I' fish a couple of local open tournament, one on tues and one on thurs nights.  I've only won one since I started last year.  but I have caught one big enough for the championship at one lake and am in the top 25 for the championship on the other.  Yes I love to win, but I fish against guys and gals that have been bass fishing a LOT longer than I have, so when I do place it's an ego boost!  

Yikes!

Just a rough estimate, but I'm sure I was in more than three hundred in half that time. It's no wonder I burned out!

And in case you're wondering about how much money I'm saving. Not so much with added addiction of camping and all the gear that requires.

The first 250 was over 8 yrs on Toledo Bend

This is my third year tournament fishing and I got my first win this past week. The four tournaments I fished this year I've finished 5th, 5th, 3rd, and first. This is by far the best year I've had! I've never finished in the money before.

Congrats!

I have had to stop and think about the winning thing lately.  Me and my partner got on a roll getting paid in 6 straight tournys.  Then we struggled and it was brutal.  We started bickering and was mad on the ride home. I have to figure out how to balance the competitive edge and ticked off attitude.  My partner wanted to sell his stuff and quit fishing.  I was like dude we just won money in 6 straight.  I think its called spoiled.  Anyone have any helpful hints for me.  I did take a weekend to go panfishing with my son to get the bad taste out of my mouth.  Left all the bass fishing gear in the garage.    

Here is my helpful hint: get a new partner. Fishing tournaments is gonna be tough and you don't wanna be with a guy who acts like that when things do get tough.

The first 250 was over 8 yrs on Toledo Bend

 

That's the pace I remember in my nightmares!

Here is my helpful hint: get a new partner. Fishing tournaments is gonna be tough and you don't wanna be with a guy who acts like that when things do get tough.

 

I'm not sure if I'd consider that until I found if it was possible to channel that excess energy into a redoubled effort on the water. 

 

My long time fishing partner and I used to argue about things quite often.  Usually when things didn't go as planned or we had different ideas on what we should've tried.  Those arguments never go to out of hand because we both realized that each of us could have our own opinions and both stood a good chance of both being right or wrong.

 

Slimshad's partner is po'd because they went from cashing checks to finishing out of the money.  I'd suggest the two of them sit down and try to figure out why their fortunes have changed and then see if it is correctable.  Maybe his partner has a few ideas about what to change, and it might be worthwhile to let him control the direction of the team for a few tournaments.  It's fairly obvious that any change couldn't hurt their recent record.

Its very hard to win tournaments any time not just your first year. I have been fishing tournaments like 9 or 10 years and can count on two hands how many wins i have. 

My former partner (whom i still fish wish for fun) always blamed me for his lack of catching. Fishing used water, not fishing to his style were his usual excuses.

He only uses brown cinnamon 4 inch senkos on any lake regardless of the conditions or time of year yet it was my fault lol. Even when i was in full t rig or jig mode i wasnt fishing to his style lol.

Now he has a boat and fishes in the same club we used too as a boater...he is starting to catch on

Love him like a brother but man lol

Nothing like getting up front in your own boat to put a sock in the co-angler mouth, lol. Happened to me. Thankfully, I adjusted quickly and took a solid third my first tournament. But man, what a different perspective.

I like fishing tournaments. I have fun doing so. There is something about driving away from the lake with a wad of cash in your pocket knowing that you just beat everyone else. I have won a few, finished in 2nd and 3rd a bunch as well. Usually fishing opens my partner and I can count on finishing in the top 5 places. I do not fish as many tournaments as I would like to. When I fish a tournament of course I want to win but if I don't I want to at least make a decent showing. I have only fished 4 tournaments this year. No wins. We always get a good limit and usually average around 3 lbers but just haven't got a kicker fish in any tournament this year. We have finished in 4th, 4th, 4th and 5th places in the 4 tourneys we have done so far this year. At least we are consistent I suppose.

Yeah I did not catch fish my first two years, came back this year and am Wisconsin  High School State Champion with one of  my best friends