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You want to catch more bass? Ever consider fishing a Qualifier as a non boater? You should be!
Last weeked I fished the B.A.S.S Qualifier in Tri Cities as a Non Boater (back seater). I got two great draws and got to fish with Jeremy Percifield, and Sean Minderman. I learned massive amounts about different bass boats, electronics, patience, humility, fishing techniques, and where big bass hang out. They put me on them all day each day and acted like complete professionals. With the caliber of fisherman in this state, I'm not exactly sure if a "bad draw" was even possible. Chances were definitively slim to none.
I have to ask the question.... why are more people not signing up as non boaters or showing any interest? I'm guessing its because they don't know what they are missing, and they have too many questions they are afraid to ask. That was how I felt, but i'm glad I got over it, and just asked the damned questions.
People talk about tournament circuits having lower boater turnouts, and club participation is down. That's likely because there isn't alot of new blood. Qualifiers should be a keystone in changing that, and I don't want to be critical of anyone, but I feel like more guys would do it, if there were some tesitmonials, or easy access to information.
If you want to become a better bass fisherman, meet some cool people, fly around all day at 70mph, and catch a bunch of fish in a competitive format without a big entry fee.... then this is for you. Do the math... It is $200 dollars for 4 days + some gas money. That is $50 dollars a day + gas to fish with someone who would hand most guides their lunch, and to think you can actually win some money too!
I'll offer this:
Shoot me a pm and I'll answer any and all questions. I don't care how dumb you think they are....I can promise I already asked that dumb question and have the answer for you. Or you can always email the president, gene batey directly at gbatey@apollosm.com He answered alot of my silly questions with fast responses.
What I'll say is that you don't have to be a good fisherman. You just have to want to get better, and you should want to compete a little bit. In the field of non boaters there were guys that had never caught a limit of bass before in their life. Other non boaters were experienced guys who fish NWbass and ABA. There were both men and women who fished.
To sign up you simply need to:
A. join a bass club. (if you don't have time to participate in a club there are "paper clubs.")
B. get a B.A.S.S membership at Bassmaster.com (this costs $25 I think, takes 5 minutes and includes the magazine and some free gear)
C. go here to print your entry form, and mail it in with your money: http://www.washington-state-bass-federation-nation.com/Qualifiers.htm
There's a "Drivers Meeting" meeting at 7pm the night before the tournament, but don't be fooled by the name.....everyone needs to show up who is fishing including non boaters. You show up there early and they go over rules or changes and you draw a boaters name out of a hat and that is who you will jump in the boat with the day of the tournament. You talk to your boater and arrange a meeting time, and quickly discuss what kind of fishing you'll be doing, and what types of baits you might not forget.
Bring some cash to offer your boater for gas money (B.A.S.S has a $30 dollar gas limit that the boater can ask for, but I think you can give them more if you want/can), bring a few rods (6-7 at very most), a life jacket, pliers/knife, a sandwich and some water and a tackle bag. You show up early and meet up with your boater whom you met the night before at the "drivers meeting". You blast off at safe light and your boater puts you on fish and if you don't know what baits to use or how to catch em, they will help you. You can ask a few questions, but mostly you just fish hard and observe what your boater is doing. If he hooks one, you get the net quickly. they will let you know if they want you to use it or not. If you hook one, he'll get the net for you. If he says its time to move, you reel up your bait quickly without hesitation and secure your stuff (hat) so your boater doesn't have to go back for it when it blows out of the boat.
At the end of the day, you go to the weigh in, and see how you did. If you wanted to "gamble" you would have needed to sign up for what they call "option pots". It might be $20 or $30 dollars per day for big fish, and for "big stringer" (total weight of your catch), and if you have the biggest fish against other non boaters or biggest stringer you win some money. You would have signed up for this at the "drivers meeting" so bring a check book or cash to that. You don't have to if you don't want to.
After day 1 weigh in, there is another "drivers meeting" where you get to draw a different boater for the following day. You repeat the whole experience but with a different boater...
Hopefully this sheds a little light on why you'd do this, how you'd do this, and what to expect. If you have questions, then shoot me a pm, or email gene batey jr, but I will say that if you are not doing this, you are missing a huge opportunity... I'd recommend anyone do it at least once. It doesn't matter if you are interested in tournies or not. Just do it.
I would say that it does require the right attitude. If you carry an ego....its going to be best left at the door. Your job as a non boater is to adapt, to not be waited on, to not complain, and to simply fish hard and soak in the lessons with a smile on your face. You might have to make due at times with a tough situation, but if you expect it to be tough you'll be prepared. Your boater is going to be "the man" so treat him and his equipment with respect and I can just about promise they will put you on fish by days end....If you show up late, act entitled, and whine, this may not be for you.
Again PM me with questions, and just go for it. You have the rest of your life to not do it if you don't like it.
I was really hoping to learn about largemouth on the river. In two days fishing this format I received some invaluable lessons....
Views: 1666
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on
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Good write up Snake!
Your are a lucky guy to be able to fish with those two STICKS! Your obviously riding high on a possible once in a lifetime tourney experience. I do plan on signing up in the future!
Three reasons I have only fished the TBF once.
#1 Funds
#2 Timing/Dates of Tourneys
#3 Bad experience with the boater. I hope this doesn't come across offensive but you were very lucky to fish with two "STICKS" unfortunately many others who sign up never get that opportunity. You were very lucky and Im sure you will never forget it :-) -
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Permalink Reply by Big Steve on
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Jake,
Thanks for taking my money!!! Great job this weekend. August will be a hole lot different.
