If you don't fish tournaments, why not?

[Swamp Girl]

If you don't fish tournaments, why not?

 

I have never fished a tournament, so I'm opining from ignorance, but I did a little writing for fishing magazines and I didn't like that because a writer who's assigned an article is under pressure to produce a big fish photo and your guide is pressured too because he wants to be the one who put you on a big fish. 

 

Additionally, when I was in the boat, I was constantly thinking about converting what I was seeing and feeling and doing into words.

 

So, I've imagined tournaments as something similar, with pressure and being distracted by my standing and who was doing what and was their tactic and spot producing fish.

 

I'm happier just paddling along, trying this and that, grateful to catch bass and when I'm not, grateful to simply be on the water. 

 

If you've tried tournaments and quit, why?

 

If you haven't tried them, why not?

 

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

If you don't fish tournaments, why not?

Primarily because most of them use a lie-detector test on the participants....and that pseudo-science has been debunked so many times it's ridiculous.

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

If you haven't tried them, why not?

 

I wouldnt know the first place to go to find one.

I do remember a local tournament on the river a few years ago, but that was just a small local group. And fishing in the river here isnt much competition, since its like fishing in a barrel where everyone is a guaranteed winner. Theres just too much fish (which is not a bad thing at all).

 

And if find a local one at the various lakes i fish, my boat is just a simple 10' Jon, a small hp engine next to a trolling motor. No fish finder. I would be at a big disadvantage, as far as how much gear i can bring, speed i can go, and id have to find fish the old fashioned way.

 

Then for kayak tournaments (again i wouldnt have a clue how to even enter one) are just too weird.

From what i understand a group of people fish different lakes across the state? or country? And just post pictures of the bass. Thats just too odd for me, and seems a bit unfair since i know for a fact i can fish one lake in particular that holds big ones, where a guy fishing 20 minutes away from me might be fishing a lake that is know for having small bass that dont bite often. If all the kayaks where on one lake that might intrigue me if it wasnt too much $ to enter.

 

If i had a better boat, and more money to spend maybe i would try it. But honestly i would get more enjoyment out of spending that money on new gear, and take a few trips across the country and fish for my own fun. To me theres no competition in who can catch the most amount of small bass, i love to challenger myself however. Im always trying to beat my PB, and catch giants in a state that everybody else thinks doesnt have them.

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Primarily because most of them use a lie-detector test on the participants....and that pseudo-science has been debunked so many times it's ridiculous.

Why would this even be needed? Even if it did work, thats ridiculous. Are they trying to make sure you arent a foreign spy or terrorist?

The government even acknowledges they dont work, and are faulty, but they only still use them because they invested heavily in them, and dont want to look stupid. The irony.

[casts_by_fly]

I have no interest in being forced to fish a given body of water on a given day.  I hate fighting with other anglers on the water for a piece of bank or a spot.  I'm also as competitive as anything so winning would be just good enough and anything less would eat at me.  I don't need that level of stress in my life.

[Fishingmickey]

     I've been fishing all my life and I've been fishing Kayak bass tournaments for the last 10+ years.  I have fished several Hobie and BASS national events in that time too.

     I fished a Saltwater tournament for about 30 years. it was a really good excuse to go offshore fishing for three days. It was the Port Aransas outboard fishing tournament "for outboard motors only".

     That outboard only was supposed to level the playing field somewhat.  Covid, Hurricane Harvey and all of the organizers retiring or dying was the demise of that tournament. It was a benefit tournament for the Port Aransas volunteer fire department. $75 dollar entry and free food and beer for the weekend. Trophies for first and second place in numerous species and a serious raffle with great prizes the final night. Always looked forward to seeing the other teams each year.  We were the Good and Lucky fishing time.  I was Good, my partner was Lucky. We had shirts with a hand  on it pointing to the other person. Mine said I'm Good above the hand and below the hand was said he's Lucky.

 

FM

     I've been fishing all my life and I've been fishing Kayak bass tournaments for the last 10+ years.  I have fished several Hobie and BASS national events in that time too.

     I fished a Saltwater tournament for about 30 years. it was a really good excuse to go offshore fishing for three days. It was the Port Aransas outboard fishing tournament "for outboard motors only".

     That outboard only was supposed to level the playing field somewhat.  Covid, Hurricane Harvey and all of the organizers retiring or dying was the demise of that tournament. It was a benefit tournament for the Port Aransas volunteer fire department. $75 dollar entry and free food and beer for the weekend. Trophies for first and second place in numerous species and a serious raffle with great prizes the final night. Always looked forward to seeing the other teams each year.  We were the Good and Lucky fishing team.  I was Good, my partner was Lucky. We had shirts with a hand  on it pointing to the other person. Mine said I'm Good above the hand and below the hand was said he's Lucky.

 

FM

Doooh.... computers.

[Gera]

I'm on personal tournament with myself every time I go fishing.. I give myself prices for a big bag and big fish. 

[Catt]

47 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

If you've tried tournaments and quit, why?

 

Tournaments you have no choice but to go, Toledo Bend & Rayburn will beat you to death. Days I wanna go they tell me it's off limits. 

