Tournament Fishing vs. Trophy Fishing

[Glenn]

Do you approach a day differently when you're fishing a tournament vs. trophy fishing?  If so, how?

[Bassn Blvd]

I approach them differently.

When I'm in a tournament I target the part of the waterway that I feel is holding fish, not necessarily the biggest fish, but fish.  Depending on the body of water I'm fishing in my area, I generally know what weight I'm going to need to finish in the top 3 or 4.  I fish most of my tournaments at a rather fast pace.  I might target a specific location and use 1 or 2 baits but If I don't produce in 10-15 or maybe 20 minutes then I'm moving. This sometimes does more harm then good though, usually when the bite is slow.  

I might catch 15-20 pounds of fish in a 4 or 8 hour tourny but chances are those fish came from different areas of the lake.

I don't generally go out to "target" trophy bass but I always prepare myself (mindset) and treat each cast, hook set as if the bite on the end of my line is a trophy fish.  I will focus on a particular spot that I feel is holding a trophy.  I will spend a long time targeting that specific area but perhaps the trophy just isn't home or in the mood to eat.  I can't afford to use that time dedicated to just 1 or 2 fish in a tournament, unless I get lucky and catch 2 fish at 10 pounds each.

Now, some guys I fish with in the short tournaments (4-5 hours) will target the "trophy," hoping to win the big fish pot. I don't believe they're confident in winning the tournament but instead, winning the "big fish" pool.  These few guys will use 12-13 inch worms or big plugs and sometimes bring in only one fish to the scales, which  could be 7-10 pounds.  

[Mattlures]

I have never fished a freshwater bass T but I have fished saltwater T'S

there are huge differences on how you apraoch them. In a T it you against other anglers and the clock. Time management and getting a limit are crucial. When hunting, its you against the fish. You set your own times and fish at your own tempo with your own rules. The biggest difference in the two besides actualy fishing, is choosing where to fish. In a T, you go where ever the T is sheduled. When hunting you pick the days, times and lakes you feel gives you the best shot at a big bass. I almost always try and go on weekdays to avoid the crowds. I also try to avoid lakes the are having T's or are being prefished for a T. Choosing the right when and where are HUGE. You dont get to choose those when T fishing. Also when I am just fun fishing (or if I was fishing in a T) I like company. But when I am hunting I preferr to do it alone. I like having a friend at the same lake but not fishing next to each other.

One other big difference is when T or fun fishing I like to move up on a spot and disect it. I will throw several differnt baits and fan cast a large area. When hunting I am much more deliberate. I dont want a fish to see my bait getting closer to them with each cast. I want a couple perfect casts on each known spot and then I move on. If a monster bass sees a swimbait swim by over and over agin from a distance then by the time you cast it in its strike zone the fish is already suspicious. If you sneak up and make a perfect presentation on the first cast chances are the fish will be in a much more receptive mode.

[ab8aac]

When I am fishing in a tournament I focus on the limit first then start culling by going to where I have caught big fish before.  I don't do the run and gun thing as I have a small (15ft 1982 kingfisher) boat and 40 hp motor, so I concentrate on an area that holds a lot of keeper fish and try to catch everyone of them.  After I get my limit 3 or 5 whichever, then I move to the points and deep water and go to the big cranks and worms for the larger fish.

When I am looking for trophy fish like right now I am focusing on only the areas that hold the bigger fish, and looking for the schoolers and try to get under them as I have caught a lot of 6-7-8lb'ers that way, but that still isn't the 10-14lb'er that I am trying to get on the hook, I know he is there or rather they are there as I have had them right to the boat and broke them off just haven't got him IN the boat yet.

Frank Williams

[tnhiker44]

Although I never fished any of them... I have seen several tournaments where they combined both of these 'modes'. During the summer on Dale Hollow they have overnight tourneys for just one fish... largest fish takes all. 20, 30 even 40 boats out all night for one large smallie. Considering that at the time the minimum size limit was 18 inches, I have seen some beautiful fish at the weigh ins. And although it would be difficult to break the 3/5/7 fish limit mentality, I would like to see more of these style tournaments. And I say this right in the middle of a large fish funk... I have not even come close to big fish honors this year in any tournament I have fished.

[Catt]

Tournaments, hawg hunting, or fun fishing are all met with the same intense amount of zeal, energy, determination, concentration & preparation.

[Fishing Rhino]

Tournaments, hawg hunting, or fun fishing are all met with the same intense amount of zeal, energy, determination, concentration & preparation.

That's great, but, do you use the same strategy for each?