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Ya its amazing how ladies can get us to open are wallets. Once again great weekend. At least you let me get second on sunday, thanks. :) You can ask almost anyone that's fished tournaments before, you always want to get into the options. The one time you don't, you will wish you had. Its happened to me twice.
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Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on
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Joel,
With the field of boaters in this years B.A.S.S Qualifier, drawing a great boater is a statistical lock the majority of the time. Maybe this year is exceptional.....in fact I overheard someone talking about how tough it would be to make the state team this year with all the talented boaters...
I'm not convinced a bad draw exists. I don't really care much who I draw. I can't control that. Fishing behind a 'stick' has its challenges too. I wouldn't say that "the draw" is why anyone would or would not fish a qualifier. If you got a bad draw, that means your next 10 are probably going to be money.
Joel Alinen said:
Three reasons I have only fished the TBF once.
#1 Funds
#2 Timing/Dates of Tourneys
#3 Bad experience with the boater. I hope this doesn't come across offensive but you were very lucky to fish with two "STICKS" unfortunately many others who sign up never get that opportunity. You were very lucky and Im sure you will never forget it :-) -
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Oh i would care bro...youve been very lucky to network and fish with the guys you have...honestly the only reason i would sign up as a back seater now would be for the opportunity to fish with some of our states top sticks
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Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on
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Jake that sounds like an awesome experience! I will openly admit that I have made a couple negative comments about qualifiers from the point of view of the non boater, but it seems to me that the BASS qualifiers and the TBF qualiiers are not exactly created equal as far as the structure and # of high caliber fisherman that they draw. I know it may be a geographical thing TBF being more western WA, but I just wanted to put it out there. Do you think this year BASS qualifiers drew all those high level fisherman because the schedule consisted of 4 days on the River? I know that last year's TBF series drew a couple very good boaters because the divisional this year was held on Potholes. Not to take a shot at Russ and TBF, but I heard some pretty ugly things were happening at Potholes last week between boaters and non boaters. I know this is never the norm and it is totally the exception, but I'm glad you shared your experience Jake! If I lived near the river I would be in the qualifiers this year too as a non boater no doubt! Great job Jake!
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Joel,
Caring about things I can't control will result in trips to the gastroenterologist. You know....the guy who puts his finger up your ass and suggests that the "coast is clear" but that stress may causing your symptoms.
I am glad you brought up your reason for wanting to fish a qualifier. I really didn't touch on that because I could make David Parnicky weep with the length of my post. (I'm a 70 word per minute guy...)... I do think that if interaction with "the elite" is your only motivation, then I can't recommend a qualifier for that. Just my opinion, but I don't think it's fair to boaters who may be very talented, but may not be on the "stick list."
Marcantonio wrote a good article recently in Western Bass that discusses it "reasons". He mentioned being willing to pay to play with the best because he never learned anything worth knowing from losers... I think that makes sense, but at the same time, if you think you can't learn something from anyone, you've effectively decreased your ability to grow as an angler in my opinion.
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Thats a good question. I think venue and dates clearly create ebbs and flows, but being new I can' really comment too much. Everyone has their reasons, and they are all over the map.
What I can read is that last year (2012) they fished the river and potholes and the participants were similar. The year before (2011) was at Banks and The river at Umatilla, and you had some names who didn't fish like Don Hogue, but some that did like Aaron E.I'd by lieing if I said that CONVENIENCE wasn't a definite factor for me to TRY this format, but after having done it, I would say that convenience will be less of a factor for me moving forward, which means it shouldn't have been a factor in the past for me anyway.
Guys I'm not saying that qualifiers aren't without flaws or that they are the end all.... I'm just saying that everyone who wants to grow as an angler owes it to themselves to check it out, and fish one.
P.J. Koshi said:Do you think this year BASS qualifiers drew all those high level fisherman because the schedule consisted of 4 days on the River? I know that last year's TBF series drew a couple very good boaters because the divisional this year was held on Potholes.
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Snake,
I agree you absolutly can learn from anyone...I learn something new every time I go out regardless of the caliber of fisherman I'm with. But if you wanna learn from other fisherman join a club...its cheaper and more fun...if you wanna fish with sticks signup as a coangler...just realize you might not get a good draw...obviously you got very lucky in your draw...you mentioned quite a few guys who helped you in this tourney and each of them are sticks...that's awesome! I bet you learned a ton and became a much better fisherman!
Jake "The Snake" Anderson said:Joel,
Caring about things I can't control will result in trips to the gastroenterologist. You know....the guy who puts his finger up your ass and suggests that the "coast is clear" but that stress may causing your symptoms.
I am glad you brought up your reason for wanting to fish a qualifier. I really didn't touch on that because I could make David Parnicky weep with the length of my post. (I'm a 70 word per minute guy...)... I do think that if interaction with "the elite" is your only motivation, then I can't recommend a qualifier for that. Just my opinion, but I don't think it's fair to boaters who may be very talented, but may not be on the "stick list."
Marcantonio wrote a good article recently in Western Bass that discusses it "reasons". He mentioned being willing to pay to play with the best because he never learned anything worth knowing from losers... I think that makes sense, but at the same time, if you think you can't learn something from anyone, you've effectively decreased your ability to grow as an angler in my opinion.
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Snake I also wanna congratulate you bud...fishing with a stick is one thing...catching fish behind one is another...and you caught em...looks like your the only nonboater in the top ten...very impressive!
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