belonging to organizations?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on December 14, 2009 at 11:22am

Belonging to some organization willl expose any and every person to the latest information, baits, techniques, ect. Fishermen need to keep up on the 'news', ect.

Permalink Reply by Mark Byrne on December 14, 2009 at 11:31am

I feel that you will grow and learn faster in a BASS/TBF club, there are so many opportunities to gain new information and techniques in a club. Now not all clubs are created equal, talk to people see what they like in their club and what they don’t like about their club. Some have opportunities to visit their meetings before membership to get a feel for their organization. I have been to many club meetings at different clubs around the state and have always felt welcome.
http://bassfedwa.homestead.com/index.html

Permalink Reply by Kevin Higgins on December 14, 2009 at 11:46am

One of the requirements of a bass federation club is participation in conservation efforts. Joining an organization like this will help provide funding for habitat. It is also a good way to stay up to date with legislative activity and organize opposition to those who would take away our rights as fishermen. It is also a good way to network with people that share your interest in fishing.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on December 14, 2009 at 1:26pm

Harold,

There are certainly benefits to being in a club, state or national organization, regarding information at those levels, but heres a quick list of benefits regarding involvement at the various levels that you can consider. I would invite others to add the list as I probably won't think of everything.
Local Clubs:
1. Comraderie - Not all clubs are the same, but traveling with a group, camping out, sharing meals and a beverage is what its about. I should say this part is very important to me, when I sincerely look at where i derive the most enjoyment in fishing its sharing it with others.
2. Competition - Most clubs have a tournament schedule that you can particpate in, usually not manditory, but you miss out on number 1 above by not. For those of us that grew up in competions such as sport, this is a great outlet for competition.
3. Giving back locally. Clubs vary in their conservation, youth and charitable programs. Take the time to determine what this means to you and how active a club is. Like most groups of folks, its the 80/20 rule...80% of the effort is put in by 20% of the group. If your serious in any one of these areas, clubs will benefit greatly from your involvment.
4. Family involvement - How much your family can participate or not particpate varies in clubs if they are or are not an active member, but you will generally have more desire to participate that other members of your family so my recommendation is start slow and make every opportunity a fun one, ( leave them out of the tough stuff, until they are warm to it)as an example don't take your 5 year old daughter out fishing in blowing snow when you get 3 bites a day, (this is not fun to them) take them when its warm, and the bite is hot.

State Level
1. Federations, Qualifiers, and State teams - The primary reason for State Federations ( Groups of Clubs) is to provide qualifying tournaments ( aka qualifiers) to determine a state team. (a 12 person team that fishes in a Divisional tournament the winner of which moves on to a National Championship and then a National Tournament such as the Bassmaster Classic or Forrest Wood Cup.)
2. Besides the support of the qualifiers and state team, federations will provide other open tournaments, and events such as the Jamboree put on by the Washington State Bass Federation (aka WSBF) (A TBF affiliiated Federation) The Jamboree is in its 39th year of existence, great family event)
3. In our state we have two Federations, the above mention WSBF and Bass Federation Nation of Washington (aka BFNWA) which is a B.A.S.S afiliated federation. Both Federations and their afiliate clubs comprise several hundred Bass anglers in the state but both have the ear of WDFW Warm Water fisheries Program Manager Steve Jackson, which means they have influence and help the communication process and direction of Bass fishing in Washington State. They also have Conservation, Youth, Scholarship, and charitable activities that can always use more man power.

National Level
Primary made up of The Bass Federation (aka TBF) which Partners with FLW to deliver a grass roots angler an opportunity to fish the Forrest Wood Cup, and the All American. Because of their Membership nation wide they have influence nationally (aka in Wa DC.) and with Sponsors of all the products we buy on a larger scale that local or state clubs do. Bass Anglers Sportsmans Society B.A.S.S. is the other National Organization, which is today owned by ESPN and adds that additional precence at a national level. The tournaments at the National Level are really for the experienced.

