Bass Leagues\Bass tournaments??

[jakester]

Hey Guys
I need a little direction and help. I have been fishing like crazy the last 3 years, I finally gave up the golf clubs for A fishing pole it seemed to be less stressfull. I tend to be a competive person when it comes to sports. I think im ready to try a few Bass tournaments, but I dont know where to find out about them in my area, and my second question would be What is the etiqutte of Tournament fishing. I have common sense, but i just like to know some guide lines. I have to start somewhere to get experience in Tournaments, so I feel you dont learn if you dont try. I just want to be curteous to fellow fisherman.
My other question is , do they have such thing as fishing leagues??? I have and still am, runnning a golf league for over 12 years now. I was just wondering, cause i would like to participate in that instead of a golf league :confused:

[ESOX]

http://www.greatlakesbass.com/

I expect we will be heaing from DJKimmel sometime soon.:)

[waterfoul]

There are also the NBAA and CATT tournaments all over Michigan.

NBAA
http://www.nbaa-bass.com/indexNM.php


CATT
http://www.bassresource.com/bassfish/bass_fishing_tournaments.html

[wickedcarpenter]

I put the Bass tournaments on the back burner for golf last year :lol:
The last 4 months i never got the boat out. Crazy! If it's not a all day tournament I'll pass on it now and just go out for a day of fun fishing on Erie.
I'd say golf is way less stress than a bass tournament and i get to drink a few beers.
The only thing about tournaments that pizzed me off was if the director did not use a megaphone to call the boats off or passed you up because he was to blind to see you waving for take off and then gets Po'ed because you take off. I'll send off a middle finger for the attitude and stress before the whole shot and WOT.
See ya on the course.
Brent

[djkimmel]

jakester, are you looking for events to join as a nonboater to start with? There are a couple of good boater/nonboater circuits in Michigan I can recommend.

The Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) is the one I fish a lot as a boater. They have boaters and co-anglers - nonboaters who pay half the entry and go where the boater takes them while competing against the other co-anglers. You can make it all the way to national championship events with huge prizes.

In the meantime, you can learn a lot about mostly larger lakes. Maybe catch some huge catches and not have to ever worry about sand traps. The BFL web site is http://bfl.flwoutdoors.com. I have a forum board dedicated to the Michigan BFL division where you can learn a lot about the schedule and past events along with tips and advice on being a co-angler or boater at: http://www.greatlakesbass.com/forum/index.php?board=8.0

The other nice circuit for nonboaters is the American Bass Anglers - http://www.americanbassanglers.com. I know the regional director who runs the SE Michigan circuit on the Great Lakes and smaller inland lakes. Costs less than the BFL and is more of a draw format - boater and nonboater, but each gets some say over the waters fished - you work it out amongst yourselves. Check out the web site and I also have an ABA board where the director - Anthony Adams visits regularly at: http://www.greatlakesbass.com/forum/index.php?board=26.0

If you are looking to be a boater - you can also fish these circuits. The competition is pretty good, but there's plenty of articles and forum advice to help you out with locations, ramps, tournament tactics.

You may be looking for a team circuit? The NBAA recommended above is a good one with leagues all over Michigan. I have a board for them too that some of the directors are active on: http://www.greatlakesbass.com/forum/index.php?board=15.0

I work closely with the owner of NBAA and other circuits on bass fishing and tournament fishing issues. I'm the Vice President and Conservation Director of The Bass Federation of Michigan (http://www.michigantbf.com).

If you are in the neighborhood, stop by the exhibitors booth at the Detroit Ultimate Fishing show this Saturday morning before 9:30am (back northwest corner of the Rock Financial Showplace on Grand River Avenue in Novi) and get a complimentary pass into the TBF of Michigan meeting. You can visit the show after that. I can talk to you about tournaments and introduce you to some of the owners and directors of various circuits that will be there. We have our liaison from FLW Outdoors (the other big tournament organization) and reps from Ranger Boats and other companies speaking at our meeting about the support they are giving, and plans for our future of youth and conservation activities.

Otherwise, you can email me or post on the GreatLakesBass.com forum to get more help once I know a little bit more about what you're looking for. I keep so busy now there and with my other duties (and a little fishing now and then) that I don't get over to many of the other forums like I used to.

ESOX was kind enough to bring your post to my attention. Thanks.

[djkimmel]

BTW, I love the avatar. Go BLUE!

