I am going to Lake Anna the week of 7/21 and they are having a open tournament on Friday that week,  My youngest daughter asked that we join in.

Not having any tournament experience what so ever But having basic knowledge of how they work what should I prepare ourselves for?

Prepare for:

1. Having everything the Game and Inland Fisheries says has to be on your boat as outlined in the Virginia Watercraft Owner's Guide.

2.  Wear PFD at all times.

3.  Have throw cushion in the open and ready to go.

4.  Have fire extinguisher up to date and where you can get to it easily.

5.  Expect to have DGIF stop you and check on the above items.

6.  Lots of guys launching their boats in a line very fast. One guy is in boat while other backs the trailer down the ramp and then parks the vehicle and trailer.

7.  Lots of confusion at the start before you blast off.

8.  Guys blasting off and heading in all directions to their favorite spots.

9.  Taking your daughter back to the marina to go to the bathroom.

10.  Fishing in a line of boats along one shoreline so get your finesse gear ready to roll.

11.  Lots of time just fishing and not catching.

12.  Getting sun and wind burned.

13.  Rushing back to the ramp so you will not be late for weigh-in.

14.  Find out if you can use your own bag or if you need to get a tournament bag to bring fish to the scales.

15.  Lots of guys lining up to trailer their boats.

16.  Standing around watching the weigh-in and waiting for the results.

And most of all you can expect...l.to have a great time with your daughter with memories for a lifetime.

Have fun and remember that lake is not called One Fish Anna for no reason!  ;D   ;D   ;D

Sam,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I have all of the safety gear and we wear our pfd's all day long period end of discussion and absolutely no alcohol is allowed on the boat... It took me 20 years to get this boat and to lose it like that or have someone get hurt would be well let's just say it's not happening...I love my Bud but my family's safety is #1

1 question though about the bags I forgot about those!!

Where is the best place to get them and do they charge a fee if you have to use theirs?

And one more thing you described my daughter to a tee are you sure you two don't know each other? lol

And yes I am already excited about her and I doing this together I think this is going to be the longest 3 weeks of my life ;D

I don't have a boat.. Good luck to you!

Thanks ggfishing!

The bags can be purchased at Bassproshop, Cabelas, and Dicks has them as well. I would say any store that has a huge fishing department has them.

Good luck and sounds like it should be fun. Great memories for both, that's for sure. 

Thanks a bunch Angler...I have a gander mountain about an hour north of me I will pick one or two up there.

And yea I am pretty excited about fishing with my baby girl she is 16 but still my baby.