1st Tournament down, many to go...

[InfantryMP]

Hey Everyone!

 

I have posted about being new to tournaments before, and changing strategies for my first one. I completed my first tournament yesterday on a lake that I had never been to. I am going to give a run down of my experience for the first tournament, and how it went!

 

 

Wake up 3:45am. The lake was an hour and 15 min away or so from the house. The derby started at 7. The issue with this lake is there is no parking lot. You literally have to park on the side of the street, and when those spots are taken, then you cannot park there. So I had to make the haul super early. The club guys are great. They literally backed me in and parked my truck for me. I had a great experience with dropping in and even getting out. 

 

Wind 20-25

Water Temps 51-53 morning 55-56 afternoon

 

First issue: The wind was blowing about 20-25, and the water on the main lake was moving. I know the photo does not really show it, but there were some large white caps. I only have 17" boat. Needless to say, I was very nervous about the water conditions and making a haul to the far north side of the lake about 1.5 miles up against the waves. I quickly found some coves on the south end of the lake, but still had to travel to get there.  I did stop to try to fish an offshore spot, that I saw had what looked like a group of smallmouth, or walleye, but I could not keep my balance enough with the boat rocking back and forth so much. I abandoned that quickly. 

 

Cove #1: I made it to the cove about 20 minutes after launch. My 4th cast, I got my first keeper. The mouth of the cove has tall vegetation that came about 3 ft out of the water. There were a couple of pockets there, and I got one directly out of the pockets skipping a white chatterbait with a paddle tail trailer also white.  That fish was in probably 2 foot of water super early in the morning. 

 

I went 3 hours without a bite and decided to hit up the marina slack water for lunch and a redbull. After eating I decided to fish the boat lifts, etc in the marina while I was there. I am not good at skipping. I could have done it right and where I wanted 1 in about every 3 or 4 casts. Today, I learned some proficiency with it. I spent the next two hours skipping boat lifts. Like literally getting it where I wanted on the first or 2nd try, and eventually it was every cast I was successful where I wanted it. It was a good time, and I learned alot. It also helps when you get bit. On my way out of the marina, I skipped the second to last boat lift (already fished it on the way in), and boat flipped my second largemouth. 

 

Cove #2: Here is where the day took the turn for the worse. I think everyone realized that the main lake water was crazy rough and did not want to mess with it. Everyone came back in to the coves, and basically it was just musical chairs of boats fishing behind each other, next to each other etc. I knew there was no way I was going to catch anything else on the pattern I wanted (white chatterbait under docks boat lifts). When the tournament started I was the only one in this cove area. Everyone seemed to travel north (smallmouth territory). 

 

So, that is really it. Here are the things I have figured out:

1. If you are thinking about getting in to tournaments just do it. Take the plunge as I did. It was fun!

2. Tournaments make you get better- ie the skipping under boat lifts. I feel like I am a lot better now because I had to be. 

3. Wear your safety gear. I wore my PFD almost all day. Took it off in the afternoon in the coves with slack water.

4. Be prepared to lose / break lures or equipment. I lost two chatterbaits, and it was worth it to me for the experience. I also snapped a rod on the ultrex head

5. When the plan goes to crap, just go fishing, you will be surprised on how much that works. 

6. The last thing and the most important besides safety. There are guys out there that do tournament all the time, and are very good at what they do. Do not expect to go in and start topping those guys. It could happen for sure, but I wouldn't expect it the first time or two. Once I was out there I just wanted to do well, and by do well I mean, catch a few and see what happens. Do not let the big rigs (New Boats decked out) fluster you. They are great machines of course, but again they do not catch the fish. 

 

Results:

 

I placed 8th out of 20 with about 4lbs ish

I only caught two, but I only had two bites all day.

We had quite a few who did not catch anything all day.

[Miabucman]

Congrats on the first tourney!  Great attitude and I am glad that you caught fish.  It is always nice to weight on fish.  Hopefully the weather is nicer next time!

[EWREX]

congrats on your first tournament and catching a few keepers. it ain't always that glorious!

[Choporoz]

2 hours ago, InfantryMP said:

I only caught two, but I only had two bites all day.

This is almost as important as anything else you did ....besides safety and a good attitude.   One of my top goals each tourny day is to fish clean.....I'm working on the PMA, but the reality is that missed/lost fish can start a nasty downward spiral on tournament day

[InfantryMP]

8 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

This is almost as important as anything else you did ....besides safety and a good attitude.   One of my top goals each tourny day is to fish clean.....I'm working on the PMA, but the reality is that missed/lost fish can start a nasty downward spiral on tournament day

Yes, fishing efficiently and effectively is crucial. I heard a bunch of stories at the tournament of losing "bigs". Safety is always paramount for me now. In my earlier years, not so much, but now it is a requirement for me. 

[GaryH]

Great write up MP. Glad to hear you had a positive experience on your first tournament. Great job. ?

 

 

[BassNJake]

Yeah thats awesome!!

You seemed to catch on to quite a bit for the first event.

Losing baits are part of the game, especially when skipping under docks. 

 

Cant wait to hear about the second event!!

 

 

 

[Mike L]

Great Job!!

 

 

 

 

Mike

[InfantryMP]

3 hours ago, BassNJake said:

Yeah thats awesome!!

You seemed to catch on to quite a bit for the first event.

Losing baits are part of the game, especially when skipping under docks. 

 

Cant wait to hear about the second event!!

 

 

 

The second event is coming the 16th of May. It may be a cool series to do...”the newb to bass tournaments”.

 

The experienced folks probably won’t care but some of the other guys like me who haven’t done it before may be interested. 
 

I don’t film anything but I do have two go pros.