Brnnoser6983 Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 After reading a post on one of the main forms about fishing with a pro got me thinking. Would it be beneficial for me to join a club to work with someone, watch and learning, while doing what I enjoy. If so, what steps do I take? What do I need to know? What is the average cost of joining? Would anyone care to give some advice? Quote
Super User Scott F Posted January 7, 2015 Super User Posted January 7, 2015 Are you looking for a tournament club or a fishing club? Quote
Brnnoser6983 Posted January 7, 2015 Author Posted January 7, 2015 It's hard to say. I think I should crawl before I run, but if someone knew what kind of a partner they are getting I would tourney. It's not that I just picked up a rod yesterday, but I do want to refine my skills. Personal opinions on what is best. Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted January 8, 2015 Super User Posted January 8, 2015 Short answer, yes. Longer answer, getting into a local club and fishing in their tourney's is a great option. I started fishing in one a couple years ago, I had never been in a bass boat before. I was looking to improve my skills, meet some other fishing people, and I always enjoy a good competition. The experience has been great, and I have learned a lot. Can now pick up a couple wins, in the coangler ranks, each year. Personally, well obviously from the above, I would choose the local club over starting immediately with the larger tourney circuit. Give yourself a chance to how it works, gain some experience, and there is no better teacher than the experience of fishing with different people. As far as steps to take, post something in the part of the forums here for your area of the country and do a google search for clubs in your area. Check them out for scheduling, rules, and stop into a meeting to talk with them. One thing I would look for, if possible, is a club where co's fish against other co's, boaters fish against boaters. Makes it a little easier to learn and a little more fair. Cost will vary, currently my club is $60 a year with 1 day tourneys $30 and 2 day tourneys are $40. I am sure others will chime in with their thoughts too, feel free to PM me if you have anything you want to ask about my experiences. Quote
Brnnoser6983 Posted January 8, 2015 Author Posted January 8, 2015 In a team you don't combine? Or you weigh separate? I looked under the local list for Minnesota and seen a couple of clubs in the area. So I will start looking there a little more. Quote
cyclops2 Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Unless you are a nut case ? A GOOD group of people enjoying what you enjoy ? Will make your fishing more enjoyable. Keep trying all local clubs. Good luck. Took me 5 years to find a GRAND radio controlled airplane club......... WAAAHOOO........ Outings & meets. Life is a lot better. Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted January 8, 2015 Super User Posted January 8, 2015 We have one team tourney a year, best 5 per boat. All others tourneys the boater and coangler weigh their 5 best seperately. Finishing order and money payouts are fully seperated. Just makes it fair, you don't have to fish in the back of the boat and compete against those fishing from the front have first and best shots at targets. Quote
Super User Scott F Posted January 8, 2015 Super User Posted January 8, 2015 I know next to nothing about tournament clubs but I have been a member of a few fishing clubs over the last 25 years. IF you actively participate, it can be the best thing for your fishing you could ever do. A club that is active, that is has regular meeting and outings will give you the opportunity to fish with a lot of people you would never have met otherwise. Some of these will be very good fisherman that will teach you, first hand, how to catch more fish. Some will be beginners that you will help. Some of these may become your best friends. If you like to fish, want to fish more and catch more fish, join a (good) club. Quote
Brnnoser6983 Posted January 8, 2015 Author Posted January 8, 2015 I think for what I am looking for I probably want a club, and thank you so far for everyone breaking it down. I think it's not about the competition, but the learning experience. And sure I might get that from a tournament, but I think I would get more out of it from a club. Any other insights? Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 8, 2015 Global Moderator Posted January 8, 2015 I learned a lot from fishing in a bass club. I started when I was 16 and thought I knew a lot about bass fishing, man was I wrong! I learned so much in such a short amount of time just by watching what my boater was doing that I was really able to be competitive after just a few tournaments. Ended up winning 2 that year and by the end of the year I was rookie of the year, backseater of the year, and 3rd place overall in the club. 1 Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 8, 2015 Super User Posted January 8, 2015 I learned a lot from fishing in a bass club. I started when I was 16 and thought I knew a lot about bass fishing, man was I wrong! I learned so much in such a short amount of time just by watching what my boater was doing that I was really able to be competitive after just a few tournaments. Ended up winning 2 that year and by the end of the year I was rookie of the year, backseater of the year, and 3rd place overall in the club. WOW! What a great experience that was. Quote
Vrybusy Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Try both. Better to experience it than to sit around later saying "....I wish I would have..."Good luck and have fun! Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 A local club is a great way to meet people and get your feet wet in competitive fishing. How much you'll learn depends on where you're at in the learning curve and the composition of the club membership. Don't sell yourself short all the time. Simply owning a boat doesn't make one an experienced or particularly skilled angler. Sharing is a two way street. I definitely recommend the experience. As for bigger tournaments, I've been tempted a few times, but for what I want to get out of a days fishing, the expense on top of the possibility of being paired with an a__h___ for the day, I've passed up to this point. Lots of guys enjoy it though. Quote
DFrench97 Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Just joined one this year and I'm really enjoying it! Quote
Super User Sam Posted January 9, 2015 Super User Posted January 9, 2015 Look up the Minnesota FLW and B.A.S.S. Federations and send them an email about your search for a club in your geographical area. Some clubs will take nonboaters. You will have to join either association, individually, and pay the dues. Your club dues will include: Your state federation dues. Your cub dues Your club's big fish pot. Fishing with a club will open the Minnesota bass fishing industry to you and you will meet the movers and shakers in your state. You can also expand your tournament fishing by joining with a boater to fish the region and state federation tournaments (if you qualify). Good luck and let us know what you find out after contacting each federation. Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted January 9, 2015 Super User Posted January 9, 2015 There are a lot of clubs that are not FLW or BASS affiliated, if you want to fish larger tourneys those are where to go. But if your goal is to have fun, learn, and a little friendly competition a non-affiliated club is better. Its more about the fishing and the enjoyment of it when you do not have the guys with the illusions of grandeur in the larger tourneys. Quote
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