Tournament or Recreational Fisherman? 2024

Rattlinrogue reply :

Although I've fished a few local bass tournaments over the years,I consider myself a recreational fisherman.I fish solely for the fun of it 99.9% of the time.What do you consider yourslf as a fisherman, mostly a Tournament angler or a recreational fisherman?

cgs2004 reply :

Most of my time goes to recreational fishing but most of my money goes to tournament fishing. Up until this last year I would have considered myself a recreational fisherman, now I believe I changed gears and would call myself a tournament fisherman.

Keepin_It_Reel reply :

At this point in time i am a Recreational Fisherman but i am working on getting to the level it will take to fish tournaments and also i have no money

topwtr81 reply :

wow what a great question

I simply fish anywhere anytime for anything I prefer bass fishing and I spend alot of my time in and around the tournament scene

I guess if I had to break it down I'm 60-40

tournament fisherman- recreational

Grey Wolf reply :

Recreational all the way.

guest reply :

x tourney angler, now just recreational.... ;D

Ben reply :

I just fish because I enjoy it.

Used to tourny fish years ago, but burned out and got where I didn't enjoy it so I ended up quiting all together for a couple of years.

Since I retired from the Air Force and moved back to GA seven years ago, and started fishing with my dad, he has gotten to where he really loves it so try to make it home every other weekend to we can fish together. Figure him being 77, I had better take advantage of our time we can spend together while we still have it.

Will reply :

I would say I am a tournament fisherman, where I fish a limited number of tournaments a year those other days will be for preparing for the tournaments.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

both

DDbasser reply :

Recreational for now, but aspiring to be a tournament fisherman.

Danno reply :

Recreational....I've learned in the past that when hobbies become vocations they tend to loose there appeal.

paiged79 reply :

Right now I am a recreational fisherman, but I can see myself starting to do some tournaments after I get some more money and more free time.

Right now, I am 100% recreation. But after I retire from the military, I probably will be 70% recreation, 30% tournament.

guest reply :

Quote
Most of my time goes to recreational fishing but most of my money goes to tournament fishing..

How did you do in Powell?

guest reply :

I fish for sport, love of the outdoors, and excercise.

Chris reply :

Even when I am fishing tournaments it is for recreation I just get paid when I win. I don't get stressed out in tournaments and part of the reason is because I still call it recreation. It's a tournament even if it is just you and me in the boat with no money on the line because I want to still win the most or biggest fish of the day. I guess I still make it a competition because I hate to loose even if its just bluegill fishing. Even against the fish "Oh you just think I am not going to catch you but I will," ..."I see you down there looking at my bait and I know your down there licking your lips." 50/50

Bass Hammer reply :

Fishing is my relief from all the stresses in life.

100% recreational.

Hammer

flyphisher # reply :

both

TC1 reply :

DANNO..wiser words could not be spoken. Ive never been and have no desire to tournament fish. After coaching youth sports for 20 years, another venture that started out for the love of it, and turned competitive, I have no desire or burning need to prove anything to anyone especially myself. Now im not knocking tourney fishing, I think its great and have gotten alot of enjoyment from watching Pro Anglers skills and actions. I for one love Ike and his antics!

With so much else in everyday life about competition, there needs to be more things to do "Just" for the fun of it and for me its bass fishing.

Michael H reply :

Recreational for now but plan to start fishing tourneys next year

Top reply :

recreational 100% of the time... next year I will be joining a club to learn how to be a better angler.... tournaments are just part of it... I am comptetitive by nature so even when I am out I am wanting to catch more and bigger fish than my partner.. LOL but I keep it in check and don't act "like Ike" when I catch a fish...

flechero reply :

These days - recreational. The same question 10 years ago would get a totally different answer from me. When fishing became work instead of fun, even when winning, I almost quit altogether. (I had a weekday job, didn't need another on the weeknights & weekend) Luckily I only took a few months off and just quit tourney fishing.

I still fish a few team events every year, but only with a close friend or brother.

justtrying reply :

like a lot of the other, it "used to be" all about the competition,, about the winning. til one day i just quti. i mean cold turkey quit. for over 10 years.

now, when i go fishing, i go for fun, for recreation, just because i want to.

and, hey, you want to know the kicker? ...i catch more fish now than i did when it was all about winning!

paparock reply :

I fished saltwater tournaments but now I am too old and lazy to put out the effort. I am recreational all the way now I am back to freshwater.

