New tournament fisherman

[shaneman153D]

So I've been bass fishing for the better part of 25 years.  Mainly on the West side in small lakes where I grew up, but also in AL and TX.  My friend called last night and asked me to go to a tournament this weekend at Lake Samammish, and I said sure.  (He's been my fishing buddy since we were kids so what the hell?)  Additionally, this will be his first tourney.  He just got his first bass boat so I guess a tournament is the next logical step.

I've never really had any interest in tournaments, so I would like to know if you guys maybe have some tips for a noob.  Not planning on winning, just want to have some fun.  We would be very lucky to get a bag full of keepers, but I'm mainly trying to ensure that we don't have a frustrating day due to ill preparation.  

I haven't fished that lake in 10+ years, and he's never been.  We have a general game plan, and we're gonna spend the night before on the topo map.  

Thanks for any advice you have

Shane

[backyard bucks]

if this is your first tourny, go have fun like you said and enjoy the time..
samammish should be good fishing this time of year. each tourny you'll do you will learn and take something away from the experience whether you win, lose, or catch a limit.
good attitude to have going into it (having fun). like you said for your first tourny don't set your goals for winning it but to just catch a limit.. and after all this is just fishing and anything or at anytime you can get the bites you need to put a good bag together.
i haven't fish that lake but one time but i'm guessing the fish are going to be up or at least milling around close to their spawning areas. find the edges of rocky or gravelly flats next to deep water and you should be able to catch some fish. 
good lucky out there and have fun.
have you ever thought of joining a club and fishing the club tournies..?? if you get into the right club with people willing to help out you can learn a ton of good info plus gain the time on the water in a tourny format.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Lake Samm. launch when busy is the most clustered in the World, as there are no designated put in and take out slots, it's a free for all and no one is polite about it. They really need a tenant starting about now through summer. That said, there is some good bass water out there.

[MtnMuley]

Is it the WAFish tourney there shaneman?

[bone head]

keep your bait in the water at all times and don't give up. you never know when that kicker will hit. slow roll a white spinner bait you can't go wrong with that bait

[shaneman153D]

Thanks for the great advice guys!

@mtnmuley - Yes it is, are you going?  Kind of a drive from your neck of the woods (mine too!) 

I can't find the rules for it anywhere online.  Do they all use the BASS rules?  My friend's boat has the killswitch disengaged and he's worried that it's gonna DQ us, so we're trying to find out.

Shane

[jackelope]

you don't need the kill switch enabled on the boat for the sammamish tourney. You need a contest banner and life vests...thats it.

the rules are posted on www.wafish.com

[jackelope]

http://www.wafish.com/group/bassfishing/forum/topics/wafishberkley-tournament-may

http://www.wafish.com/group/bassfishing/forum/topics/wafish-berkley-tournament

[BLKBEARKLR]

So I've been bass fishing for the better part of 25 years.  Mainly on the West side in small lakes where I grew up, but also in AL and TX.  My friend called last night and asked me to go to a tournament this weekend at Lake Samammish, and I said sure.  (He's been my fishing buddy since we were kids so what the hell?)  Additionally, this will be his first tourney.  He just got his first bass boat so I guess a tournament is the next logical step.

I've never really had any interest in tournaments, so I would like to know if you guys maybe have some tips for a noob.  Not planning on winning, just want to have some fun.  We would be very lucky to get a bag full of keepers, but I'm mainly trying to ensure that we don't have a frustrating day due to ill preparation.  

I haven't fished that lake in 10+ years, and he's never been.  We have a general game plan, and we're gonna spend the night before on the topo map.  

Thanks for any advice you have

Shane

Look for the ice cream shack, mid lake on right hand side, will have four docks. They are on the beds right now, drop shot or senko it off the ends of the dock. First tournie, have fun and don't let the bungholes encroach on you.

Joe

[bone head]

get a fast boat to boost your ego, quit eating bass, get pissed at those who keepa limit and become an ass.   

No they are not all that way that was a bit extreme, but I have had a few bad run ins that have turned me off of the tournament deal.

Go have fun and catch fish just like you normally do. No different than any other fishing trip you have ever had.

wow must not have been to competitive to be a tournament fisherman if you want to fish a tournament your there to compete just remember that.

[shaneman153D]

Thanks for the tips fellas, keep 'em comin!  will update on Sunday.

Shane

[Decker]

get a fast boat to boost your ego, quit eating bass, get pissed at those who keepa limit and become an ass.   

