Tournament Fishing vs. Trophy Fishing 2024
Glenn reply :
Do you approach a day differently when you're fishing a tournament vs. trophy fishing? If so, how?
Bassn Blvd reply :
I approach them differently.
When I'm in a tournament I target the part of the waterway that I feel is holding fish, not necessarily the biggest fish, but fish. Depending on the body of water I'm fishing in my area, I generally know what weight I'm going to need to finish in the top 3 or 4. I fish most of my tournaments at a rather fast pace. I might target a specific location and use 1 or 2 baits but If I don't produce in 10-15 or maybe 20 minutes then I'm moving. This sometimes does more harm then good though, usually when the bite is slow.
I might catch 15-20 pounds of fish in a 4 or 8 hour tourny but chances are those fish came from different areas of the lake.
I don't generally go out to "target" trophy bass but I always prepare myself (mindset) and treat each cast, hook set as if the bite on the end of my line is a trophy fish. I will focus on a particular spot that I feel is holding a trophy. I will spend a long time targeting that specific area but perhaps the trophy just isn't home or in the mood to eat. I can't afford to use that time dedicated to just 1 or 2 fish in a tournament, unless I get lucky and catch 2 fish at 10 pounds each.
Now, some guys I fish with in the short tournaments (4-5 hours) will target the "trophy," hoping to win the big fish pot. I don't believe they're confident in winning the tournament but instead, winning the "big fish" pool. These few guys will use 12-13 inch worms or big plugs and sometimes bring in only one fish to the scales, which could be 7-10 pounds.
Mattlures reply :
I have never fished a freshwater bass T but I have fished saltwater T'S
there are huge differences on how you apraoch them. In a T it you against other anglers and the clock. Time management and getting a limit are crucial. When hunting, its you against the fish. You set your own times and fish at your own tempo with your own rules. The biggest difference in the two besides actualy fishing, is choosing where to fish. In a T, you go where ever the T is sheduled. When hunting you pick the days, times and lakes you feel gives you the best shot at a big bass. I almost always try and go on weekdays to avoid the crowds. I also try to avoid lakes the are having T's or are being prefished for a T. Choosing the right when and where are HUGE. You dont get to choose those when T fishing. Also when I am just fun fishing (or if I was fishing in a T) I like company. But when I am hunting I preferr to do it alone. I like having a friend at the same lake but not fishing next to each other.
One other big difference is when T or fun fishing I like to move up on a spot and disect it. I will throw several differnt baits and fan cast a large area. When hunting I am much more deliberate. I dont want a fish to see my bait getting closer to them with each cast. I want a couple perfect casts on each known spot and then I move on. If a monster bass sees a swimbait swim by over and over agin from a distance then by the time you cast it in its strike zone the fish is already suspicious. If you sneak up and make a perfect presentation on the first cast chances are the fish will be in a much more receptive mode.
ab8aac reply :
When I am fishing in a tournament I focus on the limit first then start culling by going to where I have caught big fish before. I don't do the run and gun thing as I have a small (15ft 1982 kingfisher) boat and 40 hp motor, so I concentrate on an area that holds a lot of keeper fish and try to catch everyone of them. After I get my limit 3 or 5 whichever, then I move to the points and deep water and go to the big cranks and worms for the larger fish.
When I am looking for trophy fish like right now I am focusing on only the areas that hold the bigger fish, and looking for the schoolers and try to get under them as I have caught a lot of 6-7-8lb'ers that way, but that still isn't the 10-14lb'er that I am trying to get on the hook, I know he is there or rather they are there as I have had them right to the boat and broke them off just haven't got him IN the boat yet.
Frank Williams
tnhiker44 reply :
Although I never fished any of them... I have seen several tournaments where they combined both of these 'modes'. During the summer on Dale Hollow they have overnight tourneys for just one fish... largest fish takes all. 20, 30 even 40 boats out all night for one large smallie. Considering that at the time the minimum size limit was 18 inches, I have seen some beautiful fish at the weigh ins. And although it would be difficult to break the 3/5/7 fish limit mentality, I would like to see more of these style tournaments. And I say this right in the middle of a large fish funk... I have not even come close to big fish honors this year in any tournament I have fished.
Catt reply :
Tournaments, hawg hunting, or fun fishing are all met with the same intense amount of zeal, energy, determination, concentration & preparation.
Fishing Rhino reply :
QuoteTournaments, hawg hunting, or fun fishing are all met with the same intense amount of zeal, energy, determination, concentration & preparation.
That's great, but, do you use the same strategy for each?
Jay_G reply :
Matt's information is right on and very informative. Thanks
Catt reply :
QuoteQuoteTournaments, hawg hunting, or fun fishing are all met with the same intense amount of zeal, energy, determination, concentration & preparation.That's great, but, do you use the same strategy for each?