[Jay_G]

Matt's information is right on and very informative. Thanks

[Catt]

Tournaments, hawg hunting, or fun fishing are all met with the same intense amount of zeal, energy, determination, concentration & preparation.

That's great, but, do you use the same strategy for each?

Absolutely

[mikey16]

in tournament fishing i fish for a limit in trophy fishing i just try to target just big fish. i run and gun in tournaments and milk a spot that looks good when trophy fishing

[GLADES]

At first light during a T, I am hunting for the trophy bass. Usually the bigger fish are feeding early and it is when you will get a chance to land some quality. After a few hours, if I am not already culling, I will target smaller fish with downsized tackle to get my limit.

After I have my limit, I will determine based upon the days results if I should stay with the same tackle or change up.

Of course, if I have not caught anything by 11AM, I will definately tie on the trick worms.

[WRB]

Tournament fisherman are governed by rules, day and time limitations. The trophy fisherman is unrestricted, within local law, to when, where and how to fish.

The tournament fisherman has different goals; it's a contest to win money or club status by catching the heaviest 5 bass limit, within the rules. Generally that requires catching bass that average 3 lbs.

The trophy bass fisherman can fish when he or she wishes and use whatever technique or presentation, including live bait and trolling. There are no off limit areas unless posted locally and no time limitations. The goal of the trophy fisherman is to catch the largest bass possible.

Very different approach to bass fishing between a tournament angler and a trophy fisherman. The tournament fisherman targets aggressive young adult size bass with little life experience, easy targets. The trophy fisherman targets the the most experienced and wary bass in the lake, the giant bass.

Both have different mind sets, both are challenging.

When tournament fishing I target active bass early with reaction type lures first; buzzers, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, spooks, poppers, jerkbait and cover water trying to locate aggressive bass. When I find feeding bass then I will stay on them. As the day progresses the presentations slow down if the bass bite slows down or I need a kicker bass.

When trophy fishing I start slow and check out known big bass locations by metering and probing quietly with swimbaits, big worms and jigs. If the location feels right, I will stay on that spot for a few hours before moving and may come back a few hours later during the day.

WRB

[bigtimfish]

I don't tourney fish, but if I did, I could not see myself doing anything different. I pull to a spot,analyze the situation,structure,surroundings(boat traffic),wind,water temps,depth. Throw all 12 of my rods 10 to 15 times each and if no bites, move to the next spot.

[Matt Fly]

When I fish Big Bass Splashes  BBS, the ones that pay 100,000 for first place, or just Trophy hunting,  I'm really looking for one BIG BITE at a time.

     Rarely will I run and gun.    I will hole set a piece of water all day looking for that one bite.

Obviously I have confidence in that part of the water based on past results.  

    Catt showed me a few spots on TBend for a BBS.    I liked the one that set on a flat, 13 feet of water, hydrilla next to the river channel bend that dropped to 60 feet.

       Out of the 3-4 spots we fished, the one close to the bend, grass and depth is the one  I set on for 3 days straight.    No DD, but on day 3, I did take home a check for 900 for taking 2nd place in the two o'clock weigh-in.    Just missed 1500 for the bonus hour

If hog hunting, I'll drift into my areas using the wind 50 yards out.    NO noise, I tie up, or anchor, no electronics.    

     

[WRB]

If you are fishing a big bass tournament, where 1 bass wins the prize, then you are trophy fishing with time limits and governing rules that usually restrict livebait and trolling.

Most big bass fisherman will have a milk run of specific spots where they camp out.

WRB

[Catt]

I started tournament fishing during early 70s in Southern Arkansas, East Texas and Louisiana; for 10 or 12 years I fished at least one 2 day tournament a week

I also started my schooling under Joseph Addison (my uncle), Elwood L. " Buck" Perry, Bill Murphy, Dudley Carver (Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Biologist), and others during this same time.

I approach each day out on the water the same by eliminating patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicating patterns and waters that are productive.

[WRB]

It's been my experience that the majority of tournament fisherman will not take the time to learn the habits of trophy size bass or get into the rythym of what the bass are feeding on in the body of water during the seasonal period they fish. One reason is time limitations; the tournament fisherman is restrict to a start time and weigh in time,  what happens after or before, they believe doesn't affect them.

The simple fact is most 5 bass type tournaments can be won in or near the marina they launch from. How many tournament fisherman would even consider that fact? very few, you can't run 75 mph in the marina and some are restricted areas.

The lakes I fish are small and the spots are well known, few are secrets.Today's fisherman are knowledgeable and have state of the art tackle. Most tournament fisherman simply do not know bass habits and fish unproductive water hoping to catch bass with a magic lure or presentation. Good tournament and trophy bass fisherman take their time and fish productive water.