I hope this helps with a little perspective in helping you determine where you should get started and participate. Your participation is certainly welcome. You can find lists of clubs on a number of websites but start with the two federations as most but not all local clubs belong to one or the other : WSBF - http://www.wabass.org and BFNWA - http://bassfedwa.homestead.com/ If you will post where your located you can get good recommendations of clubs in your area.

Laters,

Steve

Permalink Reply by Harold Erickson on December 14, 2009 at 5:06pm

Steve ,I do belong to a club and the tbf . I was wondering how other anglers felt about the importance of this.

Steve Hastings said:

Harold,

There are certainly benefits to being in a club, state or national organization, regarding information at those levels, but heres a quick list of benefits regarding involvement at the various levels that you can consider. I would invite others to add the list as I probably won't think of everything.
Local Clubs:
1. Comraderie - Not all clubs are the same, but traveling with a group, camping out, sharing meals and a beverage is what its about. I should say this part is very important to me, when I sincerely look at where i derive the most enjoyment in fishing its sharing it with others.
2. Competition - Most clubs have a tournament schedule that you can particpate in, usually not manditory, but you miss out on number 1 above by not. For those of us that grew up in competions such as sport, this is a great outlet for competition.
3. Giving back locally. Clubs vary in their conservation, youth and charitable programs. Take the time to determine what this means to you and how active a club is. Like most groups of folks, its the 80/20 rule...80% of the effort is put in by 20% of the group. If your serious in any one of these areas, clubs will benefit greatly from your involvment.
4. Family involvement - How much your family can participate or not particpate varies in clubs if they are or are not an active member, but you will generally have more desire to participate that other members of your family so my recommendation is start slow and make every opportunity a fun one, ( leave them out of the tough stuff, until they are warm to it)as an example don't take your 5 year old daughter out fishing in blowing snow when you get 3 bites a day, (this is not fun to them) take them when its warm, and the bite is hot.

State Level
1. Federations, Qualifiers, and State teams - The primary reason for State Federations ( Groups of Clubs) is to provide qualifying tournaments ( aka qualifiers) to determine a state team. (a 12 person team that fishes in a Divisional tournament the winner of which moves on to a National Championship and then a National Tournament such as the Bassmaster Classic or Forrest Wood Cup.)
2. Besides the support of the qualifiers and state team, federations will provide other open tournaments, and events such as the Jamboree put on by the Washington State Bass Federation (aka WSBF) (A TBF affiliiated Federation) The Jamboree is in its 39th year of existence, great family event)
3. In our state we have two Federations, the above mention WSBF and Bass Federation Nation of Washington (aka BFNWA) which is a B.A.S.S afiliated federation. Both Federations and their afiliate clubs comprise several hundred Bass anglers in the state but both have the ear of WDFW Warm Water fisheries Program Manager Steve Jackson, which means they have influence and help the communication process and direction of Bass fishing in Washington State. They also have Conservation, Youth, Scholarship, and charitable activities that can always use more man power.

National Level
Primary made up of The Bass Federation (aka TBF) which Partners with FLW to deliver a grass roots angler an opportunity to fish the Forrest Wood Cup, and the All American. Because of their Membership nation wide they have influence nationally (aka in Wa DC.) and with Sponsors of all the products we buy on a larger scale that local or state clubs do. Bass Anglers Sportsmans Society B.A.S.S. is the other National Organization, which is today owned by ESPN and adds that additional precence at a national level. The tournaments at the National Level are really for the experienced.

I hope this helps with a little perspective in helping you determine where you should get started and participate. Your participation is certainly welcome. You can find lists of clubs on a number of websites but start with the two federations as most but not all local clubs belong to one or the other : WSBF - http://www.wabass.org and BFNWA - http://bassfedwa.homestead.com/ If you will post where your located you can get good recommendations of clubs in your area.

Laters,

Steve

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on December 14, 2009 at 5:16pm

The average angler - define? Is he or she just a fun fisherman or one that fishes tourneys every now and then.

My definition of the average angler is someone who fishes with the family or just for fun and does not participate in a club.

