With all of us facing rediculous gas prices and no-one in the government willing (or able) to do anything about it, CABA is wanting to know your tournament fishing plans for the '09 season.

All T/D's are facing a huge challenge in '09 (whether they realize it or not) and with it being the time of year to begin work on the '09 schedules, I'm curious. Your thoughts please.

I decided to shorten my reply. I just don't know right now what my plans are. Depends on if gas goes to $5 a gallon anytime soon. That may be a deciding factor for me.

fish in a club all year and then fish a few opens on the side.

FLW Stren Texas Division...Not sure other than that.
JR

Ill get into somethin, BFL or stren or even a local club

About the same as this year, Strens and hit some open stuff.

BASS Weekend Series,
ABA Grand Slam Series
may try to hit some Media stuff.

Jackpot stuff on lewisville and maybe some on the vine....Gas has me all ruled out of a lot....I guess the best way to say it is

You know, you would think with fuel prices the way they are that bass clubs would be the first to go. "Cause in most cases, even if you win 1st place, you still lose money!

Media , Tuffman , & a few others here & there.
Not going to let gas prices stand in my way if at all possible.

I will most likely be camping @ the lake more often to cut down on driving.

depends on where I end up.

Was told Arkansas is a possibility. If I end up in Arkansas I need to look at some schedules, and figure out what will be closes to me. If I stay here. I would say Champs/ Weekend Series.

I hate to say it but i'm selling boat and camper because of economy. It won't get any better. check my post on here, i've got the 04 ranger.

sold ride, new baby coming soo... no plans right now

Fishers of Men north central division... Fomntt.com ...Will fish anything else around east texas too...

I will not be fishing tournaments the next 2 years. I am preparing for a strike here at work, and will also be working on getting out of debt. Then I will be able to afford the pre-fishing and tournaments. If I cant spend the time on the water that needs to be spent, I dont need to fish the tournament.

Jackpots on CLOSE lakes and a few opens...

i think in most cases the club fishermen aren't fishing for profit, or even break even. they do it for competitive fun and camraderie.

mrouse, I would think the oposite really. The clubs have lower entries and may try to keep people closer to home which will allow take less fuel for travel. I would think your Lavon and Ray Hubbard tournies may increase if more people get crunched by the gas prices.

Just my 2 cents.

North Central BASS Federation Nation
ABA Weekender
Federation Club
Jackpots on Lewisville & Grapevine\
Maybe BFL depending on funds

Just a few opens on local lakes.

Sounds like the gas terrorists are winning.
Come on guys even at an extra $2 a gallon a 200 mile round trip to a tournament is going to cost you and extra $32 in fuel if you get 12 miles to a gallon pulling a boat compared to last year or this year.

Unless I go dead broke (which could happen) I refuse to let them take away something I love.

Bass Champs and Media.

I plan to keep fishing our club tournaments, all lakes fairly close, waco 26 miles, whitney 33, tradinghouse 33, limestone 55, fairfield 60, belton 70, and stillhouse 75. I may also fish a few poormans events at fairfield and waco.

Media North east teams
media north east individual
maybe a few club tournys on cypress and sandlin.

The trails I will fish must have the following.

1. Enough prize money in the pool so you do well you can turn a profit.

2. No off limits. Its to expensive to make back to back trips when im driving 4-10 hours.

PBA-local club
OPens
Jr. Bass

I'm fishing BASS Central Opens and maybe some Champs South division. I don't think gas prices are going to get any better, only worse. Another thing about our sport that's bad, they are coming out with all these cars that get 30 and 40 MPG, but no trucks that do the same. Most of us drive gas guzzling trucks with gas guzzling motors (although they are getting better) on the back of our gas guzzling boats. Every other sport, except maybe NASCAR or any other auto racing, really doesn't feel the strain as much as we do. Its unfortunate.

I'll just keep on going, Stren, Bfl and what ever looks good. Maybe not the whole trail just the lakes i like to fish.Although with alot of sticks not fishing it will open up some spots for the championships making thing easier for some to make it.life is to short i'm going to take it for all it's worth.Fish,Fish,Fish..

local tournaments and and a couple of trails. With a smaller HP motor I might get beat to the first hole but there is more fish in the sea.

Local clubs
Media
Federation

Looks like a repeat of the past couple years; CABA weekly's and probably tri-lakes. Would hit any and all opens on Lavon or Hubbard as long as there was no conflict with the others. I feel very fortunate to be so near both of these lakes. Might take a run at Tawakoni a little harder next year with one of the other circuits as well...

Gonna have to take a real hard look at next years schedule. I just fished the JCO and March of Dimes on Fork and spent over $1000 for the weekend. I fished with my middle son and paid 1/2 the entry fees for my youngest son who fished both events with a friend. Expenses included entry fees, truck and boat gas, hotel room (2 nights) meals, ice and drinks.
I used to fish 5-6 trails that had me on the water every weekend but I think those days have passed.

I feel your pain bankbeater. The gas hurts but it is my kids that will be going to college around the corner that is going to really hurt me. So I am cutting back now trying to prepare for that. Will probably hit the Fork division again next year and prefishing may be limited.

Really wanted to go to Rayburn for the Championship and may still suck up the gas to do that. I really miss that lake..

Sid, It has cost me and the wife at least $300 to fish a 1 day tourney this year. $160 entry fee + min $100 gas + food/drink. We haven't drawn a single check this year either! I just wish we had a championship on the Red River so I could re-coop some money.
I may seriously have to think about fishing everything I can on the River next year. My worst finish to date there is 10th.

