Tournament ready?

[Shimano_1]

You will know really quickly if tournament fishing is for you or not. If you're competitive by nature and like to fish I think you'll love it! As these guys have already said...plan on losing all of your entry fee money for a while. Look at it like you're paying for the experience.  Like everything else there will be a learning curve. Just fished a local tournament today and a father and son that won the last one 2 weeks ago....won again today...fishing from a tracker grizzly with a 25 hp motor and hand operated trolling motor. Kinda made me smile when I looked around at all the high dollar boats etc and watched them win again lol. Sounds like you're going into it open minded and eager to experience it! Have fun and remember it's still just fishing! 

[InfantryMP]

16 hours ago, Shimano_1 said:

You will know really quickly if tournament fishing is for you or not. If you're competitive by nature and like to fish I think you'll love it! As these guys have already said...plan on losing all of your entry fee money for a while. Look at it like you're paying for the experience.  Like everything else there will be a learning curve. Just fished a local tournament today and a father and son that won the last one 2 weeks ago....won again today...fishing from a tracker grizzly with a 25 hp motor and hand operated trolling motor. Kinda made me smile when I looked around at all the high dollar boats etc and watched them win again lol. Sounds like you're going into it open minded and eager to experience it! Have fun and remember it's still just fishing! 

yea I am definitely goin in open minded. I want to do well and I have a lot of fishing experience on new lakes etc. 

 

I think my main worry for this all was not with the fishing but everything else. Like dropping in and then what? Go beach some where or just wait around until I am allowed to leave? That experience I do not have.
 

Stuff like that I was more worried about. I am not worried about entry fee money. I more than likely will be doing 1 tournament a month 2 at the most. 

[Captain Phil]

I have been fishing bass tournaments since the late sixties.  Here's my advice. Unless you need to run great distances to fish, your boat is not a factor in how well you do.  As long as it's reliable, comfortable and has a good trolling motor, you will be fine. Don't think that because someone has an 80 mph wrapped boat with a huge motor with every attachment, you can't out fish them.  A great angler can beat most tournament competitors fishing off the bank at the ramp.  Start off by joining a bass club.  Find the best club you can.  The more competitive the better.  Keep your mouth shut and don't let your feelings get hurt.  The big mouths won't give you much respect. Let your fish do the talking.  Go non boater at first.  If you are lucky, you will be drawn out with one of the club leaders.  Watch and learn from them.

 

After you learn the ropes, you can venture into local team tournaments.  Some of them pay pretty well.  Expecting to make back your expenses from tournament winnings is unrealistic.  Pro anglers need sponsors.  Fishing for and catching sponsors is a lot harder than bass.  When I was guiding, I used my fees and my time on the water to support my tournament fishing.  Guiding by itself is a hard life with horrible pay.  Keep in mind you will be fishing against anglers who have a tremendous advantage over you.  They can spend countless hours scouting a lake.  I occasionally prefished 30-40 hours for a club tournament.  Could you do that?  

 

Tournament fishing is different than fun fishing.  When I was totally immersed, I didn't think about anything else.  It's very easy to forget about your wife, girl friend or family.  Leaving them home weekend after weekend is not good for them.  One night, you may call home a 2 AM and get no answer....

 

If your dream is to make a career from bass fishing, it will help if your family left you a big trust.  I was fortunate in that I had a successful well run business supporting me. 

[slonezp]

The more money involved, the more drama involved.

[InfantryMP]

On 3/14/2021 at 4:58 PM, Captain Phil said:

it will help if your family left you a big trust.

 

No trust here. I also do not plan on going "pro". I think this is just something for me to do competitively as I get older. I am a disabled Vet, so there are some thing that my body does not allow me to do anymore without regretting it for a few months. 

 

I think this will be a good way to scratch that competitive itch. I have joined a club as previously mentioned, so I will start there.  

13 hours ago, slonezp said:

The more money involved, the more drama involved.

 

I like drama free, but I get how easily this could happen.

[Captain Phil]

Fishing tournaments adds another dimension to bass fishing.  It's like a sport in a sport. As you progress, tournament fishing will make you a better fisherman.  You will have a chance to gauge your level of success with those of other anglers. You will learn new techniques. You will learn to catch bass that you would never dream of catching before.  You will travel, make new friends and have great adventures.  You will also make a few enemies and have some bad days.  

 

You should read Tom Mann's book "Think like a fish". I think you would enjoy it.  Tom quit fishing tournaments went he got older as he couldn't fish at the same level and his ego was hurt.  There will always be some young hot shot looking to knock you off.  They will have youth and enthusiasm on their side. You will have knowledge and experience.  Give it a try.