WRB

[Catt]

WRB, I would add the weekend warrior along with the tournament angler

The reason is they have a lack of knowledge about big bass, basic misconceptions about big bass and fishing techniques for big bass and the human tendency to respond to failure and frustration by over complication rather than simplification of technique and theory.

[WRB]

Catt, you have posted a ton of good advice about fishing outside structure, because from experience you know where big bass live most of the year. How many weekend warriors leave the bank farther away than a casting distance? very few, although more each year.

I mentioned club bassers due to the topic, should of said weekend warriors.

[George Welcome]

Yikes: "Most tournament fisherman simply do not know bass habits and fish unproductive water hoping to catch bass with a magic lure or presentation."

[Mattlures]

Another difference is how hard they work. If you watch KVD he makes 1000's of cast each day. He is a machine. He covers so much water. He is playing the percentages. If he makes 500 casts and his oponent makes 300 he has an advantage. This is not true when hunting. Now there is a difference in which baits you use. When throwing swimbaits I only make a few well planned out casts to each spot. If I am stitching a wom or jig I will stay on a spot much longer. If you know your spot holds big bass then you can wait them out with a bait with almost no negative ques like a worm or jig or live bait. You might fish by them for hours and then they turn on or you might fish a spot for hours with no fish there but you know the big ones will be there sometime that day. You just wait them out.

Another huge differnce is I like to get out of my boat to sneak up to fish, cant do that in a T

[Lund Explorer]

Yikes: "Most tournament fisherman simply do not know bass habits and fish unproductive water hoping to catch bass with a magic lure or presentation."

Yikes x2!

I really think that the majority of tournament fisherman, aka: Weekend Warriors, spend a great deal of their off the water time trying to keep abreast of the many new lures, techniques, and patterns that have been developed by the minority of tournament anglers, aka: the Full Time Pro.  When the weekend warrior finally gets the chance to get on the water, they try to find ways to duplicate the things they've learned.

I think that the majority of tournament anglers become more flexible in their abilities as they are forced by the schedule to fish many different lakes/rivers over the course of the year.  This really doesn't give them the chance to dissect a specific body of water for the few spots where the Hawg Hunter comes into his own.

The biggest difference between the groups is the definition of success, which is a personal decision that each makes.

In my honest opinion, I don't think that any of these types of fisherman is better than the other.  The full time pro has the chance to work at his trade without the distractions faced by the weekend warrior who needs to work off the water to make ends meet.  The weekend warriors are the driving force in the marketing of the sport of fishing as they purchase the products developed by the pros.  The big bass specialists invest a great deal of time and effort into trying to catch the oldest and wisest of the species.  Every one of these types of anglers, tries to maximize their enjoyment of the sport of angling.

Finally, I think that there's even a place on the water for Muddy's Mooks.  A place were the simple act of sitting on the bank, or in your boat provides an escape from the everyday stresses we all face.  Most if not all of us started out this way.  I feel lucky to have explored the weekend warrior side of the sport over the years, and I'm happy to be slowly returning to the status of Mook!

[Catt]

One of the keys to my success is that I follow the fish; I'm constantly trying to figure where they might be based on season and weather. Most weekend warriors struggle with this concept. They tend go to where they caught them the last time they went fishing. That's not always a good thing to do.

I'm not talking moving from spawning flats to summer homes but rather where on the structure the bass are located from day to day. There is no scientific test or mathematical formula, it's all experience and knowing your waters. What are the fish doing, how they are relating to structure/cover.

If you target areas known for small bass you'll catch small bass If you target areas known for big bass you'll catch big bass.

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got

[WRB]

Yikes: "Most tournament fisherman simply do not know bass habits and fish unproductive water hoping to catch bass with a magic lure or presentation."

You are right, that could be misinterpreted or misstated. Most to me met over 50% of all the weekend tournament fishermen combined, excluding the top pro tournament trails. There will always be the top 20% that win 80% of the tournaments. The top 20% are excellent fisherman, extremely knowledgeable and skilled. The will also be the lower 50% that are learning, some will become the top 20%, most will stay where they are because fishing local bass tournaments is a good time out on the water.

The good trophy bass fisherman spends a lot of time on 1 or 2 lakes and has a good knowledge of bass habits, better then most tournament fisherman.

Let say you are a tournament bass fisherman and need to catch a  bass over 8 lbs to win, where would you go on the lake and what would you use to catch the big bass?

WRB

[Catt]

WRB, I don't know what tournament anglers are like where you live but down here there are double digit bass weighed in every tournament.

35-40 pound 5 bass stringers are quite common