New tournament fisherman

[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.