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Getting
Started in Tournament Fishing
by Don W. Sangster
I still remember the moment rather vividly, even
though I was just a teenager. I was watching my
usual cavalcade of Saturday afternoon fishing
shows. My mother happened to walk into the room
just as Ray Scott was crowning the winner for
whatever B.A.S.S. event happened to be featured
on that week’s episode of the Bassmasters. With
motherly love and pride in her heart she turned
to me and said, “That will be you someday.” I
quickly replied that it wouldn’t, as I didn’t
like fishing tournaments. When my mother
questioned me about this, I told her
 that I
liked fishing too much to want to spoil a day on
the water by taking it too seriously and letting
the pressure take the fun out of it all.
I held this attitude toward tournament fishing
for many years, and while I continued to watch
them on TV, it was mainly to learn about
different techniques and lures, rather than out
of pure interest in the events. Eventually I
realized that I really shouldn’t be judging
something so harshly without having any
first-hand knowledge of it. I decided that I
would have to see for myself what these
spectacles are really like.
Five minutes before the “blast off” of my first
bass tournament, a Pro-Am event on one of the
Great Lakes, I felt something in my stomach that
I had never felt before while fishing…a serious
case of the butterflies. It was a combination of
nervous anticipation and a rush of adrenaline,
something like what you might feel before a
final exam, or right before taking your wedding
vows. Perhaps not right at that moment, but
sometime thereafter, over the course of the next
two days of that tournament, I became a convert.
If you have never fished such a tournament
before, it may be difficult to imagine – and it
is difficult for those of us who have to explain
– the atmosphere that surrounds you during a
tournament.
Contrary to what I used to think, the addition
of the element of competition to the normal
challenges faced by an angler actually adds to
and enhances the overall experience. I equate
this to most other competitive sports – and
after all, fishing is a sport, so why shouldn’t
it be competitive? – in that as much fun as they
are to play, they can be even more fun when
there is actually something on the line. As with
anything, I suppose some people can take things
too seriously, but those folks are in the
minority among the tournament ranks.
GETTING STARTED IN TOURNAMENTS
Fishing tournaments and derbies are held across
the United States and Canada for species such as
bass, walleye, salmon, trout, musky, pike,
crappie, catfish, perch and carp, and although
the terms “tournament” and “derby” are sometimes
used interchangeably, they have very different
meanings. Tournaments are usually events in
which all fish caught are released, while
derbies generally allow or require the fish to
be kept. Some tournaments are small, one-day,
local events, while others, primarily for bass
and walleye, have become so popular that
multi-event “circuits” or “tours” have emerged
over the years, offering fame and fortune to
their series champions.
I am often asked how one goes about getting
involved in fishing tournaments. I feel that by
far the best way to get your feet wet in this
game is by first competing in some “Pro-Am”
format events, which are becoming increasingly
popular, especially on the bass and walleye
circuits.
In this format, an amateur competitor (which is
usually defined as a competitor who has not
competed as a professional for a number of years
or at all) is teamed at random with a pro, or
with a different pro for each day of a multi-day
tournament. The amateur (sometimes referred to
as “co-angler” or “non-boater”) fishes from the
back of the pro’s boat, and is sometimes able to
use the pro’s gear too, if they don’t have their
own suitable equipment. The obvious advantage of
this format is that a beginner does not have to
shell out big bucks for an assortment of tackle,
not to mention a proper boat, before they know
whether they are going to like the tournament
scene (tournaments are simply not everyone’s cup
of tea). Some of these tournaments even offer
the less-obvious benefit of allowing the pro and
the amateur to fish for a combined limit of
fish, rather than weighing what the amateur
catches separately from what the pro catches. In
this format, the pros are competing against the
other pros, while the amateurs have their own
division, with their weights carried over from
one day to the next. Believe it or not, under
this format, it is possible for an amateur (or a
pro, for that matter) to win their division,
without having caught a fish, relying entirely
on their partner instead. Of course, this would
require an incredible amount of luck, so it
doesn’t happen very often. What does happen,
however, is that amateurs are competing against
others who are likely of similar skill level and
experience, rather than possibly being
intimidated by having to compete against
full-time pros that have been on the circuit for
years.
Needless to say, this format offers a tremendous
opportunity for the beginner to learn the
winning ways of the pros. Remember that these
guys are gunning for big bucks (usually anywhere
from $2,000 to $50,000 or more for first), so
they are not going to hold anything back, even
if it means revealing some of their secret
tricks and favourite spots. Having said that,
the pros do frown upon an amateur who broadcasts
their Day 1 pro’s secret spots to other
competitors during a multi-day tournament.
The entry fee for these events is generally not
cheap (usually $300-$500), but considering the
wealth of “crash-course” knowledge and
experience that can be gained by a beginner
during such a tournament, they are well worth
the money, and are usually cheaper than hiring a
guide to show you around a particular body of
water for a weekend. In addition, you have the
chance to win some cash and/or great prizes,
such as boats, motors, electronics, rods, reels,
etc. (amateurs sometimes don’t compete for
cash).
