If you don't fish tournaments, why not?

[the reel ess]

When I was a young guy idolizing Bill and Roland, I thought I wanted to fish tourneys. But I figured out I like to enjoy my time on the water. If I want to fish topwaters all day for 2 bites, by golly that's what I'll do.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I use to fish several a year and even a few local clubs.  Now I fish 1 a year due to time and its just a good time.  Nothing serious.  For the most part all of my trips now are testing baits and fishing with my kids.

[Lottabass]

@Swamp Girl  I started a B.A.S.S. club in the early 70's.  Everybody was in their early stages of learning.  We all had campers and took our families to our "tournaments".  We would share our locations and methods with the goal of everybody learning and catching bass.  Over the years more "gunslingers" joined and their goal was NOT sharing and teaching.  Not my idea of fishing!

[Swamp Girl]

Just now, Lottabass said:

Over the years more "gunslingers" joined and their goal was NOT sharing and teaching.

 

I hear ya. When I took people to northwestern Ontario, not only would I tell you how I was catching bass, but I'd give you the same lure and position the canoe to give you the best casts.

[TnRiver46]

Oh yeah I also forgot, it’s terrifying to ride in a boat at 70 mph, especially when you’re not the one driving. And freezing 

[Lottabass]

@Swamp Girl  Yes, because teaching and sharing give you joy!

[TheSwearingAngler]

My father fished tournament when I was a kid so fishing with him was not fun for me.. it was too serious, too competitive. Too much like work.

 

Which is from 16-41 I didn’t even touch a fishing rod… I got my license and was gone.

 

This will be my 4th season back and I’ve been eyeing kayak tournaments since about the beginning of my return. Unfortunately my competitive nature has prevented me from getting involved. I didn’t want to get involved unless I felt confident my abilities had improved enough to MAYBE be competitive.

 

 That all said the local kayak series is doing a tournament this season on one of the lakes I consider home and I plan on fishing it.

 

Last year, I planned on just showing up on tournament days and fun fishing, keeping track of my results and then comparing them to the results posted online. I didn’t do it, but seems like a possible way to measure yourself against others unofficially without $$$ on the line.

[GRiver]

I went to get into a tournament here on St John’s river. It was for the Boys ranch charity. Places donate tackle and gear, shirts and what not for prizes, plus a cash pot for the top winners. By the time I got the entry fee, insurance on me and my boat, got inspected read all the rules and regulations.
I felt like I was just short of a cavity search, it was turning out not to be as fun as I thought it was going to be, plus expensive. 
So I opted out, I realized it just wasn’t for me.

[bowhunter63]

Wish I did, There are some River Bass tournaments here in Missouri I would love to get into. Local but look like a lot of fun . 

[J Francho]

I already learned I'm better than the rest. No need anymore. 😂

[Functional]

Hard for me to find a tournament (as in I have no idea where to look) and I'm not interested in waking up at 3 in the morning to make it to launch time for the lakes I know hold tournaments.

 

I did try to join a reputable online tournament. They give you challenges and timeframes you can fish and its like the Kayak tournament submission with a board and ID tag. Website wouldn't take my email address to register, reached out to their support and was basically told "oh well"...so that was that. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

Tournaments seem like a pretty long day.  By the time I got a boat, six hours from launching to trailering was a full day.  Some days were a little longer some a little shorter especially when I discovered annual launch passes.  Getting to the launch early to check in and hanging out to see the way in just sounds like too much for me.  

[Swamp Girl]

24 minutes ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

Getting to the launch early to check in and hanging out to see the way in just sounds like too much for me.  

 

I didn't think about this, but now that I do, having watched the anglers waiting for the tournament to begin, that would drive me crazy. When I reach water, I want to fish...immediately. 

[Motoboss]

I did say I fished bass tournaments many, many years ago and quit because of money and time commitments. However, I failed to remember the kayak tournaments I now fish but it’s a much simpler process so don’t really consider them “tournaments “.

 

Typical kayak tournament rules;

top five fish, total length using a measuring board but the caveat is you can fish one 8 hour day any day of the Monday through Sunday period. The body of water is posted for the tournament, you have seven days to go fish for eight hours and submit your top five catches through TourneyX app. Results are posted afterwards with cost at $25 to enter and top three paid out, amount depending on how many entries.
 

Having the luxury to fish any day of the week is awesome and really relieve the “tournament “ pressure. No early mornings deadlines, just go at your own pace. Events are usually every five/six weeks and the locations are within one/one and half hour away. There are like four lake series and two river series to chose from with typically five lake locations in each series and three rivers.

 

The biggest kick of all is they include trolling motor powered canoes along with the kayaks so is perfect for me!

 

[DaubsNU1]

I have never fished tournaments.

 

Buddies fished many walleye tournaments, but they lived on the other side of the state...too long of a drive to join them. And I don't really care to chase "eyes" as they call them.

 

Lots of kayak tournaments around these parts...but I had a boat. Ruled me out.

 

My old boat did not have a live-well, so that ruled me out of many bass tournaments.

