|
| |
An Economical Taste Of Tournament Fishing
Field staffing for two marketing groups allows me to work at a number of
fishing/hunting and boating shows during the year. Surprisingly, one of the most
commonly asked questions is about getting started in tournament fishing. I get
the feeling that there are a substantial number of anglers that fish for both
bass and walleyes on a recreational level, but wonder what it would be like to
fish a tournament for their favorite species. I fish a number of different
tournament series so I know that tournament fishing can become very time
consuming and quite expensive. But, there is a simple way to get a “little taste
of tournament fishing” to see if you like it, to satisfy your curiosity and
still keep the time commitment and out-of-pocket-costs to a minimum.
When someone says “tournament fishing “ I usually think they are referring to
bass or walleye tournaments, which make up the bulk of the tournaments here in
the upper Midwest. All of the tournaments I fish are for bass, so the
information in this article is generally related to bass fishing tournaments. No
matter which species of fish the tournament is for, the formats will generally
be similar. There are a number of different tournament formats, but the ones
that give the first time Amateur angler the best taste of tournament fishing at
the lowest cost is the Pro/Am format. This format matches a Pro angler with an
Amateur angler. As the Amateur angler you don’t need to take time off work to
pre-fish. You don’t need a boat, trailer or tow vehicle. On some circuits you
don’t have to pay entry fees for the whole circuit, just the one tournament you
have elected to fish. The Amateur angler really has to do nothing more than pay
his/her entry fee and show up at the pre-tournament meeting to meet his/her Pro
partner.
Most Pro/Am tournaments use one of three formats for weighing the fish.
 |
The first format is called a shared weight format. With this
format the Pro and the Amateur are fishing as a team. They will both benefit
from any fish caught, no matter which angler catches the fish.
|
|
The second format is called a modified shared weight format. This
format is structured so the Amateur angler gets to add the weight of their fish
to that of the fish caught by the Pro angler. This then becomes the Amateur
anglers total weight for the tournament day. With this format the Pro angler
derives no benefit from any fish his Amateur partner catches during the
tournament.
|
|
The third format is called the non-shared weight format. In this
system the Pro angler weighs up to 5 fish for his/her total weight. The Amateur
angler can weigh up to 5 fish for their total weight. Neither party benefits
from the fish caught by their partner.
|
Personally, I feel that the non-shared or modified shared weight
tournaments are not a good place for a novice angler to experience tournament
fishing for the first time. From my experience and in speaking with other Pro
and Amateur anglers these types of formats can be more competitive for the
Amateur angler than the basic shared weight format. This can cause a novice
angler undue stress or tension. Leaving them with a bad first impression of what
tournament fishing is really like. On a non-shared weight tournament the Pro
angler may feel they do not have the time to explain fishing patterns, structure
or techniques to their Amateur partners, leaving the Amateur angler to their own
devices. This can really be frustrating to a novice tournament angler who is
hoping to catch some fish or learn a new technique. I do, however, think that
these formats are an excellent place for the experienced angler to test their
skills and build on their tournament knowledge. Also, by fishing tournaments
with these formats an experienced Amateur angler can develop the confidence to
move over to the Pro side of a tournament series.
Of the three formats, the shared weight format will generally be less stressful
for the novice angler. This format can at times feel more like a guided fishing
trip than a large tournament. During a shared weight tournament the Pro angler
has everything to gain by helping his novice amateur partner catch fish and
understand the techniques they will be using to do so. With a shared weight
tournament the Pro will usually be more than willing to take time away from
fishing to explain to their Amateur partner which bait to use or how to use a
certain type of bait.
The biggest costs will be the tournament entry fee. In the upper Midwest I think
you will be hard pressed to find a Pro/Am tournament that has an amateur entry
fee over $250.00, most are in the $200.00 range. When you think about it, that’s
a bargain. I run a fishing guide business during the soft-water months (summer)
and our fee for 1 or 2 anglers is $300.00 for an 8-hour trip. So for less money
than you would pay a fishing guide (hopefully I’m not going to lose business
here) you get to fish with a Pro angler, usually in a top of the line boat and
if you place high enough in the standings you will cash a check. Even if you do
not cash a check (win prize money) some tournaments offer just-out-of-the-money
prizes or various door prizes.
There are some other costs associated with tournament fishing. On most Pro/Am
tournaments the tournament director will encourage the Amateur anglers to
contribute to the cost of boat gas, usually $25 to $30. There can be hotel and
meal costs, but with so many tournaments in the upper Midwest you should be able
to find a tournament close to your home, allowing you to avoid the cost of
hotels and meals.
For parents who have a child (over 16 years old) who is showing a strong
interest in fishing, see if they want to experience tournament fishing. This
could be a great gift from you and a great experience for them. This is also a
great gift for a senior who just doesn’t get out fishing as much as they wish
they could.
Another great thing about a shared weight tournament is that you will not have
to bring a boatload of gear. Most of my Amateur partners bring 2 or 3 rods and a
small tackle pack. Trust me on this one… If your fishing a shared-weight
tournament your Pro partner will let you know what he wants you to use and
generally will have more than enough equipment for both of you. The other things
you will need to bring are:
|
A life vest (PFD)
|
|
Lunch and something to drink
|
|
Sunglasses
|
|
Rain gear
|
|
A warm coat for early spring or late summer tournaments
|
Here in the upper Midwest I’m aware of 3 major Pro/Am tournament
series to choose from. Some are shared weight and others are non-shared weight
formats. They are:
|
BassMasters Weekend Series (now run by American Bass Anglers)
|
|
FLW, Bass Fishing League (BFL)
|
|
Silverado
|
All of these series are well run professional tournaments, which
cater to both the Pro and Amateur angler. If you want “ a little taste of
tournament fishing” with some fun thrown in, along with a little adrenaline
rush, not to mention the possibility of cashing a prize check, give one of the
Pro/Am tournament series a try.
As always, stay safe and we hope to see you on the water.
Wayne Ek,
Agape Fishing Guides
classicbass.com Field Staff
Wayne Ek is a fishing guide, tournament
angler and writer in Alexandria, Minnesota.
For more information you can contact Wayne at
www.agapefishingguides.com
|