Absolutely 
mikey16 reply :
in tournament fishing i fish for a limit in trophy fishing i just try to target just big fish. i run and gun in tournaments and milk a spot that looks good when trophy fishing
GLADES reply :
At first light during a T, I am hunting for the trophy bass. Usually the bigger fish are feeding early and it is when you will get a chance to land some quality. After a few hours, if I am not already culling, I will target smaller fish with downsized tackle to get my limit.
After I have my limit, I will determine based upon the days results if I should stay with the same tackle or change up.
Of course, if I have not caught anything by 11AM, I will definately tie on the trick worms.
WRB reply :
Tournament fisherman are governed by rules, day and time limitations. The trophy fisherman is unrestricted, within local law, to when, where and how to fish.
The tournament fisherman has different goals; it's a contest to win money or club status by catching the heaviest 5 bass limit, within the rules. Generally that requires catching bass that average 3 lbs.
The trophy bass fisherman can fish when he or she wishes and use whatever technique or presentation, including live bait and trolling. There are no off limit areas unless posted locally and no time limitations. The goal of the trophy fisherman is to catch the largest bass possible.
Very different approach to bass fishing between a tournament angler and a trophy fisherman. The tournament fisherman targets aggressive young adult size bass with little life experience, easy targets. The trophy fisherman targets the the most experienced and wary bass in the lake, the giant bass.
Both have different mind sets, both are challenging.
When tournament fishing I target active bass early with reaction type lures first; buzzers, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, spooks, poppers, jerkbait and cover water trying to locate aggressive bass. When I find feeding bass then I will stay on them. As the day progresses the presentations slow down if the bass bite slows down or I need a kicker bass.
When trophy fishing I start slow and check out known big bass locations by metering and probing quietly with swimbaits, big worms and jigs. If the location feels right, I will stay on that spot for a few hours before moving and may come back a few hours later during the day.
WRB
bigtimfish reply :
I don't tourney fish, but if I did, I could not see myself doing anything different. I pull to a spot,analyze the situation,structure,surroundings(boat traffic),wind,water temps,depth. Throw all 12 of my rods 10 to 15 times each and if no bites, move to the next spot.
Matt Fly reply :
When I fish Big Bass Splashes BBS, the ones that pay 100,000 for first place, or just Trophy hunting, I'm really looking for one BIG BITE at a time.
Rarely will I run and gun. I will hole set a piece of water all day looking for that one bite.
Obviously I have confidence in that part of the water based on past results.
Catt showed me a few spots on TBend for a BBS. I liked the one that set on a flat, 13 feet of water, hydrilla next to the river channel bend that dropped to 60 feet.
Out of the 3-4 spots we fished, the one close to the bend, grass and depth is the one I set on for 3 days straight. No DD, but on day 3, I did take home a check for 900 for taking 2nd place in the two o'clock weigh-in. Just missed 1500 for the bonus hour
If hog hunting, I'll drift into my areas using the wind 50 yards out. NO noise, I tie up, or anchor, no electronics.
WRB reply :
If you are fishing a big bass tournament, where 1 bass wins the prize, then you are trophy fishing with time limits and governing rules that usually restrict livebait and trolling.
Most big bass fisherman will have a milk run of specific spots where they camp out.
WRB
Catt reply :
I started tournament fishing during early 70s in Southern Arkansas, East Texas and Louisiana; for 10 or 12 years I fished at least one 2 day tournament a week
I also started my schooling under Joseph Addison (my uncle), Elwood L. " Buck" Perry, Bill Murphy, Dudley Carver (Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Biologist), and others during this same time.
I approach each day out on the water the same by eliminating patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicating patterns and waters that are productive.
WRB reply :
It's been my experience that the majority of tournament fisherman will not take the time to learn the habits of trophy size bass or get into the rythym of what the bass are feeding on in the body of water during the seasonal period they fish. One reason is time limitations; the tournament fisherman is restrict to a start time and weigh in time, what happens after or before, they believe doesn't affect them.
The simple fact is most 5 bass type tournaments can be won in or near the marina they launch from. How many tournament fisherman would even consider that fact? very few, you can't run 75 mph in the marina and some are restricted areas.
The lakes I fish are small and the spots are well known, few are secrets.Today's fisherman are knowledgeable and have state of the art tackle. Most tournament fisherman simply do not know bass habits and fish unproductive water hoping to catch bass with a magic lure or presentation. Good tournament and trophy bass fisherman take their time and fish productive water.
WRB
Catt reply :
WRB, I would add the weekend warrior along with the tournament angler
The reason is they have a lack of knowledge about big bass, basic misconceptions about big bass and fishing techniques for big bass and the human tendency to respond to failure and frustration by over complication rather than simplification of technique and theory.
