hosting a tournament

wareagledc · 03-10-09, 09:01 PM

i am going to be putting together for the first time a bass fishing tournament for relay for life. i haven't ever done this and need help. any rules and tips will help. i don't plan on it being all seirious with every rule in the book just some basic guidlines. its for charity and was thinking charging a 25 dollar entry fee and putting 5 of each entry in a pot for the winner and donating the rest. does this sound fair? i plan on it being at dekalb lake and the fees for fishin is only 3 bucks a person so it won't cost much to do. they also rent boats but that would be up to each team if they want that. any help will be great.

thanks guys

fishin spro · 03-10-09, 09:04 PM

definately stress safe release of the fish at the end of the tourney...u dont want a bunch of deadfish.

automatic DQ if caught running the big motor with no PFD(stress safety)

12" min. size limit

a kids category and an adult category would be cool too.

aikenyounggun · 03-10-09, 09:06 PM

yeah definately have a kid and adult division so people can bring out there kids

5 fish a limit (some people might not know this)

hope you have fun.....

bamabassman · 03-10-09, 09:33 PM

well, derrick....i think you FIRST need to talk to the town of sylvania. they own the lake now. it is called sylvanis lake instead of dekalb lake. talk to the mayor and get his thoughts first along with the city council and the manager of the lake. on second thought, talk to the manager FIRST. get him/her on your side and present it to the city council. if they are good to go with it. ask them for THEIR rules and go from there. it is a great thing you are wanting to do.i too want to host a tournament, but i am still in the thought process of it now. i have asked a few folks about it and have gotten some positive feedback. i want to have one for the kidney foundation. seeing how we have been through a transplnat with lisa and all. but right now, i haven't got the time to go forward with it. i want to get the kidney foundation, U A B and a few others involved. i think i may be getting in over my head a little. i talked to the manager of goosepond and he said he would gladly host it there if i could get it big enough. i have a lot of planning to do.

but i drift again,lol, sorry.
yes i think the first thing you need to do is contact the lake manager and discuss it over with him/her. and go from there. they may have a few rules that they want in place before you continue on your own. any help otherwise, let me know ok?

oh....and yes i would enter it. probably not even place. but you can sount me in as a competiter. all for a good cause buddy.

carolina-rig-01 · 03-10-09, 11:30 PM

i put on a benefit tourney a few years back and it went off really well. here are a few things that i suggest for you.

1. you will need to get the legal permission to hold this tourney, we had to get a regatta from the state which was free.

2. we gave everyone a poker chip with their boat number on it, some guys use tongue depressors or something like that. it really doesn't matter but make it clear that you have the official time and any chips that are not in your hand at the official time of the weigh-in will be given a certain weight penalty for a set amount of minutes and then will be dq'd (a lot of late penalties are like 1lb per min for up to 10 min.)

3. get ahold of a lot of the bigger bait companies and see if they will donate. we had donations from bass pro, pradco (which owns bomber, smithwick, yum, xcaliber, rebel, silverthread, and probably some that i am forgetting), gene larew, wal-mart, academy, lucky strike, home depot, and a local boat dealership that also sells tackle and probably a lot more that is slipping my mind. after the weigh-in we put everyones poker chips in a hat and drew boat numbers for these items as door prizes. we had gift cards from wal-mart, academy, the boat dealership, and home depot........ and everyone who won a gift card donated them back to the cause, and everyone who drew a check in the tourney gave the money back as well.

4. our tournament was a $50 entry fee with and optional $10 for big bass. look up some of your local tournament trails to get an idea on what is normal for the payout but we did a 50% payout with a 100% payback on big bass, anything less than that and a lot of guys won't want to enter it. be sure and keep the big bass entry money seperate because 100% of it is going to the big bass winner and you don't want to get it mixed in with the tourney winnings.

5. as far as rules you should just print some rules out off of a local trails website, i know what you mean about not wanting a lot of rules but if you don't have rules in black and white then it opens the door for problems.

6. advertise it all you can and everywhere you can. we put flyers up at every baitshop and marina withing 100 miles of here and also had it on local radio shows and had it added to some local fishing websites.

i hope this helps and if you you need anymore help just holler, if i think of anything else i will let you know.

woody · 03-11-09, 09:55 AM

Wareagle...
Another way that you can get the word out is by calling your local newpaper company and letting them know what you are doing and what you are working towards. I am sure that they would be more than willing to help by getting the word out to the community.

Relay for Life is a great cause. I lost my Dad and Grandmother to cancer, so you can see why I'm saying that you have my support and prayers.

