Fishing Contests

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Slingah

No..I don't think so..Ive found I get more pleasure out of letting them go...plus I don't care for alot of the crap that comes with competitive fishing....

I'm leaning that way too. A lot of petty b.s. goes on you don't hear/see and it gets annoying after a while. I can say in my experience with the striper cup I've witnessed the best and worst in people...cheating,etc.
Once I enter a tournament, I feel obligated to fish more and make sacrifices I normally wouldn't. Kind of makes it more stress inducing than fun.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

I'm leaning that way too. A lot of petty b.s. goes on you don't hear/see and it gets annoying after a while. I can say in my experience with the striper cup I've witnessed the best and worst in people...cheating,etc.
Once I enter a tournament, I feel obligated to fish more and make sacrifices I normally wouldn't. Kind of makes it more stress inducing than fun.

I have used tourney's as a inspirational tool along the way in my time fishing.I have to admit,tourney's have forced me to go when I might not have and I have learned some things,very important things in the process.I have heard folks say they don't need a tourney to go fishing.Thats great.But it's not the point.Cacthing fish in specific time frame is harder than it seems.We have weekend club tourneys here in NJ.This format has learned me to become a better angler.( it hasn't done anything for my writing skills)...I am sure I would not have learned as much any other way.It's like the pressure of comm fishing for money only different.You train youself to do what it takes.You figure things out.Someone fishing recreationally or for fun would have long quit when I pressed on.I have learned quite a bit from the whole process.Years ago Fishing in LMB touneys there would be times I could not cacth my ass if my pockets where filled with trble hooks,.You sit on the water and ponder this and that and make up excuses.When you get to the weigh-in there's always someone with a bag.
That was a lesson...There's always a way..
I have to add tourney fishing has reached the point for me where I no longer desire to fish the same way.Some might say they have evolved or have outgrown the whole tourney thing..for me it's only partly true.I still like to compete.But I think I'll leave that competitive spirit to the younger upstarts.Mostly cause I can't keep up with em anymore.
I will still enter for a chance of something of good value.
I have no problem admitting that a 1000 dollar prize is more valuable that any 40 lb fish.Especially in these lean times.

[Sea Dangles]

I don't espacially like the tournaments, however the prizes and parties are what keep me coming back. I have mentioned before that I have personally witnessed how ugly things can get in these formats.I can deal with the cheaters but when I see friends mislead friends intentionally or listen to stories about pm's sent to anglers who are on the fish that were sent by folks that hardly know them I have to bite my tongue. I may decide to fish only the weekend events this year so I can avoid the deceit for the greater part of the season.I will try my best to defend the Red Top tournament especially given the tides and moon in the time frame. I also really enjoyed the Back Eddy, especially the party that ensues following the event. I have had three great years fishing the OTW cup but I think it has run its course and my conscience may prevail in the future.If my son can convince me to change my mind that would be the only reason to partipate.I have won many prizes but killed too many cows in the process.