Why fishing tournaments?

[dubob]

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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]That said, I don't understand the need for them. Why do we (the human race) have to make recreational activities a competition? And IMHO, that's what fishing is; a very relaxing, stress relieving, recreational activity. I have never seen the need to make it a competition.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I enjoy the communing with nature aspects of the sport and the camaraderie shared with my fishing buddies. I really could care less if they (he or she) catches more or bigger fish than I do. They damn sure don't get more pleasure from the activity than I do. At least I don't believe they do - but I've been wrong in the past. [][/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]So what drives you tournament fisher people to make it into a competition? Is it the prizes you might win or the bragging rights? Enlighten me.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]And PLEASE, keep it civil and informative. Different strokes for different folks is perfectly acceptable in this regard. [angelic][/#800000][/font]
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[albinotrout]

I am not a big fan of tournaments. I have joined in the BFT contests in the past just for fun is all.
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[Tarponjim]

I'll first say, +1 for me. Don't get it. No interest. In some cases (not all), it brings out the worst in people. In some cases (not all), it harms fisheries, but fresh and salt. It makes the waters more crowded during the events, concentrating too many anglers on one lake, river, or shoreline.

However, I did, in my previous younger life, fish a local and western regional bass tournament "trail" for three years. I was just a kid, but I did kick some butt on my third and final season, qualifying for the "classic," as it was. There was no prize money or sponsorship, only trophies, bragging rights, and grand prizes if you made it to the end. I happened to win a grand prize of a week's fishing at Kulik Lodge in Alaska in my final tournament, which ended up changing my life and steering my career path, but that's another story.

I quit because of that life-changing trip to Alaska, and the fact I didn't like the fast pace. Eating "lunch" going 50 mph between spots so as not to miss a cast. The pre-fishing for a tournament, only to fish it, then pre-fish the next week, and so on . . . There wasn't time for all the other fishing I wanted to try and do. Bass weren't and aren't the end-all. And it all started to just seem too "showboaty."

So why did I do it in the first place? Because Jimmy Houston and Bill Dance did it! They were fishing TV stars! The guys in Bassmaster Magazine did it! They wrote books and articles too. I was gonna be one! I was bad a** fishin' kid (in my own mind), and wanted everybody to know it. I was 16 or 17 and "beating" all these old men who had bass rockets and 8 rods! Bragging rights. Attention. Recognition. Look at me and the patches on my jacket, and the stickers on my boat.

Today, of course, the money is big, the sponsorship is critical, and there are divisions of divisions of divisions. But that's not why I fish, or even guide, for that matter. If one has a dream to try to make it as a pro, the money and glamour are there. To do it for fun, or at a local level, maybe for the friendship and camaraderie? I did learn a lot from fishing with those "old" guys! But, that can be done without the competition too.

Thankfully, I grew out of it quickly, before I was finished with high school. I haven't fished any sort of fishing competition since, and don't ever plan to. Too commercial, and not in the spirit of sports fishing in my mind. Even the "one fly" gigs for charity and conservation that the fly fishermen now have. They are for good causes, and some of the saltwater "tours" have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for good causes. Its just not for me, I'd rather just go, and someplace where there's not a "derby," or "tournament" going on.
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[Boisan]

The way I view tournaments is that they are a way for managing agencies to raise money. Most fisheries have specific management plans that require multi-year funding. Instead of annual license fee increases across the board, tournament fees help offset some of those costs. In return, tournament hosts and sponsors entice participants with the possibility of winning some great prizes.

Tournaments also provide an opportunity to publicize fisheries and state parks through media outlets. More use for public resources means sustained or increased funding in the future.

I do appreciate tournaments with a conservation component (i.e. Scofield - Utah chub and Flaming Gorge - burbot bash) but other than raising awareness of a problem, they're not going to eradicate invasive fish species by hosting annual tournaments.

Personally, I don't participate in many tournaments because like you, I go fishing to spend time outdoors. Large crowds seem to ruin that experience for me. However, if tournaments continue to fund wildlife conservation programs, I'm not going to complain.
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[albinotrout]

+1 on that Jim. I like the peace and quiet.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Although it's not a tournament, I think the same thing follows for our Catfish contest, and I'm not a real competitive type, but I've found the catfish contest pushes me to be better, it's sort of like slalom water skiing where you compete against your own personal mark to push you to get better. If we didn't have the contest I'm sure I wouldn't fish at night to catch bigger fish, but for some reason having my numbers tracked drives me to try and do better... I'm not sure it drives me to more fun fishing, because sometimes the big fish aren't caught the same way as numbers of fish are caught and so you use methods that may not be as fun, but when you get a really big fish it's always a blast to catch that one even if it takes longer to get it on the line... I think it's a phase, I went through the same thing hunting deer. At first I just wanted to get me a buck, then when I knew I could do that, it turned to wanting the trophy, which I did okay at for a while, then I got so it wasn't so important to get a buck anymore and I decided I'd almost rather go fishing instead... I think the contest is the trophy phase and I expect I'll pass through it and get back to just enjoying the fishing for the fishing... That's what winter is all about for me... Summer it's game on to help keep team north afloat.... Just my take on it... J
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[wiperhunter2]

