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.