Tournamet Rod Selection

[FishingPirate]

I am gong to fish tournaments a little more frequently this year and have to ask a question: as a non-boater, limited to 5 or 6 rods, what kind of variety would you carry? I know that there are a lot of variables but this is just in general.

[dmac14]

I am also going as a non boater this year. My plan is to talk to my boater prior to the tournament and see what his plans are. If I am unable to do that I will probably take four rods.

1. 7ft Heavy with fast action, and a baitcast reel with 30# braid. this will be good for light flippin' and pitchin' as well as frogs and a few other things

2. 7ft Medium/Heavy with fast action, and baitcast reel with 12# mono, good all around rod for most applications.

3. 6'6" Medium Heavy fast action, baitcast reel with 17# mono for topwater and spinnerbaits.

4. 7ft medium, Spinning reel with 6# fluoro and extra spool with 10# fluoro. Used for dropshotting or weightless worms.

That way every technique can be used and i don't have too many rods, also different styles of line to help work the situation better.

[SWMIBASSER]

Two 7ft MH Crankin' rods.

A 7ft Drop shot rod

7ft shakey head rod

7ft tube/wacky rod

7'6 MH Jig/pitching rod

6'6" MH Falcon Lowrider Jerkbait rod (yes I was more specific with that one on purpose )

7ft MH rod for various plastics.

7ft H rod for swim baits.

Taking into account where you are fishing, bring any rod you think you might need. Talk to your boater before hand and narrow it even further.

In my mind you would never need any more rods than that.

[skunked_again]

Two 7ft MH Crankin' rods.

A 7ft Drop shot rod

7ft shakey head rod

7ft tube/wacky rod

7'6 MH Jig/pitching rod

6'6" MH Falcon Lowrider Jerkbait rod (yes I was more specific with that one on purpose )

7ft MH rod for various plastics.

7ft H rod for swim baits.

Taking into account where you are fishing, bring any rod you think you might need. Talk to your boater before hand and narrow it even further.

In my mind you would never need any more rods than that.

youd be non-boating from the dock trying to bring 9 rods as a non-boater in my boat.......................lol.

id do 1 top water rod, 1 mid-depth rod, and 2 bottom feeders

[burleytog]

It all depends on who you draw and what lake you're fishing.

Cherokee - crankbait, jerkbait, carolina rig, spinnerbait

South Holston - dynamite

Watauga - dynamite or spinnerbait/buzzbait

Ft Pat - you already know

Boone - ask Jon

Douglas - worm, jig, crankbait

When I go as a non-boater, I try to take five or six rigs.  Of that, I usually end up using two or three.

[Bassn Blvd]

4-5 rods should do it.  

Worm rod.

Crankbait rod.

Top water/spinnerbait rod.

Fluke rod.

My tournament partner occupies the back of my boat and he brings I swear 7-8 rods every frickin trip. Not to mention his Sampsonite suitcase full of tackle.  Sometimes I make him leave a couple rods in the truck but if he wasn't my friend then he would be leaving all but 4 or 5.

[skunked_again]

4-5 rods should do it.

Worm rod.

Crankbait rod.

Top water/spinnerbait rod.

Fluke rod.

My tournament partner occupies the back of my boat and he brings I swear 7-8 rods every frickin trip. Not to mention his Sampsonite suitcase full of tackle. Sometimes I make him leave a couple rods in the truck but if he wasn't my friend then he would be leaving all but 4 or 5.

the old club i was in it was always a trade-off. the non-boater either had more gear than i did or wanted to step on to my boat and tell me where, when, and how we were fishing all day.

[SWMIBASSER]

Two 7ft MH Crankin' rods.

A 7ft Drop shot rod

7ft shakey head rod

7ft tube/wacky rod

7'6 MH Jig/pitching rod

6'6" MH Falcon Lowrider Jerkbait rod (yes I was more specific with that one on purpose )

7ft MH rod for various plastics.

7ft H rod for swim baits.

Taking into account where you are fishing, bring any rod you think you might need. Talk to your boater before hand and narrow it even further.

In my mind you would never need any more rods than that.

youd be non-boating from the dock trying to bring 9 rods as a non-boater in my boat.......................lol.

id do 1 top water rod, 1 mid-depth rod, and 2 bottom feeders

That's why I mentioned to thin that down based on what the boater is planning to do/go

[westpalmfrogpunk]

As a non boater also I try to bring only 3-5 rods just to keep down the clutter in the back of the boat. My partner is a good guy and doesnt mind what I bring. But I try to be respectful. I own 8 or 9 setup but I always carry with me my 7'4'' diawa frog rod with 50 pound braid it doubles out as my flipping stick. My next rod is my St croix teaser rod that I use for senkos and tubes and creature baits. Then my two crankin rods and a 6'8'' bps elite series that i use for spinnerbaits and top waters .   I keep all my tackle in a small backpack. I try to bring an extra bag of plastics that I know he may not be familar with that I plan on fishing. If it works, I have enough for both of us.    

