Do you fish tournaments? (POLL)

[Sam]

Yes.

[NoShoes]

I probably would, but I don’t like to fish the river much where I am where most of the tournaments are. Pretty dangerous place, not a big river by any means and it’s known for tearing up lower units. 
 

that and I’m not that good ??

[PourMyOwn]

I will fish them with a buddy who is really into tournaments about once a year, when his regular partner can't make it-smaller club tournaments mostly.

Let's just say its not a group of guys I enjoy spending time with. I'd rather fish with my father.

[J Francho]

I used to fish them a lot, but it got too expensive/time consuming/didn't do well so I don't anymore.

[Team9nine]

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I used to fish them a lot, but it got too expensive/time consuming/didn't do well so I don't anymore.

 

This ^^

 

Fished them for 30 years. Had thoughts of going pro for a while, but never took the leap. Won a lot of local stuff, cashed a lot of good checks in state level events, and won a boat when I won a regional tourney.  Got tired of the crazy early mornings driving hours to an event, being gone all weekend, the degree that “pro-ness” started to permeate the lowest levels of competition, and finally just walked away about 15 years ago.  Things have only got worse since then from what I see.

[J Francho]

5 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

the degree that “pro-ness”

This stinks.

[Team9nine]

9 minutes ago, J Francho said:

This stinks.

 

...but yes, it does. Has driven up the time and money necessary to compete without a resulting increase in payouts on the local and state level for the most part.  Not worth the time or effort until you reach the National level these days, with a few rare exceptions. The rise in technology has really been a bad thing IMHO, also. 

[J Francho]

I diverted revenue from my reel cleaning business into tournament expenses.  I didn't go nearly as far as you, but they were quickly approaching five figures.  Never mind I had two boats, lol.  I didn't really care about winning, and I had fun.  Towards the end, I did get picky about where I'd fish, and only picked places I either wanted to fish or stood a decent chance of winning.  The practice and pre-fishing were the big time burglars, and I feel like I missed a few opportunities to fish with friends simply because I was already booked up.  I did meet a ton of great people through it, though.  I don't really regret it at all.  Given more time, I'd do more, though they'd all be team format these days.  

[fishwizzard]

I did a few kayak tournaments, but the social aspect is the only part I really enjoyed.  It didn't help that 2/3 of the time the weather day-of was not the sort of conditions I enjoy yak fishing in.  

[RichF]

3 hours ago, Team9nine said:

the degree that “pro-ness” started to permeate the lowest levels of competition

This is one of the worst things happening/has happened in the sport.  I can't even count how many non-sponsored, jersey wearing dudes I've smashed out of my little bitty 16ft Tracker.  It seems like it's more important to have your name on your shirt than win....hmmm...lightbulb!  You'll all see me in the Pros soon!

[J Francho]

Make sure your rods and reels are the same brand as your jersey.  Also, make sure you bring extra jerseys for IG pics so you can keep current on your coupon codes, lol.

[Captain Phil]

I started fishing bass tournaments in the early seventies.  My fishing buddy and I wanted to learn to be better fisherman.  We researched all the local bass clubs and joined the best one we could find.  It was one of the first B.A.S.S. affiliated clubs in the State.  They made us "apply" to join their club by fishing a day with one of their members.  This made us both nervous, but we passed their test and became members.   I learned that tournament fishing is not the same as fishing with a buddy.  I learned that having a fancy boat and expensive tackle alone won't make you a winner.   I also learned I wasn't nearly as good as I thought I was.  A few of our competitors became professionals.   One was a well known guide in Okeechobee.  Two others invented bass fishing products and owned tackle companies.  A third started a well know plastic bait company.  We eventually caught up and won our share of tournaments.  I quit fishing tournaments about ten years ago when my body started getting in the way of my wins.

 

I know of no better way to up your game than fishing in a tournament.  You can learn a lot by watching the guy in the front of the boat even if it's what not to do.  Tournament fishing is not for everyone.  If you're going to give tournaments a try, leave your ego at home and let your fish do the talking.  

[J Francho]

9 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

I know of no better way to up your game than fishing in a tournament.

I've seen it happen a lot, especially at the club level.  Absolute n00bz become very skilled in just a season or two.  It's cool to watch it click with them, and see their personal style develop.  Never mind you're out there fishing

[RichF]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Make sure your rods and reels are the same brand as your jersey.  Also, make sure you bring extra jerseys for IG pics so you can keep current on your coupon codes, lol.

