i wanna compete bass tournaments, how dose it work 2024
freedomfisher reply :
I am looking to get any info an how to get started in fishing in these major tournaments, and how the hole operation works.
thansk
freedomfisher
preach4bass reply :
Have you ever fished in any of the smaller tournaments? If you're looking to just hop in a boat and go fish the BASS or FLW tours, it dosn't exactly work like that. You have to work your way up throgh the ranks. The most important thing is that you've got to be able to catch five keepers anywhere, anytime, and under any conditions. Good luck. I wish you well. 
Grey Wolf reply :
WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's like this , it's a long climb up the ladder to get to fish with the big boys.
cart7t reply :
You could ante up the bucks and throw you're name in the hat in one of the pro-amateur tournaments if you'd like to see exactly how a T works or you could start by fishing some local buddy T's. Most of them operate the same way.
freedomfisher reply :
i understand that i have to work myway up but are the local turnament really gonna matter on how i move up the ranks. do the local turnys have to be linked to bass or flw . and am i abel to fish at a bass open if i put up the money.
i dont have a problem catching five bass a day.
cbfishalot reply :
One way to do it is join a local bass club. They have tournaments to let you know were your at. Most clubs are for learning and development. Most the clubs are assiotated bass, flw, ect. If your club is with bass you can fish the federation tournaments. A example would be that you would fish a tournament or series of tournaments to make the state team. Then the state team will fish a regional tournament with all the other state team members in your region. Only the top team member from each state advances to the national tournament. At the national tournament the top one out of each region will advance to the bassmasters classic. (I may have left out a step) but thats somewhat the format. The federation is one of the hardest was to make the classic.
roadwarrior reply :
Welcome aboard!
Scroll back in this section and "Resumes" for tons of information. Join a local club and see how you do and more importantly, see if you like that style of fishing. There are plenty of tounaments where you can "give it a try."
Hale reply :
Fishing your local club tourney isnt about learning how to catch fish as much as its learning how to compete and deal with the things thats occur during a tourney. You need to understand the rigors of launching when 20 boats are waiting and your only running a few miles before you decide to launch with 200 boats waiting and your running many miles on big waters.
The club level will teach you things like time management, boat maintenance skills (which is probably the most important factor on the water....you will never catch fish when your engine is not running right and your 7 miles from the ramp. You wont get it out fo your head), and boat positioning, and so forth.
So you can catch 5 fish on any day...is that on the days you decide to go out becasue conditions are good or is on Sunday morning regardless of what the weather is doing? Thats the biggest difference between the local guys that are good and the tournament angler that is good....(understanding chaning conditions).
BillyBob reply :
Freedomfisher,
The best way I know of to blow headlong into the Big Leagues, if thats what you want to do, is to put up 200 bucks and see how you do on the BASS Weekend Series Tournament close to you. The worst thing can happen is that you screw some unlucky co-angler that draws you! Best thing that could happen...
If you're as good as you think you are, maybe you will end up in the Classic!
Give it a shot !
(Edited for some of the suggestions you made, including spelling, punctuation and grammer).
-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior
Global Moderator
HPBB reply :
"are the local turnament really gonna matter on how i move up the ranks. do the local turnys have to be linked to bass or flw . and am i abel to fish at a bass open if i put up the money.
i dont have a problem catching five bass a day." : your quote.
Well, if your that good put your money in and lets see what happen.
I guess next year we will be seeing you holding the Bass Master Classic trophy over your head?
If that happen I'll eat crow. :-[
But the easy money is that reality will smack you in the face. 
I see at least one guy a year that joins my club that has this attitude.
they never seem to make it trough the year. 
cbfishalot reply :
Reading alot of the replies I here where we all are coming from. We all have tournament fished and understanded that if conditions are right anyone can catch fish (5 fish). It's easier said then done but when the temp. is in the 30's and the water temp. is in the 40's. The wind is blowing 30 mpr. Your eyes are iceing up and only 1 or 2 bass will put you into the top ten it is a hole new story. We all fish on these type of days because we are tournament anglers and we love what we do.