 

Got tired of that & decided to pick my days.

[Mobasser]

I fished a few tournaments many years ago. I was never really very good at it. I realized that competitive fishing just wasn't my thing. Now, I'm 67, and I like fishing in a slower more relaxing way.

[Motoboss]

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

If you've tried tournaments and quit, why?

 

 

I quit because I wasn’t any good!

Seriously, myself and brother-in-law fished many local tournaments years ago but found,,,, it was expensive. The cost both financial and time were too much of a commitment for us. To be successful it requires a devotion that must be a top priority. 
 

We have more fun fishing when we want or where we want without the stress of competition, and to me the competition just didn’t matter.
 I didn’t care if we caught one or twenty it was about having a god time and having many  other hobbies and responsibilities to commit to another full time job, which is what successful tournament fishing requires.

[Jar11591]

First and foremost, my boat is powered by “pounds of thrust” rather than horsepower. Kind of hard to fish a tourney when your top speed is so slow. 

[WRB]

All during my youth enjoyed competing in serval sports so bass club derbies were another event to compete in.

I liked tournament fishing but thought winning was everything and too driven to enjoy the events.

Gave up fishing tournaments to focus on my goal to catch a world record bass. I could pick when and where to fish and avoid weekend club derbies or local bass tournaments. 
When my son wanted to fish local tournaments we fished charity night events that we both enjoyed without any pressure to win.

Tom

[DogBone_384]

No interest and NO PATIENCE. 
 

 

[TnRiver46]

Why would I? No sense in throwing away money 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I try to stay away from the lake during tournament days.  Too much drama . 

[Tennessee Boy]

3 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

If you've tried tournaments and quit, why?

I fished at the club level for about 10 years in the 90s and really enjoyed it.  It was a very friendly club where everyone competed hard during the tournaments and then helped each other get better between tournaments.  When I moved away I looked for another club like it for a while but never found one.  

 

If you want to be competitive you have to work hard.  I'm not sure I have that much energy at this point in my life but might consider another club if I found the right one.  

[Reel]

Yes, I fished tournaments.  I was pretty good at it.  I was in the top 10% most of the time.  I didn't quit I just stopped because of age.  If you do it right, it takes a lot of energy.  It's great for learning.  It forces you to fish in ways you would not normally do.  It's not relaxing!!! It's challenging and I like that.

[Bankbeater]

The cost, and I've discovered over the years that I like fishing by myself, where and when I want to fish.

[rboat]

I fished a couple small club tournaments when I was younger. It just had too many negatives for me.

 

1. turned fun into work

2. had to be out all day with no breaks

3. hated seeing bass kept in a live well all day, shoved into a plastic bag, weighed and hopefully released still kicking.

4. had to fish where and at what speed the boater wanted.

5. had to go even in questionable weather.

 

[LonnieP]

Never fished tournaments and never will. Fishing can be stressful enough some days and I don’t need the extra stress of competition. Plus I like being alone on the water whenever I can help it.

[woolleyfooley]

Didn’t we just do this?

[Motoboss]

Different thread, different day 😁

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

Didn’t we just do this?

I thought the same thing!!! Haha

[Johnbt]

Never fished one. It's been 40 or 45 years since I got interested in largemouth fishing, so I guess I never will fish a tournamet.

The guy who taught me to bass fish for big fish used to fish tournaments and after a few years even he got tired of it.

Fishing is relaxing.

Tournaments aren't.

Ever see a guy in tournament sitting there watching a bald eagle dive for fish? Or watch a great blue heron stalk a fish? Me either.

 

We decided to concentrate on catching big bass and fishing where we wanted and when we wanted.

[Glaucus]

15 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Primarily because most of them use a lie-detector test on the participants....and that pseudo-science has been debunked so many times it's ridiculous.

I literally don't lie or cheat and I would fail a lie detector test 100/100 times for a variety of reasons. This is garbage science that's inadmissible in court and should never be used anywhere outside of The Steve Wilkos Show. My anxiety would destroy me instantly. So dumb.

 

15 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

If you don't fish tournaments, why not?

 

I have never fished a tournament, so I'm opining from ignorance, but I did a little writing for fishing magazines and I didn't like that because a writer who's assigned an article is under pressure to produce a big fish photo and your guide is pressured too because he wants to be the one who put you on a big fish. 

 

Additionally, when I was in the boat, I was constantly thinking about converting what I was seeing and feeling and doing into words.

 

So, I've imagined tournaments as something similar, with pressure and being distracted by my standing and who was doing what and was their tactic and spot producing fish.

 

I'm happier just paddling along, trying this and that, grateful to catch bass and when I'm not, grateful to simply be on the water. 

 

If you've tried tournaments and quit, why?

 

If you haven't tried them, why not?

 

I don't fish tournaments because I tried once and the experience sucked all around. But primarily because tournaments defeat the purpose for me, which is something I immediately found out the first and only time I tried it. I fish for peace.

[scaleface]

I did for a few years, liked it at first but came to realize fishing during the week was a lot more enjoyable.