So Many Tournaments,
So Little Time!
By Dean Capra
If you have had a chance to look
at the Classic Bass 2007 Tournament Schedules page, you know there
are a ton of tournaments to fish in this state! There is at least
one on every weekend and sometimes 4 or 5.
Let me tell you what I think about the different types of circuits
and maybe you will take a look at them in a different light. There
are four basic formats for most tournaments. There are the Team
circuits, the Pro/Am circuits, several Draw circuits and a growing
number of Individual tournament circuits where you fish by yourself.
If you have a regular fishing partner, chances are you will fish
together as a team. If you consistently finish in the money, it’s a
great idea. If you don’t, you and your partner may want to consider
some of the other formats.
It may help both of you become better anglers.
The Individual tournaments put all of the
responsibility on you. You have to find them yourself and catch them. I think
this may tend to make someone try harder because there is no one else to blame
if you don’t catch fish! There is also no one to second-guess your decisions.
The Draw circuits offer the opportunity to
fish with someone you don’t know. In most circuits you usually split the time
and you compete against each other as well as the rest of the field. It’s a good
way to see how someone else fishes the baits that most of us use and to learn
new techniques.
The Pro/Am circuits can be looked at as a
combination of the other three. If you fish as the Pro angler, all of the
responsibilities are yours, just like the Individual tourneys. You have to find
the fish and hope your amateur partner can help you catch them. You and your
amateur partner fish as a team and weigh your fish as a team. You also have a
blind draw to get paired with your amateur partner just like the Draw Circuits.
If you aren’t confident that you can compete
on the Pro side, consider entering as an amateur. I guarantee that you will
learn a lot about the latest techniques and also be able to see how the Pro’s
figure out a body of water. I have been fishing the Pro side of the tournaments
for many years and I assure you my amateur partners always learn a lot. Many of the Pro anglers
I know would agree with me when I say that we need to share what
we know with our partners to keep the sport competitive and to keep anglers
interested in moving from the amateur ranks to the Pro side.
A number of anglers that fish team
tournaments together, also fish some of the other types of tournaments. They
usually prefish as a team and share information with each other. Then fish alone
in the Individual’s or with a draw partner in the Draw circuits or sometimes
they are both fishing the Pro side of the Pro/Ams.
In closing, there are plenty of tournaments
for the anglers to fish. Deciding which ones used to be easy.
If you had a partner, you fished as a team. If you didn't, you fished solo.
If you are a team tournament angler you
should give it some thought as to what you
are trying to get out of tournaments; money, becoming a better angler, etc.
Depending on your answer, you
may want to consider some of my suggestions.
So Many Tournaments, So Little Time!
Dean Capra
classicbass.com Pro Staff
