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Tournament Etiquette #11398152 02/07/16 06:19 PM
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BeardedBanker Offline OP
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Gonna fish first tournament this weekend. Can I get advice on what I need to do first thing when I get there that morning and at weigh in? It's a small regional tournament. Want to make sure I dont cause any hiccups or delays?

Last edited by Rkangler; 02/07/16 06:22 PM.
Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398184 02/07/16 06:38 PM
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Donald Harper Offline
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Are you a non boater?


Each person you work with holds some promise to your future success.
Websiite Sponsors:
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Pure Extracts - Minnow-Night Crawler-Crayfish-Craylic


Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398193 02/07/16 06:43 PM
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BeardedBanker Offline OP
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Boater

Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398197 02/07/16 06:43 PM
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BeardedBanker Offline OP
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Individual tournament

Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398201 02/07/16 06:46 PM
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Nutman Offline
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Don't worry about ANYTHING.
do what YOU do......take your time, DO NOT get in a hurry. Ask questions to the TD.
You pay your money just like everyone else and everyone else started where you are starting ,,,,, at the beginning. If someone offers good advice, take it. If someone gets mad at you, ignore them,,,,they should be offering good advice and helping, not getting mad.
Most of all,,,,have fun and enjoying the atmosphere.

Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398211 02/07/16 06:55 PM
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BeardedBanker Offline OP
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Do I check in, unload boat, then wait for takeoff?

Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398215 02/07/16 07:01 PM
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Chris B Offline
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Just remember to turn your headlights off while on the boat ramp.


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Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398221 02/07/16 07:03 PM
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Donald Harper Offline
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- First few tournaments, be there early to put in.
- Get out of the crowd. Beach up out of the way and wait.
- Be ready for boat check, live wells running, lids open and kill switch.
- Read the rules and read them again.
- If trailering is permitted, make a plan for the wind.
- Plan to come in plenty early for your first tourn. about 30 mins.. What can go wrong will go wrong.
- Have everything put away in the boat and lock compartment if you are going to leave the boat unattended.
- Drive through weigh-in? Have fish in fish bag and leave in live well. Ready to take out and walk to the scales.
- Park and weigh-in? You will need to make time to get them out of live well. Using clips on each fish will hurry this process. Some leave the boat on the bank to do this then load the boat after you weigh-in. Let the clock decide on this.
- Have catch and release in your bag then use the tanks at weigh-in while you wait in line.
- You will be expected to designate which fish is your big fish. They usually don't pick for you. Watch the scales. You should weigh your fish in the boat so you have a basic idea of what they are going to weigh.
- Get a weigh slip for reference when they are passing out the checks and calling weights. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.


Each person you work with holds some promise to your future success.
Websiite Sponsors:
www.eletewater.com - Staying Hydrated
www.lakeoviachic.com - Booking Mexico Trips
20 Hot Spot Mapping - GPS Contour Chips - Custom Spinner Baits - Jigs -Spooks
Pure Extracts - Minnow-Night Crawler-Crayfish-Craylic


Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398516 02/07/16 10:27 PM
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brennansgrandpa Offline
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And the most important one.......put the plug in the boat!!


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Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398819 02/08/16 12:30 AM
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SteezMacQueen Offline
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Every one of these statements is spot on.

I will add....

Be ready to launch your boat before you get to the actual ramp. I mean be ready. Not on the ramp unbuckling rod buckles and plugging in the TM. If it's pre dawn, this includes rigging the lighting. If you are fishing solo, offer to help another angler that is solo launching his boat, in return be more than likely will offer to help you. You might even make a friend. Friends on the water during a tourney are always nice. Haha.

Also, to save yourself time and avoid second guessing yourself, pre rig all your rods to cover the water columns and typical patterns that you have confidence in. Also, if you know the lake a little, have everything you will need for that water. And not much else. Again, it will keep you focused. Most times, changing baits drastically will only cause you to waste time. Also, it will make you, again, second guess what you instinctively know is the better thing for you to do.

Make sure you know the size limits, slots (if it's a slot lake), and all the little rules.

Have fun. Don't worry about the tourney. Don't waste time and never waste casts. Each cast could potentially win you the tourney. Every wasted cast is a chance to win thrown out. Resist the urge to run and gun. Fish your strengths. And know that someone else is "on em" good, and most are struggling. Haha. Hopefully the "on em good" is you. The only time to stop fishing and regroup is when you're struggling. Stop. Evaluate what you're doing. Take a breather. And turn it around. Remember, five casts, five fish. It's all it takes. It's never too late to get on em. Don't give up. Ever.


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398935 02/08/16 01:07 AM
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Have the phone number of someone at the Tourney HQ or fishing in the same tourney in case you run into problems on the water and need help.


Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways with a fishing rod in one hand, 10# LMB in the other, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and yelling "Wow! What a Ride!
Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398945 02/08/16 01:12 AM
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Squirrely Dan Offline
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You can hang back and let everyone do their thing and launch last. Just get the feel


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Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11398975 02/08/16 01:23 AM
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BeardedBanker Offline OP
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Man! Tremendous help guys. Thanks

Re: Tournament Etiquette [Re: BeardedBanker] #11399089 02/08/16 01:59 AM
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Cableman Offline
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I would also talk to tournament director and let him know this your first time and is there anything you should know.


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