Rocky

L.D. reply :

I'm a full time fish guide, but I get great recreation from it. I must produce fish every day or I don't get paid. I have a policy, if you don't catch a fish, you don't pay for the charter so that part is much like being in a daily tournament..

L.D.

abelfisher reply :

Recreational only. It is the best stress release I have. I am addicted to it. Unfortunately, I only get about 4-5 hrs of fishing a week.

guest reply :

Im a totally dysfunctional recreational fisherman. I am however gratefull to the tourney guys who share so much info with us so if i forget to say it once in a while THANKS TO ALL YOU PROS OUT THERE FOR THE GUIDENCE YOU GIVE US LITTLE GUYS 8)

alhuff reply :

recreational, anything else would be a job.

Alfred

roadwarrior reply :

Recreational only for me.

The only thing I do that might be slightly related to competition is fishing rivers and lakes where we have a legitiment chance at catching a World Record in a variety of species. I'm only half kidding when I mention that we fish for the next World Record smallmouth, walley, brown or rainbow trout. This region boasts specific species records for crappie, catfish and bream as well. Not largemouth however, that's out of the question around here.

stratoscaster reply :

Only recreational fishing for now. I have been thinking about joining a local club to fish their tourneys for the educational factor and to see how I stack up.

billybass reply :

Pretty much all tournament fishing. Even on the weekends I'm not in a tourn I'll go fish a lake or river where I have one coming up.

I agree with Ben though. When I reach the point I'm burnt out I hang up the keys for a while and pull out the golf clubs. When I got back into it two years ago my boat had sat for almost three in the back yard.

Raul reply :

Recreational 100 %, no time for tournaments nor do I want to fish tournaments.

Sealand reply :

Recreational fishing for now.

I would like to join a club and try fishing in tournaments.

I am lucky enough to live on a lake, plus there are dozens of lakes and ponds in my area. So I try to fish every day.

I must say that I have loved fishing for over 25 years and I hope that I never get burned out to the point I have to stop.

Even when I don't catch anything I still enjoy it! ;D

J._Bricker reply :

Good question, and responces. I'm pretty much a recreational fisherman. When I'm fishing, my thoughts are on what I'm doing and my surroundings, not on work. But I do enjoy fishing a local tackle shop's semi-annual tournament and the Western police and fire games.

I already have a full time job- fishing and talking about fishing with people who also enjoy it, in my opinion, is what it's all about.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it ;D.

Kana reply :

recreational, but i have my sights on joining a club and having fun with a little competition. nothing too serious as i agree with danno 100%. keep it reel keep it fun!

Redtail reply :

Recreational - It appears sometimes that tournament fishing is a bit more like work and a little less fun plus I'm just not good enough!

I would also rather be one of several boats on the water, rather than one of 30.

chevy reply :

For now, I'm mostly recreational. Fished my first two tournaments last year. I'm looking for sponsorship to do a tournament trail with a classic tourney at the end to strive for. I plan on doing both.

Matt Fly reply :

When fishing tournaments, its still supposed to be fun. When recreational bass fishing, I still approach it like a tournament. I don't want any bad habits coming from a pleasure trip. Team or individual, still have a game plan, backup game plan.

Minuteman reply :

100% recreational, but I fish against the toughest opponent in the world everytime I fish and that is my expectations of myself. Even that takes the fun out of it sometimes. If I ever get to the point I have nothing to prove to myself, I'll quit and humans don't live long enough for that to happen.

Mikey reply :

just for fun.

texasbass1 reply :

Tournament angler.

Lunkers0 reply :

I fish in the club level for tournaments. I still consider myself a recreational fisherman. I am a very competitive person, but I dont get bent out of shape when I lose.

razyrsharpe reply :

strictly recreational. i have never fished a tourny. my job as a coach (football, wrestling, track) has me being competitive all year long. what i try to do in my spare time is NOT be competitive (to the best of my ability)

hick66 reply :

90% of all the fishing i do now is tournament related. except for chasing a few cats, and stripers, and crappie, and carp, and the rare trip to the coast. tite lines - Hick

mobassattack reply :

I love fishing both most of the time its for rec. If most of the time it was for tourny I would never have a dime I love the excitment of tourny fishin. I also love being around new people learning new things.

Rattlinrogue reply :

Wow!I'm glad I asked this question.It really got a response.As i said before,I'm a rec. angler,but there is that yearning in the back of the mind that thinks of the life of a touring pro and wants to do it .Sort of like wanting to be a pro football or baseball player when you were a kid.That's when I look at my fishing ability realistically and I'm over it.

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Tournament or Recreational Fisherman? 2024

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