Getting involved in tournaments?

[basscaster88]

Me and a friend of mine have really been hitting the bass hard these past weeks and we think it's time to test our skills against others and get out there. The past few days we've caught combined weight totals that would put us towards the top of any tournament.

Can anyone throw out some information on tournaments in Illinois?

Why do you think youth tournaments are good or bad for anglers.(confidence is not a problem and losing wont want to make us quit...just an fyi  )

What was your first tournament experience like and how did it impact the rest of your fishing career?

Just a few questions that popped in my head.

-Thanks,

Tanner

[fishfordollars]

Boy, are you fixing to get an eye opener.

It's good that you want to try out the tournament scene. Go for it, but remember, you are fishing the days you want to right now.

Reguardless of the weather, you will be required to show up and put up. Those days ya'll quit early due to the bite or weather will be competition days.

Go for it and the best of luck. Let us know how you do.

Jack

[RichF]

I say go for it. I've been fishing tournaments for four years now and I have a lot of fun doing it. I will tell you that tournaments are never as easy as the fishing you're doing now. I live in northern NY and during the early season, my father and I get 20+lb sacks just about every day. When the tournies roll around in the summer, those giants that are so plentiful and easy to catch disappear. At times, tournaments can be frustrating and heartbreaking. If you love bass fishing, definitely go for it.

[Flukeman]

If you enjoy competition you will like tournaments. It is also a great way to meet people who enjoy your passion of fishing.

The thing to remember is you are fishing the easiest part of the year right now. Most tournaments around here don't start until late June and the fish have changed locations and are less aggressive. So don't let it frustrate you when this change occurs. Simply look at tournaments as another way to enjoy the activity you enjoy, learn from some new people, and a way to enjoy some fun competition.

Make sure you are prepared for any weather condition, once your out you will not be coming back in until the end of the day. Bring water and snacks.

Have fun, good luck!

[fishfordollars]

If you enjoy competition you will like tournaments. It is also a great way to meet people who enjoy your passion of fishing.

The thing to remember is you are fishing the easiest part of the year right now. Most tournaments around here don't start until late June and the fish have changed locations and are less aggressive. So don't let it frustrate you when this change occurs. Simply look at tournaments as another way to enjoy the activity you enjoy, learn from some new people, and a way to enjoy some fun competition.

Make sure you are prepared for any weather condition, once your out you will not be coming back in until the end of the day. Bring water and snacks.

Have fun, good luck!

Good luck on learning from new people(Unless maybe a club tournament). Tournaments are cut throat and no one is going to give you any information that may cause them to fall a notch or two. Heck, those guys will leave a hooked up fish down and put no pressure on it until you pass just to keep you from seeing that they are hooked up. So if you think it is all fun and games and goodwill for all, you have an eye opener coming.

FYI, stay away from "dock talk", it will not help you, only confuse you. Any information that is out there flowing freely is only meant to throw everyone off their game plan. Go find your own patterns and fish and hope they are good enough to place.

You will make friends, but it won't be immediate. You will have to prove yourself, and become a reliable source of current info for a select few that may, or may not be willing to give any information up. You will find out soon enough the one or two that you can share information with. It will be by no means be a large group with a family atmosphere.

I am in no way saying not to fish or enjoy. It's just a whole "nother" ball game when money or prestige is on the line.

If you are allowed to prefish you better take every opportunity to spend daylight to dark each day eliminating unproductive water(Many will, and they are the ones that draw the checks). There is no time to hunt fish when you are on the clock. Too late then, you must be ready. Don't bother checking boats to see what is on the rods laying on the deck at the ramp either. If it's productive, it's been removed and replaced before coming to weighin.

Don't let what I have said discourage you though. You must be prepared, fish clean, with no mistakes when it comes to this type of fishing. Pressure is something you must love or you are wasting your time. Now go enjoy yourself.

Good luck,

Jack

[RobbyZ5001]

Exactly what Jack is saying is true, and many of the reasons why I enjoy tournament fishing. My situation is a little different because I fish as a non boater. It is rough sometimes, because you are depending on the boater to find the fish and relying on his experience. This can be a good or bad thing depending. I am getting to the point knowledge wise that I think I want to do my own thing. This requires money and lots of it. You need a boat that will work fine in the situations you fish whether it is on Erie or on a local 1000 acre reservoir. You will need to pay for the proper insurance to fish the tournaments, cash to pay entry, and gas to get you there and back as well as for the boat.

If you are a competitive person and have the drive to succeed you will enjoy it. It is a work in progress and the fish will wear you down sometimes, but that's part of the fun. Tournament fishing for me sort of changed all aspects of fishing. When I am fishing for bass I am in that zone where I am always thinking unlike before where I just went and had a good time. Tournament fishing is stressful the majority of the time. 

You will have years where you have totally different thoughts running through your head.. for instance one year I thought about how seasons affect fish placement, and one year I thought about how lure depth control affects catch rates. Every year I have some groundbreaking discovery in my head that improves my fishing. I look forward to every year and every lesson I get on the water.

