Looking To Compete In My First Tournament.

[ThatZX14Fella]

Hey guys, my buddy wants me to start competing in tournaments with him and he fishes in the river all the time. I personally don't have a boat or a license so I stick to just going to the pond down the road and don't have much experience in river fishing. I was wondering if it would be possible to even be a decent competitor coming from a pond fishing background.

[Zach Dunham]

If you've fished enough to know the basics of fishing, and you are with someone who knows the river and how to do well, I think you'll be just fine. You will learn really, REALLY fast that way, too.

[ThatZX14Fella]

Thanks man. I go fishing at least once a day for a few hours. I know it's like comparing a NASCAR to a top fuel, but I caught twelve bass in a couple of hours at the pond.

[JLeon77]

You'll be fine, as a co angler( back of the boat)...you just need to throw what is needed in the situation. The guy running the bait has control over everything else.

[slonezp]

You have to get off your butt to get on your feet. If your buddy has confidence in you, than maybe you are better than you think 

[ThatZX14Fella]

The only thing is that I don't think my buddy goes fishing in the river very often. I think he told me that him and his dad competed a few weeks ago and got seventh, but that was with his dad picking the fishing areas. Lol

[Bass XL]

Even if he doesn't compete, that doesn't really matter. You have an opportunity to LEARN and you need to jump on that opportunity! River fishing can be tough (depending what river you're fishing on), so take that for what it is, learn from your situations, and apply the knowledge that you've learned in future situations. There's no reason that you shouldn't go for it, so I say do it!

[ThatZX14Fella]

I plan on doing it, it's just the fact that money is hard to come by when you have no job. Lol I don't have much equipment yet because I just got my first tackle box and haven't been using my dad's tackle anymore. I also need some more rod and reels.

[VAHunter]

To add to what has been posted, you also need the "will" to compete.  I've seen many fishermen come and go in my area.  They think a tournament sounds like fun, then when they come in at the end of a couple of tournaments and see what is weighed in, they lose interest.  Some people simply aren't cut out to compete in tournaments, they are happier to fish for food/fun.  Nothing wrong with that, just know what camp you fall into.

 

Most of the very good tournament fishermen I know are type "A" personalities.  Competition drives them.  I'm not saying they are jack***** or difficult to get along with, and they don't talk trash, but the competition is what motivates them.  Coming out on the short end a few times in a row is more than enough motivation to get them back in the game.

 

There is only one way to find out - enter a tournament and see if it's what you expected.  More important, have fun.  Good luck with whatever you choose.

[ThatZX14Fella]

I don't really care if I come in dead last, fishing isn't really a competition in my eyes but that could be because I've never competed. I'm a competitive person which is why I got so good in motocross, so I have the drive to be the best. It just depends on if I decide whether or not I think of fishing as something competitive after my first tournament.

[Tartan34]

I didn't think I would care about what place I came in when I first start fishing tournaments, but I was dead wrong.  

 

Finished 2nd yesterday (for the 2nd time in 3 events), and I was ticked off!  It was a huge letdown.  Granted, it is really nice to get paid to fish.....but I want to win the darn thing. 

[Lund Explorer]

I don't really care if I come in dead last, fishing isn't really a competition in my eyes but that could be because I've never competed. I'm a competitive person which is why I got so good in motocross, so I have the drive to be the best. It just depends on if I decide whether or not I think of fishing as something competitive after my first tournament.

 

If the two of you decide to make the jump into tournament fishing, I would suggest you start out fishing in a few "opens" or find a low key club where you can get a taste of what its like without a large financial commitment.

 

Just like any kind of fishing, the biggest key to success is the ability to find quality fish, find the lures that make them bite on the day of the tournament, and see just where your knowledge and skill puts you in the standings.  You'll learn a lot about other fishermen, and more importantly about yourself.  Being humble in victory and gracious in defeat will take you a long ways amongst your peers, and it will give you the chance to make many new friends.  Unless you are good enough to turn pro, the key to a good weekend warrior has just as much to do with attitude than what you bring to the scales.

 

Good luck and have fun.

[CDMeyer]

My first two tournaments I took dead last (with my dad) and believe me it ate me up, for someone who wants to  be a pro angler and believe I will it was hard to sallow..... I put in so much work and this a month ago cam back to win the Wisconsin high school state championship.....

If you are looking to start fishing tournaments I would try the FLW BFL go to there website and check it out, see if there are some around your area, these are great tourneys to start with

[livetofish28]

I started out and placed 5th in my first. Then went on a blanking streak that lasted 4 tourneys including the state championship and the turned it around placing 5th and then first in this past one. The one thing to remember is to keep it simple that is the key 

 

    tight lines

 

     Andrew 

[ToddHager]

I was wondering the same thing! How would I even start in a tournament? I see a lot of opens in my area (Ravenna Ohio), But they don't say how to join the tournaments. I am awaiting an email from some of the links I have seen on here. But do you have to be a member of a club? I am a member of an organisation. But most of there tournaments are to pricey for me " a person just starting out ".