Hi guys im a brand new member and i was wondering how is the best way to get into tourneys im 14 so  cannot drive a boat and do not have a bass boat is there a way to get into tourneys this way? also what gear would I need as in how many rods/reels and other gear?

Our nearest BPS sponsors a local High School Trail

Welcome aboard buddy! You've made the first step in getting involved, there is a large community here of the most helpful people I have ever found on the internet. The first thing you'll want to do, is read all of the forum guidelines, and posts that say things like 'READ ME BEFORE POSTING' and posts like that to ensure you follow all the rules.  Be sure to visit the Introductions page and tell people about yourself and where you're from to get lots of good information about your local areas.  This thread will most likely be moved to the tournaments section, and hopefully you get some more replies there.  

 

To be honest, the answer I am going to give you is not what you want to hear, and that is the fact that the questions you are asking have already been answered many times by other anglers, and the great people on this site have made it easy for you to find that information and use it to educate yourself.  A quick search on this site turns up some GREAT articles and forum threads that are sure to get you started in the right direction:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing-tournament-tips/   this link alone will take you to lots of articles discussing exactly what you want to know.  Unfortunately like all things in life, we must dig deep on our own to truly understand and learn all that we can! If you don't have a boat, and want to try tournaments, you will likely be fishing on the back of someones boat as a 'co angler' so read all the articles on that page about co anglers, and you will find out what to expect, what you would need to bring, etc.  Look for Bass clubs in your area, a quick search on the BASS website should get you some email addresses for people who run clubs near you, I know the one in my city just started a Junior club for younger people looking to try the competitive aspect of fishing.  Also check out your highschool and see if they have a team or club, and if they don't, maybe find a teacher who loves fishing and take the initiative to try and get one started.

 

For gear, if you read enough threads in those sections you will learn that you don't require much, 3 or 4 entry level combos that you compile over time should serve you well for many years. Bottom line, make sure you're focused on school first, a proper education is much more valuable to you than any rod or lure or tournament! Good luck and be safe.

 

edit: start here: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/guide_to_tournament_fishing.html

Welcome aboard buddy! You've made the first step in getting involved, there is a large community here of the most helpful people I have ever found on the internet. The first thing you'll want to do, is read all of the forum guidelines, and posts that say things like 'READ ME BEFORE POSTING' and posts like that to ensure you follow all the rules.  Be sure to visit the Introductions page and tell people about yourself and where you're from to get lots of good information about your local areas.  This thread will most likely be moved to the tournaments section, and hopefully you get some more replies there.  

 

To be honest, the answer I am going to give you is not what you want to hear, and that is the fact that the questions you are asking have already been answered many times by other anglers, and the great people on this site have made it easy for you to find that information and use it to educate yourself.  A quick search on this site turns up some GREAT articles and forum threads that are sure to get you started in the right direction:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing-tournament-tips/   this link alone will take you to lots of articles discussing exactly what you want to know.  Unfortunately like all things in life, we must dig deep on our own to truly understand and learn all that we can! If you don't have a boat, and want to try tournaments, you will likely be fishing on the back of someones boat as a 'co angler' so read all the articles on that page about co anglers, and you will find out what to expect, what you would need to bring, etc.  Look for Bass clubs in your area, a quick search on the BASS website should get you some email addresses for people who run clubs near you, I know the one in my city just started a Junior club for younger people looking to try the competitive aspect of fishing.  Also check out your highschool and see if they have a team or club, and if they don't, maybe find a teacher who loves fishing and take the initiative to try and get one started.

 

For gear, if you read enough threads in those sections you will learn that you don't require much, 3 or 4 entry level combos that you compile over time should serve you well for many years. Bottom line, make sure you're focused on school first, a proper education is much more valuable to you than any rod or lure or tournament! Good luck and be safe.

 

edit: start here: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/guide_to_tournament_fishing.html

This and highschool or jr bass federation nation club. I fish for Orange County high school anglers here in Va the boat captains are generally supplied in the clubs

 

     tight lines 

 

            Andrew

Ditto the clubs. It's a good starting point.

If I were you, I would look around on craigslist and purchase a jon boat for cheap, and pick up a trolling motor for it. Then look around in your area for some jon boat tournament trails. I'm not sure where you live, but here in georgia it is 100% legal to drive the Jon boat as long as you have completed the online boat safety course. You can outfit your jon boat with a cooler livewell to keep your fish alive. I'm fourteen as well, and I have a ten foot jon boat myself, and even thought most serious anglers would laugh at it, it is what works good for me,and it gives me much satisfaction to own my own boat.

If I were you, I would look around on craigslist and purchase a jon boat for cheap, and pick up a trolling motor for it. Then look around in your area for some jon boat tournament trails. I'm not sure where you live, but here in georgia it is 100% legal to drive the Jon boat as long as you have completed the online boat safety course. You can outfit your jon boat with a cooler livewell to keep your fish alive. I'm fourteen as well, and I have a ten foot jon boat myself, and even thought most serious anglers would laugh at it, it is what works good for me,and it gives me much satisfaction to own my own boat.

If I were you, I would look around on craigslist and purchase a jon boat for cheap, and pick up a trolling motor for it. Then look around in your area for some jon boat tournament trails. I'm not sure where you live, but here in georgia it is 100% legal to drive the Jon boat as long as you have completed the online boat safety course. You can outfit your jon boat with a cooler livewell to keep your fish alive. I'm fourteen as well, and I have a ten foot jon boat myself, and even thought most serious anglers would laugh at it, it is what works good for me,and it gives me much satisfaction to own my own boat.

Kind of tough to take your boat anywhere if you're only 14 lol.

I didn't even have money to buy a piece of pizza without asking my parents when I was 14.

Kind of tough to take your boat anywhere if you're only 14 lol.

I didn't even have money to buy a piece of pizza without asking my parents when I was 14.

Well the deal was with my parents, if I earned the money to get the bpat, and accessories, they would get the necessary equipment to put on the car so that we can just tie it down to the top. If he doesn't have a lot of money, which I don't either, than he needs to ask his neighbors if he can do some yard work.

I think Nowicki was referring to the fact that at 14 he could not drive to the tournaments, so unless he can rig something up to pull it with his bike he'd be SOL.

 

As for OP look into Jr Bass Nation Clubs as well as High School fishing. Also, I you have any bass clubs in your area you can look into those too. Normally you have to be 16 to compete even as a non boater, but the club can vote to allow you to fish anyway. Being a non boater in a club for a few years will give you some great experience.