pressure in tournaments

[striker23]

Now i have never fished a bass tournament (nor do i think i will ever be able to), but this mornin in the gym i was watching one on tv. it seemed to me like there is so much pressure that the anglers dont get to enjoy it and have fun? i would like to know from some of yall who have done tournaments if its too much pressure to have a good time, or if they are still fun?

[zooker]

pro tournys are like pro golf, you go out to make money. club tournys are differant in that you have more fun with a group of guys that have the same intrest as your self.. i always have fun weather i catch a dam thing or not..-yep even had fun fishin with bassnman- much prefure team style tournys. because when you are fishing a team tourny both of you are trying to catch fish for the weigh in. the location and boat control is in the hands of the boater. how he drives is NOT your problem, weather forces boat control to be and issue at times. today the wind blew 30-45 mph gusting higher. we were fishing wind blown banks. in this type of conditions boat position is a non critical facter. bait placement is.

zooker

[lizardsrule]

The only pressure you have, is what you put on yourself. The first couple of tourneys you do fish, just plan on getting a 0 at weigh in. If you catch fish then great, but the fact is unless you get paired with a jerk, or idiot, then you will learn a few things. Most of the guys in tourney are moving fast, throwing cranks, and spinnerbaits, or pitching. So be prepared to have sore arms. I have been paired with guys who talk a good game, but don't know crap. And always remember unless you're fishing on your boat, they have control of where and how you fish. I reccommend you go as a non-boater in your first couple of tourneys at least. So be prepared for anything. I will also say that if you catch a fish or 2 early in the tourney, you immediately relax, and have a lot more fun. If not, and the later in the day it get's the more the guys usually start to panick, and just fly around like fools.

Lizards

[bassnman30]

At first you won't be able to sleep the night before the event. Then when it's time to get up , you don't really feel like getting up. After a while of tournaments you can overcome this. Like was mentioned before, you can't control the weather. Sometimes the tournament can't end soon enough. You get tired of catching small fish or worse yet, no fish. You have to say and (you shouldn't do this) but you have to say well, the others aren't doing well either. As a non-boater, don't take too much tackle but be prepared for conditions that may appear. Be friendly with your partner, even if he's a joke.
Don't get up before he does, it's his boat. Treat the though boat as if it was yours and don't abuse any part of the equipment.

[Fish2win]

The pressure depends on how competetive you are. I am very competetive so I probably take tournaments way to serious,I dont feel pressure from the other competitors but I expect a lot from myself. I am not the most fun guy to fish a tourney with. I dont talk, I dont eat or drink. I fish.I get so tunnel visioned that I am almost impervious to what else is going on. The pressure you might feel as a newby from all the unfamiler things that are happening or from insecurity will pass with experience and confidence. A few years back I was fishing 25 to 30 tourneys a year in a 10 month span. It got to be work. I was always either practicing for or fishing a tournament. It didnt really matter what lake was hot it only mattered what lake the next tournament was on. I finally realized the rediculous circumstance I had allowed my fishing to come to and had to take a step back.Try to keep a good perspective on the sport. If it stops being fun its not worth it anymore. Now I fish a few tournaments mainly with and for my 15 year old son. Other wise I just go fishing.Fish2win

[Deacon]

I used to hate the thought of tournaments(4 yrs ago or so)...Then one year I fished my first tourney outa my kickboat. There were 12 of us at a small lake. I thought that was great...As time progressed I tried my first real boat tourney. Now mind you the first 3 kickboat tourney I was in blanked. So I went out fished fished first couple of boat tourney and again BLANKED. After fishing more of them I became relaxed and enjoyed fishing them. When Im on the water I think of fun first and winning in the back of my mind. It makes me more calm able to focus like I should. When I think of winning and time and pressure...etc..it throws off my game. But hey thats what works for me!

I have fished competivly now for 4 years. I have come in 3rd in last 2 tourneys thatputs me in 1st for AOY. Come summer Ill fish 2-3 tourneys a month.

[JB]

Everyone else has spoken most of the insights I have too, heres a few more. I've seen guys give up mid day just because they can't get a bite in the morning, plus I've seen really older guys that once they catch one fish they are satisfied with that (one to bring to the scales) and after that they just relax the rest of the day.
For me, it usually started about a week before the tourney, going apesh*t buying that special lure 100 miles aways from the house that you "heard works great " on that body of water, then closer to the tourney you spend time packing all the gear and camping stuff you'll need, maybe go buy an extra raingear outfit, and planning strategies...the night before you won't get any sleep, some get drunk the night before , the night out with the guys, is always the kiss of death to most, show up groggy the next day etc.
Once out there you go to your spot and figure out if the fish are doing what they had been all week prior, or will you have to change tactics.
Do this about 300 times, and the routine never gets old...rofl..at least it never did for me!

[1FASTLASER]

JB

LMAO!!! Man u sound like a duplicate to me. I get wound up like a 10 day clock because of a tourney be it local or a bigger scale tourney. I agree that the pressure brought on in the smaller tourneys is self inflicted, but if you become good enough to have sponsorship for the bigger ones you got the added pressure of performing for your sponsors and fans etc..etc.. Fishing the smaller tourneys ot the bigger ones I still have a certain amount of pressure no matter what the situation........always have and always will. That is part of the adrenaline rush that I love so much about bass fishing and the fact that I am so competitive.

[bassintom]

i just fish as good as i can.whatever happens..happens..i did my best.
and yeah,even though i'm not nervous during the tourney,the night before i don't usually get much sleep.
i don't know how many times i get up on a thurs.morning go to work,get home,pack up all my stuff..eat dinner hang out and try to get some sleep(don't happen)..hop in the truck about 1 a.m. drive 5 hours to some lake i never heard of...drive to the ramp and start fishing(prefish)....fish all day,head to the motel.register,shower,go eat...get back to the motel 9,10,11 p.m.,hang with the guys drinking some beers..try to get to bed about 2a.m.(doesn't happen)..get out of bed at 4a.m.to get my stuff ready and drive to the ramp to fish a "T"all day..then repeat the process.
only difference is after the "T" i have to drive 5 hours to get home ...sure sounds like fun,don't it?
it is.
here's a possible life saving tip::::take immodium ID before you leave for the ramp

[Fish2win]

Jb says "I've seen guys give up mid day just because they can't get a bite in the morning, plus I've seen really older guys that once they catch one fish they are satisfied"

Thats a good point JB. I have won several tournaments the last hour of the contest while the guy in the back of the boat was mentally whipped at the 1/2 way mark. Sometimes you just pull up on the fish or they just get active, whatever the case Iconellis(and i hate to admit that he says anything good) never give up deal is correct.Many times if you are not catchin others are not either. In that case one or two chunks may mean the difference between getting a check or not.
Fish2win