Garnet reply :
You can learn all the other cheaply at the club local small series. The OTHER is what takes to win
I know a few hundred fixes for batterys, trolling motors, livewell pumps, main motors, I carry parts with me that you would not believe exater trailer hubs 2 set of bearings nuts and pins and props and arrow direction things for my trolling motor. I keep my boats for 5 to 7 years and every part I break I buy a second.
I can catch fish on a beautifull day in practice and fish the worst Sh....t east wind day on the same spot going a different direction throwing at different angles and even the same bait 1/2 oz bigger.
And I still have 30 years of memeroys fishing everything from $5 big fish derbys to $100,000 to win tourneys .
I don't really mean to scare you. you are most likly a succefull Biz man that rec fished for years and had sucess at something else. If you go to the highes level that you can pay your way into you will donate for 5 years if you are lucky. You do the math $50,000 would be low.
If you want to go this way I would suggest you do what a local guy did. I'm in Southern Ont. he'd fly a guy that was killing here every week for practice and a tournement payed all expence. The first year then the next year he payed buddy to bring his boat and camper truck and he payed camp fees for 2.5 months. The 3rd year they were parntners 50/50 and buddy had 30 years experience in 2 years.
Thats the cheapest way I've seen success.
The thing is if you fish 10 tournements against me that I care about you will be having a wicked year if you beat me or anybody else 2 times. Even if you catch more fish than I do my experience will get mine on the scales were you are beat.
Garnet
Brian_Reeves reply :
You should try to get into a local BASS sponsored Club. You could search the BASS website or yahoo or something for BASS clubs near your hometown. Having a boat that is competitive is your next step. A 50hp 2 stroker isn't going to hang with Merc 200+ ya know.
The next step is Federation and Regional Circuits. After that, after a few wins and whatnot, you might be able to either fish the Classic or sign on with BASS.
A good way to research it is Mike Iaconelli's book Fishing on the Edge. It outlines everything. He also sells CDs and tapes about advancing through the levels. They are good too.
cabela10 reply :
Aint Texan.... the size of the motor does not matter one bit about catching fish and winning a tournament. A guy with a 5hp engine could beat a guy with a 200hp mercury, so I'm not sure why you mentioned anything about the 50hp won't be able to hang with a 200hp Merc.
But anyways....freedomfisher, I think you have a lot of learning to do. I can't see you being over 13 years of age and you're acting like you're the next KVD already, saying catching 5 fish a day isn't tough. The reason I think you are so young is because you can't spell a single word correctly.
You should join a club tournament in your area, make sure you get the parents permission slip.
You've got a lot of learning to do before you even attempt to put up around $200 to fish in the same boat as KVD and the Ike's of the fishing world.
Hale reply :
QuoteAint Texan.... the size of the motor does not matter one bit about catching fish and winning a tournament. A guy with a 5hp engine could beat a guy with a 200hp mercury, so I'm not sure why you mentioned anything about the 50hp won't be able to hang with a 200hp Merc.
Your right in the sense that fish dont care what your motor/boat is like. But...your in the first flight at morning launch (with your 50hp stroker). You have an 8 mile run to your honey hole (the bass are bedding here, you know its where your big fish are). 10 minutes and 6 miles later into your trip 3 boats blow your doors in...when you arrive to your honey the three boats are sitting on that hole and there is no room for you! No what? You still gonna win it? You gonna cry and cuss because they beat you to your spot? One the thing is for sure, you're about to loose so more time going to the next spot (and hoping someone else isnt on that already).
