tournament question.. 1st timer Here!

[BassAkwards]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new to this site and just trying to soak up as much info as possible. I just got a boat this winter...used 16 ft lund with a 20 hp merc tiller. I am looking to be a part of a few bass tourneys this year but being a rookie tournament goer I'm not quite sure what I should being doing. I have a couple of questions that hopefully someone can give me some insight...

Where can I find good, local, and fairly cheap tourneys?

Is this boat I just got going to embarrass me when I arrive?

What are some crucial things that I need to be legal and compete besides the basic dnr regulations?

Any good strategy tips for the first time in a tourney?

Would like any suggestions or recommendations anyone has regarding starting my rookie season...

Thanks a lot!!

[bassNspear]

First off i would like to welcome you to FM. This is a site that people are always looking to help people out, yet be able to have a great time hanging out.

As far as tournaments, its all going to depend on your location of where you live or where you want to fish out of.

As far as the boat, its all goign to depend on what level you are going to be fishing at. If your going to get with the big dawgs, then it might be different.

Some of the best tips i can give ya are, read up on all the different things that comes with bass fishing. Good fisherman learn by going out ad fishing, but yet they learn while reading, and watching tapes videos. Bass fishing is a sport that has some luck to it, yet, have to be smart about the seasons and tatics.

Best advice i can give ya, is find a small league wher you fish with a few other boats, and learn about the way tournaments run. Get out and talk to people. The best way to learn is by getting up at sun up and fishing till sun down.

Good Luck and Welcome to FM

BNS

[Central Bassman]

Ok... First off Welcome to FM... This is a great place to ask any question and really learn alot about fishing.

What i would highy suggest really bad is to join a B.A.S.S club. You go to the Minnesota B.A.S.S Fedartation HSOforum and its the first thing, right on the top. Joining a bass club like this will HELP YOU so much. It will give you the chance to fish with other anglers and LEARN alot. You can do this as a Boat or a non-boater. For you, i would do it as a non-boater so you can fish will different people in there boat and ask all the question you want. I have done this and it is great. You can still win tournaments as a non-boater and you can still go to the state tournament.

I would do as many Non-boater tournaments first befor you do boater touranemnt. You will learn everything that gos along with tournaments by doing this.

Your boat will work fine for just goin out an fishing and learning.

CB

[Bullwinkle]

Welcome to the best bass fishing forum on the net. What area do you live in and what distance are you looking to travel for a tournament? I may have something if you're interested. Also you might consider fishing in the Fishing Minnesota events this coming summer. Let me know.

[st.crioxfishin]

BassAkwards,

I just joined my first BASS club, and fished a full season last summer. The first few tournaments I did were to just see if I wanted to be in the club or not and I fished with other guys. Learned some good things, but also found that it would be nice to pick my own spots. So me and my dad rigged up a livewell in my 15ft boat, and thats what I used the rest of the year. Ended up doing just fine in the tournaments. I would recomend fishing maybe the first few tournies in other peoples boats, then try and do it by yourself later on. Your boat will work fine for small club tournaments...the fish don't care what kinda boat your in!

[Ray Esboldt]

I'll say the same as everyone else, join a club. I started fishing in a club when I was 18 years old. I probably learned more about bass fishing in the first 2 years I was in that club than I ever have since.

We hope to organize a couple FM Bass events this year. Get in on those. No one will care what kind of boat you have there. We're just there to have fun and learn a few things.

[Deitz Dittrich]

You guys rock.. I cant add anything to whats already been said....

[BassAkwards]

Awesome thanks.

Bulwinkle... I currently live in St. Paul but will be moving towards WBL and Forest Lake late this spring or midsummer. I need to get near more lakes and living on Grand Ave with my boat just isn't feasible. I would like to know of anything you got going...I fish anywhere from Prior Lake, to Minnetonka, to Bald Eagle to centerville. Can't wait to get started... I am seeking info now from MN B.A.S.S. so I can see what they are all about.

I'm excited to learn of events upcoming with FM. Is the Bass forum the spot to learn of Tourneys? Is there an email list I can get on for future dates? Just trying to get a little heads up so I can be Rookie of the Year!! LOL(there better be a trophy !)