WRB reply :
Catt, you have posted a ton of good advice about fishing outside structure, because from experience you know where big bass live most of the year. How many weekend warriors leave the bank farther away than a casting distance? very few, although more each year.
I mentioned club bassers due to the topic, should of said weekend warriors.
George Welcome reply :
Yikes: "Most tournament fisherman simply do not know bass habits and fish unproductive water hoping to catch bass with a magic lure or presentation."
Mattlures reply :
Another difference is how hard they work. If you watch KVD he makes 1000's of cast each day. He is a machine. He covers so much water. He is playing the percentages. If he makes 500 casts and his oponent makes 300 he has an advantage. This is not true when hunting. Now there is a difference in which baits you use. When throwing swimbaits I only make a few well planned out casts to each spot. If I am stitching a wom or jig I will stay on a spot much longer. If you know your spot holds big bass then you can wait them out with a bait with almost no negative ques like a worm or jig or live bait. You might fish by them for hours and then they turn on or you might fish a spot for hours with no fish there but you know the big ones will be there sometime that day. You just wait them out.
Another huge differnce is I like to get out of my boat to sneak up to fish, cant do that in a T
Lund Explorer reply :
QuoteYikes: "Most tournament fisherman simply do not know bass habits and fish unproductive water hoping to catch bass with a magic lure or presentation."
Yikes x2!
I really think that the majority of tournament fisherman, aka: Weekend Warriors, spend a great deal of their off the water time trying to keep abreast of the many new lures, techniques, and patterns that have been developed by the minority of tournament anglers, aka: the Full Time Pro. When the weekend warrior finally gets the chance to get on the water, they try to find ways to duplicate the things they've learned.
I think that the majority of tournament anglers become more flexible in their abilities as they are forced by the schedule to fish many different lakes/rivers over the course of the year. This really doesn't give them the chance to dissect a specific body of water for the few spots where the Hawg Hunter comes into his own.
The biggest difference between the groups is the definition of success, which is a personal decision that each makes.
In my honest opinion, I don't think that any of these types of fisherman is better than the other. The full time pro has the chance to work at his trade without the distractions faced by the weekend warrior who needs to work off the water to make ends meet. The weekend warriors are the driving force in the marketing of the sport of fishing as they purchase the products developed by the pros. The big bass specialists invest a great deal of time and effort into trying to catch the oldest and wisest of the species. Every one of these types of anglers, tries to maximize their enjoyment of the sport of angling.
Finally, I think that there's even a place on the water for Muddy's Mooks. A place were the simple act of sitting on the bank, or in your boat provides an escape from the everyday stresses we all face. Most if not all of us started out this way. I feel lucky to have explored the weekend warrior side of the sport over the years, and I'm happy to be slowly returning to the status of Mook!
Catt reply :
One of the keys to my success is that I follow the fish; I'm constantly trying to figure where they might be based on season and weather. Most weekend warriors struggle with this concept. They tend go to where they caught them the last time they went fishing. That's not always a good thing to do.
I'm not talking moving from spawning flats to summer homes but rather where on the structure the bass are located from day to day. There is no scientific test or mathematical formula, it's all experience and knowing your waters. What are the fish doing, how they are relating to structure/cover.
If you target areas known for small bass you'll catch small bass If you target areas known for big bass you'll catch big bass.
If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got
WRB reply :
QuoteYikes: "Most tournament fisherman simply do not know bass habits and fish unproductive water hoping to catch bass with a magic lure or presentation."
You are right, that could be misinterpreted or misstated. Most to me met over 50% of all the weekend tournament fishermen combined, excluding the top pro tournament trails. There will always be the top 20% that win 80% of the tournaments. The top 20% are excellent fisherman, extremely knowledgeable and skilled. The will also be the lower 50% that are learning, some will become the top 20%, most will stay where they are because fishing local bass tournaments is a good time out on the water.
The good trophy bass fisherman spends a lot of time on 1 or 2 lakes and has a good knowledge of bass habits, better then most tournament fisherman.
Let say you are a tournament bass fisherman and need to catch a bass over 8 lbs to win, where would you go on the lake and what would you use to catch the big bass?
WRB
Catt reply :
WRB, I don't know what tournament anglers are like where you live but down here there are double digit bass weighed in every tournament.
35-40 pound 5 bass stringers are quite common
cart7t reply :
QuoteOne of the keys to my success is that I follow the fish; I'm constantly trying to figure where they might be based on season and weather. Most weekend warriors struggle with this concept. They tend go to where they caught them the last time they went fishing. That's not always a good thing to do.I'm not talking moving from spawning flats to summer homes but rather where on the structure the bass are located from day to day. There is no scientific test or mathematical formula, it's all experience and knowing your waters. What are the fish doing, how they are relating to structure/cover.
If you target areas known for small bass you'll catch small bass If you target areas known for big bass you'll catch big bass.