So having the right equipment in the big tournaments absolutely does make a difference.
cabela10 reply :
Actually, if a guy was fishing in a tournament with a 50hp motor compared to the HO 225hp motors. That guy fishing in the 50hp motor would be smart enough to not run that far for his spots. A guy fishing with a 50hp motor will locate productive fishing areas around the weigh-in site. So actually, the motor size has nothing to do with anything. If that 50hp guys did want to run to that 8mile away spot and realize all those people that passed him are now fishing there, he could just fish nearby and wait for them to get zeroed, then move in and prove that a 225hp motor does nothing for you when the 50hp guy wins the tournament on that same spot. ;D
Anyways, the bigger motor just gets you there faster, that's it.
MoBassFishN reply :
I agree, a small boat/motor fisherman can and do beat the guys with the large go fast boats. Yes, getting to one spot before others can make a huge difference. On another note, your example of running 8 miles to a spot is very meagher to say the least. There are times on my local lakes where I run over a hundred miles round trip (including side trips fishing), fairly consistently depending on the time of year. Going back to the 8 mile run, that isn't the true test. In multiple day tournaments, it is very seldom a situation of spots that win them. It's about making on the water adjustments and staying flexible. It's easier and much quicker with the go fast boats than with a small john that runs 35 mph. It could take 30 minutes to go 5 miles safely in rough water, depending on the lake. Club level tournaments and smaller one day events, I see the small boater doing well occasionally. In the larger, multiple day events, you almost never see it.
roadwarrior reply :
Let's try to stay "ON TOPIC."
Would most of you agree that before targeting the Big Leagues, you will need to enter small tournaments and grow? Regardless of one's level of skill, the requirements for tournament fishing are different than "a day on the lake."
Hale reply :
QuoteWould most of you agree that before targeting the Big Leagues, you will need to enter small tournaments and grow? Regardless of one's level of skill, the requirements for tournament fishing are different than "a day on the lake."
Thats 100% correct!
:'( :'( :'( But I wanted to talk about fast boats..... ;D
Garnet reply :
If buddy's got lots and lots of money changes are this is the flavor of this year.
One of the great things about fishing for money you can buy everything I own 225,22ft bassboat,tow vechice, 20 fishing rods I use and 20 I can't think about selling, 30 years of everthing that was ever advetized for baits in every color.
And you still will not get success.
You are going to buy me because I need you to pay me either prize money or guide fees..........but you going to pay for lessons.
So if you got the dough buy yourself in if you are around in 3 years you might start getting success.
I need you to start with a dream and pay your dues.
Garnet
Hale reply :
QuoteIf buddy's got lots and lots of money changes are this is the flavor of this year.One of the great things about fishing for money you can buy everything I own 225,22ft bassboat,tow vechice, 20 fishing rods I use and 20 I can't think about selling, 30 years of everthing that was ever advetized for baits in every color.
And you still will not get success.
You are going to buy me because I need you to pay me either prize money or guide fees..........but you going to pay for lessons.
So if you got the dough buy yourself in if you are around in 3 years you might start getting success.
I need you to start with a dream and pay your dues.
Garnet
HA...I love it!!!!
'But they make it look so easy on TV'
Another point to make is the sacrifices in your personal life: If you have a wife or long term girlfriend and you jump right into this unprepared or unconditioned...kiss that goodbye. Its not about staying gone for a few days at a time to fish a tourney. Its all the other time commited to pre-fishing, boat prep, equipment, prep and the most dreaded...travel time. And of course your doing this without sponsors since you jumped in head first so be prepared to spend more money on expenses and entry fees than 80% of america make as an annual salary.