Thanks again everyone!

[Central Bassman]

You can post it here or in the Tournament Forum but it really doesnt matter... We all live on this thing and will find it!!!

There will be announcement to when the FM events are!!!

[OLY]

If you are really looking to just learn and get into tournaments in a fun and very relaxed atmosphere, I would highly recommend coming and fishing in my club next year. All the guys are really into teaching and having fun. Most the guys have been in federation clubs and have fished big money tournaments in the past, but are now just looking to have a good time and help out newer guys. We are based out of st paul park and fish 6-8 tournaments a year around the metro. If you want to know more you can email me at [email protected]. We are definetly looking for some new members if anyone else is interested.

[Bullwinkle]

BassAk

Shoot me an email at ande1476 at hotmail (Contact Us Please) and I will give you some information on some tournaments that I will be runnning this year. After each tournament we will be discussing techniques and strategies that the top finishers used, possibly have a few cold ones, and b.s. a little bit.

[Daze Off]

Like Deitz said - advice has been right on target so I'll just add a couple small things I thought of -

(1) On the MN BASS Federation site, if you go to Tournaments you will find rules, etc. and if I remember correctly even an article about ettiquette which would be helpful.

2) For BASS Fed events all you really need is a working livewell for two anglers (most clubs fish two/boat) and a working kill switch. Insurance is also important.

3) I could not agree more with the joining a club and learning advice - the first year I was a bit of a hard-head and was a boater but found I learned WAY more being a non-boater the second year. Plus, I got to fish with the other guys who had boats rather than just the non-boaters every year.

Good luck and have fun - you'll meet some awesome people for the most part!

Daze Off

[Wayne Ek]

Great advise guys. The best piece of information so far is JOIN A CLUB. I think in the 6 years that I fished with clubs I learned way more than I would have if I just started bass fishing alone or in small tournaments. I fished with Sportsmans Bassmasters out of Bloomington. The nice thing about that club is they review each tournament at the next meeting. The top 1 or 2 boats get up and tell everyone: 1. how they fished 2. what they fished 3. where they fished and the best part, why they made those decisions. If you decide to sample money tournaments, look at Pro/Am format's and then pick one that has a total shared weight format. You and the Pro get to share the weight of all the fish caught, like a team tournament.

[HellaBass]

Everything is right on here, join a club, search for Gopher Bassmasters that is another good metro based BASS federation club

[bassNspear]

Ya this has been a grat trend for not just the person that was asking about what to do, but for others that were wondering the same thing.

[ikeslayer]

hey i have seen this GOOD ARTICLE around in serveral places and if fits really well here so i thought i would share it with you. It is about getting bit by the tourney bug and winning tournaments. Great article.

ike

[Slyster]

I got you beat! I have a 15hp 14' Lund. I fished a number of tourney's last summer (church league, Fishing MN, etc)... small time stuff... boat worked just great! Plus I pull it with a Firebird. Oh the comments I get...

[friendlyfisher]

Sly, that is hylarious(sp)

I pull my 7hp 15ft lund with a grand prix

[lookincalifornia]

i used to pull my alumacraft with an 84 cavalier my grandpa pulled his with a 76 aspen

[Double]

In regards to your boat, I fish in a small bass club in a 16 ft Lund with a 40HP tiller. While I hope to have a nice shiny glass bass boat someday and don't begrudge those who already do, there is some kinda twisted satisfaction to be had chugging in to weigh-in knowing you have a bigger bag than the guys who have spent 10 times the amount of money on a rig as you.

As long as your boat has a working livewell I would highly encourage entering a club.

Regards,

Double

[HellaBass]

Double is right one, several years ago before I was old enough to fish in the club I am in, a guy won AOY two years in a row out of a 16ft John Boat with a 9.9 Tohatsu and a livewell made from a big coleman cooler

[SluggoMaster]

We would be glad to have you in our league as well. See the link in my signature, and let me know if you have any questions. I am sure there will be a division near you and the costs are low.