If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got
You LIVE on the lake for goodness sakes. The ability to spend time, lots of time on the water in between weekends cannot be underestimated. It gives those with that ability a huge advantage primarily because they can stay more in tune with what and where the fish are up to. It's the reason some clubs have exclusions for those that live within X amount of miles from a lake and why some T's prohibit guides from entering.
The typical weekend warrior is hitting the water green, unless he/she has the ability to take time off from work to gain some pre-fishing time and that's IF the tournament doesn't have a rule against that.
Even within a given seasonal time frame of the basses cycle, there are a multitude of variables that exist that Mr. Weekend warrior must eliminate before finding what works. On top of that, he/she is facing a number of possible patterns that can find the fish in feeding mood that spans from negative to positive. Given the relatively short time frame of a typical tournament, it's pretty understandable that so many of those guys are fishing towards shore. Since most lakes have some sort of shallow bite year round, that's the fastest way to try and put some fish in the boat.
cart7t reply :
BTW, back on topic.
I'm more deliberate in my approaches when I'm not fishing a T vs when I am. I'll try and hit the transition times, dawn and dusk which isn't possible during a tournament and get off the waters between 8-10am and 2-5pm and rest or do other things. Unless I'm finding a really strong bite that holds out all day long, I no longer turn my fishing days into marathons.
WRB reply :
QuoteWRB, I don't know what tournament anglers are like where you live but down here there are double digit bass weighed in every tournament.35-40 pound 5 bass stringers are quite common
DD bass are only common during the pre-spawn- spawn period tournaments and night tournaments. Most tournaments in CA are 1 day, 6 hour events from 7A to 2P, very few 2 day events.
Pre-spawn/spawn events the weights to win are in the 35 to 40 lb range. Summer about 1/2; 18 to 20 and 15 lbs will get you a check most of the time.
Example the HBC-5, a 1 big bass event at the CA delta was won with a 6.9 lb bass, everyone expected DD's and at least a 12 lb to win. Summer tournaments can be tough out west.
Best 1 day, 5 bass tournament weight is 62+ lbs., so a limit of DD's can be done in a tournament, it's a rare event.
Some of the top trophy fisherman tournament fish; Bill Seimantel, Mike Long, John Kerr to name a few who are regulars at local tournaments and if there is a big bass bite, they are on it.
WRB
Catt reply :
"Don't fall into the trap of looking for five quick keepers and then working to upgrade. That's probably the number one strategy recreational tournament anglers employ. That works sometimes, and sometimes not. I'd like to suggest another strategy. It's worked for me. Maybe it'll work for you.
"Think about going to your big bass spot first thing in the morning and getting your day off to a good start. There's nothing that'll change your mental outlook like a 3- and a 4-pounder in the boat before 9 a.m. KVD and the Competitive Edge By Ed Harp
Bassmaster.com
cart7t reply :
Quote"Don't fall into the trap of looking for five quick keepers and then working to upgrade. That's probably the number one strategy recreational tournament anglers employ. That works sometimes, and sometimes not. I'd like to suggest another strategy. It's worked for me. Maybe it'll work for you."Think about going to your big bass spot first thing in the morning and getting your day off to a good start. There's nothing that'll change your mental outlook like a 3- and a 4-pounder in the boat before 9 a.m. KVD and the Competitive Edge By Ed Harp
Bassmaster.com
but you also said this..
QuoteOne of the keys to my success is that I follow the fish; I'm constantly trying to figure where they might be based on season and weather. Most weekend warriors struggle with this concept. They tend go to where they caught them the last time they went fishing. That's not always a good thing to do.
Most weekend warriors struggle with the concept because they don't have the time on the water to actually follow the fish. Typical tournament anglers fall into a couple categories, the guys who fish different bodies of water from weekend to weekend or those that concentrate on a single body of water.
For those fishing travelers, their chances of actually figuring out where the fish are in the seasonal migration within an 8 hour time frame on a lake they may have fished only once the past year (or not at all) are pretty slim. "Go to your big bass spot first thing in the morning?" That big bass spot may have been great last spring, the last time that angler was at the lake but several months down the road it isn't.
The guys that concentrate on a single body of water to fish on all year at least have a better chance. They have an idea where the fish were last weekend and the weekend before. They'll probably have an idea of bass/forage connection on that lake from previous years experience and are able to get themselves in position to catch decent fish, even a limit.
IMO, if you want to fish weekend tournaments and have the best chance of putting yourself into the money and you don't have a lot of free time or monetary resources to spend extra time on tournament bodies of water during the week, you're best to concentrate on a specific lake and learn it. While it doesn't guarantee a check at each weigh-in, you certainly increase your odds immensely.
I'd be more curious to see what KVD's strategy would be if he were up against locals on a lake without the aid of pre-fishing time. I suspect he'd have to shift gears like so many other weekend warriors do.