How else do we promote the sport is what I think your trying to answer?

Besides the club venues, TBF,FLW, etc. You could always go to radio, forums, etc. Or work on getting more kids involved like CAST etc.

Permalink Reply by Harold Erickson on December 14, 2009 at 6:43pm

I guess that your comment about average anglers is true. What I was trying to ask is why so many club fishermen do not belong to either the state and national orgs.

Russ Baker said:

The average angler - define? Is he or she just a fun fisherman or one that fishes tourneys every now and then.

My definition of the average angler is someone who fishes with the family or just for fun and does not participate in a club.

How else do we promote the sport is what I think your trying to answer?

Besides the club venues, TBF,FLW, etc. You could always go to radio, forums, etc. Or work on getting more kids involved like CAST etc.

Permalink Reply by Rodney Heupel on December 14, 2009 at 7:50pm

For many, including myself, is the learning aspect. You get out of a club what you put into it. I have heard it many times from many people, they don't like to commit to what is required from some organizations. This may be due to financial or time limitations. Many average anglers just want to fish. Not all average anglers can afford the tournament ready high speed bass boat and may not feel comfortable in such a crowd of those that have. To keep our sport growing we have to actively involve our youth, nothing beats the smile of a child when they catch there first fish. We all must work to stop the efforts of PETA and like groups.

Harold Erickson said:

I guess that your comment about average anglers is true. What I was trying to ask is why so many club fishermen do not belong to either the state and national orgs.

Russ Baker said:

The average angler - define? Is he or she just a fun fisherman or one that fishes tourneys every now and then.

My definition of the average angler is someone who fishes with the family or just for fun and does not participate in a club.

How else do we promote the sport is what I think your trying to answer?

Besides the club venues, TBF,FLW, etc. You could always go to radio, forums, etc. Or work on getting more kids involved like CAST etc.

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on December 14, 2009 at 7:54pm

Harold,

i know Western bass is not affiliated with the big 2 or 3 because they wanted to stay a family club even though many of its members fish in ABA,NW, TBF, and FLW events. I'm sure a lot of clubs feel the same way that they dont want to pay the extra fees that are associated with being a part of the big 3 and they dont want to compete on that level.

I myself are one of those people- I fish the open events - frostbite, scholarship, Valley Marine Open, Potholes Open and as a past BASS and Red Man competitor just wanted to step down from the hard core stuff. The travel is what got me the most. I traveled all the time for my job and then would come home and turn around and drive 3-4 hours to an east side event with little to no sleep and that got old.

Some guys just love the relaxed atmosphere of a club event. I love that atmosphere because most guys in the club level are competing imho for bragging rights and a plaque for their wall.
And there is a ton of fellowship and family at a club event. At bigger events as you probably know its every man for themselves. There is a lot more sharing ( Greater contribution) by club members to help each other out to figure out the fish.

Harold Erickson said:

I guess that your comment about average anglers is true. What I was trying to ask is why so many club fishermen do not belong to either the state and national orgs.

Russ Baker said:

The average angler - define? Is he or she just a fun fisherman or one that fishes tourneys every now and then.

My definition of the average angler is someone who fishes with the family or just for fun and does not participate in a club.

How else do we promote the sport is what I think your trying to answer?

Besides the club venues, TBF,FLW, etc. You could always go to radio, forums, etc. Or work on getting more kids involved like CAST etc.

Permalink Reply by Rodney Heupel on November 17, 2013 at 10:06pm

Why has the particiaption numbers dropped across the board for all organizations and clubs?

Permalink Reply by Harold Erickson on November 18, 2013 at 1:07pm

I have had to stop fishing for the last two years I don't know if I can fish this year.I would like to know what is going on this year. I may not fish much but I going to drag my backside around the back of my nephews boat,I maybe in my wheelchair,or maybe my artifical legs but I'm fishing again this year. I hope the 

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on November 18, 2013 at 8:00pm

We want you out there again Harold!  This is going to be a fun year in the club!

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