I know a guy who put Shimano all over his jersey as his "title" sponsor only to tell all of us at the ramp that his Curado E7's cost him $350 a piece.  I told him if that were the case, he was getting ripped off, lol.

[J Francho]

Well, that was the VIP surcharge.

 

I would pay extra for my tires, and make sure the tires are mounted with the white letters showing.

[Mike L]

Tournament fishing requires a different mind set.
If you just want to have fun, enjoy the weather, watch the birds fly, can’t afford the entry fees or travel expenses or just want to feel the wind in your hair...don’t do it. 
 

If you enjoy competition, want to test yourself, have disposable income, don’t mind standing for 9 hours and make 1,000 casts, make critical decisions on location and equipment to use, have the ability to focus on every variable, etc.etc. 

Then tournament fishing is something you should try. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Junk Fisherman]

I have been in a BASS club for 5 years now but I don't fish that many events.  Our club is geared towards the state championship team and that doesn't really interest me.  Since we have so many events that I'll never make, I just pick a couple Ts that fit in my schedule and are on bodies of water I want to fish.  In the limited number of events I have fished the last couple years, I have done well with a win and a couple second place finishes.  I feel if I committed myself, I could contend for angler of the year.  

 

My dream scenario would be fishing as a coangler in a buddy series with someone better than me.  I'd love to take it more seriously and fish as a team if I had the right partner.  

[Justin Roberts]

I've never fished a tourney, but have made it a goal to change that this year.  I live close to Texas and have pondered joining some Texas trails and make a living doing it.  I often persuade myself that it's possible, now I just need to persuade the wife.

[Bluebasser86]

12 hours ago, RichF said:

This is one of the worst things happening/has happened in the sport.  I can't even count how many non-sponsored, jersey wearing dudes I've smashed out of my little bitty 16ft Tracker.  It seems like it's more important to have your name on your shirt than win....hmmm...lightbulb!  You'll all see me in the Pros soon!

The level of cockiness from a lot of them irritates me to no end. I've been accused of being "afraid", to fish tournaments because I can't hang with them ? . Last time I fished with anyone other than our little weeknight deal, we won, and had a run in with a guy that apparently felt he was supposed to win and didn't like the fact that he didn't. It wasn't enjoyable.

 

Unfortunately, I'm off weekends now and they hold stupid "hotwater shootout", tournaments on the power plant lake I fish all winter. If I'm going to be there anyways, I guess I might as well be in the tournament.

[Fastbee]

I tournament fished heavily for years and was pretty successful.  Started in a small local club when I was 12.  I stopped after getting married and having kids because I didn't feel I could dedicate the time on the water needed to stay competitive in the larger derbies.  I started back last year on a little weeknight wildcat near my house.  I'd have to agree with some others about the level of "pro-ness" that was everywhere.  I didn't know any of the guys I was fishing against and most never even weighed anything in but they all were geared up like they were touring pros or something.  The Facebook page for the tournament was full of these same guys talking about all the other tournaments they fish but when you looked at the results they sucked in all the other ones too!  As different as it's become, I still feel like tournament fishing is an excellent way to improve as an angler.  My decision making and focus were much better with a few bucks on the line (NOTE:  I'm a competitive person by nature, so this might no apply to everyone) and it was nice to have a real time evaluation of what was caught by who not just what some guys at the dock said.  A buddy and I are going to fish a local "open" series on our home lake this year.  Lots of guys I've known for years and some of the better local weekend fishermen frequent this series.  I'm excited to get back to it and hope to have a decent year of competition.  I firmly believe that fishing against/with guys that are better than you make you a better angler.

[lo n slo]

i used to fish some local stuff with a friend of mine here on Lake Norman, mostly annual fund raiser tournaments, as well as, the night time derby’s on Monday and Friday in the summertime. recently i’ve done some wounded warrior tournaments with Operation North State here in NC. i’d love to enter some local stuff with my cousin as my partner but he doesn’t want to “throw his money away”.  he makes me so mad sometimes.

[roadwarrior]

So treat him and throw some more of your money away. I think it might be

worth it and maybe next year he will return the favor.

 

[Bankbeater]

I’ve been in two clubs over the years. The first got too expensive and the second club had too many egos. 
I have a much better time fishing by myself where and when I want. 

[Dxdger30]

I plan of fishing my first ever tournaments this year and be a co angler on the BFL. Going to fish both of the Lake of the Ozark tournaments. Super excited to give this a go... I wish i had a close friend who had a boat so we can do team tournaments, those sound super fun. Having 2 guys on a boat shooting for the same goal instead of worrying about yourself...