FIN-S-R reply :
First let me say i am by no means a pro, or anywhere near it, but I have managed to accumulate enough experience in tourney situations, and spent enough money and time that I have graduated to the upper level of non-affiliated team tourneys. It went somthing like this, first find a good friend you can fish team deals with. Concentrate on 1 lake that is close and learn to be the team everybody hates to see show up. Then branch out to other lakes with different water types, and learn to be the team everybody hate to see show up. I heard it said by a guy who is currently on the elite tour say, if you cant dominate 80% of the time on your home waters you have no chance to compete against the top level guys. He wins probably 90% of the time on his home water...yeah he beats me and my partner...and we're not too shabby. Anyway, start out with the less than 30 boat type of tourneys, and then graduate up to the mid level deals with up to 100 boats. The mid-level deal is the one that will probably take the longest to get good at cause usually you have all the draw backs of the smaller and bigger operations, with few of the common upsides. Most of all, develop your techniques to a razors edge. Chunkin and windin' wont get you there past the 15-30 boat fields. And lastly, if you wanna get good, fish every single event you can possibly squeeze into your schedule and out of your billfold. There are no short cuts, but there are efficient ways to get this done. You just have to figure out how far your willing to go, and what type of competitor you are. And realize this, the more competitve you get about this stuff the less fun it is, you will become caught up and it will become work at a point. I cannot truely Bass fish for fun anymore, I am always tryin to learn, or figure out, or pick up on somthin' that will help my tourney performances. Honestly, I am in it for the paycheck second only to the quest for perfection (catching a fish on every cast). It has taken me 5yrs of involvement, 3 of which were made up of 600+ hours on the water...try selling that one to the wife...ouch, that fryin pan hurts!! And Im just now (over the past year) stayin consistently in the black. In the close to 100 events I have fished, I still have never won 1. I have 20 something 2nd place finishes, and a whole gob of top tens, but just cause you show up alot, doenst mean your gonna get paid.
Big Boat/ Small Boat doesnt really matter. The pole holders are the key.
MoBassFishN reply :
RW? If a thread is being answered and different opinions arise, does someone have to start a new thread here? Most long thread evolve into what guys want to talk about, is that wrong?
As far as the start small, you better believe it, unless you got more money than sense! If you start small, you need to dominate at that level before being ready to step up. I say that is necessary for any level.
*** MODERATOR NOTE ***
Sometimes the line is thin when it comes to "evolving" or being "hijacked." We generally want members to start a new thread. This thread is NOT about "fast boats," but we now have a thread going that is about boats as it relates to this section of the Forum, "Tournament Talk."
-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior
Global Moderator
freedomfisher reply :
ok first of all i apologize for the typing and spelling errors
i diddent know that you had to be a perfect spell to be able to catch fish or be able to drive a boat. but ill look into it.
any how i dont expect to be able to go uot and win the classic tomarrow. i dont even expect to win at all. all i want is the oppertunity to go out and do one of the dreams i had sence i was a kid. i have joined a club here close to me but it is not linked to bass or flw, as a mater of fact there is not a club near me that is linked. so i figure if i gotta travel to fish a tournament then i might as well fish one that might get me somewhere. i dont have alot of money, and i dont live any where near the ares to fish the good tournaments like alot of you out there. that dont mean i dont have the heart or what it takes to compete against the rest of you guys. I am willing to give up what ever i have to and poor my heart and soul into doing what i need to compete. I am willing to learn what ever anyone out there is willing to teach me.
now if thats not good enought reasion to want to fish with the pro's then you all forgot what fishing is all about .
Garnet reply :
Don't get in a hurry you joined a club now you better have won a few draw tourneys 5 - 10 boats or been the club champ or generally been fishing pretty good in different lakes and situations. Then by all means get your money in do your practise and giver the dream just don't quit if you get dissapointed just regroup learn another doz. things and whip the club boys again until you see your next opp.
We are not kidding it's fun
Garnet
Hale reply :
QuoteI am willing to give up what ever i have to and poor my heart and soul into doing what i need to compete. I am willing to learn what ever anyone out there is willing to teach me.
Thats all it takes, your willingness, desire, and commitment. Your only going to get out of it what you put in.
Spend the next year fishing the club tourneys (affiliated or not) and then start moving up to other semi-pro events as a non-boater. You will be amazed and not only how quick it will go by, but by how much you will learn.
freedomfisher reply :
well thats what i am planning to do . i start my first tournament on saterday. dont know how big it will be , but i am gonna give it my all. i will be in my own boat , not a bass boat buts its mine. and if anyone has any advise for me that would be great.
thanks
abe
Garnet reply :
Thats easy don't buy new baits,new fishing rods, have new line, but put it on tonight and take it out for a few cast anywhere just make sure that the lines not on backwards or over fill little things become major.