 

Now that I have a boat with a live-well...still don't fish tournaments.

 

I supervise a team of eleven, and get to deal with people all week long. When I fish, I often times fish alone, or with my Dad and Brother. When I'm on the water it is time to disconnect, relax, enjoy God's glory, and just be.

[Fairly Reliable]

To me there is no feeling in the world like setting in the middle of 100 bass boats anticipating the day while the sun is not yet rising. Pre-fishing you have selected your spots depending on wind direction and the forecast you decide what spot is first. As you ease off when your number is next you get past the boat in charge and turn her loose and for a second I look at the sky getting on plane and thank God for the opportunity to do what I do.

[Swamp Girl]

31 minutes ago, Fairly Reliable said:

To me there is no feeling in the world like setting in the middle of 100 bass boats anticipating the day while the sun is not yet rising. Pre-fishing you have selected your spots depending on wind direction and the forecast you decide what spot is first. As you ease off when your number is next you get past the boat in charge and turn her loose and for a second I look at the sky getting on plane and thank God for the opportunity to do what I do.

 

If you had looked behind you as you roared away, you'd have seen that I'd attached a rope to your stern cleat and that my canoe was bouncing along in your wake. I was thankful too, for I got to compete without buying gas. I didn't even have to bother with prefishing, for I simply fished near you and you didn't even bother to notice an old woman in a canoe. You didn't actually notice me until I held the trophy aloft.

 

Note: This story is not entirely true.

[MonsterZero]

I fish to relax. Competing is stressful. And I generally prefer to fish alone; having to share limited space with 20, 30, 40 other people? No thanks, I will come back later.

[woolleyfooley]

20 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

If you had looked behind you as you roared away, you'd have seen that I'd attached a rope to your stern cleat and that my canoe was bouncing along in your wake. I was thankful too, for I got to compete without buying gas. I didn't even have to bother with prefishing, for I simply fished near you and you didn't even bother to notice an old woman in a canoe. You didn't actually notice me until I held the trophy aloft.

 

Note: This story is not entirely true.

[detroit1]

For heaven's sakes people, it's just another day on the water fishing. I have been a co-angler 3 times in my life, on St. Clair with a small group of 15 or so boats. I had never been in a fiberglass bass boat before and now i've been in a Bullet and a Ranger. I loved it and would do it  again if they ever brought this little tourney back. Youmight learn something and gain a new friend. Fish your way the other 364 days...

[bassmedic46]

I thought about Tournament fishing years ago but life got in the way. Now it’s to expensive and I prefer to just relax and fish now.

[Cuivre]

I've fished bass boat tournaments, kayak on-site tournaments and monthly kayak fishing challenges where you fish whatever public water you want to get the best length for your best 5 fish.  There is definitely an excitement at the launch of these on-site tournaments-even the road runner kayak tournaments where you can put in at any launch.  I go into these with a healthy mindset- have fun and let the chips fall where they fall.  Getting overly competitive in the fishing tournament scene isn't a big issue for me.  I've been in that ego-driven mindset during my academic and professional careers and proved what I needed to prove there and then.  That is also why I chose to be a 100% privateer WRT my fishing gear- I do not want to chase sponsors or be a member of some "Pro-Staff", and I kind of shake my head at those who judge themselves and each other by those standards.  

 

I've fished benefit tournaments in my bass boat for Fishing for Freedom where I take a wounded veteran out for a day of fishing in a tournament for plaques (no money).  That is very enjoyable and fun.  The kayak fishing club I'm a part of in MO is focused on camaraderie and learning.  We have Experienced, Intermediate and Novice divisions in every tournament in addition to overall pots and Big Bass.  That encourages the less experienced anglers to experience winning some money among their experience level peers.  Our club president has videos on FaceBook talking about tournaments, techniques, processes etc- along with some SWAG hand outs.

 

Basically- you have to find the tournament platform and culture that you like.  I still do most of my fishing in a "me vs the fish" tournament, but I like to dabble in everything, in moderation.  

[J Francho]

The only tournaments I fish anymore are team format, opens that are best 5 combined, and live weigh in. 

[Fairly Reliable]

On 1/30/2025 at 7:38 PM, Swamp Girl said:

 

If you had looked behind you as you roared away, you'd have seen that I'd attached a rope to your stern cleat and that my canoe was bouncing along in your wake. I was thankful too, for I got to compete without buying gas. I didn't even have to bother with prefishing, for I simply fished near you and you didn't even bother to notice an old woman in a canoe. You didn't actually notice me until I held the trophy aloft.

 

Note: This story is not entirely true.

Dear Old Woman, you might be a looker, so here is a poem from a seasoned hooker.

I fished off of sand I've fished off of docks I've fished from canoes but I'll tell you what rocks.

Pulling canoes at 70 is fun with and ice cold beer in the summer sun.

When I brought her off plane I checked to see if you were there

But all I seen was a shaking old lady with messed up hair.

[Lottabass]

@Fairly Reliable  This is funny!  I'm still chuckling!  I hope @Swamp Girl finds it funny too!