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Muskie Fishing -> General Discussion -> Why do you fish in tournaments?
 
Message Subject: Why do you fish in tournaments?
momuskies
Posted 10/12/2010 10:05 PM (#463108)
Subject: Why do you fish in tournaments?




Posts: 431


Now that the tournament season is winding down, I've been thinking about why people fish in tournaments. I've also been thinking about suggestions for changes to the tournaments I fish in. By the end of the year, I will have fished in 8 tourneys I think. One of the things I have enjoyed this year is fishing different lakes for the first time, and catching fish. So, why do you fish a tourney-camaraderie, competition, money? What do you look for in prize payouts-more chances to win, big payouts for the winners? What other kinds of events/festivities do you like with the tourney? Let me hear your thoughts.
V18
Posted 10/13/2010 6:28 AM (#463120 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Posts: 269


Location: Oregon, WI
All of the above. I know this is going to cause a commotion but one thing I wish they would nix is the use of live bait in tournaments. I'm not against using suckers but isn't tournament fishing supposed to be about the challenge and sense of pride and accomplishment of enticing a fish to eat under not always ideal conditions, not letting some sucker do it for you? With finding good suckers recently being a problem, the biggest competition starts before you even hit the water. It's the race to the bait shop to get the good sized ones before they are gone.

Good luck to everyone doing the Ironman's this weekend. I will most likely be doing them but haven't decided on whether or not I'll be dragging any meat though.

Edited by V18 10/13/2010 6:30 AM
Netman
Posted 10/13/2010 8:49 PM (#463209 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Posts: 880


Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151
I have to agree with all of the above. I enjoyed the tournaments for the money but it's all the stories from everyone. The big fish that got away or the follow that just wouldn't bite. Last year on Okauchee 3 fish were caught and one on sucker, the next week on Pewaukee there were 22 fish caught and most of them on suckers. If it wasn't for suckers some of us old timers would be at a disadvantage because casting all day isn't an option, but sitting with a sucker is. I like what the Ironman is doing with the weekend tourney, 2 days, 2 lakes. This is a way for the out of towners to stay for the weekend but Madison is going to be crazy this weekend with the Buckeyes coming to town. Rooms are going to be at a preminum rate, no cheap lodging if any available at all.
I hope to get up there for 1 day and maybe 2.

Netman
twells
Posted 10/13/2010 10:27 PM (#463220 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: RE: Why do you fish in tournaments?




Posts: 393


Location: Hopefully on the water
I personally backed way off of Tourneys for a few years. the reason was what i was spending on them, kids, and over thinking and putting more pressure on myself. Plus we started doing them right off the bat into Muskie Fishing. We didn't know a whole lot (some days still don't). but the last couple of years we have gotten ack into it slowly with fishing one or two a year. For those we look for something that is laid back anf more for the fun or good cause it goes towards. Surprisingly we have done better. To us as we say "it about making memories boys". Getting on the board is always our goal even if it is not in moey or prizes. I personally want to challange myself by fishing against someone (the season overall is against myself to improve from the previous year). but since I have relaxed and not swear, thow a fit, break rods or gear because loosing a fish is not as bad anymore. We look to the smaller tourneys now that are laid back along with regular people fishing them to be able to BS with them while on the water or in for lunch or after the tourney. Getting to know others is the fun part. Plus my 7 year old wants to do tourneys so it will be looking towards the one day affordable tourneys that if he wants to be done early you don't feel bad pulling off the water because you paid good money to get in. Next year watch out for the 8 year old 4'4" trying to throw mag and pounder dawgs. I am not sure where he gets it as I don't throw them myself. he loves the dawgs.
Also for us it is about getting the guys together for a weekend of laughs, drinks, fishing, laughs, drinks and a little more fishing. We have a traveling trophy that we use amongst ourselves that started 5 years ago and some day when the kids are old enough and we kick back and watch them go all day like nuts hopefully they will be "this is the lake that dad, or uncle or grandpa got the fish from 20??.
Plus the whole atmosphere is worth it.
One other thing we look for is a very well run tourney from start to finish. If it is a cluster we generally don't fish it again. if well run we go back. The KVD on Pelican is very well run, we will be back next year. The Hayward MI tourney once they get everything going the really move and keep on pace and schedule.
V18
Posted 10/14/2010 5:57 AM (#463235 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Posts: 269


Location: Oregon, WI
Netman - Trolling when allowed is an option when casting gets to be too much. I've never caught a musky on a sucker, of course I've only tried it a couple of times, but I do troll when all else fails or when conditions make casting difficult.

FYI - I was in Dorn's yesterday and they don't open until 8 and the person I talked to said they don't intend on opening early. Of course, something could change from now until this weekend.
Junkman
Posted 10/14/2010 9:33 AM (#463244 - in reply to #463235)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?