Now some of you may feel that you already have
enough knowledge and experience to jump right
into the pro ranks, and that’s great. However,
fishing in a tournament is very different from
fishing your favourite spot at the cottage on a
Saturday afternoon and, unless you’ve done it
before, you don’t realize how different. There
is no question that today’s angler is much more
knowledgeable about all aspects of their fishing
than the angler of 20 or even 10 years ago, and
many of us can actually apply that knowledge
while out on the water. However, add the
pressure of having to catch fish, within a time
limit, under less-than-ideal conditions, perhaps
on a body of water that you are not really
familiar with, and it is amazing how
scramble-headed you can become. Given enough
time and pressure-free conditions, many of us
can turn a slow day into a good day, just by
sitting down, thinking about the situation and
analyzing what is happening, or not happening,
and figuring out what we need to do differently
to start catching fish. Those anglers who can do
this on a consistent basis under the
collar-tightening conditions of a tournament are
the ones who are usually the most successful.
Once you have fished a few Pro-Am tournaments
and you have developed a feel for what these
events are like, you may decide that you would
like to pursue this area of angling on a “cast
for cash” basis by competing in the professional
divisions. Whether you want to fish one or more
local tournaments, or one or more series of
tournaments, you are going to need a tournament
partner, as most of these events are “team
concept.”
CHOOSING A TOURNAMENT PARTNER
A young man with an interest in bass tournaments
asked me once how he would go about choosing a
tournament partner. With only a touch of humour
in my voice I said, “about as carefully as
choosing a wife!” Depending upon how many
tournaments you plan to fish, and how much
practice time you plan to devote, you may spend
almost as much time with your bass partner in a
given summer as you do with your life partner
(which is why I suggested that choosing a wife
is still a little bit more important, unless
your fishing partner is your wife, but that’s
another story). Needless to say, besides looking
for someone who is a good angler, you also have
to be able to get along with your partner.
Remember that you are going to be spending eight
or nine hours a day in the boat with this person
during tournaments, under often tense
conditions, plus the time you spend pre-fishing.
That is more than enough time and opportunity to
really get under each other’s skin, especially
when the fishing’s tough, so choose wisely.
This term is probably over-used in professional
sports, to the point of cliché, but when it
comes to a tournament partnership, you do need
to have “chemistry.” By that I mean that you
should work well together as a team, and be able
to trust each other. If each angler has their
own boat and they can split up during
pre-fishing to maximize their search for fish
and patterns (a great advantage, incidentally),
then come tournament day, each partner must be
able to trust the other to only take them to
spots where there is a good chance to catch good
fish. You need to have as much confidence in
your partner’s spots as you do your own, or you
will not fish effectively, and then you are just
wasting your time.
This chemistry should also involve the way you
fish. For example, if both anglers can only cast
a certain way, or can only cast from the front
of the boat, then they may find that they are
constantly getting in each other’s way. Ideally,
you want a partner who complements your fishing
style, rather than mirrors or interferes with
it.
Some people may prefer a partner who has less
experience than they do, as they are comfortable
in a leadership role, while others may prefer a
more seasoned partner, hoping to learn some
things and improve their own skills along the
way. Either way can work, as long as both
anglers are comfortable in their roles. I feel
that in order to reduce the chance of friction
and maximize the chances of success, it is best
if the partners are of basically similar or
equal skill levels and experience.
So how do you find this ideal partner? Probably
the best way is to join a local fishing club,
such as a local chapter of Bassmasters or the
Canadian Bass Anglers Federation, if bass is
what you’re interested in. These clubs offer the
opportunity to meet other serious anglers in
your area who share your passion, and to
participate in club tournaments for members,
thereby offering a chance to fish with a new
partner under tournament conditions without the
intensity of a major, big bucks event.
Another good source for at least locating
potential partners is the Internet. There are
tons of fishing sites devoted to just about all
species of game fish, and many have dialogue
forums such as chat rooms or message boards
where you can connect and interact with others
who may also be looking for a new tournament
partner. I wouldn’t suggest signing-up
immediately for a tournament with someone that
you have just met over the Internet, but treat
it as an opportunity to maybe make some new
fishing buddies, from which a new tournament
partner may emerge.
Once you have found a partner, spend as much
time on the water as you can, prior to actually
fishing in any tournaments, to get comfortable
with each, to get to know each other’s style,
and to basically develop a feel for each other.
Don’t expect instant success with your new
partner, as it often takes at least a couple of
seasons for a new team to “gel,” but like a fine
wine, a good team gets better with age.
Whether you hope to one day “win the big one,”
or are content to simply compete in a few small
tournaments for little more than bragging
rights, tournaments can add a level of
excitement and energy to your fishing that can
be addictive. Give it a try, but remember…I
warned you.
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