~Mark

aikenyounggun · 03-11-09, 02:06 PM

yeah definaley put up fliers and see if the newspaper will help.....

bamabassman · 03-11-09, 05:16 PM

derrick, i noticed at bb comer a fella was putting flyers on windshields of every car,truck that was at the launch. yep. advertising a tournament.

wareagledc · 03-17-09, 04:11 AM

i have decided on april 18th at dekalb lake. 25 dollar fee. the fee will cover the 3 bucks for fishing permits 5 bucks for the pot for the winner and 17 for the realy for life fundraiser. like i said before its for charity not anyone trying to win a bunch of money. if anyone is interested just say so. pm me for details. its not gonna have a bunch of rules cause its not for a lot of cash so why worry with it.
only rules to protect the fish. like no crank phones or din-o-mite sorry bama have to leave that stuff at home. live bait or artificals so everyone can fish even if your not experienced at using lures. fish must be alive and caught not snagged. you can keep your fish cause the manager of the lake said they need to get alot of the smaller fish out. he told me today that they have even took the limit on bass off for a while to try and thin the population some. only trolling motors may be used you can have a big motor on your boat but you cant run it. as for the time from the time the lake opens to 3pm. 1lb penailty for every 5 minutes late up to 30min then disqualified.

anything else yall recomend let me know. i haven't ever done this before and need help. i know most of you pratice catch and release but i am going on what the manager of the lake told me. he said we could put any back we don't want but he encouraged fillets and flour and something about hot oil and hushpuppys. now i'm hungry and want to go fish.

wareagledc · 03-17-09, 04:15 AM

i talked to the manager and he said i didn't need any permits just the 3 dollar fee per person to fish. he also said they have 12 boats for rent they are 12 or 14 foot john boats. he only has 4 troling motors so let me know if you want one so i can reserve it. i think its like 20 bucks for the boat, motor, and battery.

crankybait · 03-17-09, 06:06 AM

Well i don't know a thing about tourneys, but i think what you are doing is great. Good job, hope everything goes well.

bamabassman · 03-17-09, 09:59 PM

ok, pal. i'll try my best to attend this for ya ok? and whadda ya mean no phones or dy-no-mite? how am i gonna get me any fish? and IF i catch some fish we'll have us a fish fry ok? just remind me of this for real, i am filling up my calander fast for the year,hahaha. i LOVE it too.

03-10-09, 09:01 PM	#1
wareagledc BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 273	hosting a tournament i am going to be putting together for the first time a bass fishing tournament for relay for life. i haven't ever done this and need help. any rules and tips will help. i don't plan on it being all seirious with every rule in the book just some basic guidlines. its for charity and was thinking charging a 25 dollar entry fee and putting 5 of each entry in a pot for the winner and donating the rest. does this sound fair? i plan on it being at dekalb lake and the fees for fishin is only 3 bucks a person so it won't cost much to do. they also rent boats but that would be up to each team if they want that. any help will be great. thanks guys

03-10-09, 09:06 PM	#3
aikenyounggun BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: aiken, SC Posts: 2,051	yeah definately have a kid and adult division so people can bring out there kids 5 fish a limit (some people might not know this) hope you have fun..... __________________ <>< Rather be Fishing ><>

03-10-09, 09:33 PM	#4
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	well, derrick....i think you FIRST need to talk to the town of sylvania. they own the lake now. it is called sylvanis lake instead of dekalb lake. talk to the mayor and get his thoughts first along with the city council and the manager of the lake. on second thought, talk to the manager FIRST. get him/her on your side and present it to the city council. if they are good to go with it. ask them for THEIR rules and go from there. it is a great thing you are wanting to do.i too want to host a tournament, but i am still in the thought process of it now. i have asked a few folks about it and have gotten some positive feedback. i want to have one for the kidney foundation. seeing how we have been through a transplnat with lisa and all. but right now, i haven't got the time to go forward with it. i want to get the kidney foundation, U A B and a few others involved. i think i may be getting in over my head a little. i talked to the manager of goosepond and he said he would gladly host it there if i could get it big enough. i have a lot of planning to do. but i drift again,lol, sorry. yes i think the first thing you need to do is contact the lake manager and discuss it over with him/her. and go from there. they may have a few rules that they want in place before you continue on your own. any help otherwise, let me know ok? oh....and yes i would enter it. probably not even place. but you can sount me in as a competiter. all for a good cause buddy. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

