5 Fishing Tournament Tips
Sure, it’s a thrill to compete against other anglers for bragging rights, a trophy and other prizes, but winning is only part of the tournament experience. Even if your team doesn’t reel in the biggest fish, you still got to spend time on the water with friends, meet other people who love to fish and probably support a worthy cause, too.
Here are 5 tips to help make your next tournament a winner:
Be prepared.
Read the rules.
Make sure the boat is in good shape, fueled up and ready to go.
Decide who’s bringing what -- equipment, bait and the ever-important provisions.
Check the weather to be prepared for any distractions Mother Nature delivers.
Read the rules again. (You don’t want to lose or be disqualified for breaking a rule you didn’t even know existed.)
Define what “winning” means to you & other members of your team. How competitive is your crew? Whether you’re literally “in it to win it” or consider having a good reason to fish together a win in itself, figure out your team’s objective before you get underway.
Have a practice session . . . or two. Whether you plan ahead or goes with the flow will coincide with how your team defines “winning.” But remember, while practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, it does create a very good reason to spend more time fishing together.
Figure out who’s who. No matter well you know each other or relaxed you decide to be about competing, take time to define each person’s role ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect.
Write down what happens if you win. A simple written or typed statement of how the prize would be divided eliminates potential misunderstandings and confusion that could not only dampen strain friendships and dampen your team.
READY, SET . . . FISH! Join us at the 3rd annual Striper Showdown on the North Fork. Click here to sign up for this the 2021 tournament benefiting healthcare heroes through the ELIH Foundation on 9/24 & 25.