Conference wahoo::fishing

    Frank,
    
    Stay tuned to this conference.  BIG talking ought to be starting
    anytime now re: the annual noters spring tourney(s) which WILL NOT
    take place at Lake Monomonac.
    
    -SSS-
    

    Frank, this notesfile runs a number of tournaments every year for
    DECies.  Just stay tuned and you'll probably see one develope for
    the spring.  If your scan the existing notes you'll see the results
    of the tournaments we have run. 
    
    And yes, some clubs hold open tournaments, often as fund raisers
    - but for the most part club tournaments are for members only, and
    may have special allowements for guests of members.
    
    By keeping an eye on this file you'll hear about the tournaments
    that are Open, as well as those that we run ourselves.
    
    Have fun, Don Mac

    Great,like Frank I'd like to get into some tournaments this year.
    I'd prefer DECie tournaments but I'm open to anything else. I live
    in the Worcester area,is there any fishing clubs around that also
    sponser tournaments I could join?
    	Also I'd like to ask you tournament goes in the Note's file
    a few questions about them. First off how big are they? Do I need
    a 150hp++ Bass boat and all the best latest and greatest fishing
    gizmos to be competitive? What can you expect to win? How many places
    other than 1st do they pay? How much does it cost to enter?
    	I plan on getting a $5000 aluminum Bass Boat with a 25-40 hp
    engine and all the usaul goodies that come with it. I've got a
    couple sets of rods and reels which aren't the most expensive but
    aren't  $12 Zebco specials either. I've got all the usaul brand
    name lures for surface popping to deep water,and have a good assortment
    of rubber worms,tubies,grubs,ect.ect. and lost of Spinners. Do I
    stand as good a chance as everyone else at these tournaments with
    the equipment I just described,or is it a case of go out and have
    a good time and maybe I'll get lucky,because the set up I just
    described won't cut it for a Tournament. Or better yet I hope somebody
    out there tells me I watch too much of the tournaments on TNN cable
    TV and there only that big on TV. 
    
    					thanks,
    						Gary

        	I, for one, currently have plans to be in the MRO area over
    the weekend of May 20-21.  I would be willing to throw my money
    away in the pot if you can set it up for that weekend.  Might even
    learn something about fishing for Bass.  I currently am more interested
    in those little 20#+ Pike at ice-out casting from the bank.  Now,
    all I have to be able to do is find some water that isn't hard enough
    to stand on.  :-(

    re .3
    
    I've never fished a tournament, DECie or otherwise, but if I was,
    I wouldn't feel terribly intimidated not having a fully rigged,
    tournament level, 70mph Bass boat. If I had a humble little alum.
    boat, 10hp motor, my tackle - and Hank Parker or Al Linder for a 
    partner - why, I'd feel sorry for the *other* guys in the tournament!
    
    I may be wrong, but it seems to me that it's not so much what
    you've got, it's how you use it...
    
    Ed

    Ed,
    
    I felt the same way when I fisrt started reading FISHING Notes...
    all lthe talk about spring tournies,and fall tournies,and I wanted to
    be a part of them in the worst way. Finally,because all I had was a
    canoe,I asked if they were allowed in these "dec tournies"...
    
    I had no fish finder,no live well 1 pole,and one tackle box my
    partner,and I share...
    
    Yeah...there were some monster bassboats...but the bottomline is I(we)
    had a great time,even tho we were "contributors" as they say on the
    trail.Everyone we finally got to meet in person,and put faces with
    names you've been reading for 2 years....all turned out to be SUPER
    people...who all have the same interest,Bass Fishing, as you do...gives
    ya a real comfortable feeling...No ones affriad to share techniques,how
    they caught there fish,with what...etc.etc. AFTER THE TOURNEY
    
    It's GREAT....come join us this year.
    
    	MassMaster

    Tournaments come in all shapes and sizes, from just a few guys fishng
    for the fun of it, to the BASSmasters Classic and other national
    level stuff.                           
         
    Some payoffs are winner take all, some pay 20 places in different
    divisions.  Some fees may cost $5 some may cost $5,000.  You may
    win just a trophy or $100,000 cash and a fully rigged Ranger and
    a matching truck to tow it.            
                                                    
    I'm sure that for any bass tournament that you might enter, 
    your boat will be just fine.  Naturally the better the boat is 
    suited to the water that your fishing, the better off you are.       
                                                     
    I've been skunked tournament fishng in a 150hp Ranger and have
    won (a few times) from a 9.9hp aluminum.  As the saying goes, it's
    the fisherman, not the boat, that catches the fish.
                                 
    As long as your using equipment that won't fail you and you can
    use it accurately, that's all you need.          
                                                     
    Don Mac                      
    

    thanks to all that answered, sounds like you guy's really have a ball,
    I cant wait till we get started, real happy to hear about the different
    type of rigs that enter the tourney's. 
    What type of prizes do these tourneys offer, and where are they usually
    held?
    
