Anyone A Member Of Rochester Bass Masters?

[bclark7b]

I'm looking to get into a club as a non boater. Is anyone a member of Rochester bass master? I've never been in a tournament or a member of a club, but I want to join one so I can fish in some tournaments and gain more knowledge from some good guys and girls. I'd like some competition, but also would like it to be laid back enough to have fun. Would this club be a good fit for me? I know I could contact the person in charge but if anyone on here is a member I thought I would try this first.

[ww2farmer]

Before joining a club, hook up with some one with a boat and fish any one of the dozens of open team tournaments in the area to see if your like tournament fishing. You and your boater fish TOGETHER as a team instead of against each other as boater/co-angler. IMHO it's a great way to get your feet wet in tournament fishing, you can pick and choose when/where you want to fish, and the competition is top notch....many of the "best of the best" club anglers will fish these opens, often as a team. I like this format so much, I never joined a club, and fish tournaments all season long. When one popular local open trail folded, myself and a couple buddies kind of "took over" holding them on our local lake (plus added a few). I am not bashing club fishing, I know a lot of guys who do it and love it, I am just letting you know there are other options to compete other than club fishing.

[bclark7b]

Thanks for the reply! This is the first year I've been really interested in tournament fishing.It was a little overwhelming when I started looking into it, since it seemed like the only option was to join a club. First off there is the money aspect. Join B.A.S.S which cost money, then pay club dues, then the money for each tournament and everything else. Secondly as a co-angler I would feel strange asking ?'s and stuff knowing that we were fishing against each other. I honestly didn't know there was another option. Thank you.

[jkarol24]

Ben, 

I am a member of the Rochester Bassmasters.  I fished the last 2 years as a non-boater and this year will be fishing as a boater. There are some fantastic fishermen in the club, and i learned a TON of new information as a non boater.  Feel free to drop into a meeting and see what we are all about, we hold them on the first wednesday and third Thursday of every month at Tucci's restaurant on Lyell Ave in Rochester at 7:30 PM.  If you have any questions at all, shoot me a PM and I will give you my phone number.  

[patbfishing123]

Ben, 

 

I am also a member of the Rochester Bassmasters and have been since 2008.  I spent 3 years as a non-boater and learned more than I ever thought I could.  This year they have also started a mentor program, which pairs a newer, less experienced angler with a more experienced angler.  This could help you, not only to learn about fishing and tournaments but also to get to know the great group of guys that are in the club.  

 

When I first started in the club I had no boat and I didn't know anybody who had a boat that was willing to take me out. Now, I have a boat and know a bunch of great guys, heck I've even won a couple of tournaments, but most importantly I know a whole lot more about fishing than I did when I first started with the club. Ww2farmer is right, you can go out and fish the open tournaments throughout western New York, but if you are anything like I was, no boat and no fishing buddies, then a club like the Rochester Bassmasters is the perfect place to be!

[chiefhuntum]

Ben, I didn't see you post until now, but I run a Tuesday night bass league right in Widewaters (Palmyra / Newark).  We have 16 teams, but each week we have four available slots for open teams.  You don't need anything fancy for a boat, and its easy to make a makeshift livewell using a 20 gallon tupperware container and livewell pump.  It's laid back but competitive.  We only have two more Tuesday night events coming up (08/18 & 08/25), but your more than welcome to check it out as a open boater.  Cost is only $30.00/boat up to two person team, and we pay out the top four for 3 fish and lunker.

 

If interested contact me at fthomas@nrcc.com.