Does tournament angling make you a better angler?

[Rattlinrogue]

Although I don't fish tournaments,I think fishing tournaments would have to sharpen fishing skills,not to mention all the things you'd learn from other bassers.

[mattm]

I didn't read all the replies yet, but my opinion is that any time spent on the water tournament or not makes you a better angler.  Some might be slow learners, but your never going to get it without going  out and attempting.

[bassboy1]

I haven't read all the replies, but tournament fishing has definitely helped me.  Well, maybe not the wallet, but helped me as far as fishing is concerned.  I get to spend time in other peoples boats, and just by observing where they decide to go under given conditions, and what they throw under given conditions etc, has given me a lot of info to sort through, and ultimately use to my advantage.  Also, since I seem to never catch fish ;D, I can see what they are doing when they are catching them (how deep, water temp, what sort of structure, what sort of bait etc) and be a little better able to see what bass are likely to munch on in a given set of conditions.  Not to mention, the ramp talk helps a significant amount too.  On the large lakes around here, we have mostly spotted bass, but I prefer to catch largemouth.  Just by listening to some of the ramp gossip, I was able to gain a lot more info on largemouth (even though I liked them better, I didn't know diddley about them), and am more confident on my abilities to pull a few in when spring comes (still scratching my head about this winter).

All in all, tournament fishing doesn't help because I am under pressure, or because I end up having to pay to fish, on top of boat expenses, gas expense, lost lure expense etc, but because I am around a lot of different people.  And, each person will fish certain things differently, so if you fish with numerous people, you will get a much wider variety of information.

[Catt]

I haven't read all the replies, but tournament fishing has definitely helped me. Well, maybe not the wallet, but helped me as far as fishing is concerned. I get to spend time in other peoples boats, and just by observing where they decide to go under given conditions, and what they throw under given conditions etc, has given me a lot of info to sort through, and ultimately use to my advantage. Also, since I seem to never catch fish ;D, I can see what they are doing when they are catching them (how deep, water temp, what sort of structure, what sort of bait etc) and be a little better able to see what bass are likely to munch on in a given set of conditions. Not to mention, the ramp talk helps a significant amount too. On the large lakes around here, we have mostly spotted bass, but I prefer to catch largemouth. Just by listening to some of the ramp gossip, I was able to gain a lot more info on largemouth (even though I liked them better, I didn't know diddley about them), and am more confident on my abilities to pull a few in when spring comes (still scratching my head about this winter).

All in all, tournament fishing doesn't help because I am under pressure, or because I end up having to pay to fish, on top of boat expenses, gas expense, lost lure expense etc, but because I am around a lot of different people. And, each person will fish certain things differently, so if you fish with numerous people, you will get a much wider variety of information.

Very interesting  

[senile1]

8-)  Catt, you are brutal.  I think he was trying to present the pros and cons as he perceives them.  But then again . . . .  

[avid]

fishing tournaments where you travel around to different lakes SHOULD make you a better angler.  

[Bassnajr]

I feel that being on the water is the best way to learn and become a better angler alone or with someone else. Bass clubs are another way to learn from others, but the politics can be distracting. Just like any other sport PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!

AJR

[5bass]

After much thought on this topic, I do feel like tournament fishing has made me a better fisherman overall. From the time I entered my first club some 20+ years ago, I always strived very hard to learn everything about locating and catching bass under any circumstances on any lake.

I hated going to the weigh in with less than a limit or a limit of small fish...it sucked. It bothered me. When I didnt do as good as I expected, it would dominate my thoughts for a few days. Weighing in light bags for a while drove me harder to figure out things better and get better overall. I had to learn all the variables and how to deal with them. That was the only way to make my game competitive. I'm not sure I would've been up for all that if I was only going out 'fun' fishing all the time.

[Siebert Outdoors]

My answer is no.  

An educated angler makes you a better angler.  What I mean is one willing to study the fish and its habits.