I've done a bunch of BFT tournaments and events in the past and when I started them it was mainly a get together of friends on BFT. In the 10 year BFT held those tournaments and I put most of them on, I had little concern about winning them but of course if I did, that was ok but it was more about the comradery than anything else. Now days I'm not into it but I do like the way Rockport does their tagged fish contest, if you go there and catch a tagged fish you win a prize, no entry fee, no signing up for anything, I think it is a great way to have a contest.
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[FatBiker]

+1 on the "don't do tournaments" list. I firmly believe money (prizes) brings out the worst in human behavior.



Larry
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[dubob]

[quote Boisan]The way I view tournaments is that they are a way for managing agencies to raise money.[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]That's an interesting take that I had not thought about. And I would agree that it is a good thing for the agencies to have the funds they need to do their job. But I still ain't joinin' in.[/#800000][/font] [cool]
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[gaardvark]

I fished a couple of tournaments 20 years ago. They were local, with relatively few participants, and there was no money on the line. For me, it was a way to fish new water and be paired with someone who had a boat and experience they were willing to share. Scoring was on an individual basis, rather than scoring the boat, so my inexperience did not hurt a partners chances for success.
While I enjoyed the opportunities, it wasn't about the tournaments or chance of winning.
I joined the BFT catfish contest in 2015, not for money (obviously), and not for the chance at prizes. The possibility of bragging rights both personal and for the better team (who was uncharacteristically beaten this year), drove me to fish new places in new ways. This also was a good excuse to spend more time fishing with my 12 yo son. He was excited to fish with me and on his own, and spent more time away from a computer thanks to our proximity to fishable water.
Perhaps this doesn't speak directly to the idea of a tournament, as I wouldn't necessarily put BFT's contest in the same category as a high-pressure, fast-paced, single or multi-day race. The contest did put the spurs to us just enough to get out more and enjoy each others company while fishing or just floating around in a canoe
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[fsh4fun05]

I used to fish tournaments often and there is more good than bad. I learned a lot from the co-anglers I would fish with and afterwards it was a chance to hang out with the guys.
I held my own in the club, big fish, AOY for 3 years, money, glory, pride, trophies, jackets yada yada. It was nice to see younger anglers join the club and see conservation officers get involved and ask us questions.
What ended it for me was another angler complaining that he should have won for whatever reason. I honestly don't remember what the issue was. One of his fish was measured wrong or whatever. I didn't care either way but the tournament director said I won and that was final. It was always awkward after that. Other anglers cheating, bragging about getting away with it and once I saw it with my own eyes that was it. Paper tournaments are better for the fish but when you see a guy blatantly measure his fish and say it was longer than what it really was...I can get online and see that all day if I want! [laugh]
I will fish the occasional tournament if it's a body I want to fish but not often. Some of the Bass Champs tournies in Texas but that is for a truck every hour and a truck and boat for biggest bass.
I enjoy taking my time and if I find a school of 10" bass I'll stay there and catch them all day long. Leaving fish to look for bigger fish seems ridiculous to me now. If I want to pull up on shore and eat a sandwich and drink a beer I can without breaking the rules. I can jump in the water on a hot day without being dq'd. I have more reasons to not fish tournaments now so I stopped.
It's not a bad thing to have tournaments IMO. It promotes awareness of the sport of fishing in general and a lot times gives the biologists a good idea what's going on with the population of a certain species. My 2 cents.
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[TubeDude]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]"DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT A TIRAID AGAINST TOURNAMNETS!"

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I was exposed to the world of tournament bass fishing during my younger years in California. Since I was a bass fishing guide on a couple of central California lakes I was persuaded to join in some of the early bass tournaments, which included some of my fave ponds. I did well, position wise, but there was no real money. It cost a lot of time and money just to get to the tourneys and put up the entry fees. Even first place seldom paid much more than enough to cover expenses.

The worst part of competitive fishing was experiencing how formerly nice guys turned into greedy and unethical competitors. And anybody who won was automatically branded as some kind of cheater. It brung out the worst in people.

I didn't stay in it long enough to see it grow into the rich tournaments of today...with the big money sponsors. Not sure I would have stayed in anyway. As I am fond of saying "I fish for enjoyment...not endurance." Unless you are in the top echelons with rich sponsors you get beat up a lot...for not a lot of money.