My advice do your research pack light and be ready to move. Help at the end of the day cleaning up the boat and leave it cleaner then you got there. Make sure not to leave disgarded plastics and line in the boat. And brind 75-100 dollars to make sure you have enough for splitting the gas in the boat and his truck.  It usually cost me 35 to 60 dollars for a day depending on where we fish and how much and far we need to run.  I try to also divide the boat in half and never cast up into his water.  Hope this helps

Andrew

[SWMIBASSER]

As a non boater also I try to bring only 3-5 rods just to keep down the clutter in the back of the boat. My partner is a good guy and doesnt mind what I bring. But I try to be respectful. I own 8 or 9 setup but I always carry with me my 7'4'' diawa frog rod with 50 pound braid it doubles out as my flipping stick. My next rod is my St croix teaser rod that I use for senkos and tubes and creature baits. Then my two crankin rods and a 6'8'' bps elite series that i use for spinnerbaits and top waters . I keep all my tackle in a small backpack. I try to bring an extra bag of plastics that I know he may not be familar with that I plan on fishing. If it works, I have enough for both of us.

My advice do your research pack light and be ready to move. Help at the end of the day cleaning up the boat and leave it cleaner then you got there. Make sure not to leave disgarded plastics and line in the boat. And brind 75-100 dollars to make sure you have enough for splitting the gas in the boat and his truck. It usually cost me 35 to 60 dollars for a day depending on where we fish and how much and far we need to run. I try to also divide the boat in half and never cast up into his water. Hope this helps

Andrew

This could be a whole other topic but I think that is way to much to pay for gas to a non boater.

Based on BFL entry fee's last I knew by the time you pay that much you are approaching the entry fee of a boater. And yeah then you have to pay for gas, but it's also your boat. Your success is in your hands. From what I've heard there are plenty of boaters in BFL who aren't offering much in the way of a learning oppurtunity and certainly not reliably putting you into fish.

On top of that the boater NEEDS you to fish. And he was planning to be there anyway. $20 now covers that IMO. $40 when gas was so high.

A local club member or buddy on the other hand I'd be more willing to pitch in gas money.

Those are just my thoughts. Call me cheap if you would like.

[skunked_again]

As a non boater also I try to bring only 3-5 rods just to keep down the clutter in the back of the boat. My partner is a good guy and doesnt mind what I bring. But I try to be respectful. I own 8 or 9 setup but I always carry with me my 7'4'' diawa frog rod with 50 pound braid it doubles out as my flipping stick. My next rod is my St croix teaser rod that I use for senkos and tubes and creature baits. Then my two crankin rods and a 6'8'' bps elite series that i use for spinnerbaits and top waters . I keep all my tackle in a small backpack. I try to bring an extra bag of plastics that I know he may not be familar with that I plan on fishing. If it works, I have enough for both of us.

My advice do your research pack light and be ready to move. Help at the end of the day cleaning up the boat and leave it cleaner then you got there. Make sure not to leave disgarded plastics and line in the boat. And brind 75-100 dollars to make sure you have enough for splitting the gas in the boat and his truck. It usually cost me 35 to 60 dollars for a day depending on where we fish and how much and far we need to run. I try to also divide the boat in half and never cast up into his water. Hope this helps

Andrew

This could be a whole other topic but I think that is way to much to pay for gas to a non boater.

Based on BFL entry fee's last I knew by the time you pay that much you are approaching the entry fee of a boater. And yeah then you have to pay for gas, but it's also your boat. Your success is in your hands. From what I've heard there are plenty of boaters in BFL who aren't offering much in the way of a learning oppurtunity and certainly not reliably putting you into fish.

On top of that the boater NEEDS you to fish. And he was planning to be there anyway. $20 now covers that IMO. $40 when gas was so high.

A local club member or buddy on the other hand I'd be more willing to pitch in gas money.

Those are just my thoughts. Call me cheap if you would like.

i thought non-boater enter fee was half the boaters fee..............

then add up-keep, gas, oil, insurance,  i dont se non-boaters fees being close to that of a boater.

