If you don't fish tournaments, why do you fish for bass?

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

To be fair, it is being an opportunist, but it's also a way to spend time with my son who has picked up the sport more seriously the last couple of years.

I can’t fish with my grandsons enough. We have a great time. While out on the water and that stop to the diner on the way home. 

[casts_by_fly]

I’m an opportunist but primarily fish bass. Growing up we fished bass most of the year, trout in the spring a little or at the cabin, carp at the local ponds on a summer afternoon, and I’d Wade the creeks with worms for whatever swam up it that spring (usually carp and drum). But it was primarily bass because that’s what my dad liked.  Everything else was just for variety. We fished tournaments for a couple years when I was pretty young (club tournaments).  We stopped that after a couple years.  I went through a period where I only fly fished. I had a time when I lived near Cleveland and I fished over 250 days that year, mostly for steelhead. I lived in England for 12 years so fished for grayling, carp, and whatever else was around. Now a days I bass fish all but a couple of my trips each year. I’ll throw in a couple trips to the trout creek, a day or two taking a kid for bluegills, and I’ll do a couple hours of crappie fishing in the spring. But it’s bass I fish for the most despite having lakes around with every manner of fish in them to a decent degree  and the bass fishing being just okay here. 
 

why bass?  Compared to the others I like the puzzle, I like the fight, they are what I know maybe the best (trout would be close), I can fish from the boat (there is minimal shore access here), it’s active fishing (not chunk and wait), etc. all things noted above.  Why not tournaments?  I’m a really competitive person. I really have to win. That’s not what I want from fishing. When I’m fishing, I want to go when and where I want.  I want to start when I see fit (often well before dark).  I want to be able to sit down and take a break without feeling like I’m wasting precious time. If I just want to chuck and crank that day, even if it’s not producing well so be it. That’s not going to fly in a tournament. 

[Junk Fisherman]

I fish for bass because it's all I really know.  It's what I did with my dad as a kid growing up and I just continued on when I became an adult.  When I was in my 20s I thought I was going to move up and fish bigger and bigger tournaments until I realized I didn't want to spend the time and money to be competitive.  After being a low participation bass club guy for years I took a couple years off and missed it.  I didn't miss the crowded ramps and fishing busy waters on tournament day but rather everything else that went along with it- the preparation, the planning, the travel tournaments, the meetings, working fishing shows and talking fishing, ect. ect.  A couple months ago I rejoined my club and plan to fish everything next season.  And I'm not doing it for the tournaments as much as just wanting to be part of something fishing related.  

[crypt]

all of the above.....plus it's who and what I am.....also if I can't fish I will lose my mind....that's what my wife tells me...and I listen to her, she's smart.....she married me.....LOL......

[king fisher]

Because I can.  If I was a mountain climber, I would climb mountains, if I could play a guitar I would be a musician, if I could hit home runs, I would be a baseball player.  I can't do any of those things, so I am a bass fisherman, therefore I fish for bass and I wouldn't want it any other way.

[Susky River Rat]

Because musky suck. 

[geo g]

As a life long bass fisherman this question really confuses me.  For 17 years I played football competitively.  Then for 40 years I coached in high school and college.  I have had a life of completion and fishing was always my form of relaxation and tranquility..  As soon as I make that first cast the tension from the week were gone.   The tranquility of nature, and figuring out a pattern for that day, and that hour were the only thing on my mind.  Since I have retired I now get to fish six days a week and it still does the same job. It is so much cheaper than a therapist!   I would never bring competition into my fishing world.   I respect the guys that do, but it is not for me!

[WRB]

I fished tournaments because I fished for bass. You enter a tournament be it bass or any sport because you want to compete and test your skills against others.

Not everyone is a competitor but I am and always was, it’s in my genes.

I fished Tuna, Marlin tournaments and fresh water bass tournaments in the same year.

World Record Bass was my goal most of my life because I wanted to catch the biggest bass not because of fame or fortune but because I thought it could be done.

Tom

[Darren.]