Posts: 1220


I fish a bunch of these because I just love it. It sure isn't about the money. I don't think there are any out there who really make money at it---even the few who are trying if they fully recognize and calculate all the costs. Some like to tout their sponsorships but that too is mostly overrated. Kevin VanDam gets a new truck, a new boat, all his expenses, entry fees, and even gets money just for showing up. Nobody on the musky circuit gets anything like that. There are a few really talented young guys who are top sticks, really serious, always in the hunt, and clearly out of my league. But, I think that if you really take an accurate inventory, it's a lot of guys like me who just love the sport, love to compete, and love to travel to new lakes and share that experience with a bunch of other guys who are similar. We mostly like each other, help each other, eat and drink together, hang out in the hotel parking lots around a cooler in the evening, and totally enjoy the excitement of all the boats lining up right before the easeout for what will be a clearly exciting day on the water. Besides really getting to learn new water, you also would have to be blind and deaf not to pick up on a whole lot of techniques that the other guys are usually all too willing to share. I just know that I am coming home a better angler for what I have learned every single time. Marty Forman
Lightning
Posted 10/14/2010 10:11 AM (#463248 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Posts: 485


Location: On my favorite lake!
I fish some local tourneys and it is just the fun to see what you can do versus the others competing. Its nice to know what the lake is producing that particular day.
Pedro
Posted 10/14/2010 10:21 AM (#463249 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Posts: 670


Location: Otsego, MN
For the competition and you would be surprised to see how much you learn from fishing a tournament. I really wish that the MMTT would come back!!!
twells
Posted 10/14/2010 10:56 AM (#463255 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: RE: Why do you fish in tournaments?




Posts: 393


Location: Hopefully on the water
Marty, I will partically agree with you about the making money at it. There are some guys out there that have been in the tops the last couple years and coming out ahead. Yes the normal tourney guys from a money aspect are spending money and not cashing much. While I do not bank on it or even plan on cashing a huge check. That is part of the mistique with Muskie fishing and Tourney's It could happen to anyone. So that thought isalways in the back of thehead to some extent. The good times, learning new water, meeting people and how they fish, joking and bs'ing about stuff that makes it fun to do.
muskellunged
Posted 10/14/2010 11:07 AM (#463259 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Location: Illinois
The competition(vs. the field & vs. the lake),
the payout(if I luck out and bag a couple fish, how good is the return on investment?),
and the camaraderie (meeting hundreds of like-crazed individuals, some turning into life long friends)

That's what draws me to a tourney.
What keeps me coming back?
They must have excellent coordination. The inverse is true as well- if it's run poorly why waste my time next year?
OnceBit
Posted 10/14/2010 9:37 PM (#463317 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: RE: Why do you fish in tournaments?


Why do I fish tournaments? The excitement, pure adrenalin, the rush of knowing you have to make it happen if you are going to get a step ahead of your competitors. This gets me pumped and I start brain stormin. I am generally a more productive fisherman under these conditions compared to a casual day on the water. Maybe I just have a bit of competitiveness in my bloodline that stirs me up. I will say though, I have learned more about muskie fishing, all aspects of muskie fishing, from tournaments and that is problably what really keeps me coming back.
run n gun
Posted 10/15/2010 4:02 PM (#463412 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: RE: Why do you fish in tournaments?




Posts: 75


Location: Aurora, IL.
Marty nailed it.
Sure winning the money is in the back of our heads playing tricks on us but what keeps me coming back is the competition, and seeing your buddies.
There is absolutely nothing like being on the lake before a tournament starts.
The anticipation, the fog on the water, the side bets, a pinch of cope, the sound of the harley like merc's, two way radios squawking, the take off, man I could go on and on. I agree Marty, I feel like I'm a better angler after each tournament I fish.

Joe
IM Musky Time
Posted 10/16/2010 1:37 PM (#463487 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Posts: 243


I concur with Marty and Joe. I've fished WMT tournaments the last couple of years and the start in the morning might be the most exciting part of it---anticipation in the lineup and hopes of getting that first fish/big fish and getting yourself in the hunt right off the bat. I won't repeat everything else they said, but I agree with all of it.

I also think tournaments particularly appeal to someone who's been involved with sports during their lifetime. I grew up a sports junkie and played basketball in college. I think the appeal of the tournaments is continuing with some level of competition that really hits home for somebody who's grown up enjoying it. When the knees go bad and "above the rim" only applies when you're standing over the toilet, the competitive piece of musky fishing tournaments helps to fill the void. Our goal is always to qualify for the championship, so it's more than just winning or losing the tournaments you're in...even in a no cash weekend you can still help yourself for later in the year.