BTW, BASSMASTER's "Day on the Lake" series was probably one of the best features that magazine ever produced. It dropped tournament trail anglers onto a lake they had never fished and told them to catch fish. Some did, some didn't. The one thing I learned though was the methods I was using to try and find fish on a strange body of water or one I didn't fish often were almost dead, spot-on the same as most of the pro's use. I suspect I'm not the only one that fishes in the same way.
The_Natural reply :
I have relentless enthusiasm every time I fish, but fishing a tournament and fishing for a trophy are polar opposites. If you are fishing a tournament, it is proven that 'getting 5' is priority number one. It's just a different strategy. Time management is also key when fishing a tournament, and 'spot' management is also big. When do you leave? Do you need to leave fish for days 2 and 3?. You don't want to wear out your spot on day 1. I think Trophy fishing falls under the 'fun fishing' category. You aren't going to prefish for 5 days before you go out and try to catch a big bass.....that sounds ridiculous. Adequate tournament preparation involves map study and backup plans...generally not something you do when you go fishing for a large bass. You can confidently sit on a spot all day when trophy fishing....even if you don't have a fish by noon. However, in a tournament...odds are you need to move.
Catt reply :
I highly doubt there are any tournament trails that hold each tournament on totally different bodies of water; they would run out of places to fish.
Big bass can and are caught outside of the spawn!
IMO, if you want to fish weekend tournaments and have the best chance of putting yourself into the money you better have a lot of free time and monetary resources to spend the extra time on tournament bodies of water during the week otherwise you are just donating your enter fees.
Lund Explorer reply :
Gosh Catt, you need to try a season up here in Michigan.
Last group I fished with had 8 tournaments on 8 different lakes, over a period of 15 weeks. Each lake was off limits for 6 days prior to the tournament date. Two day classic wasn't announced until the end of the last qualifier, and was normally not a repeat of the first eight. That lake was open to prefishing for one day (the Sunday after the announcement), and then was off limits for two weeks.
cart7t reply :
There are a couple clubs in my area that fish around 8-9 T's a year, none of them on the same lake. The same goes for the guys that don't fish in affiliated tournaments but instead, fish the larger charitable events. Those draw a huge number of boats but also have big payouts, often a boat and motor. You could fish a dozen of those in a year within 300-350 miles of my house and never fish the same body of water.
I've fished my share of those tournaments. Where I knew I was going up against guys like Charlie Campbell and Stacy King on Table Rock. Talking about playing pool against a guy on his own table. I had no chance unless I somehow hit "The spot" at the right time with the right lure and presentation. Some of those guys think if they fish enough of them that the pay day will eventually payoff. I personally think they're just throwing their money away. I've been there and done that.
FishinDaddy reply :
Quotethere are double digit bass weighed in every tournament.35-40 pound 5 bass stringers are quite common
X2 Unless it's December and a cold front just blew through, you better have at least 25 lbs a day. I have had several 15 lb limits this year that did not put me in the top 20.
Every tournament this year has had at least 8's for big fish with a 14 in April took big fish and she was not caught sight fishing.
Tournament fishing on Kissimmee is a trophy hunt. Hours of flipping outside lines or working submerged hydrilla lines with a carolina rig. Either way you are only looking for 5 big bites. It is not worth the time to catch a small limit to start because it will not do you any good anyway.
Catt reply :
So in every tournament y'all have no entrant has been on any lake ever?
Y'all want to throw out a list of Pros, Semi-Pros and guides we fish against and beat in our tournaments; to verify ask Jack Yates, Matt Fly and others or look up Bass-N-Bucks or Bass Champs
Pros
Harold Allen
Cody Bird
Rick Clunn
Randy Dearman
Villis P "Bo" Dowden SR
Todd Faircloth
Randy Fite
Greg Hackney
Homer Humphreys
Gary Klein
Kelly Jordon
Elton Luce
Tommy Martin
Lendell Martin
Ben Matsubu
Larry Nixon
Tahahiro Omori
Bud Pruitt
Zell Rowland
Lonnie Stanley
Sam Swett
David Whorton
Charlie Wong
Judy Wong
Gary Yamaoto
Jay Yelas
Lane Vick
Semi Pros/Guides
Mike Bono
E P Borel
Butch Covington
John Dean
John Gunnels
John Hall
George Jeane Jr
George Jeane Sr
Stephen Johnson
Paul Key
Ronald Mentor
Patrick C. Miller
Dicky Newberry
Buddy Pesson
R J Petty
Bob Sealy
John Torain
David Truax
Joe Joslin
Phil Addison
cart7t reply :
QuoteSo in every tournament y'all have no entrant has been on any lake ever?
I don't think you're getting this at all.