Well i bet all that stuff was about 100$ and the other 900 was miller lite

Most of the tournaments I fish are in Texas because the fishing in South Louisiana is not what it is in Texas, plus you have guys that cant follow the rules of the tournament, and do not get penalized. I am supposed to fish Bass N Bucks East, Champs East, but will have to see what the new year holds. I am with the one guy that said something about no off limits, because in my case the closest tournament lake I fish in Tx is 242 miles one way, and the furthest I fish is 630 miles one way. It would be better for me to be able to drive over there 2-3 days ahead of the tournament to scout instead of making several trips. Also my wife is a lobbyist with oil/fuel suppliers, and she sent me a story today from a firm and they predict $7.00 a gallon by 2010. It does not look good guys.....

Very well said, Jeff!

Some bass champs and maybe a elite co-angler or Stren Series Co-angler.

CAST North Region for sure.

bankbeater, I thought that was your plan for this year. I guess you changed your mind. That may be the plan for next year. We paychecked a couple a times good earlier in the year which helped.

For the folks that are saying that they will fish club tourneys or only fish locally, I will say this AGAIN! Why don't we start a club dedicated to only local lakes. Lakes like:

Lewisville
Grapevine
Joe Pool
Ray Hubbard
Eagle Mountain
Lake Worth

Maybe even Twok, Benbrook or Ray Roberts. Low entry fees and close to home. Maybe it can even be team T's to split the cost in half. I am willing to take the lead on this but I don't have scales. If someone with scales wants to get this going PM me and we will talk.

There are several of these clubs / circuits out there all ready. I think the rise with gas prices may be a good thing to consolidate the saturated tournament trails here in North Texas, it will most likely get all the local events to meet the minimum requirements for contingency programs to pay off.

http://www.dfwaba.com ** Scott runs some good quality events and covers local waters for the most part.

Champs, Tri-Lakes, Thursday nights a few opens and BBFT's. Try to stay close to the local lakes and share expenses with partners.

Why would you think they would be the first to go?

The RHBC is growing since the Gas has Risen.
I think Bass Clubs will grow, next year.

My honest opinion is Clubs and Large Pay out tournaments are all that will be around in a few years. We will be fine, and most clubs I talk to are doing great as well. High pack back tourney's will be a hit next year.

Casey

I've fished less tournaments this year than in the past 2-3 years. It was mostly due to some health issues and boat swapping more than gas prices. I have only fished two night tournaments this year and honestly those I do not really care to fish anymore as I am not a fan of night fishing.
I really want to concentrate on fishing something that will give me a better payback next year even if I pay a higher entry fee. I will still fish a team circuit with Chad cause we have so much fun but past that I am only gonna fish one other trail or series. It will be nice to see Champs add a new lake or two or change it up a bit. I'm really undecided but I am not gonna fish every little thing that pops up anymore. To me its make no sense to spend $300 to win $100. I'd rather fun fish and keep my cash for the bigger stuff. I also have no desire to fish a club and deal with those politics either. Maybe I can find the right one but for now I'll stick to a trail or two.

Trying to get into a 4-stroke and do some extras to my truck for better gas mileage. Fish Media and maybe Bass Champs.

I'm planning on fishing the Media trail on Texoma next year, as well as the BASS Central Open tournaments.

first step is to get into a commuter car to free up about $400 a month in gas expenses!!! diesel is eating my lunch! all i need is a little beater car that gets 25+ mpg. i dont even car what it looks like at this point! that will free up fishing money so I can enjoy it, and not be so pressured to win money (that can make your fishing unenjoyable- it becomes work).

I will fish a large circuit next year depending on what lakes they fish- (tired of seeing the same lakes for 10 years ina row in one circuit!) and a few smaller local tournies that dont involve lots of diesel to get there.

If Caba does an East-West type deal, I have a friend who I might talk into teaming up with me to save gas- since hes over there and I am over here. (i know some of yall know people over here that would do the same).

we have to think creatively in order to beat these oil companies and still do the things we enjoy. I see nothing in my expenses that has really changed EXCEPT the price of fuel. so thats my target for reduction to remain in the game.

Agree with #1, but no off limits at all (e.g. BassNBucks) is not fair for the folks who have to drive a distance to practice. No off limits gives the folks who live on or near the lake a major advantage. Off limits for 3 or 4 days and then 1 or 2 days practice prior to the tournaments will be the ones that I plan to fish.

I will continue to fish our club(I am in the lead. LOL)
Several Big Bass tournaments
Several jackpots
The BPS Battle of the Texas Bass Club tournament
That's about it until I can figure out a way to save on gas.

Probably gonna cut back 1 Trail in the East. Just not sure which One yet. Going to have to wait and see how BassChamps handles there CHampionship for next Year. Not too savy on the Way it was done this Year.

Not too sure about the T's around here for next Year. Just looks like these Small area Lakes are just getting smothered. These Lakes,IMO cant handle the frequency of T's that they Do. So I'll probably just let the local Top Hands feud it out. But still will wait and see.

Some of it is due to gas prices, but mostly time constraints are preventing me from getting to practice very much, if at all, and it is showing. So, I'm looking at a couple of different things...

1. Going back to the non-boater side of Pro/Am formats and just planning on upping the amount I chip in for the day's gas.

2. Looking a trails with either no off-limits or official practice days. As mentioned here already, it's easier, for me anyway, to plan a multiple day trip than several weekends in a row. And BTW, I'm not worried about any advantage those living near the lake may have. Someone is ALWAYS going to have an advantage someway, somehow. If you are scared, say you are scared and don't fish.