[SWMIBASSER]

As a non boater also I try to bring only 3-5 rods just to keep down the clutter in the back of the boat. My partner is a good guy and doesnt mind what I bring. But I try to be respectful. I own 8 or 9 setup but I always carry with me my 7'4'' diawa frog rod with 50 pound braid it doubles out as my flipping stick. My next rod is my St croix teaser rod that I use for senkos and tubes and creature baits. Then my two crankin rods and a 6'8'' bps elite series that i use for spinnerbaits and top waters . I keep all my tackle in a small backpack. I try to bring an extra bag of plastics that I know he may not be familar with that I plan on fishing. If it works, I have enough for both of us.

My advice do your research pack light and be ready to move. Help at the end of the day cleaning up the boat and leave it cleaner then you got there. Make sure not to leave disgarded plastics and line in the boat. And brind 75-100 dollars to make sure you have enough for splitting the gas in the boat and his truck. It usually cost me 35 to 60 dollars for a day depending on where we fish and how much and far we need to run. I try to also divide the boat in half and never cast up into his water. Hope this helps

Andrew

This could be a whole other topic but I think that is way to much to pay for gas to a non boater.

Based on BFL entry fee's last I knew by the time you pay that much you are approaching the entry fee of a boater. And yeah then you have to pay for gas, but it's also your boat. Your success is in your hands. From what I've heard there are plenty of boaters in BFL who aren't offering much in the way of a learning oppurtunity and certainly not reliably putting you into fish.

On top of that the boater NEEDS you to fish. And he was planning to be there anyway. $20 now covers that IMO. $40 when gas was so high.

A local club member or buddy on the other hand I'd be more willing to pitch in gas money.

Those are just my thoughts. Call me cheap if you would like.

i thought non-boater enter fee was half the boaters fee..............

then add up-keep, gas, oil, insurance, i dont se non-boaters fees being close to that of a boater.

That's twice in one thread you didn't read all of my posts or quotes. If you bring what the poster quoted says to bring, you are close to the entry of a boater.

Upkeep etc is only an issue if you don't own a boat. Which MANY boaters do. Oil costs are negligible, and upkeep and insurance are things a boat owner is paying for anyways.

As far as gas costs if you are a boater I mentioned that but weighed that against the benefit of being in your boat, in the front of it, controlling your success.

If I'm pitching in that much I would just bring my own boat..

[ROCbass]

As a non boater also I try to bring only 3-5 rods just to keep down the clutter in the back of the boat. My partner is a good guy and doesnt mind what I bring. But I try to be respectful. I own 8 or 9 setup but I always carry with me my 7'4'' diawa frog rod with 50 pound braid it doubles out as my flipping stick. My next rod is my St croix teaser rod that I use for senkos and tubes and creature baits. Then my two crankin rods and a 6'8'' bps elite series that i use for spinnerbaits and top waters . I keep all my tackle in a small backpack. I try to bring an extra bag of plastics that I know he may not be familar with that I plan on fishing. If it works, I have enough for both of us.

My advice do your research pack light and be ready to move. Help at the end of the day cleaning up the boat and leave it cleaner then you got there. Make sure not to leave disgarded plastics and line in the boat. And brind 75-100 dollars to make sure you have enough for splitting the gas in the boat and his truck. It usually cost me 35 to 60 dollars for a day depending on where we fish and how much and far we need to run. I try to also divide the boat in half and never cast up into his water. Hope this helps

Andrew

I don't understand why people think they need to put gas in the boater's truck unless you are riding to the launch together. Assuming you are traveling equal distances to the launch, the boater is probably spending more on gas to get there because he is towing, but what if the boater lives five miles from the lake and the non boater lives sixty miles away? Should the boater give the non boater gas money just because he is spending more to get there? I don't think so.

[SWMIBASSER]

To clarify, and after reviewing that post.....................

Last I knew BFL entries for a non boater were $100

Boater was $150 or $200

At 35 to 60 per day your $100 entry fee goes to $170-$220.

[skunked_again]

Field sizes will remain the same for 2009, with 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers comprising a full BFL field. Entry fees also remain the same, with boater entry fees of $200 for qualifiers and $300 for Super Tournaments. Co-angler entry fees are $100 for qualifiers and $150 for Super Tournaments. Pretournament meetings for each tournament will be held at the local Walmart store hosting the event.

last thing id say is, if you dont want to pay for a boaters gas, bring your boat. why wouldnt you want to fish out of your own boat anyway?

[cart7t]

There are basically two types of tournaments.  Those like the BASS and BFL where the boater is fishing for the top prize and the non-boater is fishing for the top prize for the non-boaters and then there are buddy tournaments.