You and WRB made blanket statements lumping all tournament anglers into one basket. A basket that says they don't know how to fish for bass using seasonal migration movements nor understanding the forage base the bass are currently using.
That they rely on catching bass using special XYZ lure.
That's just not true. What they are doing is giving themselves the best possible chance to weigh fish given the odds stacked against them that the competition (local anglers) brings to the table. ie: the ability to spend time on the water before the tournament locating the fish.
Catt reply :
No Mr. Cart I don't think you're getting this at all.
First I never lumped all tournament anglers in basket Mr. WRB did, I narrowed the list down to Weekend Warriors.
You and Lund Explorer talked about fishing different bodies of water with each tournament (hitting the water green) as though y'all never fish the same body of water twice ever.
Then you proceed to throw out names of Pros/locals who for what ever reason scare you into thinking you can't compete against them. A direct quote of yours Unless you have intimate knowledge of a lake, despite the fact you don't live there, or are just really, really lucky, entering in a typical buddy type tournament that has no provisions for excluding guides or locals is a waste of money IMO. You really stand no chance.
I offered up a list of anglers we down here in south compete against regularly and on different bodies of water. I'm not intimidated by a single name on that list because I have seen each and every one of them bomb just like me. Beating these top flight anglers does wonders for your ego but watching them struggle to boat a limit opens a whole new level of confidence in your mind.
cart7t reply :
QuoteWRB, I would add the weekend warrior along with the tournament angler
You did lump tournament anglers in with WW's as you can see.
Then this
QuoteThen you proceed to throw out names of Pros/locals who for what ever reason scare you into thinking you can't compete against them.
Scare me into thinking I can't compete? I gave an example of a charity tournament usually thrown each spring on Table Rock lake in MO. These normally draw 500 boats on average. The payout is usually a new boat and motor. Stacy and Charlie are but a few of the ringers you're fishing against. As a weekend warrior tournament angler, my odds of beating those guys are slim and none. I have to hope I can luck into hitting just the right spot with just the right lure at just the right time given the fact I'm hitting the water green the morning of the tournament.
This is the part that while I agree with your concept, this isn't a reality for a weekend warrior
QuoteOne of the keys to my success is that I follow the fish; I'm constantly trying to figure where they might be based on season and weather. Most weekend warriors struggle with this concept. They tend go to where they caught them the last time they went fishing. That's not always a good thing to do.I'm not talking moving from spawning flats to summer homes but rather where on the structure the bass are located from day to day. There is no scientific test or mathematical formula, it's all experience and knowing your waters. What are the fish doing, how they are relating to structure/cover.
If a weekend warrior is lucky he got to fish the lake the weekend before. Hopefully what he found will hold up until the next week of the tournament. At least he/she is in the ballpark. But those that can't get to the lake the week before or maybe not even a month or more before can't even begin to trying to locate fish on structure and refine a pattern within a typical 8 hour tournament time frame. They're much better off looking for catchable shallow bass as a means of cutting the odds that are stacked against them.
Catt reply :
Then why tournament fish if you don't believe you can ever win?
I can not remember the last time I fished Rayburn but I promise you by taking into consideration the weather pattern for the last 3-4 days and the weather pattern for the next 3-4 days I can locate and catch fish.
May not win a tournament but then again
Look at the list of Pros above, pick any 5, and add the entire 2nd list now you have the entry list for a typical Bass-N-Bucks or Bass Champs tournament. Now keep in mine we have a 5 day off-limits period which consists of the Monday-Friday prior to the tournament; this 5 day off-limits period just put me on level ground with all entrants.
Lund Explorer reply :
Trying painfully here to get back to the subject matter at hand, I guess I'll try one last time to make my point as to what separates the difference between the various types of fisherman.
I will refrain from making blanket statements as to the specific weight of either a hawg bass or a winning tournament sack. No fisherman from this far north is going to brag about a locally caught 14lb bass or a 40lb bag. It is my contention that a good angler, regardless of his or her location, will excel at their chosen specialty within their geographical limitations. Of course if this thought process is wrong, if anyone who can't catch DD bass on a consistent basis is somehow inferior, then I can only mention the success of KVD, a homegrown Michigan angler, in my defense.
Having said all of that, I will venture that the tournament fisherman is a more well rounded fisherman. Whether as a touring professional or the weekend warrior, success is based on their knowledge of bass habits, habitat, and the wide options of tackle and presentations needed to be competitive. Much like the matter of size is a moot point, so is issue of success based on the level of competition faced by the tournament angler. To be truly successful at their chosen venture, the tournament angler will always try to move their game upwards. They know that the measure of success is marked by reputation, and that this requires the tournament angler to continually improve in that ability. No one is going to take a tournament angler seriously who only fishes his or her "home waters", or who competes only against anglers who they are assured of beating. He or she may through time, discover the keys to where a local lake's largest bass reside, and even what lures it takes to catch these fish. But with the exception of certain "big bass" tournaments, the goal of the tournament angler is the overall weight of their limit. Granted that this weight will be affected by the "kicker" fish, but for the most part, that is a secondary goal.
