Why are team tournaments prefered?

As many of you know I run a district of the American Bass Anglers Tournament Trail on the river from Guttenberg to Clinton. It seems most of the tournements on the river are team tournaments or just local clubs. I would very much like your opinion as to why the Team format is perfered. I’d like opinion of both Bass and Walleye anglers.

Thanks all. This will help me overcome some of the resistance I see to draw tournaments.

Ken

Same partner combined with shared expenses are top reasons for me….especially if it’s going to be a long road trip. Also splitting up pre-fishing work between two boats is a plus.

I have fished many team events and never had the desire to do any pro am formats.

Jon J.

I’m with Jon….also my partners and I get along great no matter who is running the boat. We also agree on the fishing spots so we can’t play the blame game. Pro-Am style does have its pros… it gives an individual the chance to fish different techniques and locations….But its hard for me to spend the money and not have a big say in where we fish or the style.

I fished the PWT in 2001 as a rookie Pro and up to that point, I had only fished team events with my favorite tourney partner. Like Jon mentioned, the shared expenses are a big plus when on the road, entry fees, lodging, gas, oil, gear, etc… Having a partner that you get along with and can confidently share ideas and thoughts are all things that are very hard to find when looking for a good partner. The actual fishing becomes such second nature, meaning you think alike, techniques are similair, and evaluating water is the same as well. Pre-fishing several days in a row can take a toll on the best of friends.

As for the Pro-Am side, YOu alone have much more invested in the event as a pro. Generally higher entry fees, single expenses and all your thoughts and confidence relies solely on your pre-fishing findings or previous experience on that water in those conditions. The amateur has a great opportunity to learn a great value of information in a couple days that may have taken him/her years to figure out on their own. These things are priceless to all amatuers that are looking to become a better angler either on their home water or possibly wanting to make the next step to tournament fishing. Spending two or three days with a different pro each day is something alot of anglers may not understand how valuable that can be. Not only are you exposed to new techniques and such, but you get a chance to see them in action. Having confidence in a trick or technique goes a long way when returning back to your home waters!!

for me its simple cost

its cheaper for me to ride with some one to the tourney room with them etc then to drive by my self room up alone prefish (for no reason)in my 16 foot jon boat

also pro am tourneys to me arent worth it for the amature to fish i come in with a sack that wins both sides but alot of pro ams dont pay back much or just give you tackle

look at the illinois federation open trail for year end award for winning the tournoment

plus the idea of being front ended isnt for me

Having fished ABA I believe what Ken is getting at with this ? is not the pro-am style but the draw tourney format= equal time in front, same money pool, equal spot selection, and hopefully (if you get a good non-boater) shared gas/expenses.
I agree with all that was said about pro-am events above, but I have to say that the draw format is nice- although i would agree the chance is certainly there to blame and point fingers. most of the partners i have had (i think they would agree) we have got along well, shared ideas/spots/time in front and I have learned a lot- if you fish with new people you learn new techniques/areas/ideas and sometimes it pays off. If you are a top-end angler (BASS, FLW, Everstart, etc) then it might not offer much but for the vast majority of us weekend anglers I believe this format has a lot to offer. As far as shared expenses it gives you a chance to meet new people and give you more options for traveling partners for future tourneys if your regular partner is occupied with family,job or other. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the kind words JJ. I was just trying to get a feel for the sentiment out there. It seems I am successfully getting through to the river anglers. The interest is way up this year. ABA seems to have achieved some good name recognition in the area. At least in the southern area this page covers.

I have recieved some interest in expanding north in to more pools. I guess I’m feeling the water for that. I agree that once a team achieves that familiarity and they begin to work as one it is a great thing. That is why I still compete in team trails. I love sharing the boat with a good friend with whom I enjoy fishing.

With that said I also like the Draw format of ABA. Because you get to fish with others, it helps you become a better angler. I learned a lot of new spots, so the precious few I had now don’t have to be so guarded. I also found out most people knew them anyway.

The sharing of expenses is important to me but this doesn’t only occur with team events. I know several people in the ABA (Draw fromat)travel and prefish together. They share expenses and then the two who are paired share the boat expense. In the end it is the same as a team as far as expenses are concerned.

I don’t think I care much for Pro-am style, however, except in the true pro class like BASS. Here I would not mind being the amateur. The Pro can teach me a lot. I am not sure this is always true at lower levels like the Federation or BFL.

I did not intend this to become a commercial for the ABA but rather just wanted to take a look at the team circuit monopoly that seems to exist on the river. I don’t really want to break it I am just trying to find room for other options.

dont get me wrong alot of the time the pros put the time in etc etc and usually deserve more money

but if a pro am comes to my home area id have to fish it as an amature cause all i can afford is my little john boat with my tiller motor but ill know that pool better then most in the tournoment ill spend all the time i can prefishing etc

but come tourney time im dubbed an amature cause i cant afford the boat

i havent fished the aba yet but might when the funds come along at least the amature/non boater has a chance to get in on the same prizes as the pro from what i read wich is something id really enjoy just to see where im at in relation with every one else

I like the team tourneys because at the end of the day no matter what I will have had fun and anjoyed the good company.
jc

I fish both fairly equally. And I think both are very important. Both bring out different parts of your fishing abilities and test different things. One thing I really enjoy about team stuff is I have someone that I get along with really well and for me, our fishing style contrast eachother really well. And as a result we do well nomatter what the conditions. Sometimes I think of something he would never have thought of or the other way around. So Fishing together works really well. It means we have a wider pool of knowledge to draw from while on the water and since we prefer different fishing styles we both bring something very valuable to the table while fishing together. Besides the fact we have a riot fishing together.

But I do really like the other format where I am in total control and it is up to just me. It is a much greater test of my abilities and really draws out much more of a competitive spirit from me. I find I am much more focused and determined. It also helps me develope as a fishermen in ways that the team format does not allow me to.

As a side note. My team partner also fishes the individual tournaments and we traval together, share rooms and so on. So that helps with costs some even when fishing individual tournaments. And even though we prefish together, once it starts it is up to me to get the results and make the decisions.

Both formats are GREAT

Eric Ahlstrom

To answer the question in one sentence I would have to say thats its alot of fun to fish a tournament with a good fishing buddy. Thanks, Bill

Very well put, Bill. Those are my exact thoughts.

Gator Hunter

Being very fortnate over the last 2 year as a pro,all I can say is going “Pro” isnt easy.Alot of time from home and a ton of work,on and off the water.Partnering up with a good guy can help.Iam the type a person were its my way or the highway,and alot of the best guys on the curcuit are the same way.Team tourneys are alot of fun and comraderdy(sp)to me ,and I do them when I can.If its about the money stay home ,fishing a team tourney you would have to take a top ten for you and your partner just to break even.

Fishing and confidence go hand in hand.
When I’m fishing with my partner I feel like we can’t be beaten..And that gives me the extra cast,the extra energy, the extra drive to make the right on the water decisions.
Simple as that. I know he can handle a net. on and on.
It is a confidence thing with me.
Reefrunner