No they are not all that way that was a bit extreme, but I have had a few bad run ins that have turned me off of the tournament deal.

Go have fun and catch fish just like you normally do. No different than any other fishing trip you have ever had.

wow must not have been to competitive to be a tournament fisherman if you want to fish a tournament your there to compete just remember that.

[alanger]

So I've been bass fishing for the better part of 25 years.  Mainly on the West side in small lakes where I grew up, but also in AL and TX.  My friend called last night and asked me to go to a tournament this weekend at Lake Samammish, and I said sure.  (He's been my fishing buddy since we were kids so what the hell?)  Additionally, this will be his first tourney.  He just got his first bass boat so I guess a tournament is the next logical step.

I've never really had any interest in tournaments, so I would like to know if you guys maybe have some tips for a noob.  Not planning on winning, just want to have some fun.  We would be very lucky to get a bag full of keepers, but I'm mainly trying to ensure that we don't have a frustrating day due to ill preparation.  

I haven't fished that lake in 10+ years, and he's never been.  We have a general game plan, and we're gonna spend the night before on the topo map.  

Thanks for any advice you have

Shane

 First tournie, have fun and don't let the bungholes encroach on you.

Joe

  stand your ground once you find the fish.  Good luck

[BLUEBULLS]

get a fast boat to boost your ego, quit eating bass, get pissed at those who keepa limit and become an ass.   

No they are not all that way that was a bit extreme, but I have had a few bad run ins that have turned me off of the tournament deal.

Go have fun and catch fish just like you normally do. No different than any other fishing trip you have ever had.

pretty much nailed it that's one reason I quit doing bass tourneys and do Walleye only now,  but there are some real good people in bass tournaments.

having fun is the main thing.... just don't let the few guys that aren't in it for that ruin it for you.

first tourney, you'll probably weigh 25lbs

[wastickslinger]

get a fast boat to boost your ego, quit eating bass, get pissed at those who keepa limit and become an ass.   

No they are not all that way that was a bit extreme, but I have had a few bad run ins that have turned me off of the tournament deal.

Go have fun and catch fish just like you normally do. No different than any other fishing trip you have ever had.

wow must not have been to competitive to be a tournament fisherman if you want to fish a tournament your there to compete just remember that.

it has happened twice. Neither time I was in a tournament. I wont go into details but we were severly harrassed by a few club members for putting a fish in the boat for dinner. I guess the guys were prefishing for a tourney and they didnt like that we put a fish in the live well(probably the fish they were counting on being big fish and big bucks). They proceeded to tell us what they thought of us.  We laughed.

It has happened on two paricular lakes a few times. They really show their true colors. I have just as much right on that lake as any club member. And I should not be harassed for keeping a legal limit of fish.

They just dont get it that there are people that like to fish and have a relaxing time and bring home a limit of bass to eat. I dont know if they even like fishing any more. Heavy rod, unbreakable line, horse the fish to the boat as fast as possible and scream to the next bed. Just not my cup of tea.

I will say that they are not all bad guys and I should not group them as all asses. I will not condone anyone from joining clubs and fishing tournies.  But I can only speak from my experiences. 

[wastickslinger]

get a fast boat to boost your ego, quit eating bass, get pissed at those who keepa limit and become an ass.   

No they are not all that way that was a bit extreme, but I have had a few bad run ins that have turned me off of the tournament deal.

Go have fun and catch fish just like you normally do. No different than any other fishing trip you have ever had.

pretty much nailed it that's one reason I quit doing bass tourneys and do Walleye only now,  but there are some real good people in bass tournaments.

having fun is the main thing.... just don't let the few guys that aren't in it for that ruin it for you.

first tourney, you'll probably weigh 25lbs

That is right. Have fun. Most of those guys have lost sight of that and see dollar signs.

I know some good guys that are club members as well. I was wrong for categorizing them all. But its hard not to with the issues that my famly hashad.

[Dustin07]

Last year we had some small mouth luck with topwater poppers, like rebel poppers on the northside around docks and grassy shorelines. But I think you can apply any of your existing bass knowledge to Sammamish as the lake has it all. Shallow, deep, structure, docks, etc.

the biggest challenge for this weekend, IMO, is the temps. water is still around 51-52 degrees I think. And further more, the water went from warming up, to cooling down with this odd week we've had. So it may be tough to dial in on where the hungry bass are. I'm doubting there are many in the shallows except maybe those who have already started scouting nests and didnt' retreat with the cold. I spend a lot of time on washingtonlakes.com. check out the reports there and get some more insider info before the tourney.