It is just a lot of fun to go after a sport fish that can get big

in size - and is a treasured catch for so many. I don't like the

tournament scene much, anymore than I would try the disc

golf tournament scene, or mountain biking. I just prefer the 

enjoyment w/o stress of competition with others. Needing to

one-up everybody else - for me - is not much of a good time.

 

Just my .02...or .01. Other species are great, and can be a lot

of fun. I am spending time with my sons who love to do the

saltwater thing. There are *so* many species out there and

just wetting a line, feeling the pull of a fish on the other end

and guessing what it is, to me, is part of the enjoyment.

 

I fish because it is fun, challenging, and enjoyable.

[Craig P]

When I bought a boat, I had no target species, I just wanted to go fishing……and then the addiction happened.

 

I love what I’ve learned in this journey….not a big fan of YouTubers pushing products LOL. My wallet has hated that portion but I’ve learned to not believe everything you hear and see which leads me to my closing thoughts. 
 

Every day bass fishing can be what you want. Chase numbers, chase big ones, fish on top, bottom or in-between. So many choices to make every day fun and educational.

[Swamp Girl]

26 minutes ago, WRB said:

World Record Bass was my goal most of my life because I wanted to catch the biggest bass not because of fame or fortune but because I thought it could be done.

 

And you almost did:

 

5 top LMB in lbs; 17.4 & 18.6 Casitas, 17.4, 17.6 & 19.3 Castiac.

 

1 minute ago, Craig P said:

Chase numbers, chase big ones

 

I do this too. I have quantity days and quality days.

[gim]

I don't have what it takes to be a tournament bass angler.  I'm a competitive person but I already know I'd get my butt whipped.  I'm only good at a few presentations and I generally stick to waters I'm more familiar with.  Those combinations are not a recipe for success fishing in bass tournaments.

 

I used to think that being a pro bass angler was a dream job when I was younger too.  Boy was I wrong about that.

[crzy50]

I fish because I love it and bass are fun to catch. 

[Pat Brown]

Reasons 😀

 

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Reasons 😀

 

 Thank You.

Somebody had to do it !

A-Jay

[king fisher]

When I was a kid, I fished for anything that would bite a worm under a bobber.  Then I discovered bass fishing and met the Bait Monkey at the same time.  As I grew older I started fly fishing for trout, and continued to fish for many species of fish, but still considered myself a bass fisherman.

 

I moved to Alaska when I was 25 and started guiding for trout and salmon.  I loved the AK wilderness, and became skilled at catching All of the species of fish, where I resided.  Even though there are no bass in AK I hadn't fished for them in over 30 years, and it makes zero sense, I still considered myself first and foremost a bass fisherman.  I continued to read articles on bass fishing and every new lure that came out while I tried to think of a way it would work in my old childhood bass fishing holes.

 

When I moved to Mexico I became a saltwater angler, for a living.  I do enjoy catching many species of saltwater fish, and like my fishing in Alaska, I am far more skilled at fishing for fish in the Mexican saltwater than I am at bass fishing.  I spent many years in Mexico,befoer had an opportunity to catch a bass, but I always considered bass my favorite sport fish.

 

A few years ago I got the opportunity to go bass fishing again.  The passion returned with the first cast, along with my friendship with the Bait Monkey.  Now, other than for work, I rarely fish for anything else.  I wish my skill has improved as much as my tackle collection, but slowly  I am becoming a better bass angler, and so far haven't allowed the Monkey to put me in bankruptcy.

 

I have never fished a bass tournament for two reasons, one I have never had an opportunity, and two for the same reason I don't gamble.  I know I will loose money, so why give money to some one else, when I know the odds are not in my favor.  I do hope to someday go as a co angler simply to have the experience.  I have kept close track of tournament angling for over 40 years and have great respect for all the professional fisherman that have worked so hard and taken the gamble to make their living fishing for bass.

 

The answer to the question of why I bass fish, is really I don't know.  I am better at catching other species, I have to drive many hours to get to a bass lake, when the ocean and great saltwater fishing is only a mile from my house, Most of my life I lived where there isn't even any bass to fish for.  It makes zero sense and I have no logical reason for why I am a bass angler.  I may not know exactly why I bass fish, but when I hook a big bass I know there is nothing else I want to be.  I am a bass fisherman and I am happy.

