Hello! I’m getting ready to fish my first bass tournament in April and wanted some tips or advice on what to expect. It’s about 100 boat field, team tournament. One of my concerns was blast off, I’ve been boating for 4 years but haven’t really experienced driving in really rough waters or during a blast off. I expect the wakes of other boats will be coming from All directions what is the best way to handle this? I assume just take it easy and let the faster guys go by. I don’t want to look like a rookie but it’s better than taking on some water. My rig is a 18ft fiberglass ranger with a 150hp merc. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks! 

When tournaments first started back in the sixties, they used a shotgun start where all the boats took off at the same time. This was very scary and downright dangerous.  All the tournaments I have been in over the last 30 years or so used a staggered start.  You may also be in a flight where they divided up the boats into groups with different time restraints.  You shouldn't have much trouble with your boat.  Keep your distance and use your head. Just because you are in a tournament, don't ignore pleasure boaters.  Be courteous and think ahead.  Remember your boat has more than two speeds.  If the water is rough, back off. 

10 hours ago, s2k9k said:

Hello! I’m getting ready to fish my first bass tournament in April and wanted some tips or advice on what to expect. It’s about 100 boat field, team tournament. One of my concerns was blast off, I’ve been boating for 4 years but haven’t really experienced driving in really rough waters or during a blast off. I expect the wakes of other boats will be coming from All directions what is the best way to handle this? I assume just take it easy and let the faster guys go by. I don’t want to look like a rookie but it’s better than taking on some water. My rig is a 18ft fiberglass ranger with a 150hp merc. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks! 

 

I am fishing my first in April as well. Smaller tournament of course. Are you sure it is an all out blastoff from the start? I have not seen any tournaments lately do that anymore, not even the local ones here. 

 

Anyway, it seems like you have a good rig. I have a similar rig, If you waited a few minutes, those wakes wont be too bad to maneuver, and like mentioned above you do not have to go wide open. To be honest. I go about 40 as my fastest, because I do not really need to go any faster. I can go 55 if I wanted to but its not really needed in my opinion. 

 

Good luck and report back on how it went, I will be doing the same.