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How To Prepare For A Fishing Tournament / Competition

How to begin in tournament / competitive fishing

Author: Ultimate Fishing Date Published: 19th of March 2019

Prepare for australian competition fishing tournament

The allure of big tournaments with big payouts can be very attractive to many new tournament anglers. But, rest assured, the competition is stiff and the learning curve steep. Sharing of information may be very limited. Entry fees are also commonly high in larger venues.

So, how does one get started in tournament fishing, if these events are so difficult? The answer often lies with a local club or series. Local fishing clubs are a great place to start and to learn from other anglers. The best part about local clubs is there are usually members of all skill levels. For the new tournament angler, seeing other new anglers in the club can put them at ease. There are other people who have the same questions and the same worries. But, there are also more experienced anglers.

Many anglers who fish the larger tournaments and circuits also fish their local club. There is usually an anglers or two who used to fish the bigger circuits but wanted to cut back a bit and just have fun with a local club. That is the best part about club fishing. It is a place to learn from other people, and to feel comfortable before hitting a bigger stage.

Most local clubs started out as just a bunch of guys who liked to fish but were also somewhat competitive. Rather than just going out and fishing alone, the like the camaraderie of fishing the same lake with a group of friends and, of course, comparing results afterwards. Some clubs even have barbeques after their events, or a raffle either throughout or at the end of the season. Even season-end meet ups are common, with top finishers being rewarded with plaques or trophies.

In a club, there are typically boaters and non-boaters. Boaters are the guys and gals who have their own boat and use that boat in the tournament. Non-boaters, or co-anglers, as they are also called, do not have boats, but want to fish. Often non-boaters are less experienced, but that is not always the case. Fishing as a non-boater can be a less expensive way to get into tournament fishing. Although non-boaters are often expected to chip in for gas and expenses, it is still less expensive than running their own boat. For those just beginning in tournament fishing, being a non-boater also allows him or her to learn from a variety of anglers. This is often the biggest benefit of joining a local club. A new angler can learn things from several different people, as there is often a draw and a boater is linked with a non-boater. In many clubs, the non-boater must fish with every boater before he or she can fish with someone again. This is a great way to learn.

Club fishing is also a great way to meet other anglers. And those anglers may be willing to take a newer tournament angler with them to a bigger tournament. This is a great way to learn more about bigger tournaments without starting from square one.

New anglers should keep in mind there are unwritten rules, too. For instance, if a boater brings a non-boater to a place he or she normally fishes, that spot still belongs to the boater. A non-boater should not bring another boater there in a later tournament. The new angler should respect the property of the boater. Do not leave a mess in the boat. Tuck all used soft plastics away in a tackle bag or pocket. Keep the area neat and clean. Also, new anglers should know the size of the boat in which they will be fishing and how much gear they can bring along. In some cases, three rods and a small tackle bag may stretch the limits of space available for the non-boater.

Talk to other people in the club. Learn the club rules before joining. And then go out and have fun. Joining a local fishing club is the best way to not only learn about fishing tournaments in preparation for bigger events, but also to learn more about fishing for the targeted species.

This article was prepared by our associated writer Rebecca, who is a life long competition fisherwoman from the USA.

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