Read all the rules and make any adjusrments to follow the rules.
Now the easy part on any other day you fished hard for a couple hrs. and then called your wife that might be against the rules but sit down eat some fruit look around. The piont is theres nothing specail on tourney day you payed some money and waited until buddy said go. The fish don't care it's not specail to them. If you usally just fish 1 spot all day them do that on Sat. If you get bored anyother Sat. and move here and there then fish the same way.
Except don't leave any area until you have fished every spot your way even if 5 boats fished it.
If you are cputer great use 1 of these fishing logs. If not 3 ring binder and 2 different color pens write were you fished and if it's partner draw were buddy fished and then write your results and what won and if everybody wacked fish and you didn't. Hopfully you wacked fish and everybody else struggled.
Do this for every tourney and fun/practise days if you are the type but tourney for sure by mid Feb 3-4 tourneys you should see some glaring mistakes.
Have Fun
Garnet
Hale reply :
Exactly! You just need a gameplan. For some reason the clock becomes your enemy when your struggling. Dotn forget the clock, but push it out of your head. Treat it like any other day; fish your pace, cover your waters as normal. I see a lot of people start getting frantic and then scurry all over the place hoping to get a couple quick fish. They have no rhyme or reason to their madness...just wishing for luck I guess.
Try to pre-fish the waters the days prior and get a pattern developed so you know your plan of attack before your boat even hits the water Sat morning. Do you know the lake pretty well?
freedomfisher reply :
well thanks for the advise ill take it to heart.
by the way nice website hale.
Garnet reply :
We will hear from you next week right............it doesn't matter if my stuff worked or not my bait my spot ect. allways touch base with any help after it's just good practice the next time hale or I feel like talking, he might give you that 1 thing and it all comes together.
Garnet
cabela10 reply :
My little advice for you would be to show up early on tournament day. Probably around 1 to 1.5 hours early. Get your boat launched and start preparing everything or tying baits on, like crankbaits and that. Make sure you have a lifejacket, because you will need it at all times when your big motor is on, don't forget this in the middle of the day when moving to another spot, put that lifevest on and zip it, otherwise you will be DQed.
Also, come tournament hours, you need to be relaxed and not rush every cast. You will feel yourself rushing and you won't do well. If your getting skunked and you have only a couple hours left in the tournament, I suggest you bare down and focus hard on what you've already thrown at them and do a complete 180 and try something else. If there not biting shallow, go deep or find a ledge to fish, if your deep and they aren't biting, go shallow. Use your head, I'm sure you read on fish movements and should have a general idea of where they should be located.
Don't bring lures that you know you won't use during a normal days fishing. The more lures you have, the more doubt you give yourself, because you will have way to many options in your boat to throw at the bass. Keep it simple, especially for your first tournament, bring only your confidence baits.
Make sure your trolling motor battery is charged and ready to go, make sure you have a full tank of gas in the boat and tow vehicle, check tires on both vehicle and trailer to prevent a blowout. Check oil in the tow vehicle and boat to make sure they are both full. Most these things can be done the night before a tournament.
Lastly, try to get some sleep, it will be tough to fall asleep.
Best of luck to you.
freedomfisher reply :
thanks guys ill keep all that in mind and try not to forget. ill let you all know whats going on .
abe
cart7t reply :
QuoteLet's try to stay "ON TOPIC."Would most of you agree that before targeting the Big Leagues, you will need to enter small tournaments and grow? Regardless of one's level of skill, the requirements for tournament fishing are different than "a day on the lake."
Yep.
Fishing in a tournament is quite different than just heading out on the lake for a day on the water.
Start small and work your way up.
related Tournament Talk topic
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