From my experience with the trophy fisherman, and granted that this is limited by geography, I find that they are highly adept at finding and catching the biggest bass in a limited number of lakes. This is most likely due to the time required to not only learn of the best habitat, but also to make sure that they are on those hot spots when the time is right to meet their goals. I'm sure that the knowledge they have regarding what it takes to catch these trophies on their home waters, is also knowledge that will work if they were forced or chose to move onto a strange or new lake. It may take them a little longer to actually narrow down specific spots, but I'm sure that process would be quicker for them than for a tournament fisherman given that same scenario.
So to boil all of this down, I will once again say that regardless of whether the angler in question is a touring pro, a weekend warrior, or the hawg hunter, each has specific goals that they are trying to reach. To attain those goals, they must learn all they can to be successful while off of the water, and then must be able to put that knowledge to good use.
In my opinion then, there isn't any one type of fisherman that is any better than the other, so long as they have set their goals, and do what is required to meet them. The tournament fisherman does what he or she can to compete against the other anglers. The trophy fisherman does what needs to be done to catch the largest fish.
So in answer to the basic question, there is no difference. I once was at a seminar when I heard Jimmy Houston state that "All fisherman are competitive". I couldn't agree more.
roadwarrior reply :
Well, my observation is a little different:
Tournament fishermen need to be "versatile", but trophy
fishermen just need to be very good at a few techniques.
Tournament fishermen usually need five fish; trophy
hunters want one and just occasionally.
Tx guys probably need to move around; trophy hunters
tend to stay put.
Tx = competition, mano a mano; big bass guys, unless they
are the very top of the heap, compete with themselves and
their quarry.
Tx = (generally) lots of little fish that trophy hunters would
consider "bait"
Tx = money and fame; trophy = pride
8-)
Matt Fly reply :
QuoteWell, my observation is a little different:Tx guys probably need to move around; trophy hunters
tend to stay put.
8-)
And to think I said I hole set all day if looking for one special bite.
8- ;D
Catt reply :
I then on what I know & what I can control
I know I'm in the state of Texas
I know its mid summer
I know what the weather pattern was & will be
I know I better be fishing deep water structure because that is where the bait will be
I know I better be in or near grass
I know I better be throwing deep diving cranks, Carolina rig, Texas rigs, & Jigs
I know this will work for a tournament sack or big bass
I know you should know this about your own lakes
Again I say I approach both trophy hunting and tournaments the same
WRB reply :
Most of the good trophy bass fisherman were or still are tournament fisherman. A good trophy bass fisherman knows when, where and how to catch big bass. A good tournament fisherman knows how to manage time on the water and catch 5 daily bass.
The majority of weekend tournament fisherman rarely catch big bass and don't know when, where or how to catch them consistently.
If that statement offends you, it shouldn't, and you are are tournament fisherman that can catch big enough bass to win or place high enough to get a check, congratulations; you are in the top 20% of all tournament fisherman.
Do the math; 5 bass that average 4 lbs = 20 lbs, enough to win the vast majority of one day weekend bass tournaments. 5 bass that average 8 lbs = 40 lbs, not a common one day tournament weight during the summer. For a tournament to average 35 to 40 lbs a day to win or get a check, during the summer, are phenomenal weights.
WRB
cart7t reply :
I think you're confusing trophy bass with big bass.
If you take a look at typical tournament stats in my state, the winners have a nice sack of fish that average 3-5lbs per fish. The big bass, or even 2nd or 3rd runners up to big bass are rarely caught by anybody in the top 5. It's usually somebody much further down that stumbles onto that big bass while they're attempting to fill that initial 5 bass limit.
But that 5-7lb kicker fish that gets weighed is barely what would be considered a true trophy in my state. If I was really trophy fishing my sights would be set on 6 1/2lbs minimum with my hopes set for something around 8 and 9 would be better. While still very short of my states record, any fish in the 8-9lb range are hard to come by just trophy fishing, let alone seeing one weighed in a tournament.
Of course my states trophy size is relative compared to your states or anyone elses.
bigtimfish reply :
What is your states record? just curious.
senile1 reply :
QuoteWhat is your states record? just curious.
Missouri Largemouth: 13 lbs 14 oz
Missouri Smallmouth: 7 lbs 2 oz
Missouri Spotted Bass: 7 lbs 8 oz
WRB reply :
QuoteWhat is your states record? just curious.
