Tournament questions

How many do you fish a year? (open water)
Do you sign up in advance or wait until the week of to see how many teams sign up?
Do you fish with a partner or draw tourney’s?
Why do you fish tournaments?

I do 3-5 a year and all are signed up in advance. I do it because they’re fun, not for the chance of winning anything. I have the same partner for all tournaments, we work well together with two slightly different techniques in each application.

4-6 Tournaments a year depending on my work schedule

I sign up well in advance because last year the AIM circuit filled up quick

I fish with my dad as my partner and this is why I fish this circuit, we like to fish together and its something for us to do.

Why do I fish Tournaments???? Quite frankly its the fun and getting to do something competitive and something we like to do together. If you’re doing it for fame or free stuff, those are the wrong reasons to get into it. You won’t have either haha. Go out and just have fun! I also do it because I learn a lot, it has made me a much better fisherman. Before I was a fair weather guy. With tournaments you go no matter what and you have to figure it out, and that’s what I like. I have made some very good friends as well. The comradery is great as well. Everyone in the field for the most part are nice and always willing to help. But never trust anyone with information on spots or tactics lol.

I do 1-2 Charity tournaments a year. They are fun, competitive, but not cut throat, and proceeds go to a worthy cause. And you can win some prizes (or door prizes in my case) and meet some interesting or prominent people that participate. For me it’s the way to go..

I fish a handful usually
All open water
I sign up in advance
I fish with a partner

I enjoy the competitive aspect, the anticipation, as well as the strategy. It also forces me to fish as hard as possible while pre-fishing and during the tournament.

I typically learn a lot when I fish a tournament. When I was 17 I entered a local walleye league in Bemidji, MN because I wanted to become a better walleye fisherman. It definitely made me a lot better.

Couple a year – smaller local tourney’s that I sign up in advance for. Also did a weekly tourney on the St Croix for a couple of summers but it’s hard to make time for that anymore. Did that mainly to learn the river a bit more.

I think it’s good camaraderie and helps you learn from different anglers.

5-6 bass tournaments and maybe 1 or 2 ice fishing (charity) tournaments this year. As Pat mentioned, it’s really a good way to measure how much you really know about fishing and it forces you to improve and learn.

Any suggestions for ice charity/tourneys this winter? Preferably something within an hour or two of the TC.

Thinking it would be a good excuse to block out a weekend and improve my skills.

Jamin wrote:

Any suggestions for ice charity/tourneys this winter? Preferably something within an hour or two of the TC.

Thinking it would be a good excuse to block out a weekend and improve my skills.

Brainerd JC contest on Gull lake is an awesome run tournament for ice fishing. It’s 5 hours for us and we make it up there every year. It’s such a big area and people crowding is not an issue. Holes are predrilled in a grid so no one can actually fish closer to you than to anyone else.

I’ll fish some local ice fishing contests as well, sponsored by local sportsman clubs. A little friendly competion and fun to BS. Same with a few open water local tournaments.

I’ve never considered this in the past or looked into it. I always thought it was just for the hardcore guys. Reading more here and seeing others doing it on YT it seems like something that would be fun.

How does one keep abreast of local tournaments? I’m in the pool 4 to pool 2 area or the Twin City metro area for that matter.

Are entry fees expensive?

I typically fish 4-8 per year dependingon schedule.
I sign up in advance.
I fish with a partner.
I fish tournaments because of mental battle against the fish. Once I stopped worrying about other people and started fishing my fish, my success went up. Tournament fishing consistently forces you to fish outside of your comfort zone and fish in conditions that you typically wouldn’t fish in. There’s also a lot of fishing knowledge in most clubs/circuits. Just hanging around some of these people can help cut the learning curve and help you to become a better angler.

There’s definitely tournaments on P4 with entry fees in the $100-$200 range.

BoatsHateMe wrote:

I’ve never considered this in the past or looked into it. I always thought it was just for the hardcore guys. Reading more here and seeing others doing it on YT it seems like something that would be fun.

How does one keep abreast of local tournaments? I’m in the pool 4 to pool 2 area or the Twin City metro area for that matter.

Are entry fees expensive?

Pool 2 hawg haul and the Freeze your butt off tourney on pool 4 are great local ones you should do. Most teams are in it for the fun. Hawg haul just happened in October and freeze your butt off is in March. Watch the tourney page here on the site.

BoatsHateMe wrote:

I’ve never considered this in the past or looked into it. I always thought it was just for the hardcore guys. Reading more here and seeing others doing it on YT it seems like something that would be fun.

How does one keep abreast of local tournaments? I’m in the pool 4 to pool 2 area or the Twin City metro area for that matter.

Are entry fees expensive?

Leagues are also a good option if you want the tournament style feel and experience without as much cost. And you can learn just as much as there are very good fisherman in them as well.

I usually fish 6 tournaments a year as a non-boater in the Baxter Bass Snatchers Club. This was my 11th year in the club. If I’m lucky I get asked to fish a couple of additional tournaments per year. The Snatcher’s come up with the lakes and dates by the end of April. It’s a random partner draw a week and a half prior to the tournament day with a different partner for each tournament. We fish for our own weight not as a team.

I fish tournaments because I like competition. That said winning isn’t high on my priority list. I am generally content to stay in the back of the boat and let the boater call all the shots. It gets me out on lakes I wouldn’t otherwise fish and with people who enjoy bass fishing as I do.

^^^
LOL I am part of Brained Master Club, been a back boater for the last two years.

I will be boating next year, I love fishing tournaments you always learn some new.

Zero open water.

Fishing should be relaxing and is already frustrating enough some days without the added element of competition. Have a scoreboard and time clock is not the best recipe for me.

That said, hard water I haven’t missed the Brainerd Jaycees for 13 years. We don’t take it serious and have an absolute blast. Did the Fishing for Ducks at Garrison last year with one friend and his son.
Really liked that one too.

BoatsHateMe wrote:

I’ve never considered this in the past or looked into it. I always thought it was just for the hardcore guys. Reading more here and seeing others doing it on YT it seems like something that would be fun.

How does one keep abreast of local tournaments? I’m in the pool 4 to pool 2 area or the Twin City metro area for that matter.

Are entry fees expensive?

Sign up for the AIM Weekend Walleye Series event on Pool 4 in May 2019. First event of the year. Its a ton of fun for sure. Tournament fee is $300 per event. Find a partner to fish with and split the costs. I can’t wait for the season to start.