I'm going to be participating in my first tournament in a couple weeks - any tips?

[JFlynn97]

I have only been fishing for several years and in a couple of weeks I'll most likely be participating in a little for-fun tournament with my university's bass fishing team and another club. The president of the team told me it's a buddy tournament with maybe 10-12 boats, and I'll be paired up with a guy from the other club and go out on their boat and I believe it'll be on the upper Chesapeake bay or upper Delaware bay.

 

I can't help but be a little nervous. It's nothing serious, as far as I'm aware there is no cash prize and he said first place might get a little trophy or something. But I'm afraid I won't be any good or I'll make a fool of myself in front of whoever I'm fishing with.

 

Does anyone have any tips or advice for your first (albeit, casual) tourny? Or any general advice?

 

Thanks!

[WRB]

Tournament fishing isn't any different then fun fishing except your time is limited.

Use only tackle and presentations you are comfortable with and catch on.

Go into any tournament with the goal to win, it's a competition to catch bass.

Don't worry or over think what could happen and focus on catching bass.

Tom

[Angry John]

Don't bring a huge mess of tackle and or rods.  The standard for coanglers is 5.  Have your setups ready to go with your confidence lures already rigged and ready to go.  Make sure your setups can be fished at a range of speeds as you have no idea of your boaters pace.  A crank bait is great for this.  

[Logan S]

Tournaments always add that little edge to things and that's part of the fun IMO. 

 

Just have fun, sounds like that's the main point of the particular event you're fishing anyway.  Don't worry about bombing, you probably won't...But even if you do, it happens to everyone eventually - Even the best pros will have rough days occasionally.  

 

As for tips for a new co-angler...Keep it simple, fish the things you're good at, and don't overpack.  

[Mike L]

Don't worry about what your boater is doing unless he's on a distinct pattern. 

Fish your strengths and your water. 

 

Don't press and be ready to Improvise, Overcome and Adapt to any change. 

 

 

Good Luck

 

Mike

[TOXIC]

Since you are new to the tournament scene here are a couple of tips that will make your boater happy.  Even though it's a for fun tournament there are a few things to keep in mind.  

1.  Limit your gear as has been said.

2.  There's an imaginary line half way between the front deck and you.  Don't cast past it.  In other words, your water is from the console back.

3. Be ready to move when your boater is.  If he says "let's move" you should be ready to go in short order.  That's sitting in the passenger seat with your PFD on.

4. Bring your own lucch, sunscreen, drink and PFD.

5.  I won't get into the gas $$ thing but in more formal TX's money does change hands.  You said this is a "fun" tournament so YMMV.  

6.  If you are comfortable doing so, help with launching and retrieving the boat is appreciated.  

7. HAVE FUN!!

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

7. HAVE FUN!!

This is the main thing.

[Catt]

Ya gonna have to change how you acquire targets!

 

2.  There's an imaginary line half way between the front deck and you.  Don't cast past it.  In other words, your water is from the console back.

 

 

This means your targets will be parallel to you & behind you.

[ohboyitsrobby]

Just go fishing and have fun. If you so happen to 0, blame it on the boater. After all you were fishing his spots lol

[scaleface]

Dont get pee on the boat .

[Sam]

Go out there with your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut.

 

Watch the boater and see what he does.

 

Have a good time and make some great memories.

 

Meet the other guys in the tournament and be happy for their results.

 

And read what is penned above and do as they suggest.

 

Let us know how you do.

 

Good luck.

[Basseditor]

Watch your boater. 

 

Hit targets he misses.

 

If he uses a heavier weight (jig, etc.) try weightless. And vice versa. (Unless he is moving too fast for your bait to go down, then go heavier than he is.)

 

Options:

drag a Carolina rig off the back, on deeper side of boat.

 

be prepared to break off lures if you hang up a lot. Boaters hate turning around to get your lure free. But discuss beforehand. He might not mind going back.

 

If he’s catching and he offers some of his baits you don’t have, take him up on it. Offer to pay for the ones you lose.

 

 

[Smalliefan2]

All of the above.

 

Watch what the angler is doing, and file the lesson away for future use. I learn something every time  I fish with someone new. May not be a lot, but it helps someplace down the line.

 

Fish your strengths, and have fun.

 

Good luck.

 

Dean

[JFlynn97]

On 4/25/2018 at 4:33 PM, Angry John said:

Don't bring a huge mess of tackle and or rods.  The standard for coanglers is 5.  Have your setups ready to go with your confidence lures already rigged and ready to go.  Make sure your setups can be fished at a range of speeds as you have no idea of your boaters pace.  A crank bait is great for this.  

I've only got 3 rods I really use for bass fishing so I'm good on that, is like a backpack with 3-4 tackle boxes and an assortment of soft plastics probably okay? Like a box with terminal tackle, a jig box, a box for moving baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits, a box for topwaters, and a couple sandwich bags full of bags of worms, creature baits, swim baits, trailers, etc.? It's sunday morning so I figure I should probably figure all this out.

[Angry John]

Three rods and one small bag is no big deal.  Bring snacks and drinks and offer to boater as a kind gesture.  

[JFlynn97]

Thanks, and thanks to everyone else! I'm still a little nervous but mostly excited!

[scaleface]

When I was a boater fishing with a non boater , they were allowed to cast where-ever they wanted . They were fun tourneys , nothing serious ,  there were no imaginary lines... .We usually took turns getting first cast    at good targets . Twice  handicapped guys won  the tournament from the back of my boat . Both times it was their first tourney. One guy lost his hand at work and had pliers for a hand . We were coming upon a stump where I caught a couple of big bass before and allowed him the first cast . He nailed the cast using a Bagley crankbait . As his lure approached the stump he said I'm snagged . I could see he had a big bass and told him  to take it easy . He fought it like a pro and landed a 6 lber . With the addition of a couple of dinks he took home the trophy .

 

The other guy , who could not move his neck ,  brought one spincast rod n  reel that would not cast over five yards . Right off the bat  I caught a keeper pitching a jig n pig then gave him  one . He sat there in the back of the boat jigged it up and down and caught three keepers for the win .