Tournament help

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on January 20, 2014 at 12:46pm

Deion,

I sent you an email about the route I've taken.  Not sure where it will lead for me, but I know I've built a reasonable foundation.

I started bass fishing when i was about 10 as well.   Since you are not new to the concepts, things will go fairly easily for you, but a foundation is still important.

Along those lines, joining a club is a great first move.  Fishing a couple club tournaments, and then fishing a BASS or TBF qualifier as a non boater is a nice way to learn alot of lessons the easy way.  The key is to have a good/positive attitude, and good things will happen.

If you have a smaller boat, and can drive North up I-5, you might want to send an email to Brian Calvert from "pond jumperz".  They are a club who fishes non motorized tournaments, and they look like a lot of fun although I've never done it.

After you've got a little bit of a foundation under you, and hopefully a little success, then you'll have to decide how far you want to take things.  

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on January 20, 2014 at 1:03pm

Deion,

Mt. St. Helens Bass Masters is a partner format. If you are interested I can send an email on your behalf to the club to let anyone know that you are looking for an opportunity. We currently have 4 youth that fish as partners, including one that was my partner last year, but not my child. I have a different partner this year.

You can find our website here:

http://www.mt-st-helens-bassmasters.com/index.html

You can find our events calendar here, look for the items in green which are our club tournaments: http://www.mt-st-helens-bassmasters.com/Event_Calender.html

The one thing I would caution you about is the cost. Most new anglers seriously underestimate the actual cost of fishing a season. Typical costs are:

1. Travel costs two and from tournaments.

2. Typically you ride with your partner and split at least fuel costs for the Rig and Boat. Oil is expensive for most boats, it too would be a cost you would split with your partner.

3. Room and meals, meaning for two day travel tournaments you have to consider where you will be sleeping.  Consider Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner what ever that might look like for you.

4. Entry Fees including option pots. 

5. Your annual Dues - Club, State, and National. 

6. Gear ( Rods, Reels, Rain Gear, baits, tackle, line etc) It does get consumed, so consider what you will use up.

Typically figure about $400.00-$500.00 for a 3-4 day trip to Banks Lake being one of the more expensive trips, mainly because of fuel costs.

Let me know if you want me to email the club on your behalf.

Steve Hastings

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on January 20, 2014 at 1:31pm

I would urge you to join a local club. Its doubtful that someone would just take you on as a partner to fish nw bass team tournaments or ABA. If you join sn affiliated club you can fish a qualifier series as a co angler.

Permalink Reply by Deion Whitt on January 20, 2014 at 3:08pm

yeah that sounds like a lot of fun!

Steve Hastings said:

Deion,

Mt. St. Helens Bass Masters is a partner format. If you are interested I can send an email on your behalf to the club to let anyone know that you are looking for an opportunity. We currently have 4 youth that fish as partners, including one that was my partner last year, but not my child. I have a different partner this year.

You can find our website here:

http://www.mt-st-helens-bassmasters.com/index.html

You can find our events calendar here, look for the items in green which are our club tournaments: http://www.mt-st-helens-bassmasters.com/Event_Calender.html

The one thing I would caution you about is the cost. Most new anglers seriously underestimate the actual cost of fishing a season. Typical costs are:

1. Travel costs two and from tournaments.

2. Typically you ride with your partner and split at least fuel costs for the Rig and Boat. Oil is expensive for most boats, it too would be a cost you would split with your partner.

3. Room and meals, meaning for two day travel tournaments you have to consider where you will be sleeping.  Consider Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner what ever that might look like for you.

4. Entry Fees including option pots. 

5. Your annual Dues - Club, State, and National. 

6. Gear ( Rods, Reels, Rain Gear, baits, tackle, line etc) It does get consumed, so consider what you will use up.

Typically figure about $400.00-$500.00 for a 3-4 day trip to Banks Lake being one of the more expensive trips, mainly because of fuel costs.

Let me know if you want me to email the club on your behalf.

Steve Hastings

Permalink Reply by Deion Whitt on January 20, 2014 at 7:30pm

I would like to join that club Steve. I think it would be a great opportunity

Steve Hastings said:

Deion,

Mt. St. Helens Bass Masters is a partner format. If you are interested I can send an email on your behalf to the club to let anyone know that you are looking for an opportunity. We currently have 4 youth that fish as partners, including one that was my partner last year, but not my child. I have a different partner this year.

You can find our website here:

http://www.mt-st-helens-bassmasters.com/index.html

You can find our events calendar here, look for the items in green which are our club tournaments: http://www.mt-st-helens-bassmasters.com/Event_Calender.html

The one thing I would caution you about is the cost. Most new anglers seriously underestimate the actual cost of fishing a season. Typical costs are:

1. Travel costs two and from tournaments.

2. Typically you ride with your partner and split at least fuel costs for the Rig and Boat. Oil is expensive for most boats, it too would be a cost you would split with your partner.

3. Room and meals, meaning for two day travel tournaments you have to consider where you will be sleeping.  Consider Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner what ever that might look like for you.

4. Entry Fees including option pots. 

5. Your annual Dues - Club, State, and National. 

6. Gear ( Rods, Reels, Rain Gear, baits, tackle, line etc) It does get consumed, so consider what you will use up.

Typically figure about $400.00-$500.00 for a 3-4 day trip to Banks Lake being one of the more expensive trips, mainly because of fuel costs.

Let me know if you want me to email the club on your behalf.

Steve Hastings

Permalink Reply by Rodney Heupel on January 20, 2014 at 7:41pm

Deion, Good advice given, fishing can be real expensive as noted upabove. Not sure how far you want to travel for club meetings? The Western Bass Club is a non-affiliated club, lower membership/tournament fees. We meet in Auburn at a Round Table Pizza, 3rd wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM. We are a family based learning/teaching club that has some great sticks to learn from.

Permalink Reply by Deion Whitt on January 20, 2014 at 7:44pm

thanks Rodney. Auburn is only a hour away from my house.

Permalink Reply by Randy Klemonsky on January 20, 2014 at 8:38pm

Capital City Bass Club, we meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month @7pm in Lacey. You can check us out at www.capitalcitybassclub.com or our Facebook page. We are also a non-affiliated club with lower membership and tournament fees. 

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on January 20, 2014 at 9:00pm

I made the Washington State Federation team when I was 18....so people saying you are too young are full of it! You are never too young to start fishing tournaments, My dad and I started fishing money tournaments when I was 16. Get in a good club and absorb and enjoy the adventure. Any questions shoot me a PM

Permalink Reply by Deion Whitt on January 20, 2014 at 9:23pm

Thanks for the advice Ron!

Permalink Reply by Phil Mehrtens on January 22, 2014 at 2:16pm

Call Russ Baker he will make you a pro staffer, pay your entry fees and give you a new Skeeter or Phoenix bass boat.

Permalink Reply by Travis Archer on April 16, 2014 at 12:02am

Your never to young I started at 15