Bass Tournaments

geezer1 · 06-21-10, 06:06 PM

I fish Bass tournaments. I do it because I like the competition. All of it. The Bass, the time constraints, the other contenders, fighting the weather & water when need be, etc. It's the only time you can truly test your skills and equipment against others. It allows you to learn a lot about yourself & helps hone mental toughness. And, in the process, you meet some very talented, interesting people. Do you fish tournaments? If so, why? If not, why not?

rangerryan · 06-21-10, 07:23 PM

Yes i do and for all the same reasons not to mention i get to take the day off of work.

walkeraviator · 06-21-10, 10:14 PM

I do not simply because i do not have the boat or the time... wish i could though.

bamabassman · 06-21-10, 10:42 PM

well.....i am going to enter (well, already have,lol) enter 1 tourny. GBASSMAN and i are fishing the GAMBLER tourny. this saturday. we'll see how this one goes then we'll see about another. i am really ot a tourny fisherman. too much pressure for me i think. but you never know............

carolina-rig-01 · 06-21-10, 10:59 PM

I fish club tournaments, a Triton Trail, a Ranger Trail, and a lot of jackpot type tournaments as well. I do it for a lot of reason, the biggest being the compitition. You will really elevate your abilities when you fish against good anglers and there is money on the line.

CamG · 06-21-10, 11:23 PM

Yep...I really like to fun fish, but nothing gets me more excited than the morning of a tournament. I'm very competitive by nature...and tourneys get my blood flowing.

Just wish I had the time to fish more tournaments.

geezer1 · 06-22-10, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabassman

well.....i am going to enter (well, already have,lol) enter 1 tourny. GBASSMAN and i are fishing the GAMBLER tourny. this saturday. we'll see how this one goes then we'll see about another. i am really ot a tourny fisherman. too much pressure for me i think. but you never know............

Keep in mind Bama, that the pressure is all self inflicted. Just temper it to your liking & have fun with it. Good luck this Saturday. Let us know how it goes.

carolina-rig-01 · 06-22-10, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geezer1

Keep in mind Bama, that the pressure is all self inflicted. Just temper it to your liking & have fun with it. Good luck this Saturday. Let us know how it goes.

Yep and remember to fish the moment. It's great to have a plan of what you are going to do next but don't let it rush what you are doing now, fish the moment. Fishing too fast is my biggest weakness in a tourney, I am jacked up plus you figure in the time constraints and it is a recipe for me to fish way too fast. Just slow yourself down and fish the moment and you should be fine, of course you will have to increase the size of bass you have been catching but that is in your hands hahahahaha.

Bender · 06-22-10, 05:01 PM

I used to when I lived in Michigan a year ago but I stopped when I moved. I liked tournaments because of getting to meet people and sometimes getting money. Although VERY FEW anglers actually make any money when you factor in the costs involved. The ones I enjoyed the most were Tuesday nights, it was more like a bowling league or something since it was only $40/team, 100% payback, and a 3 fish limit. BTW it took 12 1/2# to win it last Tuesday.

I don't like having to stop fishing at a certain time though, when I fish for fun I'm usually on the water as long as possible. I also feel that most of the time I would rather just be out there fishing for fun and usually only entered tournaments where I would have been there anyway. Either that or ones that were on new lakes to me, otherwise I'd never have gone to them. Another thing is that many people take tournaments way too seriously and act differently than they would normally act. I never fished bigger tournaments because I have no desire to become a pro or anything like that, I have a career that I like already.

I think you really need to evaluate why or why not you want to enter tournaments and choose which ones to fish. There are certain large organizations out there that pay back in the 60% range and other smaller ones that I fished that were 90-100%. While I didn't do it because I needed to win money I don't like getting robbed either. I do wonder why some people fish the larger trails when they are usually finish in the lower part. Sure you need time to learn but after a certain period I know that I would just have more fun fishing by myself, which is what I do most of the time and that's fine with me.

bamabassman · 06-22-10, 06:42 PM

thanks for the help guys. gonna give it my best.

tim4081 · 06-22-10, 10:25 PM

Good luck bama!!!

As for me I'm a fun fishermen. I have nothing against tourneys and have relatives who fish them quite a bit. For me fishing is relaxing and a way to get away from the high pressure, high competition I face at work every day. Thats the great thing about our sport....you can approach it from so many different angles and get so many different forms of satisfaction from it.

geezer1 · 06-23-10, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

I used to when I lived in Michigan a year ago but I stopped when I moved. I liked tournaments because of getting to meet people and sometimes getting money. Although VERY FEW anglers actually make any money when you factor in the costs involved. The ones I enjoyed the most were Tuesday nights, it was more like a bowling league or something since it was only $40/team, 100% payback, and a 3 fish limit. BTW it took 12 1/2# to win it last Tuesday.

I don't like having to stop fishing at a certain time though, when I fish for fun I'm usually on the water as long as possible. I also feel that most of the time I would rather just be out there fishing for fun and usually only entered tournaments where I would have been there anyway. Either that or ones that were on new lakes to me, otherwise I'd never have gone to them. Another thing is that many people take tournaments way too seriously and act differently than they would normally act. I never fished bigger tournaments because I have no desire to become a pro or anything like that, I have a career that I like already.

I think you really need to evaluate why or why not you want to enter tournaments and choose which ones to fish. There are certain large organizations out there that pay back in the 60% range and other smaller ones that I fished that were 90-100%. While I didn't do it because I needed to win money I don't like getting robbed either. I do wonder why some people fish the larger trails when they are usually finish in the lower part. Sure you need time to learn but after a certain period I know that I would just have more fun fishing by myself, which is what I do most of the time and that's fine with me.