By the way, I'm not sure most of us would want to do the math when it comes to $$$---you'd probably have to win one qualifying event a year to break even and there are definitely a lot of good sticks (and a lot of good local sticks) in most tournaments. You have to have one heck of a season to really make money---but it has been done---Mark L. and Clay S. a couple of years ago cashed some pretty nice checks. As they said in Dumb & Dumber when Lloyd was asking about the odds, "Like one in a million.....So you're sayin' there's a chance......"
Herb_b
Posted 10/19/2010 12:42 PM (#463775 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Posts: 829


Location: Maple Grove, MN
I fished the metro tourney this year and might do it again next year. This a big "might" though. I can see the fun of the competition, but then there is a flip-side to tourneys too. The biggest issue I have is having to keep fishing when I want to go home. Once I've had enough fishing for a day, I don't want to make another cast. I couldn't imagine pre-fishing too. Fishing overload- aaaaaaaaaaah!

I can see why some people like tourneys though. The competition, friendships with the other fishermen (or women), and a chance to make a few bucks while doing something you enjoy are all good reasons to fish them. And if your wife doesn't mind, then its even better.

For those who enjoy tourneys - more power to you. Life is short. Have fun while you're here.
Sam Ubl
Posted 10/21/2010 3:14 PM (#464100 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?





Location: SE Wisconsin
I started fishing the PMTT and WMT to see how we'd do against all the top dawgs out there. What I came to learn is that it isn't always the guys who have proven their names to be amongst some of the top in the industry, but sometimes the guy who put his bait in the right place at the right time in front of the right fish.. There are guys out there who prove themselves time and time again, and those names are easy for me to list off in a moments notice, but I've fished against these names and listened to them afterwards talking about what a tough day it was while the guy who never caught a musky before that day saw 10, lost 1 and caught 2 to take first place. I think everyone who fishes tourneys has the general understanding that it's fishing - a game of skill AND luck. . So anything can happen to almost anyone.

All things considered, I let go of my ego a long time ago and while I love the thrill of the competition, what I ultimately come home with other than a wind burned face and chapped lips is a priceless education. Fishing against so many of the top musky anglers in the country in a single body of water or chain/flowage allows you to see what their doing while you're doing your own thing.

If you ever wondered about what colors or lures to use at a certain time of year on a particular body of water, go to the local musky shop and have a look around... What your looking for is empty racks!

You see what other guys are throwing, where their throwing and you contimplate the "why's". If you've fished enough of them, it's funny when you find yourself saying, "There's _ and _", when at the end of the day, you don't know the first thing about them... BUT you DO recognize their names on the board and you start thinking back to where you saw them and what they were doing.

The comradarie is there, too. The rush of the competition is intoxicating (especially at ease out), you learn a ton and as my good friend, Abe Lang, said as we rushed his 44" in to get measured on Boom Flowage this past August, "This is the best ride in sports!" I can't quite describe the thrill of bringing a fish in to those orange cones with the judge coming to greet you at the dock with a slimy bump board.

Edited by Sam Ubl 10/21/2010 3:17 PM
muskysucker1
Posted 10/21/2010 3:32 PM (#464101 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?




Well I can say for sure its not the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have fish tourneys for about the last 8 years and if nothing else everyone was a learning experience. Just to see and meet many of the people I have was worth every entry fee. I know for a fact fishing all events from the pmtt to small local events has made me a much better fisherman. Nick Cammarata
Don Pfeiffer
Posted 10/22/2010 6:15 AM (#464158 - in reply to #463108)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?




Posts: 929


Location: Rhinelander.
I think what an important question is what will happen to the tournaments we like to fish. Seems with the economy that there are fewer guys fishing them, less payout more expensive. I was shocked when I saw you had to pay now to fish the P.M.T.T. championship. Not sure when that started but when I fished it it was a given if you made it.
But to answer your question I have to say the pure pleasure I get from fishing them and a check at times is nice.
Junkman
Posted 10/22/2010 7:55 AM (#464164 - in reply to #464158)
Subject: Re: Why do you fish in tournaments?




Posts: 1220


Not trying to argue Don, but $150.00 per team is not exactlly having to "Pay" to fish the PMTT Championship. First, with my barely acceptable fishing this year, I was most gratefull just to be in it. Second, with the WMT Championship we had to pay a full tournament entry fee and nobody was grumbling about that either. Like you say, it's been a tough couple of years--not just for tournament entries, but for the whole darn country. For me, I am really gratefull that the PMTT, WMT, and the Ironman groups have given me a place to fish these things these past two years, and with nobody who knows how to read a balance sheet ever doubting that they did it without too much in it for themselves. The future for tournaments is just like the future for America...a bit more of a rocky path to walk, and then a steady recovery not too darn far down the road! Marty Forman
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