As for what tournaments to fish you can get as crazy as you want. You can fish local pot or lunker tournaments or you can fish the stren series and bass opens. Find a level you can compete at and are comfortable and once you dominate it move up. I personally enjoy the 5 fish limit tourneys over the lunker tourney's, but I will not pass up fishing any of the above.

Jack as well as a lot of other guys have been at it awhile... It is a great ride and I look forward to it every year. Have as much fun as you can.. if it is not enjoyable or you don't like where your fishing career is headed make a decision and go with it.

I know this is a lot of info/insights from my 3-4 years of tourney fishing. Sorry if it is hard to read I put a lot of thoughts that came from inside my scrambled brain in this message. Between school and job interviews I am a mess lately.

[Flukeman]

Don't let Jack scare you(people in Texas must not be as nice as people in NY, lol). I have fished as a non-boater with over a 75 people during the years I have tournament fished. I have had maybe 10 people who where not nice guys to fish with. I have learned from all of them, even the guys who were less than stellar. I learned a long time ago that you "reap what you sow".

It is true that different trails draw different types of crowds. You will try them out and draw your own conclusions to the crowd you want to run with. There are even some clubs out there that offer formats that foster boaters and non-boaters to work together. There are so many trails out there you will find one that fits your style or desired format.

Now if you live where Jack lives, surrounded by cut throats, that's too bad. Here in NY you can fish Bassmaster Opens, NYS Federation, multiple Anglers Choice Trails, Weekend Series, 100 plus clubs trails, Northeast Bass, several open trails, and even weeknight jackpot trails. There are probably some I am not even aware of that are available for me to fish.

I found the BFL here to be the most cut throat. And to be honest it was not the guy I was in the boat with most of the times. It was other boaters crowding you, cutting you off, or boat waking your area.

What will effect your fishing is the different styles. If you draw a dock pitching guy, you get a lot of used water to fish at not so great angles. That's part of being a non-boater. And that leads to non-boaters buying boats and becoming boaters when they can afford it. But if your not in that situation, non-boater is the way to go. Keep an open mind, treat people how you would like to be treated, and you will be fine.

[fishfordollars]

Being a non boater is a whole nother deal. I was speaking of the boater side. 99% of the guys are good guys down here, just very tight lipped and will offer no info or help. They will all go out of their way to help their co angler as they are not fishing against them. Should have cleared that up.

Jack

[Shad_Master]

My advice is to look for a local club as a starting point - this will give you some tournament experience before you start going in head over heels.  Don't know how you and your buddy line up as far as boater/non-boater, but I would suggest you fish a few club events as a non-boater just to see how things work.  This is probably the best way to learn.

Give Ike's book a quick read - this is how he got started.

[basscaster88]

Thanks for all the info guys. It's everything and more i was expecting to hear!

I've got competitive nature pulsating through me...wether its from 3 on 3 basketball to golf and paintball tourneys(paintball gets INTENSE btw.) I'm going to do everything in my power to not only win but have fun and get the maximum experience out of it. I want to start slow since i have very little experience on a boat but my friend has good experience on a boat so it sort of balances out.

As for fishing all day...well i'd prefer it! If i'm not getting bites i won't just pack up and go home...i'm getting my fish...and so far this year that mentality hasn't failed. I've been goin out nearly every day till nightfall...(starting from 3 when school gets out anyways.) I've already fished in freezing rain and also in blowing snow that acumulated to 3 inches this year... that snow day was preety successful in case your wondering  ;D

Making the transition from fishing as a...well...idk what you want to call it.. um leasure activity? to the competitive scene shouldn't be a problem since i've done it with so many other sports already...i know it won't be the same for fishing...i've read some articles about big tournaments...sounds like madness and thats EXACTLY what i like. You never know what is gonna happen.

Thanks for all the support and well needed constructive critisim..

Anything you feel you need to add, i'd love to read it!

[SkeetyCCTX]

Boy, are you fixing to get an eye opener.

It's good that you want to try out the tournament scene. Go for it, but remember, you are fishing the days you want to right now.

Reguardless of the weather, you will be required to show up and put up. Those days ya'll quit early due to the bite or weather will be competition days.

Go for it and the best of luck. Let us know how you do.

Jack

Well stated, tourny fishing is a whole different ball game, for "anyone!"

Basscaster, I started fishing tournys about 3 yrs ago and thought the same thing that you going into it.  Boy was I in for a shock during my first weigh-ins!

The first thing that I found out was that my idea of a 5 lber was more like a 3 lber on a ligit digital scale.  When you start fishing tournys you will learn that the scales arent kind and you will get a new appreciation for truely heafty fish!

2nd, there are a LOT of really, really good fisherman out there, especially in TX!  Alot of these guys have been fishing tournys for many years, and many of them make livings doing it, even though they are suppossed to be amatuers.  They have spent many years and lots of $$$ preparing themeselves and you will be at a big disadvantage when matching up with their experience and resources.  Not a knock against you, its just reality!  They didnt start at the top either!

A huge part of being a good tourny angler is being prepared and being a master at time management.  You only have 8 hrs out there to make something happen on a lake that you might not know or fished lately.  You have to know how to game plan and work as a team.  More important you have to learn to be prepared for bad scenarios.  Especially boat problems!  Two events ago I lost 3 hrs fishing time because of a bad trolling motor fuse!  I was only a couple ounces out of the money and that lost time cost me.  I learned my lesson though, and now make sure to check that sort of stuff and have extras.  However, this is stuff that you learn along the way and it take time!