LMB
21.74; official state record
22.01; Crupi record
25.1; "Dottie"
Smallmouth
9.83
Spotted bass
10.27; official world record
Take your pick
WRB
PS: big tournament bass is any LMB bass over 8 lbs in CA.
bigtimfish reply :
QuoteQuoteWhat is your states record? just curious.LMB
21.74; official state record
22.01; Crupi record
25.1; "Dottie"
Smallmouth
9.83
Spotted bass
10.27; official world record
Take your pick
WRB
PS: big tournament bass is any LMB bass over 8 lbs in CA.
I meant Missouri st record
WRB reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteWhat is your states record? just curious.LMB
21.74; official state record
22.01; Crupi record
25.1; "Dottie"
Smallmouth
9.83
Spotted bass
10.27; official world record
Take your pick
WRB
PS: big tournament bass is any LMB bass over 8 lbs in CA.
I meant Missouri st record
Posted above by Senile 1
Texas state records;
LMB; 18.11
Smallmouth; 7.93
Spotted bass; 5.55
WRB
PS; what is considered a big bass tournament in Texas?
FishinDaddy reply :
florida 17.27
roadwarrior reply :
TN: World Record Smallmouth: 11 lbs 15 oz
For the rest of us, moderate numbers, but size!
8-)
Catt reply :
This would be a typical tournament break down
5 bass less than15 pounds: you have donated your entry fee
5 bass over 15 pounds but less than 20 pounds: top 15
5 bass over 20 pounds but less than 25 pounds: top 5
5 bass 25-30 pounds you should win
30-35 pound stringers with no kickers are not unheard of but usually consist of a 10-12 pound kicker.
Despite popular belief summer consistently produces bigger stringers because the bass are more predictable.
Outside of pre-spawn/spawn no tournaments are won shallow period
85% of double digit bass are caught in water 15-25' deep
Tin reply :
Round and round we go....
WRB reply :
Other than El Salto no lakes can rival Texas.
KVD won the Gunthersville's Elite series with a 16+lb average for 4 days at 66 lbs 3 oz. The last CA delta event was won with a 22 lbs average; 66 lbs for 3 days by Ish Monroe.
After the spawn the big girls go deep and continue to eat all summer, few DD's are caught by tournament fisherman after they go deep out west, during a weekend day.
The US Open will be held at Lake Mead in a few weeks, my guess a 16 lb average for the 4 day event will win.
WRB
Catt reply :
Still my favorite video Paul Elias Lake Falcon 132 pounds 8 ounces for 20 bass
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=3383737
WRB reply :
QuoteStill my favorite video Paul Elias Lake Falcon 132 pounds 8 ounces for 20 basshttp://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=3383737
+1
WRB
PS; pre-spawn/spawn period
Red Dragons reply :
QuoteThe US Open will be held at Lake Mead in a few weeks, my guess a 16 lb average for the 4 day event will win.
WRB
Last year was 27 pounds for 3 days to win? I think 8 pounds a day and you're in more than great shape at Mead, at least the smallies look like they will help out- Starts Thursday, always great to follow the action at the Open.
bigtimfish reply :
8 pounds for a 5 fish bag? That's it? Maybe I misunderstood what you are saying.QuoteQuoteThe US Open will be held at Lake Mead in a few weeks, my guess a 16 lb average for the 4 day event will win.
WRB
Last year was 27 pounds for 3 days to win? I think 8 pounds a day and you're in more than great shape at Mead, at least the smallies look like they will help out- Starts Thursday, always great to follow the action at the Open.
Mattlures reply :
8lbs for 5 fish each of the 3 days for a total of 24lbs will put you towards the top and possibly be enough to win. The US open is on lake Mead. Mead is know for its small bags and many anglers do not catch a limit. It doesnt sound like a lot of fun
bigtimfish reply :
Quote8lbs for 5 fish each of the 3 days for a total of 24lbs will put you towards the top and possibly be enough to win. The US open is on lake Mead. Mead is know for its small bags and many anglers do not catch a limit. It doesnt sound like a lot of fun
Why would they put them on a lake like this? For the challenge? 8 pounds for a 5 fish bag? That's horrible. I can catch that in my local heavy pressure pond down the road.
The_Natural reply :
QuoteStill my favorite video Paul Elias Lake Falcon 132 pounds 8 ounces for 20 basshttp://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=3383737
Can you (or anyone) imagine? It blows my mind....
Mattlures reply :
Bigtime, probably because its the biggest T out west and Mead is Ginormous. Its also very close to Vegas. It works well for hosting huge tournaments. Its just tough fishing. I predict the winning weight will be around 30 lbs for 3 days.
Natural in a T setting that is absolutel incredible. with the clock and tons of other guys against you that is a hellov an acomplishment and a testament to the lake. I have had a few days where myself and a friend have caught 50+lb 5 fish limites but never on a crowded lake or in a tournament setting and never by myself. Those guys are good
and yes I keep strange late hours 
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