I am currently in a BASS affiliated club here in WV, for about 4 months now.  I haven't fished but 3 tournaments, however I want to fish in a bigger tournament as a coangler.  Either BASS or FLW, but I want to spend some extra cash and take a roadtrip and gain a little bit of experience. I'm not trying to throw myself into this because I think I am that good either, I just have some money and think it would be a great experience.  I just dont know where to start and how to go about it. If anyone could please help I would appreciate it!

Travis, if I understand what you are asking is that you want to drive to join someone in another state to fish a tournament so you can gain the experience.

 

Excellent thinking process.

 

The West Virginia BASS Federation president and tournament director may be your starting point as to contacting others outside of West Virginia who fish the BASS opens and other tournaments. Get their names and give them a call. You will find that they are wonderful guys who would like to give you their guidance and suggestions.

 

You can also contact the officers of other BASS affiliated federations and ask them for their guidance.

 

West Virginia is in the middle of some good bass fishing, from the Virginia waters to the east; northern lakes and rivers to the north; and parts of Kentucky and Tennessee to the west. Anything heading south is also a plus.

 

The problem is that you are a coangler and who you will be fishing with. In tournaments your boater can be a great guy or a jerk. You can learn a lot or be back boated the entire time. It is a crap shoot unless you know the boater.

 

As a nonboater you may want to sweeten the pot. Ask to pay for the boat's fuel, entrance fee and ramp fees. This will make the boater a happy guy and he may warm up to you.

 

With winter approaching the number of tournaments diminish until March and April so you have some time to do your homework. There are a lot of guys who will have you fish with them, if legal depending on their tournament rules, and willing to help you learn how to fish a new body of water.

 

Good luck with your quest and I hope you can find someone to fish with in a tournament and meet a lot of new guys.

One more suggestion.  BASS has open tournaments to boaters and nonboaters in the summer months. Check with BASS for a list of their Southern and Northern Opens and consider fishing them as a nonboater.

 

We have had a BASS northern tournament in Richmond for the past three years and have no idea if we will have a fourth in 2014.

 

This may be the best way for you to fish a big tournament (boaters get to go to the Classic and nonboaters can win a Ranger).

 

The nonboater cost was around $700, or in that range, so it is not cheap to fish these opens.

 

Travis, if I understand what you are asking is that you want to drive to join someone in another state to fish a tournament so you can gain the experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exactly Sam! I want to fish more than my club does.  They fish once a month and to be honest I feel like an outcast in highschool lol Maybe because I am new or the youngest at 26, but noone talks to me and therefore I'm not fishing on the side with any of them, and dont know anyone with a boat to fish with.  So I'm hesitant to contact or ask my club president or anyone else.  I do appreciate your advice and help, and I do have plenty of time to figure a plan out which is why I wanted to start now.  I do have one more question though.  Do you register for a tournament months ahead or is it more towards the beginning of the tournament?

I register for events as soon as registration opens.  Some people wait as long as they can to register.  so personal preference will prevail on that.  just keep in mind that on the co angler side most events fill up pretty early.  Also you may want to throw in some bfl events, its much cheaper than open and everstarts so your money will last a bit longer and its the "normal" progression through the ranks.  just my 2 cents, good luck

Yeah I had looked into BFL too.  When I go to register for the Opens it asks for a early entry code, which I have no idea what that it?

I have fished the BWS (now Weekend Bass Series) for the past 5 years and the BFL this past year as a co-angler.  Entry fees are $100.  I have gotten a lot of valuable experience doing this.  I do not own a boat at this point so these tournaments allow me to tournament fish without owning a boat.  Great fun and great people.