Who here has....

[MichiganBass80]

Started, or helped start a bass fishing club?

What is the work that went into it?  Was it worth the effort or in hind sight would you rather have just joined an existing club in the area?  Is the club still going or has it ran its course and shut down?

[Scott F]

Are you talking about a tournament club or a fishing club? I've run a few fishing clubs, never a tournament club

[MichiganBass80]

A tournament club.  Nothing huge 5-6 tournaments a year, dues, monthly meetings...etc..

 

[ww2farmer]

I kinda did, but kinda didn't........................A buddy and I took over running most of the local open tournaments. One group of guys ran opens on Sundays for years and years and they just decided they didn't want to do it anymore, so we just started doing it. They had a large group of guys that fished with them, and many of the same guys come to ours. The other "series" we took over were the local Thursday evening 3  hour/ 3 fish tournaments from the guy.............wnybassman, who stated them. Much like the other trail, it was pretty seamless, we get the same group of guys. we haven't changed much from either trail, other than different guy's (my rod builder/buddy and I) now run both, and we hold a year end "classic" for the teams that have cashed and won during the year from  both tournament series. 

I play around with different formats every year seeing what will stick...............for a few years I had "aluminum boat only" tournaments, and they had good turnouts for a couple years, but last year tailed off, so I put them on hold for a while. I also have an "invitation only" tournament where I invite all the guys who are regulars on the sunday open/thursday nigh trail, as well as other guys who have helped and supported us over the years. We hold this on Conesus as a change of pace from Silver, and this year I am having a "Singles" open tournament as an experiment instead of the usual team format. I'd like to have a MLF formatted tournament one of these days too, but haven't quite figured out how to pull it off in the open/team format.

[quanjig]

I am an "old timer" in the buddy tournaments we throw on our local reservoir. It's tin boats, 9.9hp restricted waterway. We have been doing these tournaments out there now for 23 years!! Only about 4 of us left that have fished all of those years!!

Open to anyone that wants to play. We do about 14-15 a year and a two day Classic at the end of the year for the top 15 teams according to weight. We do a 6 fish limit to promote two man teams although if you want to fish as a single you still have to pay the full entry but can only bring 5 fish to the scale. We have had 40+ boat events and it regularly takes 20-25lbs to take a check!!

Its fun, we don't have dues but we do collect for insurance as it is required by the park we launch from. What are your concerns or questions?? Maybe I maybe be able to offer some help or suggestions. 

[Bluebasser86]

I sort of did with the KC area guys on this forum. It was more just an excuse to go fishing one weeknight each week but it's gotten pretty competitive because we have some really good fishermen in the group. 

[Dogfish_Jones]

 

Just beginning one now in and around Logan Martin Lake in Alabama. We just had our first meeting last week with 12 people showing up and going over the highlights and rules which will form the club. This club will fish 10 tournaments a year with a champion being crowned at years end.

So far we have a great group to begin with and looking to expand to maybe 15 to 20 boats at each tournament. Right now we have 6 or 7 as of today. We will have a membership fee along with a tournament fee and big fish pot. All in all it's been very smooth in getting the rules established and heading in the right direction. I've been in a few clubs so I am using a lot of the good things that I have seen work. The key I think is to find the right people that you are looking for in a club. This makes everyone tend to agree on the by-laws that are being set up. Also just use the simple fact that each person loves to fish and enjoy the competition that a club can bring to each angler.

We will fish the chain of lakes on the Coosa River and maybe fish the other local lakes in and around the Talladega/Pell City area.

[MichiganBass80]

Thanks for the replies.  I have been kicking around the idea of starting a club.  The big thing is finding enough people to join.  I have family (uncle and cousin) that fish, but when I bring up the idea of starting it they seem to do nothing but complain and come up with reasons NOT to do it (which really aren't valid reasons).