Another big factor is $$$.  It cost a bunch of money to fish tournys.  Many of the top tourny guys are also the top financed. Like witht he other stuff, getting financed takes time, unless you are independently wealthy.  Starting off you will find yourself at a huge disadvantage because you will not have the money to sport the equipent that the BIG Boys have.  These guys are running $60 k boats, side imaging electronics that look like big screen T.V.s, and everything else under the sun.  I have a really nice 2008 skeeter with fairly decent electronics, but I am blown away and put to shame by alot of my competition when it comes to boats and electronics!  And if you dont think that boats and electronics make a difference you have another thing comming!

Last, you have to learn what it takes to consistently place high and how to do it!  Trust me, the guys you will be up against can really bring in some amazing sacks!  I live in S. TX and at the lakes that we fish our tournys at you have to have over 30 lbs to even have a chance on avg.!  For instance, at my Falcon tourny in Dec. I weighed in a 29 lb sack and only came in 5th place.  I had two 8 lb fish!  Sunday, at Amistad I weighed in about 19 lbs under 30 mph wind post front conditions and only came in 4th!  3 lb fish just do not win tournys anymore, regardless of the conditions.  Someone is always going to bring in a giant sack.

All this being said, tourny fishing is very fun and I encourage you to get into it!  Just dont think too big too quick or you will be greatly disappointed.  I suggest starting out with some local club tournys to get experience and then work your way up!  Just remember, winning a tourny is very very hard.  I am an extremely good angler and have never won a single tourny.  Right now I am number 2 or 3 in the angler of the year standing for South TX 5 league, and I havent won a single event.  Im consisten but I just havnt mastered the finer points of tourny management and loose because of a mistake every time!  Im always that guy that finishes second place in these things, but I will get there someday.  Maybe you will too!

[Catt]

Beware once you place your entry fee on the table & sign the dotted line 98% of your honey holes will dry up, your goto baits will become ineffective, a cold front will hit the day before the tournament, and your wife will have the largest honey do list ever.

Other than that have a nice day

[SkeetyCCTX]

Beware once you place your entry fee on the table & sign the dotted line 98% of your honey holes will dry up, your goto baits will become ineffective, a cold front will hit the day before the tournament, and your wife will have the largest honey do list ever.

Other than that have a nice day

Boy will she ever!  I second that statement about the wife!  They think that since they "let" you go fish a tourny, that it gives them the right to demand hard labor out of you the next day/weekend!

Also, they are pretty encouraging and positive after you come home empty handed the first couple of times, but after that they start calling you out and questioning your angleing abilities, which if you are like me; really hurts the pride button!  These days, my motivation for winning is just to shut her up so she knows that I just aint getting my butt kicked and looseing our money.  The thing that sucks for me is that I am in 2nd place overall on the trail that I fish, with finishes of 6th, 6th, and 4th; but have won no money yet since they only pay the top 3 spots!

  "But honey, Im in the running for angler of the year.....See Im good, really!  I promise will be in the money next time....  Maybe my parents will help us make the mortgage untill I get the $$$ for Angler of Year!" (LOL)

[craigco24]

If you are looking at getting started in tournaments then I would recommend a local club.  The club I'm involved with is competitive, but very friendly.  I think a person needs to succeed at the club level before you go donate to the big boys in a BFL.  If you haven't tournament fished before it is a different ballgame.  Most people, including myself, want to fish the biggest and best tournaments around when they start off.  I donated for a few years in the bigger tournaments without cashing a check.  I decided to join a club and after a couple years I was just as likely to cash a check as anyone in the club.  At that point I continued to fish the club along with some bigger events and now have numerous checks along with a few nice wins under my belt. Another recommendation as far as Illinois circuits go would be usa bassin.  I think the closest one to you would be the Coffeen division.  The reason I think this trail is a good one to start out as a team is that its only $60 per team to enter.This year their classic is on Kentucky lake and has 330 boats.  You won't win a ton of money at the divisional tournaments, but you can qualify to fish their classic and win a $35,000 dollar rig, among others.

[Bank Beater]

I Fished USA bassin on stockton lake last year and did qualify for national tournament (unfortunatly we don't have GPS in our boat and feel that lake is a little more than we want to take on).  It is a great way to get started because it is inexpensive and fising in the divisional tournaments is a lot like fishing bass clubs.  As you work up to the regional and national tournaments you relize you are part of a large trail and get to feel what it is like to be in those big tournaments.  They also have a trail set up for younger members.   8-)

[Brian B]

I fish weeknight tournaments with a group of guys I would consider friends before competitors.  Sure, we all want to win, but it's more about having fun and bragging rights (the entry fee is only $25).  I'll never get rich fishing these tournaments, but man does fishing change when money's on the line.

[garland7]

Tournament fishing can be great if its not all "cut throat ". I Recommend getting into a club that i friendly, then go from there, you'll learn a lot about tournament fishing.