If the tournament directors allow trailering, it helps a lot. They should allow that on windy days to accommodate contestants with less than 18 foot boats (my opinion, anyway). I hope I didn�t offend anyone. It can be a touchy subject, sometimes.

Double post, sorry.

I�ve had big boats, little boats and everything in between. For a while I ran an 18� aluminum center console - first tournament in it I got some looks until I laid the wood to them at weigh in. We�ve all been there, pretty sure no serious fishermen I�ve ever met had their first boat be a brand new high dollar fancy rig.

...I have been fishing Texas tournaments out of my Stratos 176 w/ a 50hp for many years.
Cashed my fair share of checks. Once you get to your spot you are on the same water as the next guy
we had no problem fishing Bass Champs Sam Rayburn or Falcon with the 50hp motor and 17.5 Stratos. I even caught fish with my Ugly Stick and $39.00 Abu Garcia Black Max reel. It is not the cost of the equipment have ,,,,, it is how you use that equipment.
...ENTER / HAVE FUN !!!!

Thanks again

20 some odd years ago I lived in North Carolina for a short time. While living there I purchased a Bass tracker Tourney TX 17. It was BPS's biggest aluminum boat at the time. Had a 40 horse and a 38lb thrust trolling motor with a small depth finder in the dash. I had met a gentleman who was in a club and he insisted I fish their open tournament as they were trying to get new members.

The tourney was on Falls Lake in late February. I agreed to fish it and showed up early to make sure there were no issues. My rig drew a few laughs and some finger pointing. My new "friend" commented how "cute" my new boat was. I took it all in stride and asked when I had to be back at the ramp. 3:00 sharp. So off I went.

About an hour in I met up with my friend in the back of a creek and he said I should concentrate in the backs of the creeks. So, I did. In fact, I stayed in that same creek the rest of the day.

When I got back to the ramp for weigh in, I once again endured the admiration of my "cute" coat. I also enjoyed the admiration of the sack of bass I had.

I was able to get to water that the other fisherman could not. Taking my friends advice, I went as far back into the creek as I could. It narrowed down quite a bit and then opened up into a nice size pond. The waster was very shallow until you reached the pond. So, I had it to myself.

Well, it was loaded with pre-spawn fish. I ended up wit close to 30 pounds and won the tournament.

So, fish with what you got, and don't worry about the other boats.

(I have been fishing Texas tournaments out of my Stratos 176 w/ a 50hp for many years.
Cashed my fair share of checks. Once you get to your spot you are on the same water as the next guy
we had no problem fishing Bass Champs Sam Rayburn or Falcon with the 50hp motor and 17.5 Stratos. I even caught fish with my Ugly Stick and $39.00 Abu Garcia Black Max reel. It is not the cost of the equipment have ,,,,, it is how you use that equipment.
...ENTER / HAVE FUN !!!!)
now i dont feel bad i have a zuma 165 and was a lil embarresed to fish tourneys out of it but flukman83 you just brought it to prospective.