[MIbassyaker]

I would submit that people who fish in bass tournaments do it because they like catching bass.  It's not that they fish for bass because they like tournaments.

[Catt]

I grew up on the Louisiana/Texas Gulf Coast. I fished from Brownville Texas to Panama City Florida  & out 135 miles. I've fished numerous saltwater tournaments both inshore & offshore. I  worked as Deck Hand & First Mate. 

 

Working on a Charter Fishing Boat someone has to clean all fish, wanna guess who! I got tired of the smell of fish guts, diesel fuel, & even the smell of saltwater.

 

Being a Cajun during the 50s & 60s everything was a food source including bass. 

 

Bass fishing down here for me was a simple choice because they are so plentiful. I got into tournament fishing during the 70s on Toledo Bend & Sam Rayburn. I fished with guys called the Hemphill Gang. 

 

44 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

I would submit that people who fish in bass tournaments do it because they like catching bass.  

 

Exactly 😉

[Columbia Craw]

One of the most incredible anglers I have ever known, never fished a tournament.  Why bass?  I can spend all the money I want to catch a limit or hope I loose count.

[Swamp Girl]

@JHoss, I have also enjoyed this thread because it prompted some backstories, like @king fisher's and @Catt's. @king fisher's is the most persuasive for why an angler prefers bass, for he's caught other species professionally from the Arctic to the subtropical seas, many much larger and stronger than bass, but he still chooses bass on his free days. 

 

As impressive as @Pat Brown's bass are, there are single marlin and tuna whose strength far surpasses the combined strength of every one of Pat's posted bass. The highest leaping bass that ever swam could only dream of equaling the least leap of a mako shark. Bonefish and wahoo make bass seem pokey. And so on.

 

So, to have an angler with @king fisher's experience say that he prefers bass, well, that makes me say:

 

[Zcoker]

 

I have to admit that after I fish a few bass tournaments it’s hard to get back into regular bass fishing. I always have to say to myself that “Im practicing.” lol

 

When it comes down to it, I’m all in it for the hunt and the fight. Peace and tranquility and all that jazz goes along with it. It’s around me everywhere and the fact that I know it and see it and feel it, that’s all I need about it. The only thing that I’m gonna meditate on is getting that fish. I want something that tries to yank the rod out of my hands. I want something that bumps and bruises and bites back. Over the years I found that with blacktip sharks.

 

They feed right off the local beaches. They’re big and strong pushing 7 feet 150lbs. They spend half the fight out of the water! Best of all, they pump me full of an adrenaline rush like no other, filling that void. The challenge for me was in trying to figure out a way to actually catch them on a light surf rod using only top water poppers. So I did just that.

 

So to answer your questions when I’m not fishing for bass, tournaments or not, why I’m out on the local beaches hunting for these guys!

 

 

 

[Pat Brown]

Ain't no bluefish and marlin in Central NC and saltwater is really hard on fishing gear - but I DO enjoy fishing for redfish and sharks and whatever else bites when I'm at the beach.

 

It's definitely the fact that it requires me to be very good at it that I enjoy it.  Presentation - knowledge of fish habitat - seasonal movements and behaviors etc.  I don't fish to be mindlessly entertained!  I like being mindfully engaged.  Bass fishing is very engaging and the feeling when everything  clicks and you trick a smart giant fish is the best fishing feeling! 😎

[Jigfishn10]

@Zcoker...D@MN SON! SAWEET!

[volzfan59]

I used to fish bass tournaments, got to where I didn’t enjoy it. I fish for bass because I enjoy it.

[Mobasser]

Fishing tournaments is not for everyone. I fished a few many years ago. I was never very good at it. I wasn't good at fishing under pressure.              I like bass fishing because I like to figure things out.  Figure out what they're biting on, patterns, seasonal etc. And, there's always the thrill and excitement of possibly hooking a big one. It's a puzzle. I've been trying to solve the puzzle for a long time.