Lake Travis, fishing against Bassmaster Elites, How would I fare?

Just for fun, I entered myself in the Bassmaster Elite tournament next week at Lake Travis, and fished it yesterday. Curious to know if I can place in the top half of the Elite field. Don't really think so with my 12lb 4oz bag. Let me know what you think? What would it take to finish in the top half on day1 of the tournament? Free SPF 30 SkunkedAgain shirt on the video, just subscribe and comment.

12 will get you top 50 I would think for sure

Chance:
That would be cool. But to be fair, I should come out on Thursday and fish under the same conditions as them, as well as follow the rules (2 poles & trolling are not allowed).

That would be a true test.....

Good luck! 12 usually not a terrible # on Travis.....usually. Lots of smaller fish.

With conditions that will be. Im thinking top 50% cut will be 14#'s. Its better than it used to be in the late 80's early 90's where 12-14 would win MOST times. Back then ANYTHING over 14 was a HUGE stringer.

Yep fishing might get tougher after they’ve been pounded for a few days.

It's also different having the lake to yourself vs all the competitors fighting for spots.

We have already had a TFF member win and Elite Series Tournament.............

I didn't know you could sign up for something like that and fish with the pros.good to know

It didn't enter anything, it was a virtual competition I made up on my own, just to see how I'd fare. I always wanted to see how an average fisherman would do against the field. Of course they're going after 5 big fish; sometimes striking out. I'm going for quantity and sometimes getting lucky. It's still exciting to "fish" with the big boys.

Travis is Dink country to me. Often, you can go out there, catch 25 and barely break 12 lbs all together...

Yep, the fishing pressure makes for a big difference. Maybe... maybe I'll take off Thursday and fish it. I drop in on the far north end of the lake (away from Jonestown); so I wonder if there will be many boats there on tournament day.

You can bank on quite a few being above the Pedernales/Colorado junction at least in the morning half.,

There will be several 20+ pound bags. It will just be hard to be consistent.

I drop in up that way to get away from the crowd; so that even if I get SkunkedAgain, I'll still enjoy the peace and tranquility. However, as you noted, that area consistent produces for me.

Yep. These guys go for 5 big bites, knowing that 30 dinks don't win them anything. I'm thinking 4 days of 18 average would be in contention

My question is... why?

In the case of the way they're doing this tournament (catch, weigh, and release on the spot), it may be less of a factor. They will keep one large fish over 21" for the weigh-in. But unlike other tournaments, the field will not take 5 fish back to the marina.

But in general, when there are many fishermen hitting the same spots over and over, fishing would naturally be tougher. But I've never asked the fish, so it may not be a factor at all.

wrong wrong..it is the Texas BASS Fest with judges in the boat so they will no restrictions on fish size. Catch, weigh and release on the spot.

So they don't have to be 14" to weigh?

Now this thread beats all I have ever seen..... whatever keeps you entertained man

There might be numerous Elite boats way up lake above the Perdnales/Colorado split - at least the first 2 days Thur/Fri. Depends on how their practice goes up there if they decide to make the run up there on T-days.

Jaret you are right and I was wrong. Got it mixed up with the Toyota Bass Fest.

Congrats on placing at Bass Champs.

It's a 14" minimum to be weighed and counted in the boat. Best 5 make up the daily weight. You can bring in one over 21" per day.

4 days. Full field the first two days. Cut to 52 for Saturday. 12 Fish on Sunday.

I fish it dang near every weekend and if you are only catching 12 lbs you aren't on the X.

A lot of 7's and 8's will be caught. I would be surprised by a DD but they are in there for sure. The weekend is going to be hard on them. Upper 90's will bring out all of the boats. It will be packed and choppy and getting from the North end back to weigh-in will take longer than they will expect and it will make fishing the main lake points dicey after about 10:30 both days.

Lakes in good shape. Lots of 13-16lbs bags. Some 20's will be caught. As stated, the trip back each day will be the deal. Luckily they don't have to go all the way to the dam.

I'd have to agree, that if they can't beat a Skunker like me, being "Elite" wouldn't mean much. Maybe the 12'4 will beat somebody, like a disqualified or someone with boat trouble.

I think it would be fun to get others out on the water this week and do the same challenge. To me, it's like getting to play golf at Augusta National (The Masters) to compare my score to the pros. OK, not exactly the same, but it's every bit as exciting to me.

Where do you all think the winners will be caught, North, South, central?

I hope there are big bags next weekend. It would be encouraging to see Travis make a strong showing.

I'd have to admit, it's a pretty goofy idea. I'd really like to see someone fish it on Thursday under the same rules and conditions to see how they'd fare. In hardly any other sport does one get to do this. Wait, you can do this with bowling.....If there is a TBF (for bowling), I'd do the same. But me breaking triple digits on a good day may not place in the top half of professional bowlers. And the same is probably true of 12lb 4oz in fishing.

Local scuttlebutt this morning is many Elites making run up lake this morning likely in search of off-colored water for 1st practice day.