IMO, fishing a large T out of the back of the boat is something done for the experience and the opportunity to get paired with an experienced pro for the day.  Your odds of actually winning something are slim since you have no idea who you're getting paired with or where you're going to fish along with having no control over the front end of the boat.  While paying for boat gas for the day is certainly expected, paying for his gas to and from the lake isn't.  He's fishing that T anyway and is likely in the game on a level more than yours.  He may or not be sponsored.  If he wins or places in money you don't share in any of it.  It's best to keep your rod and tackle to a minimum in order to keep the boat as clear of gear as possible.  4-5 rods max.  A single tackle bag that doesn't require an overhead crane to load it.

A buddy T is a completely different animal.  You and your partner are fishing as a team.  You'll probably be friends to begin with and have a game plan in place.  You'll already have a idea of what and where you'll be fishing.  In this case it's OK to bring more tackle and rods or share.  

[J Francho]

As a former boater and a non boater now, I still do not understand the urge by some boaters for equality in expenses.  The club I fish in uses a random draw for launch order and pairings.  Its a team format, and you weigh in the best five fish between the two angler team.  BASS and BFL type trails are a whole 'nother beast.  I'll leave that political mess for another thread....

In my club, I generally bring six rods, and a Flambeau AZ8 tackle bag.

Rods I ALWAYS bring:

6-9 M/XF spinning

7-0 M/Mod casting

7-6 XH/F casting

I fill the other three slots based on the lake, and time of year.

Generally, its 2x 7 MH/F casting rods and a 6-2 M/XF TW/JB rod.

If I'm going to be fishing open water for smallies, I'll sub my tube spinning rod, and some lighter casting rods.

If its going to be a crankfest, then I'm bringing another M/Mod cranker and a MH/Mod.

If its going to be a slopfest, I will bring all the MH/F rods I can scrounge up, and any H-XH gear I have.

Do your homework, decide your techniques, take into account that your in the back of the boat, and plan accordingly.  

An example of positive "back boat mentality" would be bringing a deep crank, worm 'n jig rig, and spinnerbait rig for fishing the spawn.  You'll want to concentrate on fish tat are either still prespawn, or the non spawners while your boater sits on a bed.  He's in a 6' or less, and you'll be plying the heck out of 10-15 FOW.

[roadwarrior]

Back boaters should always carry a C-rig option.

No matter what the  boater does to you, the C-rig

will allow you to fish.

8-)

[Tuckman]

My fishing partner for the team tournaments I do usually rolls into my driveway in the morning with the back of his pickup looking like aisle 5 at bass pro shops. I can usually talk him down to less than a dozen rods, and a tackle bag, but if he feels he needs it Ill let him bring it because confident partners are the only ones that catch fish. In a team event anything that is mine in the boat is his to use too.

[westpalmfrogpunk]

Ok it seems people think the amount of gas money I stated was very high.  My partner and I drive to the tournament togther and yes it is team tournaments.  We done all the gasing with me present we start each day with a full tank in the truck and boat refill each at the end of the day and split the Cost.  

[Jacob0434]

I've been a non-boater the last couple years and I tend to carry Six rods at the most:

7'6" MH flipping stick/ carolina rig,

7'10 M/H . Crankbait rod (Deep Cranks)

7'0" M. Crankbait Rod (Med. Cranks)

6'0" M. Crankbait Rod (Shallow Cranks, Topwater, Jerkbaits.)

6'0" M. Spinning Rod Dropshot

7'0" M. Spinning Rod T-Rigs and Football Jigs.

(If you can't tell I like to throw Crankbaits ;D)

[FishingPirate]

Thanks guys, great responses. I think Ive got a decent arsenal figured up.

7'0" MH BC 1/4-1 Jigs, Carolina rig, buzzbaits

7'0" M BC 1/8-1 Finesse anything, usually a T-rig, plenty of backbone somehow.

7'0" MH BC 1/4-3/4 Cranks(anything from 1/4oz to big deep divers)

6'6" MH BC 1/4-5/8 Spinners, cranks, CHATTERBAITS 8-)

6'6" M BC 1/4-3/4 Topwater, jerkbaits, lighter cranks

6'6" M Spin 1/8-3/4 Anything too light or annoying to BC

Ive also got these that I can rotate around.

6'6" Spinning same as the other

6'9" MH BC 1/4-3/4 jig rod

7'0" XH BC 1/2-2 1/4 heavier things although it does well with lipless cranks.

7'11 MH BC 1oz-6oz Swimbaiting

Again, great replies, thanks.

[J Francho]

And, good luck this year, my back of the boat brutha!

[bigmountaineer]

I always carry a 7'0" MF, MHF, HF, and 7'0" spinning MF. Good luck to you !!