Lake Samm. launch when busy is the most clustered in the World, as there are no designated put in and take out slots, it's a free for all and no one is polite about it. They really need a tenant starting about now through summer. That said, there is some good bass water out there.

lake sammamish boat launch is not bad to get out if you get there at an appropriate time to be fishing in the morning. It gets bad when the jet ski and water skiiers show up, 9am and later it gets worse and worse. But launching in the morning isn't bad. it's the leaving that beats you up. I hit Sammamish probably a dozen times/year.

[MtnMuley]

No, shaneman, I won't be making the drive over.  Spending the weekend gearing up for another upcoming tourney.  This seems to be a tourney set up to have a good time, rather than a high dollar shoot out.  Should be a lot of fun for you.  Good luck, and don't forget that dropshot rod......

[backyard bucks]

This seems to be a tourney set up to have a good time, rather than a high dollar shoot out.  Should be a lot of fun for you.  Good luck, and don't forget that dropshot rod......

for sure these WAFISH ones or some of the other smaller opens would be the best in my opinion for breaking into the tourny fishing.. the nwbass tournies are a blast to do if you go into them with the attitude you have on just wanting to have fun and learn. 
and
for sure bring your drop shot rod!!!!! i'm with MtmMuley on this weekend.. lk wa is coming up just around the corner..
good luck.

[shaneman153D]

................

the biggest challenge for this weekend, IMO, is the temps. water is still around 51-52 degrees I think. ......................

I agree, my buddy and I were just talking about this.  He has been fishing American Lake (Don't laugh, he's caught some hogs out there recently) lately and said that the temp dropped a few degrees. 

Now that I think of it, Samammish is kind of similar to American Lake.

[Dustin07]

Nick Barr is a guide/tourney angler on walakes.com and he had pics of some fat SMB's he caught on American. I think 4-5+lbs. that's a big smallmouth.

[shaneman153D]

Yep, Dan (my friend) has been hitting that lake since about two months ago with little to no luck.  Then I went with him last month, he caught a 2.5 and 3.5 with me there.  I think the *censored* was rationing his fish so he could rub it in when I finally got out there.  Last week he got one that went an ounce shy of 5.

I just heard that WSU is out this weekend, I have to go over tonight.  HWY 26 is a zoo.  What a fun drive that will be.   

[shaneman153D]

Well thanks again for all the great advice fellas.  We ended up weighing in 3 bronzebacks @ 7.30, placed 4th and won 400 skins! 

I used to fish a lake in TX that had tournaments on it every weekend.  The average TX tourney fisherman gave me a bad taste, but everyone we met and chatted with today was very friendly.  Definitely a good experience!

BTW, if you're going to Samammish, they're hitting slug-go's.  Keepers are few and far between though!

Shane

[Dustin07]

whats a slug go? like a football head jig?

[teal101]

whats a slug go? like a football head jig?

An old school stick bait.

[BLKBEARKLR]

whats a slug go? like a football head jig?

It is one of the first soft plastic stick baits

Slug-Go Rigging

Joe

[alanger]

Glad it turned out well for you.   

[Dustin07]

whats a slug go? like a football head jig?

It is one of the first soft plastic stick baits

Slug-Go Rigging

Joe

cool. i have caught most of my largest bass off senko's texas rigged like that. seems like there are a million names for 10 different lure setups in bass fishing, just depends on what region a person is from.

[alanger]

whats a slug go? like a football head jig?

It is one of the first soft plastic stick baits

Slug-Go Rigging

Joe

cool. i have caught most of my largest bass off senko's texas rigged like that. seems like there are a million names for 10 different lure setups in bass fishing, just depends on what region a person is from.

No kidding.

[teal101]

whats a slug go? like a football head jig?

It is one of the first soft plastic stick baits

Slug-Go Rigging

Joe

cool. i have caught most of my largest bass off senko's texas rigged like that. seems like there are a million names for 10 different lure setups in bass fishing, just depends on what region a person is from.

Senkos are quite different.  The Slug-go floats or can be rigged to work like a senko.  It's a lot stiffer than a senko as well, much different action. 

Agreed though, there are 10000 different worm baits out there now, each with their own little action.

[shaneman153D]

I tend to revert back to stuff that worked a long time ago when the fishing is tough.  I did try a senko for a few minutes and got a bite on it, but ultimately switched to the slug-go.  IMO, they are the best jerk bait out there; just a very different material than any others, they feel like a minnow, and they're tough as nails.