Tournament fishing

[Cracker-coon]

Need some advice from you seasoned veterans to tournament fishing. I just started back fishing a year ago. When I was younger my father and I fished competitily often and I'd like to start getting back into tournaments. My hesitation is that I don't have a big fancy fast boat and I want to be considerate of the other people who are fishing and not get in the way so to speak. I live in Dayton and I'd like to get in some of the tournaments that come to town. Mind you I'm looking to compete against pro, just other smoes like myself who have a day job. Id be fishing from a Lowe 175 stinger with a 60HP motor. What are you thoughts? I don't want to be known as "that guy" to my fellow fishermen. I know some tournaments put a min HP.

 

[Strato-G]

Plenty of local tournaments outta Dayton, just jump in, u will not be the only 1 in a smaller rig. Get out there and enjoy.....look to see u there........ emoGeezer emoUSA

 

[black knight]

There was a bass tournament in NC this year in which 80 kayaks were entered along with all the "big boys".
Have fun !!!

 

[jpdavidm]

PM sent to you

 

[smughal31]

I think you're putting too much thought into it. If it floats that's all that matters. You have just as much right as anyone with a fishing liscense to fish a tournament. As of right now I only know of tournaments on Saturdays but when the time changes back there will be a tournament just about every day of the week on some ramp on chickamagua. All that most people that run tournaments ask is to have a good running live well to take good care of your catch. There are some great fishermen on the lake in very nice boats but they are also good guys and just love to catch fish! I'm not saying you won't run into the occasional guy that thinks he's too good for everyone and takes the dogfights way too serious but that's anywhere you go. Just get it there and have fun! Start with the dogfights out of chesterfrost every Saturday 8am-2pm it's only $25. Gotta start somewhere. and as strato-g said you will not be the only smaller rig out there! That's for sure. I've gotten my butt beat by a John boat plenty of times. Good luck!

 

[churly]

Working livewell, running lights, and a kill switch are the usuall requirements

 

[bullshot]

Kayak fishing tournaments are a great way to experience competitive fishing without all the expense. Just need a camera (Catch, Photo (with identifier), and Release) and approved measuring board (to go with kayak, pfd, and paddle). Chattanooga Bass Yakkers is great group and most all are willing to share tips and technique with you.

I am sure their are plenty of friendly club tournament groups too.

 

[Cracker-coon]

Wow guys thanks for the feedback certainly makes me feel a bit better about getting out there.

 

[Treed1]

There is a Big Fish tournament out of Soddy Creek every summer. We have anything from John boats to Rangers fish it. Its a 1 fish tournament so the LUCKY bite wins.

 

[jsb]

Don't worry about it. I have fished more than one tournament in which some ones big motor wouldn't work and they had to use the trolling motor. A lot of the time end up winning the tournament. Plus I've never caught a fish running eighty.

 

[BulletTJ]

Man dont worry about that stuff. Just keep honing your skills. Besides, come weigh-in time the only thing that matters is the size of the sack you have, not the size of your boat.

 

[Strato-G]

Chester Frost Sat morn...hours are 8am--2pm, $25.00.. a boat come on out

 

[Railroader]

Is that every Saturday morning or just warm weather dogfights?

 

[Kirk]

The company I work for has a Bass Club and we have everything from small aluminum boats with 25 HP motors to the high dollar bass boats fish it. One of the teams fished out of an aluminum boat with nothing but a trolling motor the first few tournaments we held. As long as the live well works you are good to go.

We hold a few open tournaments every Spring and Summer and have a lot of different age class boats show up. It is amazing how well some of these older boats still do. I am talking about 40 year old plus boats.

 

[Strato-G]

Railroader - 1/1/2016 8:01 PM

Is that every Saturday morning or just warm weather dogfights?

Every Sat thru winter months

 

[Railroader]

Cool thanks strato. That's not just members only is it? My partner isn't a member yet. I'll have to get him signed up if it is. He's late 60's and isn't very computer savy. Lol