down. I've never NEVER fished in this kind of water. It was very rough for me. Day 3 - Official practice for Iowa Bass Nation. No fish at all. 

 

I go back to the cabin and thinking what stuff I should use and have confidence in.

Day One Tournament- I was in 1st flight boat number 13. Took off at 6:10 No fish from 6:30 to about 1:00. I see the clock it says 1:15, Im like No fish in the live well or no bag. so I sit down for several minutes thinking over. My mind clicked, Hauling over to East side of the lake since Im a river rat and has the color of the water. I go to the spot, I look at my cellular phone and time says 1:35. I took a deep breath and tied on swim jig in Electric Purple with Green Chrome flakes on it. Skipped it under docks nothing for good 10 mins. Then, I go over to other spot that is full of docks, skipped it, let it sink for good minute, twitched it, let it swim very slowly through the healthy grass or weeds. I see my line going to the right, so I start thinking HOOK SET it. So I hooked the fish, Got into excitement, felt very good fish, fought hard. I tried to reel into the boat,Pick it up to the boat all the sudden! LINE SNAP! It was a keeper. Lost the fish. So Day One was no good. Very rough day. But hey first tournament ever.

 

Weighed no fish. I felt good cause a lot of people didn't get no fish. Leading weigh was 11 and some ounces.

 

I go back to the cabin, re-line all of my rods and everything.

 

Day Two Tournament- I was in 2nd flight. Took off at 6:30. I had a huge confidence in my wacky rig weightless, skipping under docks on West Okoboji in somewhat clear with stained water. Shallow water up to 4 ft in the canals, got my 1st 14 incher at 7:50 but no keeper. Has to be 15 inch. 3 fish bag. Lake rules. then next dock, got my 2nd fish at 8. No keeper yet. In my mind theres got to be keepers in here. 3rd fish at 8:15, no keeper. then bite died. Went to different area and got to the spot at 8:45 in clear water skipping under docks, got 4th fish at 8:50. Length was 14.5. I was so close. Got numerous of fish 14's. Then I decided to go to the spot that was 10 ft deep threw Lake Fork Tube Craw with 3/8 oz bullet weight. Cast it out there so far as I could, twitch into the grass then bam I got 14.75. No keeper. I took my biggest deep breath. Cast it out far as I could again. Let it sink, twitch it again. I see my line going left. Set the hook as hard I could. Got the 4 pound 22 ounce 18 inch Largie, That thing fought so hard. I let a great yell. Culled the 18 incher into the livewell. The rest the day goes on, No keepers. I only culled one keeper but oh well. I got on the board like other people did. I felt better that I caught fish. I see the clock at 2:15. So I hauled back across the lake into the canals. I got back at 2:45. Weighed the fish 4.22. I felt okay for first tournament ever. What a relief. I go to the weigh in at the hotel Arrowhead. I got 2nd place for Big Bass. The 1st place Big Bass was a whooping 5.22. I was like WHAT! 

 

Overall, an amazing experience that I ever had.

 

More tournaments to come.

[ColdSVT]

Always a good time!!!!

Oh and you meant say kept not culled...if you had three fish onboard you then could have culled...its all good mang. You had fun and i bet you learned a lot too

Still got a month wait here in PA for my first tourny of the year

[Oregon Native]

Sweet

[Zach Dunham]

Good start! Hopefully plenty more to come.

[McAlpine]

Fishing tournaments be they local after work with a boat count you can add up on one hand or a club deal with 20,30,40 boats or a big money draw....

 

Always that same pressure, that feeling of wanting to perform, the pressure when it's not working, the glee when you bring in a keeper.

 

Watching the clock.

 

Are you in the right place, are you doing the right thing?

 

The funny thing is you never really know until weigh in.  I have been stunned some days to see that everyone else had a stinker when it felt like we were doing the wrong thing.  I have been stunned on those days we only catch a few but come in to find out everyone else couldn't find them and end up coming in the money.  I have been stunned on those days I thought we did well only to come in to 20-30lb stringers and slink away with our hard earned 10lb.

 

Best thing you can do is keep all that bad stuff out of your head, do your best and have fun.  It will all be even more enjoyable when you cross that boundry when you realize that at the end of the day the results will be what they will be.

 

Sounds like you had a good time, keep it up!