[shametamer]

golf? Wicked,ol buddy:confused: ? geez once you get your game down to high70's/low 80's you find it kinda stagnates and pass that 40 years of age mark it starts to go downhill, fishing will become a welcome respite!:lol: We will gladly have you back, but you will have to pay penance and only fish for Bass for a few years! :-)~~~~~~~~~~~REAL FISH HAVE TEETH!:mischeif: p.s. must b a wolverine thing to fish for those brushmouth critters..you know, like scheduling, central,western or pollyanna state..rather than texas/oklahoma/lsu or usc!:evilsmile :hide: nice to see you are still around D.J.!:D

[jakester]

I appreciate all the info it is very helpful. Now I willl just look at it all and go from their DJ. Im a boater so I'll definetly be using that. Im trying to make it to NOVI this weekend. Its about a 3 hour drive for me, well see what happens.
This fishing stuff Im trying to learn. I think I ahave learned enough to compete now, so Im ready to give it a shot. You dont learn if you dont try....See ya on the water:woohoo1:

[shametamer]

pick Mr. Kimmel's brain, you're likely to learn more from him than reading,watching a thousand books or videos!

[waterfoul]

You can also watch this site in the spring. Around the Grand Rapids area there are several local "clubs" that are great for cutting your teeth. I'd imagine there are similar ones down your way... you might stop into D&R sports and ask them about local tournaments... or Lunkers too...

[djkimmel]

I can probably help more too once I know more about where you're at. If you can't make Novi - there are fishing shows in Lansing and Grand Rapids in mid-March. Lunkers and D&R are both good sources of tournament fishing information. I hear the oldtimers hang out a Lunkers most mornings, drinking coffee and swapping stories.

For the shows, March 8-11 at the Lansing Center and March 15-18 at DeVos Place. Check http://www.showspan.com for updates a little later on seminars. Times are already up. I'll probably be doing a few seminars there too. There'll be some other great seminars and lots of fishing. Grand Rapids has a pretty big fishing tackle arrangement every year.

Keep your eyes open too for an open house at Matteson Marine on Gun Lake on February 3rd featuring Denny Brauer. A seminar and bigtime tournament fishing stories from him and others. 9am until 3pm, I believe.

[jakester]

Hey Dj
thanks for all the help:) You have definetly turned me onto alot of new information that is very useful. I"m little upset I cant make it to the Novi show. I have Fatherly duties. My Daughter is in Volleyball and has an invitationaal however I will be making it to GR show.
From the info I got I belive Im going to try to Join the Bass Cat fishing group. The one that is in the Michigan/Indian region. This fits me the best. I Just want to learn a little more before i commit. I know you fish about 10 to 11 lakes over a period of time. Then what happens at the end of the year. Where does that money we go that we pay nightly. in the league??

[djkimmel]

Family comes first. Especially the little ones.

Maybe see you at GR then.

If you're talking about CATT, I'm not completely familiar with their full setup. I know the owner and some his main staff. Their web site is http://www.cattbass.com

They are based out of the Kalamazoo area. Some of the money you pay goes towards payback at each event. They have had a championship event in the past for all the qualifiers from their leagues. That is where most of the rest of the money goes. Similar to how most leagues operate. I have not checked their setup in detail yet for 2007.

[smap]

If Your Not Looking To Fish A Big Tournment You Should Check Out Kell0ggsville Sportsperson Clubs Bass Tournments They Get About 30 Or So Boats Its Very Laid Back. Check Out There Web Site For More Info

[waterfoul]

If Your Not Looking To Fish A Big Tournment You Should Check Out Kell0ggsville Sportsperson Clubs Bass Tournments They Get About 30 Or So Boats Its Very Laid Back. Check Out There Web Site For More Info

I do a few of their tournaments every summer... great bunch of guys and gals.

[thedude]

head up to D&R sports in kzo, Gander or any of the local bait shops. usually the local groups advertise their schedules to recruit more boats. Plus you'll find ads for the one-time tourneys that can also be a lot of fun.

[jakester]

Hey Smap I googled Kellog sportsperson bass tournament was able to get anything to come up. Do you have a direct link avaible? thanx

[waterfoul]

Hey Smap I googled Kellog sportsperson bass tournament was able to get anything to come up. Do you have a direct link avaible? thanx

It's acutally the Kelloggsville Church Sportspersons club and here's the link to the bass tournement section. It's not updated for 2007 yet. My friend Rich is the tournament director... so I'm sure as soon as they know, I'll know, and they you'll know!!

Mike

http://sportspersonsclub.kcrc.org/activities06.htm

[smap]

I do a few of their tournaments every summer... great bunch of guys and gals. DUDE YOU CUT ME OFF ON A WAB TOURNAMENT THANKS:rant:

[waterfoul]

DUDE YOU CUT ME OFF ON A WAB TOURNAMENT THANKS:rant:

Wabasis is a combat zone on Wed. nights... sorry if you think I cut you off...

[smap]

Wabasis is a combat zone on Wed. nights... sorry if you think I cut you off...I DON'T THINK YOU DID YOU DID.STILL DON'T MAKE IT RIGHT!!!

[thedude]

I DON'T THINK YOU DID YOU DID.STILL DON'T MAKE IT RIGHT!!!

boo
freaking
hoo


:rolleyes: