First tournament advice 2024
IowaBass15 reply :
Hello guys I'm super excited to fish my first tournament next Sunday and have a few questions. The weather leading up to Sunday is suppose to range from 50s and hitting 70 a few days before but the high of Sunday is 42 degrees and sunny. I know 10 day forecasts aren't accurate but that's what it currently says. I'm a co angler who's fishing with an older friend who's fished tournaments for 15 years so I know he'll put us where we need to be. My first question is... I got 5 rods plus a spinning set up I'm going to take and was wondering what you would have tied on prior to tournament? I'm sure I'll have a jig, swim jig/bladed jig or spinnerbait plus a jerkbait and maybe a trap definitely tied on my casting and either a drop shot or shaky head on my spinning outfit. Secondly, what the hell do I wear? I don't own rain gear overalls or anything like and I don't want to freeze my balls off. Any advice is greatly welcomed and appreciated. I'm just super excited and nervous in a good way
ww2farmer reply :
Just "go fishing"...............I am not the most exp. tournament angler on here, but I have fished them regularly for about 10 years now. I always struggled to just cash or finish in the middle of the pack my first few years...........then about 5 years ago I pretty much said "screw it" and treated every tournament day like any other normal day of fishing, except we have a time limit. The results have been much much better. We cash more times than not now, and win our fair share. It also helps that about 95% of the tournaments I fish in are on a body of water that I fish almost everyday, so I just "do my thing" and more times than not it works out. In the early days, I would always chase my tail on tournament days trying to do things that didn't suit me, thinking I "had" to fish like that to be competitive.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Do what you're comfortable doing. During a tournament is no time to be trying to learn a new technique. I also like to take the "just go fishing", approach. I fish so much better when I'm just doing my thing.
You better get some rain gear, or it's going to rain buckets. Frogg Toggs are cheap and will keep you dry. Wear way more clothes than you think you'll need. You can always take layers off, but you can't put on what you don't have. I went under dressed for a winter tournament on Table Rock once when it didn't make it above 30 degrees all day and we had rain, snow, and sleet along with 20mph winds. I was huddled under the console by noon just trying to stay warm, it was miserable.
IowaBass15 reply :
That's exactly what I'm going to do. Just fish for fun. I don't really care how I finish. I played extremely competitive traveling baseball for 11 years and it's nice to have the competition feeling again. It would be awesome to get a check but like you guys said its more about having fun with people that enjoy the same thing you do.
Wbeadlescomb reply :
Take a good dump that morning before the tournament starts
IowaBass15 reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 12:52 AM, Wbeadlescomb said:Take a good dump that morning before the tournament starts
hahaha. Im a 4 time a day dumper and I was actually thinking about that. I don't think Ill eat much of anything just incase hahaha.
Wbeadlescomb reply :
Me too take you a shot of Immodium
Lendiesel22 reply :
My advice is wear smart layers. Its easy to cool off but hard to get warm under dressed. Being cold or wet will ruin your day. Get a frogg togg jacket at least. Far as your fishing, have your goto bait on. Rig the others to suit your conditions and if you know it your boaters style. I wanna be a little different than my boater unless he is locked in. If he is throwing spinnerbaits to targets follow him with a swim jig. Follow his jerk bait with a trap or what ever. Hit every square inch he misses when fishing cover. Try to relax and have fun. I played baseball, high level softball, and hockey. Fishing has filled in nicely for the competition level i was used to. Catching a big one is like squaring up an 0-2 hanging curve ball.
IowaBass15 reply :
Luckily the forecast changed and the high is 64 and sunny so I'm expecting it to be much nicer than expected haha. I'm really excited
Mike L reply :
All excellent advise...The only thing I can add is fish your stength's, don't press and have the mindset of "I'm just gonna go fishing, and let it come to me".
Good Luck
Mike
Catt reply :
How compatible are y'all?
What are your strengths? What are his?
What are y'all's weaknesses?
How y'all game plan strengths & weaknesses will determine how successful the team will be!
Y'all must fish together as a team not as two individuals out fishing!
When done in unison both anglers can cover water quickly & throughly, which allows for a greater opportunity to establish patterns faster!
Mike L reply :
On 4/1/2016 at 10:23 PM, Catt said:How compatible are y'all?
What are your strengths? What are his?
What are y'all's weaknesses?
How y'all game plan strengths & weaknesses will determine how successful the team will be!
Y'all must fish together as a team not as two individuals out fishing!
When done in unison both anglers can cover water quickly & throughly, which allows for a greater opportunity to establish patterns faster!
I tried to say the same..But you said it much better 
Mike
IowaBass15 reply :
He's 33 and won his first tournament at 19. He's a great angler. He loves to flip and pitch all day which i really enjoy as well. Only bad part is the tournament might be cancelled due to wind. 25-30mph southwest winds with gusts over 40. I'm praying they don't cancel and the forecast is wrong. I'd love a little ripple on the water but don't want to deal with 40mph wind.
Catt reply :
I've never understood why 2 anglers who are supposedly friends do not understand the benefits of fishing as a "team".
Even if the tournament is concealed now is the time to put together a game plan for future tournaments.
riverfisher reply :
Do not go to the Chinese Buffet the night before............................ Do not forget a roll of TP!!!
Fish your strengths and have fun!!!
KDW96 reply :
It will still be pretty cold up till about 12 or so. And it cooler on the water in a moving boat, with the wind blowing spray from the boat ride. Take a stocking cap,works well in the wind and while wet. Pair of fingerless gloves too. Where boots if you got them. And a pair of sweatpants works very well over jeans. Also make sure you take a fully charged cell phone!! Good luck to you 
Fish the Mitt reply :
How'd you do? Cancelled?
IowaBass15 reply :
Nope they kept it going. Only 20 boat showed up. We caught about 14 bass and only two kept at 15 inches. We had about 6 that measured 14.5 which really hurt us. We had 6 pounds. The winner was the only team who bagged out and had 11 pounds. It was 28 degrees at blast off and breezy and ended up to be 75 with 35mph winds. It was tough but I had a good time.
Lendiesel22 reply :
Now you will have the itch that never quite gets scratched.....let the addiction begin!
IowaBass15 reply :
I'm fishing a pretty big tournament May 7th and 15th and I'm already itching to get it going lol.
Lendiesel22 reply :
Lol nice
lmoore reply :
What tournaments are you fishing in May?
IowaBass15 reply :
Braidwood lake May 7th. It's the Exelon charity tournament. Winner gets 4 grand and pays out 10 spots. Then Lake big hollow 14th and Lake Macbride the 15th as of now. Are you fishing any?
lmoore reply :
Have tournaments both those weekends and thought we might be fishing the same ones since we're close. No such luck.
Senko lover reply :
Stay hydrated. Put your head down and fish. Don't waste time. Keep a line in the water at almost all times.
Kevin22 reply :
What club are you in? Those dates and locations don't ring any bells.
IowaBass15 reply :
The ABA tournament is the 15th at lake Macbride near Iowa city Iowa. And the May 7th tournament is a charity tournament in braidsville put on by Exelon.
Kevin22 reply :
I know the locations, I've fished them all. I meant that I don't recognize those dates/locations as being part of the clubs around here.
IowaBass15 reply :
On 4/15/2016 at 2:53 AM, Kevin22 said:I know the locations, I've fished them all. I meant that I don't recognize those dates/locations as being part of the clubs around here.
It's the American bass angler association the 15th and the 7th is just open to anyone.
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