My first tournament *DELETED*

Post deleted by AmWatson

I’m glad to hear you had fun Mike! Above and beyond anything else having fun is makes for a great day.

A purple & white spinnerbait huh?!?!? Sounds like those Bass were Vikings fans.

I hope you fill the boat tomorrow.

Watson,
not a bad start, keep an open mind, keep learning, and foremost, keep having fun. Good Luck. Jack.

Post deleted by AmWatson

Wats…sounds like you had a bad day…..PM me when you get a chance…..Wanna find out more about what happened. Got some advice for ya as well.

AmWatson,as a former fed. boater I always told the non-boater the half way mark of the day and offered the non-boater the trolling moter, None of them accepted,at meetings I encourage the non-boaters to take there turns on the moter.Depending on your clubs rules you probly could have had the boater D.Q.,then this problem will not happen.The poltics of clubs can some time ruin fishing seasons,you are now a member of the club and better voice your opinion. If the club don t address the problem, you can see the problems you will endure as a member.Don t forget just because as a non- boater you take the trolling moter does not mean you have to leave the boaters water and if he is a decent angler he should give you advice to keep you on fish.If you don t have spots before the tourny explain this to the boater, but you will still take the trolling moter when it is your turn,so he will be prepaired and can plan the day and will not be suprised about your intentions.Some boaters will not offer, so let them know what they will be in for. Good luck and your concerns to your club will show you are ready to compete against these guys and any rule bending will not be o.k. when your in the boat.

AM..sorry to hear about your bad time….one thing you need to do is don’t be afraid to speak up…i know it’s easier said then done but if you don’t that fisherman will continue to do that!!

It happends at all levels of fishing you just gota speak up and tell him what’s what!!

By the way..what’s his name so we can hang him

As a Bass Club Member and a Federation Member for over 20 years, I can understand your frustration, but i’m sure there are two sides to the story. (We’ve probably all had this done to us at one time or another, but only once I assure you) However, from my point of view, the other side desn’t matter right now. I would like to think that you and your club members are professional enough for you to air you discontentment at a meeting and not over the internet. All clubs have rules and regs to follow and bylaws and standards to meet. In my opinion, you should be talking to your fellow club members and fishing peers first. As a new member and just getting into Bass Fishing tournaments, you should be discussing these issues with your club.

AmWatson, sorry that I didn’t get to read your post. From the replies that I’ve read, I want to tell you what I did last year.

I fished the Wis. zone 5 tourney last year as a non-boater. All last year I did well in the Federation and the BFL, so I knew that if I could fish my spots at zone, I might have a chance to advance. Anyways, 4 hours into our zone tourney, I had 2 fish and my boater had 3. I told him that I had prefished and that I had fish going. I politely told him that now we are going to fish my spots. He hesitated, then realized that he had no choice. I went on to catch a limit and my boater didn’t. Felt ackward running a Motor Guide… I’m a Minn Kota guy . Long story short, I was the only non-boater to qualify for WI State as a BOATER out of zone 5. I then went on to state and finished 25th. Lots of great guys there. Dang!

Moral of the story, if you can take the front of the boat…DO IT! If you don’t the advantage lies clearly on the boaters’ shoulders.

-dn

watson..im sorry you felt like you had to delete your post.I feel this forum is for more then talking pure fishing but come to think of it thats what you was doing anyway.If you felt like venting this is a good place to do it an you are far from being the first to use this site for that reason. Myself i didnt see where you was out of line at all. Watson you cant please everyone, so dont even try

I would like to explain my reasoning behind it, but I guess I cannot do that. I can tell you IDA has nothing to do with my decision, but other sources do.

I guess the lesson here is to remember that what ever you write on this, or any other board for that matter, is very much public information. Although it may seem like its just a bunch of chit chat amongst the friendly folk that we have gotten to know through the site, we still have to watch what we say. Anything you post will more than likely be read by 10 times as many un-known “visitors” as it will registerd users.

When I first found this site, I got burned when I mentioned something that in no way should have been mentioned on such a public forum. But I didn’t no any better. Now I do, and always keep that in the back of my mind every time I make a post (although it may not seem that way sometimes ).

sorry for your un-forunate situation Wats……I hope it doesn’t turn you away from club or tourny fishing for good

Amwatson………you have the wright to post what you want on this board…there was nuttin unacceptable….obviously the club has found out about your displeasures..so what..are they gonna ban you???

I am going to try and be “nice” about the whole situation. Yes, what I said got around to the club. Some, not all, took offense to it. Since it brought “disgrace” to the club, some want me out. I usually don not back down from a fight, but it just isn’t worth it. They can have their club and I will just go on about my business. I don’t need the politics involved. All I wanted was to learn new techniques and have fun while doing it. As furious as I am about the whole deal, I am not going to go off like I want to. My wife is the unlucky one that has to listen to it from me. I am going to continue a very few tourneys, but probably will not get in a club again for awhile. Like I said, the first tourney we had I had a blast, learned some new techniques and spots. I got my $60 back on that day alone. In a few days I will be able to shake it off and keep on keepin on.

I dont understand how they could take offence to what you said watson.I hope they had a talk with the number 2 guy. To me thats where the problem is. An as far as not speaking out in a public forum like this.Thats BS!. If the club cant handle being scrutinized that in itself may be a problem. I hope the word (disgrace) is something you just tossed in an not something they told you. Cause if it is i would blast them suckers right out of the water.

