Fishing Contests

[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.