Adult/Youth tournaments

I'm looking at holding about 4 tournaments in the East Texas area and I wanted to gauge the interest from you guys here on the forum. My sons fish for their high school and I love being the boat captain for them but to be honest it can be pretty boring sometimes. We did a benefit tournament this year and it was pretty good. The format was 1 adult angler and up to 2 youth anglers, 5 fish limit. I'm thinking we would fish Pines, Bob Sandlin, Martin Creek and Brandy Branch although probably not in that order one tournament a month starting this January. $50 per boat $10 of which would go for big bass. 100% payback on big bass and 80% payback on the stringer. Y'all let me know what you think please. I know my boys want to fish more tournaments and I know the boat captains want to be able to fish as well. Thanks

Sounds good, but would only fish Pines and Sandlin likely. We live in Tyler and would love to see Palestine make that list or possibly even Tyler. It sounds interesting for sure.

We could possibly do Palestine or Tyler as well. More time on the water the better. Thanks!

Sounds great, keep me posted

I'd be more interested in a parent only and son or daughter high school series. No boat captains that are not family at least. The current high school series seems more about how high my kid can place than anything else. It's great to get kids out fishing and many would not get to fish without the boat captains that volunteer. On the other hand when parents with boats seek out the best guys around, including local pro's, to do the tournaments it's kinda a joke to me. It's not surprising but it's hardly an even playing field. A lot of the parents and kids can flat out fish, that's fine and I like to see the teams win. It's the hiring out and only seeking out the top guys I'd like to see change. I'm not meaning to complain, would just like to see some changes or possibly other series where its a different format like your talking about. Like someone else stated, I'd prefer different dates than the current series around.

C130, I hear what your saying but it is a tournament...its all about how high you place.
In regards to what your saying...the guys at THSBA are aware of that and are trying to figure a way to slow it down..

To the op, sorry to Jack your thread. I'll be looking for the dates for the tpurnaments.

Thanks, I undestand that and don't blame any of the organizations that run the tournaments. They do a great job and I know it's a lot of work. Trying to control all of it is about impossible but I do think maybe some rules could be changed or added. My son had rather come in last and do it himself and learn rather than it be given to him and place higher. For that I'm thankful because we've discussed it numerous times. I tell my son that's life, get used to it and learn from it. Take care.

C130, there a lots of rules in place for high school tournaments. Off limit periods. You can't hide a guide within 30 days of a tournament, guides cannot be boat captains and plenty more. It's fishing. There are no guarantees you're gonna catch anything even if you were to go with a guide. What I'm wanting to do is put together a few tournaments since we only fish one tournament per month. The more time they spend on the water the better.

I know the rules very well, having pro's as boat captains or paying the top local guys big money is just something I think that should not be allowed. Just my opinion and it's happening. No, there still aren't any guarantees but when kids without boats that have never fished a lake finish in the top ten it's not about competition and who is the best. Most anyone that knows how to cast decently can catch when told where, when, what bait, etc. It's within the rules and we have the same opportunity so they are doing nothing wrong, I'd just like to see some rule changes, that's all. Yes, it would be hard to enforce just like the other rules. The two week "no info rule" is an example. People, buddies talk. It's a rule but unless it's posted online which just happened it's about impossible to enforce.

I like the fact you want to add more tournaments. We have several members in our club that are wanting to fish some other series. Problem is the SETX requires the minimum $500 entry fee and we only have about three members willing to commit to that series. We are looking at other options, members are willing to travel. Thanks for what you're doing, sorry for the thread drift.

I would be interested in all the tourneys. Sounds like a great idea

Just an idea (and total derail of this thread), but you could do it as a member entry, dues up front to cover 4 tournaments on so and so set dates. List a possible 6 lakes the tournaments will be held on and then draw/announce the tournament lake for that month the Wednesday night before the tournament. It would almost completely eliminate the guide hiring. Almost no one would have time to pre-fish so everyone would be on the same level there.

I know this would eliminate traveling entries since they cant plan ahead for overnight stays, but I am betting you would stay pretty local with the entries you are going to get anyways.

It is frustrating to see hired guns take anglers out only on tournament dates, put them on their favorite brush piles, tell them exactly what to throw, catch a limit, and not see them again until the next tournament. Those kids aren't learning anything other than how to take orders. But, I get it. Not every kid has a boat.

Luckily, mine aren't discouraged. They keep grinding. We prefish the lakes, and I have them tell me where they will fish during the tournament. This year, they have caught fish in two of the three THSBA tournaments (NTX division), including Texoma which was brutal.

No sour grapes here, my kids love this and hope to fish in college. The time we have with our kids goes by too quick. I am so glad we share these experiences, win or lose.

Ricky Bobby, I’m from Midlothian and I bet a few of our teams would be interested. It would give them more tournament experience and time on the water. Please keep me updated with a PM. If possible plan 1or 2 tournaments over our way.