03-10-09, 11:30 PM	#5
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	i put on a benefit tourney a few years back and it went off really well. here are a few things that i suggest for you. 1. you will need to get the legal permission to hold this tourney, we had to get a regatta from the state which was free. 2. we gave everyone a poker chip with their boat number on it, some guys use tongue depressors or something like that. it really doesn't matter but make it clear that you have the official time and any chips that are not in your hand at the official time of the weigh-in will be given a certain weight penalty for a set amount of minutes and then will be dq'd (a lot of late penalties are like 1lb per min for up to 10 min.) 3. get ahold of a lot of the bigger bait companies and see if they will donate. we had donations from bass pro, pradco (which owns bomber, smithwick, yum, xcaliber, rebel, silverthread, and probably some that i am forgetting), gene larew, wal-mart, academy, lucky strike, home depot, and a local boat dealership that also sells tackle and probably a lot more that is slipping my mind. after the weigh-in we put everyones poker chips in a hat and drew boat numbers for these items as door prizes. we had gift cards from wal-mart, academy, the boat dealership, and home depot........ and everyone who won a gift card donated them back to the cause, and everyone who drew a check in the tourney gave the money back as well. 4. our tournament was a $50 entry fee with and optional $10 for big bass. look up some of your local tournament trails to get an idea on what is normal for the payout but we did a 50% payout with a 100% payback on big bass, anything less than that and a lot of guys won't want to enter it. be sure and keep the big bass entry money seperate because 100% of it is going to the big bass winner and you don't want to get it mixed in with the tourney winnings. 5. as far as rules you should just print some rules out off of a local trails website, i know what you mean about not wanting a lot of rules but if you don't have rules in black and white then it opens the door for problems. 6. advertise it all you can and everywhere you can. we put flyers up at every baitshop and marina withing 100 miles of here and also had it on local radio shows and had it added to some local fishing websites. i hope this helps and if you you need anymore help just holler, if i think of anything else i will let you know. __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

03-11-09, 02:06 PM	#7
aikenyounggun BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: aiken, SC Posts: 2,051	yeah definaley put up fliers and see if the newspaper will help..... __________________ <>< Rather be Fishing ><>

03-10-09, 09:04 PM	#2
fishin spro BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: sumter county lip ripper Posts: 500	definately stress safe release of the fish at the end of the tourney...u dont want a bunch of deadfish. automatic DQ if caught running the big motor with no PFD(stress safety) 12" min. size limit a kids category and an adult category would be cool too.

03-11-09, 09:55 AM	#6
woody BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jonesville, Indiana Posts: 3,597	Wareagle... Another way that you can get the word out is by calling your local newpaper company and letting them know what you are doing and what you are working towards. I am sure that they would be more than willing to help by getting the word out to the community. Relay for Life is a great cause. I lost my Dad and Grandmother to cancer, so you can see why I'm saying that you have my support and prayers. ~Mark

03-11-09, 05:16 PM	#8
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	derrick, i noticed at bb comer a fella was putting flyers on windshields of every car,truck that was at the launch. yep. advertising a tournament. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

03-17-09, 04:11 AM	#9
wareagledc BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 273	i have decided on april 18th at dekalb lake. 25 dollar fee. the fee will cover the 3 bucks for fishing permits 5 bucks for the pot for the winner and 17 for the realy for life fundraiser. like i said before its for charity not anyone trying to win a bunch of money. if anyone is interested just say so. pm me for details. its not gonna have a bunch of rules cause its not for a lot of cash so why worry with it. only rules to protect the fish. like no crank phones or din-o-mite sorry bama have to leave that stuff at home. live bait or artificals so everyone can fish even if your not experienced at using lures. fish must be alive and caught not snagged. you can keep your fish cause the manager of the lake said they need to get alot of the smaller fish out. he told me today that they have even took the limit on bass off for a while to try and thin the population some. only trolling motors may be used you can have a big motor on your boat but you cant run it. as for the time from the time the lake opens to 3pm. 1lb penailty for every 5 minutes late up to 30min then disqualified. anything else yall recomend let me know. i haven't ever done this before and need help. i know most of you pratice catch and release but i am going on what the manager of the lake told me. he said we could put any back we don't want but he encouraged fillets and flour and something about hot oil and hushpuppys. now i'm hungry and want to go fish.

03-17-09, 04:15 AM	#10
wareagledc BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 273	i talked to the manager and he said i didn't need any permits just the 3 dollar fee per person to fish. he also said they have 12 boats for rent they are 12 or 14 foot john boats. he only has 4 troling motors so let me know if you want one so i can reserve it. i think its like 20 bucks for the boat, motor, and battery.

03-17-09, 06:06 AM	#11
crankybait BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: marlboro, nj Posts: 3,250	Well i don't know a thing about tourneys, but i think what you are doing is great. Good job, hope everything goes well. __________________ www.fishinfanatics.com

03-17-09, 09:59 PM	#12
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	ok, pal. i'll try my best to attend this for ya ok? and whadda ya mean no phones or dy-no-mite? how am i gonna get me any fish? and IF i catch some fish we'll have us a fish fry ok? just remind me of this for real, i am filling up my calander fast for the year,hahaha. i LOVE it too. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

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