Competitive fishing almost made me lose my taste for fishing altogether...but not quite. I entered a 12 cast program and made a full recovery. But I still hate even entering a small local contest.

The tournaments today are like golf tournaments...not so much about the sport as about the pageantry and the money surrounding the events. Sure, it is cool to watch some of the shows on TV...to pick up tips from the pros. But it is ultimately about all of the publicity the sponsors get...and how much the networks pay to broadcast the event.

I firmly believe that no matter what kind of personal pursuit you can dream up there will be someone who wants to turn it into a contest...and gamble on it.
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[fishnate]

I'm not much in it for "tournaments" though I've participated in a few. I love competition in fishing though. I personally don't go out fishing to sit on the shore line or in a boat so I can watch the birds fly by or see how pretty the flowers are (I usually notice them at some point). I'm not a very relaxed angler, I'm keyed up ready to set the hook! I go fishing to catch fish -- as many as I can in the given time I'm out there. I can't wait to see what the next fish is. I don't keep many so I don't worry about limits (I've never understood people who can't wait to catch their limit so they can quit fishing and go home [crazy]). I also love beating and annihilating anyone I'm fishing with [cool] whether it's my kids or my friends. The only one I try not to beat too badly is my wife [] I also love it when they beat me because I know they had to work at it. Yes, I do share information when I'm doing well and I ask for help when I being creamed. We love ribbing each other before and after each trip, it's all in good nature and nobody feels like an idiot afterwards and someone usually ends up with a cool refreshing drink or a big candy bar in the end. I like the intensity of competition and it helps me to learn more about the fish I enjoy. I doubt I'd fish many new waters or try many crazy new lures if I weren't competing against my last trip or my partners. That's just me. [fishon]
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[bobisfishin]

I think tournaments can fun and exciting but I've only ever fished one. I'll tell you one thing though that ever since they tagged fish in rockport the fishing has plummeted to almost worthless. It use to be soooo good too . Too many freakin people in a small area.
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[wiperhunter2]

[quote dubob][#800000] Why do we (the human race) have to make recreational activities a competition?
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Good thread Bob but it just occurred to me that this is strange statement coming from a guy that into competitive shooting or is that some how different[:/]?
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[Fishsticker]

For the money
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[Allmine]

You all might be a little to serious about these tournaments, I enjoy them but then again I don't go overboard ting to win, If I do I do and if I don't I don't I'm just out there having fun. I can't afford any fancy stuff so I really just do fishing for the enjoyment of it all. Very rarely do I even bring any home most just go back in.my best pair of ice fishing gloves were a pair I won at the back quad fishing tournament a few years back and that had nothing to do with catching fish, I won them and a hat from Scheels in the raffle after words. It's very simple if you're dead set against them then don't enter as for me I enjoy the tips I get from the more experienced anglers and just hanging out and if I come away with a booby prize well then good for me.
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[dubob]

[quote wiperhunter2][#800000]Good thread Bob but it just occurred to me that this is strange statement coming from a guy that into competitive shooting or is that some how different[:/]?[/quote]Good point Curt. I started shooting Skeet to better my kill ratio to shots fired - I missed a lot. After a couple of years of recreational Skeet shooting, I was asked to try registered shooting where scores mattered. I tried it and one year later I was totally hooked and became a Life member of the National Skeet Shooting Association. One of the main reasons I continue to shoot registered targets is the top quality of the people involved in the sport. And I've shot in tournaments with the very best shooters in the world. And a couple of those top shooters know my bride & me by our first names on sight. Could you imagine playing golf at the Masters and have Tiger Woods know who you are? Skeet is one of the very few sports in the world that allow every registered shooter to enter the World Championships. And the real competition for me is to better myself, not win over somebody else at all costs.[/#800000]
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[#800000]And hunting live animals has NEVER been a competition for me.[/#800000]
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[#800000]But I digress; this thread is, and should be, only about fishing tournaments. So far there have been many good posts both for and agin 'em. They don't work for me, but they do work for others and for many different reasons. I'm happy for both camps.[/#800000]
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[PACKFAN]

I do like to fish a tournament once in awhile, I enjoy competing and visiting with the other anglers and possibly picking up on some new tactics. The wife and I like to fish the tournaments together as a team when we can, just wish there were a few more around this neck of the woods. I miss the ones that were held at Willard Bay whether it be a one day or two day event. [fishin]
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[FishMcFisherson]

The only tournament I've been a part of, is the BFT Catfish Contest. For a few reasons. The main reason is the smack talk. I love dishing it out, and also love getting it back. Also, when I'm fishing for the cats, I'm trying to catch the biggest one I can. I still enjoy every minute out there, even if I'm not catching. But it really gets my heart pounding when I hook up with a nice one. Finally, I love gambling.
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