FLW Tournament Perspective!!!!

[Fisherwoman]

Sokinwet, that is my point, if you are good at taking large fish on a consistent basis, than it should be awefully easy for you to take fish in the slot, or some would think. If you think it is that easy then why not participate, thats why only 10 boats weighed in fish and only 5 of those 10 had 2 fish. There were some real heavy hitters out there that never weighed in a fish.
I think that the Boston Harbor tournament being time it was scheduled was one of the toughest legs of the tournament as far as fish caught. End of July and early August are the toughest months to produce consistent fish in the harbor. ALot of the other tournaments will be during the fall run or were during the spring migration. In my opinion if you are good at taking big fish you should not have a problem taking slot fish, whats the difference, as far as the luck part goes, is it unfair to have everyday fisherman participate and have the same odds or are we just havin a tournament to satify the high liners. JMHO

If you don't like this type of tournament, no problem just don't participate, we have fished big fish tournaments and won and now we wanted to try and new experience that was more on an even playing field for every fisherman, but more so because the fish were being released. We had alot of fun and the cards were lined up for us right that day. Will it happen again? Who knows? But I think you will see more nail biting in the next several tournaments as there should be alot more fish weighed in and more close at the end.

As far as the fish box is concered, it is pretty big as it sets right now, and alot of boats had problems at this tournament having room in their boat to even have the box there and set the right way so the fish would not get damaged. as it was with the water and the fish in it at weigh in, its weight was about 150 lb to lift out of the boat and get it on the cart and up to ramp to the weigh in scale. SO its not a light item for sure. We have a 9'6 inch beam and only had a ft on each side of it to fish out of while jiggin, you can stand on it without a problem, but its not small thats for sure.

[schoolie monster]

Its always easy over the internet. I don't frequent the site much anymore, but in the old BOAT vs. SHORE battles, I remember so many people claiming how easy it was to fish out of the boat. Ducks in a barrel. I always wondered why they didn't just become guides... if its that easy, make some money doing the thing you love.

And then there's the old BIG FISH OR NOTHING argument. People wouldn't enter b/c it wasn't the biggest fish? Well then shouldn't it be a piece of cake to go out and get a couple of 33" fish? If you are that good, you know your waters and you should be able to find a few fish under 30#s.

I don't buy it. People are going to skip the chance at $35K b/c its boring? they catch fish that are too big? its a stupid format? alot of excuses not to try...

Sokinwet, you did the freshwater bass thing... I did too as a teenager into my 20's. It wasn't just about the lunker, it was competition. Those fish are a couple of pounds. You don't think bringing a 34" into the boat with 35K on the line might be exciting.

I like the format. Its a level playing field. Thats what makes a good competition, isn't it?

Live release. Artificials.

IMO, the best fishermen are those who are versatile. I know there are alot of people that think its all about who gets the biggest fish, each time out. But there are alot of ways to enjoy fishing.

I like to switch it up and do different things. My favorite is to throw a jerkbait into the whitewater of the rocks or sight fish a flat. I enjoy live bait as well... nothing more exciting than when that bait starts gettin' jumpy. I'll throw topwater, I always give the flyrod some time too. I'll even do a little trolling from time to time. No chunking, but I just don't want to cut bait.

This tournament was just another chance to try something different and it was sweet as SH#T!

[sokinwet]

Jules - Sorry if I come off sounding a little negative; certainly no disrespect intended towards any of the participants and I'm sure that a good time was had by everyone (or most everyone!)...but I stand by my statement that I think the format is for the birds. I think you missed my point about the slot limit thing. Certainly those of us who target big fish for sport or commercially are capable of catching slot fish but when the field is comprised of a number of factory teams and other experienced anglers who are willing to run to the earth's end for fish, I find it unbelievable that almost every boat did not come in with 2 fish in the slot. I don't think the format evens the playing field at all and as I said before, it in fact introduces too much of the "luck" factor into a test of skill. If you knew me you would know that I am as competitive as they come; tournament or not if I'm fishing next to you I want to kick your butt (when I fished f/w bass tournaments I just knew I would win until I lost!), but I did not like this format, felt that I might as well by a lottery ticket and therefore did not choose to participate. I am certainly glad that you did well and showed the big $$ teams that local anglers are no pushovers. Judging from your posts and the smiles on your crews faces I know that you were deserving winners! I'll just shut up now before I get myself in trouble!
P.S. If you happen to see a ratty looking old Seacraft, powered by a rattier Evinrude captained by a bearded old geezer with an older geezer (my dad) as crew just give a wave; I'm nicer in person than in print!

[BEETLE]

P.S. If you happen to see a ratty looking old Seacraft, powered by a rattier Evinrude captained by a bearded old geezer with an older geezer (my dad) as crew just give a wave; I'm nicer in person than in print!

I'll second that - hey sokinwet, how are ya ? How's your Dad doing ? Tell him I say hello.

[Fisherwoman]

No Harm done Sokinwet, just a difference of opinion, I can tell you that there were 27 boats in this tournament from MA none that I no off that were big money boats, only saw one sponsor boat at the tournament with tripples that I can remember. I do also agree if you are a hard fisherman and put in your time you do have a home field advantage to some degree in these tournaments.

I am on the water many days a week as fishing is what we do, whether we have clients or not we love bein out on the water and catching fish. I, like Schoolie Monster perfer alot of different methods of fishing. I don't need to just try and catch big fish to prove something!!! I enjoy hookin up and something pulling the other way and Bill and I very much enjoy teaching people to fish so they as well can enjoy in the thrill of catching as some of them have never caught a bass before in their life.
This was a big money tournament, not your average $1000 or less prize so we figured why not, last year we invested in a new boat. this year we were kinda forced to move and buy a house, as well as I have had many medical problems of the past couple of years, so the money would definatly come in handy for us and the guys that fished with us if we won. SO we went out with a game plan, fished our butts off and it paid off!!!
Life is good and I'll give ya a wave when I see ya out there. good luck and good fishing!!!!

[Raider Ronnie]

Hey, John,
Say hi to your dad for me also, I know he's getting up there in years and I hope he is doing well and still able go get out and fish as much as he wants.

In my opinion this tournament came down to 3 things.
- Putting your time in.
- coming up with a game plan and STICKING to it
- Having some luck on your side

Putting time in,
We fish the tourny and even though we knew what we needed to do and how we needed to fish, we put in 0 time before it and were netting bait all night and fishing and catching large fish right up to the days before the tournement even though we knew we couldn't use bait !, but hey, thats what we like to do!!!
We even had my son Leo out at 1.00am netting with us the week before , and he fought most of our fish the next day with them !!!
Sticking to a game plan,
We went out with not much of a plan, and never stuck to one thing all day, and looking back now I say to myself, what the hell were we thinking trying a few things that we did!
Luck,
No matter how good anyone is, some amount of luck ALLWAYS is a factor !!!
I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses, but we didn't do these things we finished in 10th place and Team Alternative did and they won, end of story,
congrats to them!
Hopefully our team learned from this and I guarantee if I have my way we will do things MUCH different next month down in west Dennis !
Julie, you guys going to be there ???

As for the keep alive,
It was no big deal!
You only have to have the fish in it when you bring the fish in.
We didn't use ours all day till we had to go in!
But when you have livewells like ours pumping 3400 gals through a 2in hose, it's not a big issue!!!

[BEETLE]

Ron - that's not a livewell - it's a pool

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by BEETLE

Ron - that's not a livewell - it's a pool

Pogies like it !!!
Maybe we should put a diving board on it for them !!!