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What advice would anyone have for a beginner wanting to get started in tournament fishing? I don't have a big powerful bass boat.I don't have a heck of alot of knowledge (some).
Shoulld I start by entering into Pro-Ams as a co-angler? if so, what do I need come tournament day?
I could and would appreciate any advice.
Thanks.
Pro-Am tournaments are one way to go, you will learn a lot in a short period of time, but the best avenue is spending time on the water. Joining a local club is also a great way to learn from your peers. Club tournaments are usally small and inexpensive, you will meet great people and learn local waters as well.
The OBFN (Ontario Bass Federation Nation) has lots of clubs in Ontario, check out the web page you can to it through the club links on Big Fat Bass.
Hope this helps, and welcome to the board.
Hey Wayne - I was trying to get ahold of you last night for poker...shoot me an email with your home number
Brian
bge88@msn.com
Being good or winning tourneys has nothing to do with your boat or equipment.It's your knowledge of the species itself.Having a $200 rod & 60k boat means little when your fishing an area that has no fish,right.Understanding fish movements week to week & year to year are big.Of course having a $200 rod & 60k boat wont hurt lol.
Wayne, your best bet is to start at a club level, you'll just be overwhelmed by the biger series out there. You'll appreciate the club atmosephere and the information you will gain from the experience. Oh, and remember, its not the boat that catches the fish.
If you want to enter a tourny (Bassmainia, BM100, etc) contact Andy or Vita ( http://www.csfl.ca ) and I bet they will try to find you a boater to partner with for 1 or more tournys. Once you see how it all goes you will be hooked and bring your own boat. You can also post a "PARTNER NEEDED" here on BFB and I bet you will get some interested partners.
Lastly, don't be scared to sign up and bring your own boat. Just pick a tourny on a body of water you know so you can go out and catch some fish, and then come back in about 10 mins early at the end of the day so you can enjoy watching the weigh-in. IT ALL ABOUT FUN IN THE END :)
Be Safe
Hi Wayne, I agree with Leo. If there is a BASS club near you or a CFT club, either would be a good choose. At the club level you'll get to fish club tournaments and see if the knowledge base you have is enough or if you require more.
More important though is to have a good understanding of at least three separate types of Tec necks. EG: worming; drop-shot; tubs. Each of these requires different equipment and each have several applications.
Best of luck.
Wayne
Wayne I'm an avid tournament angler and my first tournament was a pro bass tournament, what a wake up call. Best advise I think any one can give you is join a club. The boys in the pro am will all tell you ask lots of questions and spend time on the water. Guys like Dave Chong & JP Derose all belong to clubs and look at their acheivments over the years. CFT OBF are just a couple to think about. Good luck in your future decisions and fish hard and keep your confindence even on a slow day.
Andre
All great replies above.Myself Wayne, I started out fishing the cft pro/am,then I got hooked and bought myself a 18ft with a 115 and fished the touneys last year.The 115 allows me to fish a wide range of tourneys.You never stop learning,that I can tell you first hand.?fish?fish
Good luck
Brian
the OBF is a good stable federation with many clubs that will be glad to assist you as a beginning tournament angler. once your confidence builds the OBF provides you with the opportunity to potentially head south of the border to compete. to my knowledge no other federation in Ontario offers this opportunity.
I suggest entering a bass club, many different clubs throughout Ontario that run good tournaments. You'll learn something new everyday on the water, I also suggest starting tournies as a co-angler, many things to learn just on tourney fishing and each anglers is different and you'll learn a bit from them all. Take a look at all clubs before choosing, choose what you are looking for out of competing. I belong to two completely different clubs and I enjoy them both, maybe three clubs soon.
Thanks for all the input guys. As soon as upper mgmnt(wife) gives the ok for funds I will definately join a club. I have allways been a believer that there is no such thing as a stupid question so here goes. What would I need come tournant day as a co-angler? tackle etc.
Hi Wayne,
As for the equipment you require, it all depends on the body of water you're fishing, and what your partner for the day wants to fish.
Water you're fishing: Erie vs. Rice
Partner: largemouth vs. smallmouth
Most club tournaments hold their draw for partners several days before the actual tournament... thus giving you both some time to discuss location, patterns, equipment...
The OBF club tournaments give each partner equal time on the water; each person gets to fish their "favourite" spots for half of each day. Many times, from personal experience, my partner doesn't have any favourite water... in this case they say "just go fish whatever you've got, and we'll fish it together".
It all depends on the organization you want to join.
Good luck!
Paul.
By the way, in what city do you live? Check out the OBF website for a club near you, and see if you want to join them for one season to see what it's all about!
As a follow countryman of mine from the rock and a hell of a fisherman in his day, Mr Hector Peach once told me , you don,t get good then fish tournaments, you fish tournaments to get good. He also said i,ll take about 5 years to figure out how to win. As for the tackle you,ll need its that lure you think you can catch them with. Best of luck.
I think that's true Arlington but you must pick tournaments that match your budget.
In my opinion a beginner should never start with high entry fee tournaments because you will become discouraged and broke really quick. Just like any sport get involved, learn, and move up the ranks. Clubs are a great place to start, then one day tournaments, then move to the U.S. and become a bass pro! Very Easy...........?LOL
I thought I could fish until I started tournament fishing and found I realy did not have a clue.After the first tournament I was hooked all I think about is what I did and what I will do the next time I am on a certain lake.Bassmania is always looking for scrutineers to sit in the boats of guys who have qulified by themselves at their classic .I have done this several times and learned a great deal and it costs nothing.Never get discouraged,the guys at the top just know more and every tournament you fish the more you learn,it takes time.One tip I can give you,learn to fish in cold front weather,if you can do that the rest is easy.The last two years it seemed like every week end it was cold with strong winds,not pleasant at all,you payed your money out you go.Tournaments force you learn, nothing is wores than the early trip to the ramp.I wish you success,never surrender.