Bass clubs

[RK]

So those of you who belong to bass clubs... What do your clubs do besides tourneys in the summer? Are there winter meetings, etc.?

Kind of an odd question, and I hope nobody takes that the wrong way, as I'm being sincere here...

I've thought off and on about joining a local bass club, but I really don't have much interest in fishing tournaments. I don't have anything against them, and I've fished some in the past...I just don't enjoy them that much. Plus with my life the way it is during the summer, there's a 1:200 chance I'd be able to make them fit into my schedule anyhow.

So - beyond club tourneys, what's a bass club have to offer?

Like I said - sincere question here, as I really don't know what bass clubs are all about. Been in and around Muskies Inc, etc., for a few decades, but never had much to do with the bass club scene.

[Craigums]

Our club usually meets twice during the winter. It's a small club with 10-12 members. We usually pick lakes and tournament dates during one, and pay dues and hash over any business that needs to be taken care of before the season starts. Sometimes we will do a lake clean-up as part of one of those meetings. Mostly it's to get together, B.S., and maybe knock down a few beers. I'm not really sure about larger clubs though

[KickNBass]

I run a multi-specie club, we have an opening and closing banquet and all of the club members get invited to other events we do like a muskie tournament at the end of the year at our cabin, an ice fishing tournament at our buddy's lake and a SD walleye tournament.

[Gekhang]

club sponsor goods and discounts are the best benefits!

[RumRiverRat]

I joined Gopher Bassmasters this year.

There is a monthly meeting in the offseason. Did a lake cleanup in March.

A Bass Club is just a group of people that enjoy Bass fishing and talking Bass fishing.

From what I gather most of the guys in my club are pretty laid back, but still like competition but are not hard core about it.

With BASS affiliated clubs you have the opportunity to qualify for the state tournament, and at some point if ypu advance far enough you have a shot at fishing the Classic.

I joined to meet like minded individuals and to learn a thing or two about bass fishing.

[Deitz Dittrich]

RK- Good question. Personally, I think most clubs do revolve around events/tournaments. Those with connections to B.A.S.S. will be for sure. Though, there are clubs out there that are more about socializing. Quite a few years back I semi helped start a small bass club up here in the NE metro. It was more about learning and just getting out and fishing. It was catch and release, we met back at the boat landing and talked about what worked and what didn't. It wasn't really a tournament, though we did keep track of points, but you didnt really win anything with those points. LOL. So though we didnt have any meetings, we kinda had a meeting every tuesday or every other tuesday night after we got done fishing.

What exactly are you looking for Rob?

[RK]

RK- Good question. Personally, I think most clubs do revolve around events/tournaments. Those with connections to B.A.S.S. will be for sure. Though, there are clubs out there that are more about socializing. Quite a few years back I semi helped start a small bass club up here in the NE metro. It was more about learning and just getting out and fishing. It was catch and release, we met back at the boat landing and talked about what worked and what didn't. It wasn't really a tournament, though we did keep track of points, but you didnt really win anything with those points. LOL. So though we didnt have any meetings, we kinda had a meeting every tuesday or every other tuesday night after we got done fishing.

What exactly are you looking for Rob?

Yeah, more the social kind of thing. Like I said, tournaments really don't do much for me. Also curious to see if they do any resource/fishery related stuff, so nice to hear about the lake clean-ups and that sort of thing.

[BTL]

I joined a BASS Federation club about 10 years ago for 1 season. It was ok, but the expenses added up quick. I imagine a small club would be more fun.

[Wayne Ek]

Hi RK:

Missed you at some of the shows this year. We will still have to get out on the water when your up at your place. I have not been with a B.A.S.S. club since I moved to Alex. Prior to that I was with Viking and then Sportsman's. There are a couple of things about clubs and remember I've been away from them for over 13-years now. 1.) I learned more about bass fishing by joining a club than I ever thought possible and that's hard to say because I have been chasing bass since the age of 8, every summer up on Hoot Lake out of Fergus. 2.) I think both clubs had meetings once per month and an awards banquet. The summer meetings were the tournaments. 3.) Both clubs did civic events, mainly Casting Kids and Sportsman's cleaned up (trash pick-up) each access we launched out of, I think they still do that. 4.) I still think club fishing is one of the least expensive ways to find out if you really like tournament bass fishing. And then one of the best ways to hone those skills. 5.) Bass clubs are one of the absolute best ways to meet friends that share your love of fishing. Mike DaLoia and I meant in Sportsman's, as we joined at the same meeting. Mike is and has been my tournament partner for money tournaments to this day and I consider him one of my best friends to this day.

[RumRiverRat]

I forgot to add that a lot of the BASS affiliated clubs also have youth clubs.

No better way to share your passion than to get involved with the youth.

[RK]

Thanks for the info all. I'll start poking around for some clubs to check out.

Wayne - yeah, hockey season royally screwed with my getting to any shows this year. We do need to get out. One of my oldest and closest friends just moved to Alex (he took over a crop insurance biz from a guy who was retiring) so I'll be around there now and then. Let's keep in touch

Hoot is still pretty darn good BTW