The #2 guy is the one who made a motion to boot me. Since he is an older member, who is going to win this one. I was also told in an email yesterday that I was “misguided” on the type of person he is. There are only 4 ways to get voted out of the club. 3 do not meet the situation, but the one does ” Any action, which would reflect dishonor and disgrace on this chapter, would result in a majority vote for removal by secret ballot, by 60% majority of membership”. We are not allowed to say anything about the club to anyone. I want to go raise one hell of a ruckus, but what will it prove? I guess my call it like I see it attitude is too much for them to handle. Beleive me, I am not one to sit back and let people run rough shod over me. I guess I was supposed to sit in the back and do whatever they tell me to do whether I liked it or not to be accepted. Sorry guys, not going to happen.

The only thing to do is spill ur guts about everything…….let us know what club they is and let’s hang’em all….they ain’t gonna like the public opinion abut them…….your booted so let the games begin

I do not know all the inside scoop but you may be better served to take the high road, (which you have seem to have done), in these types of situations.
Now kicking arss is sometimes fun to do but in the end do you really get what you want.
I just like to fish, I only know a few in local clubs and they all speak about the politics to one degree or another. I have not joined because I do not feel my skills are worth a toot, and when it comes down to it I just want to fish and if I can find another person to go with at the time so much the better.
Amwatson, if you’re looking for someone who won’t hog the boat and you want to get out give me a holler. Tourneys may be fun and I can appreciate the competitive nature but I fish to relax the rest of my life is a competition.
Good luck and keep the faith!

While I commend you for taking the high road, I don’t know if I could/would have. I’m not a bass guy and have never fished in a bass tourney, but rules are rules. I’m not completely aware of the whole story, but when the #2 guy in the club decides that bending the rules is OK, you don’t want to be associated with them anyway. If the club is a national member to the federation, they especially don’t want this getting out. Maybe a well thought out letter to the national level is in order???

You’ll find a club that is right for you, fun yet educational. Good luck!!

What a bunch of BS!

You dont need that club! I fished in a club for two years an never had any problems. I dont do it anymore cause I chose to fish other tournaments, but I am guessing that most of them are not like that. It sure would be tough for #2 to admit that he was wrong, just easier to kick you out. Im a pretty easy going guy, but things like this make me boil!

AM – I would find another club to join, from what ive read you dont want to be a part of that one anyway.

JHall

I have to agree with many of the posts here. With that being said, it seems like the BASS Fed. you belonged to is more of a Country Club than a BASS Club. That is sad to hear. What needed to be addressed is why you were treated like that. Even more so with you being a new member to the Club. The guy should have known better. Airing out the laundry here is of no consequence. I’m sure he would have tried to ‘vote you off the island’ no matter how you tried to reconcile the matter. Some guys are just jerks when they fish. And to think all this time I thought fishing was supposed to be fun. Silly me.

Mike, you don’t need to belong to something like that. Especially with people like the guy you fished with on the second day. Apparently the guy needs to be taught common courtesy and ethics.

Maybe we could start our own In-Depth Bass Club and fish every other weekend, or once a month.

Lastly Mike, don’t give up. No every club is like that and not every Bass fisherman is an inconsiderate [censored].

AMWATSON i would like to invite you to join our club you can visit us at http://www.basswranglers.com i started fishing in the club bc i wanterd to learn new stuff just like you and i can tell you that i have learned(and keep learning) new things every time out. i can tell you that to my knowledge in the 4 years that i have fished our club no one has ever had a bad experiance. we all (for the most part) try to work together now we dont go around giving up spots but i do know truthfull advise is always FREE. so on behalf of the basswranglers we invite you to give us a try. and who gives a crap about them you have the right to free speach!!

Watson, your not alone….about 8 years ago I belonged to the Augusta Bass Anglers (BASS affiliate)and on two occasions in the first year as a non-boater (did have my own boat but theirs were faster)I was not allowed my 4 hours on my spots. The first time I did not speak up….the 2nd time the boater had 1 more fish for a limit on the Miller Dam Flowage and was in the running for MR. Bass and indicated he would relinquish his post at the trolling motor when he got the 5th fish. Needless to say I was a little ticked and quit the club (if they’re reading this, they know who they are). It’s now water under the bridge and only fish open tourny’s. I believe most BASS clubs are worth there weight in gold, but this one the individuals were very cliquish (a country club of good’ol boys) that did not want anyone new pitchen in their 2-cents. good luck with it all!

Watson, I have an opion -shocking, isn’t it?

I fished in a club that was not what I was looking for. A year later I left.

Now, I’m about to join a club in VA; before I pursued this club, I looked around quite a bit, and was repeatedly told that that club I’m now joining in VA was probably not only the most competetive (best hooks around), but was also the best run (everyone gets along and there aren’t may big heads).

My suggestion to you is this: I love it when I’m told that I cannot do this or that; were I you, I’d spend all my time on the water, learn & let your fishing do the talking. I’ve shut more pie holes doing that than Carter’s got liver pills. What’s more, you’ll learn who your friends in any club are right away. IMHO, they’re the guys who were your buddies & called ya all the time right from the first day walking in the door.

Now, my experience with them was fine. I have no complaints other than an 8 fish limit. Six is enough in my book.

Well, I gotta run as I got more work to do as I was in our MN office, hey, for a few days-dare-hey.

Thanks ,