You make some good points there, Bender. I know several people who burned out on tournaments, including me. I got back into them just a few years ago, but with a lot less "fire". With the exception of a few small local $ tournaments, I just fish the McDonalds/Sealy Big Bass tournaments. I like their format (single fish, launch where you like, etc.), & a good portion of the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House. They're big events, so the local economy gets a big boost which they really appreciate. I've met a lot of wonderful folks there too. While I love the competition, I've learned that it's not just about winning, for me. It's about participation and contribution in a worthwhile event. As you said, you have to evaluate why you do it to make the right decisions on which tournaments to fish.

Bender · 06-23-10, 01:35 PM

I almost made it to Guntersville this year to fish that one geezer! Several of my friends came down from Michigan but it was just too far from NY for me. That sounded like a lot of fun, open to shore fishermen too I believe. I'll schedule it in for next year since I'm close now.

geezer1 · 06-23-10, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

I almost made it to Guntersville this year to fish that one geezer! Several of my friends came down from Michigan but it was just too far from NY for me. That sounded like a lot of fun, open to shore fishermen too I believe. I'll schedule it in for next year since I'm close now.

I fished a military anglers tournament a few years back, on Guntersville. Got spanked REAL bad. Need to go back for some revenge. It's on my "bucket list". I hope you tear 'em up next year!

bamabassman · 06-23-10, 06:57 PM

bender, call me when ya plan on coming over here. but i warn you......you'll want to move again. hahaha!

06-21-10, 06:06 PM	#1
geezer1 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lakehills, Tx Posts: 185	Bass Tournaments I fish Bass tournaments. I do it because I like the competition. All of it. The Bass, the time constraints, the other contenders, fighting the weather & water when need be, etc. It's the only time you can truly test your skills and equipment against others. It allows you to learn a lot about yourself & helps hone mental toughness. And, in the process, you meet some very talented, interesting people. Do you fish tournaments? If so, why? If not, why not?

06-21-10, 10:42 PM	#4
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	well.....i am going to enter (well, already have,lol) enter 1 tourny. GBASSMAN and i are fishing the GAMBLER tourny. this saturday. we'll see how this one goes then we'll see about another. i am really ot a tourny fisherman. too much pressure for me i think. but you never know............ __________________ so many lures, so little time.

06-21-10, 10:59 PM	#5
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	I fish club tournaments, a Triton Trail, a Ranger Trail, and a lot of jackpot type tournaments as well. I do it for a lot of reason, the biggest being the compitition. You will really elevate your abilities when you fish against good anglers and there is money on the line. __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

06-22-10, 06:42 PM	#10
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	thanks for the help guys. gonna give it my best. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

06-23-10, 06:57 PM	#15
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	bender, call me when ya plan on coming over here. but i warn you......you'll want to move again. hahaha! __________________ so many lures, so little time.

06-21-10, 07:23 PM	#2
rangerryan BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ponca City, ok Posts: 432	Yes i do and for all the same reasons not to mention i get to take the day off of work.

06-21-10, 10:14 PM	#3
walkeraviator BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,119	I do not simply because i do not have the boat or the time... wish i could though.

06-21-10, 11:23 PM	#6
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	Yep...I really like to fun fish, but nothing gets me more excited than the morning of a tournament. I'm very competitive by nature...and tourneys get my blood flowing. Just wish I had the time to fish more tournaments.

06-22-10, 05:01 PM	#9
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	I used to when I lived in Michigan a year ago but I stopped when I moved. I liked tournaments because of getting to meet people and sometimes getting money. Although VERY FEW anglers actually make any money when you factor in the costs involved. The ones I enjoyed the most were Tuesday nights, it was more like a bowling league or something since it was only $40/team, 100% payback, and a 3 fish limit. BTW it took 12 1/2# to win it last Tuesday. I don't like having to stop fishing at a certain time though, when I fish for fun I'm usually on the water as long as possible. I also feel that most of the time I would rather just be out there fishing for fun and usually only entered tournaments where I would have been there anyway. Either that or ones that were on new lakes to me, otherwise I'd never have gone to them. Another thing is that many people take tournaments way too seriously and act differently than they would normally act. I never fished bigger tournaments because I have no desire to become a pro or anything like that, I have a career that I like already. I think you really need to evaluate why or why not you want to enter tournaments and choose which ones to fish. There are certain large organizations out there that pay back in the 60% range and other smaller ones that I fished that were 90-100%. While I didn't do it because I needed to win money I don't like getting robbed either. I do wonder why some people fish the larger trails when they are usually finish in the lower part. Sure you need time to learn but after a certain period I know that I would just have more fun fishing by myself, which is what I do most of the time and that's fine with me.

06-22-10, 10:25 PM	#11
tim4081 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Spring Lake, Michigan Posts: 195	Good luck bama!!! As for me I'm a fun fishermen. I have nothing against tourneys and have relatives who fish them quite a bit. For me fishing is relaxing and a way to get away from the high pressure, high competition I face at work every day. Thats the great thing about our sport....you can approach it from so many different angles and get so many different forms of satisfaction from it.

06-23-10, 01:35 PM	#13
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	I almost made it to Guntersville this year to fish that one geezer! Several of my friends came down from Michigan but it was just too far from NY for me. That sounded like a lot of fun, open to shore fishermen too I believe. I'll schedule it in for next year since I'm close now.

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