    
    Frank

    Don,
    	You seem to be the person with the most knowledge of tournaments.
    So is it safe to assume that the big dollar prizes and tournaments
    get the heavy hitters with the expensive boats and equipment,and
    the smaller local tournaments basicaly anything that floats people
    use? What I'm really getting at is do the big boys like to come
    prey at the smaller tournaments to make a quick buck?
    	I also realize what other folks say about using what you have,your
    skill level,and knowledge of the area play a big role. But Bass
    Fishing just like any other Sport now a days,the more money you
    spend will always increase your odds and usally bring you success
    quicker. Also one other question,when you go out in these tournaments
    I assume you always have a partner. Do you both fish as a team for
    total weight for what ever the size limit and fish limit is,or do
    you fish as individuals. In that case won't it get confusing if
    you only have one live well? Hope this doesn't sound to stupid to
    all the tournament goes out there,but if you don't ask the question
    you don't get the answer. The reason this is a concern for me is
    I'm still deciding on 3 different styles of boats to buy and need
    to know if how many live wells is and issue I should look into or
    not.
    
    					thanks,
    						Gary

    
    Frank,
    
    If I recall correctly, the Fall DEC classic entry fee was $20 per
    team and the Ice Tourney was $10 per person (I missed it).
    
    The Spring tourney location is open for debate.   Too many complaints
    about Monomonac but it's not easy to find a place where Mass and
    NH boat registrations are both honored (not to mention licenses).
    
    If you have a favorite body of water, your suggestion is welcome
    and your vote is as equal as the next guy ... except the guy who
    coordinates the dang thing oughta get at least 2 votes.
                                    
    It's possible that there will be a number of tourneys in Mass and
    NH, open to all with a requirement that at least one partner be
    a DEC employee.  There's rules posted somewhere.  Maybe Don could
    point you to them.
    
    -SSS-

>>    Don,
>>    	You seem to be the person with the most knowledge of tournaments.

Boy I'd love to see the expression on some of our readers face when they read
that line!!!  I just happened to be the one to respond for ya, there's lots 
of folks in here that are MUCH more experienced tournament fisherman than I.

Yes, the big tournaments tend to draw the heavies.  And open tournaments 
with low entry fees will draw a much larger and more varied field of 
anglers.  As far as heavies coming in and stealing from from the novices,
it does happen from time to time, but it's not the norm.  I know the NH Open
came up with the rule that anyone belonging to a bass club must fish the
pro division because of that situation. 

Money helps alot after you learn the basics, but until you know how to
sense a fish on your line and learn how to set the hook, if the fish
are not aggressive, all the money in the world won't help ya.  It just 
takes a little time that's all.

Some tournaments are team events others are not.  If its not a team 
tournament and you only have one livewell, you can mark one anglers
fish with a clip or pin thru the tail or fleshy part of the mouth.
                                                                  
One good size livewell is fine for a casual fisherman.  And many of 
the single livewells nowadays are devideable.

Check some of the tournament notes in this file and you'll get a good
feel for things.

See ya at the spring tourny, 

Don Mac

ps: so who is going to run it this year, JEFF?

   142   BOVES::BPUISHYS     23-JUN-1986    14  TOURNAMENT BASS FISHING
   144  MEDUSA::JONES        30-JUN-1986    53  DEC BASSIN' TOURNAMENT ?
   146  GAYNES::BPUISHYS      9-JUL-1986   115  MASS DEC BASS TOURNAMENT SITE
   147   TORCH::MACINTYRE     9-JUL-1986    81  NH DEC Bass Tournament Site
   154    TORA::SCHOLZ       17-JUL-1986    54  First DEC Bass Masters Classic...Rules
   310    VAX4::MACINTYRE     8-APR-1987    11  NH State Open
   323  HPSCAD::BPUISHYS     22-APR-1987    83  2nd DEC BASS TOURNAMENT!!
   369   AIMHI::TOMAS        11-JUN-1987   175  NH Tourney - July
   392  HPSCAD::BPUISHYS     26-JUN-1987    10  Tournament News
   418   AIMHI::TOMAS        20-JUL-1987    77  ANOTHER NH TOURNEY - SEPT.
   477   AIMHI::TOMAS        16-SEP-1987   150  NEW - Monomonac Tourney Note
   496  CGVAX2::HAGERTY       5-OCT-1987    32  The Fair Weather Tourney
   515    JAWS::WIERSUM      22-OCT-1987    27  THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME
   579  MIGHTY::DILSWORTH    14-JAN-1988    43  Salmon Fishing on Wini
   630  HPSCAD::GATULIS      16-MAR-1988     2  $1000 trout derby
   645  RHODES::BRICKLEY     22-MAR-1988     2  N.E.B.A.A. Tournaments
   656  HPSCAD::BPUISHYS     31-MAR-1988    93  FIRST REAL DEC MASS/NH BASS TOURNAMENT FOR 1988
   662  RSTS32::MARSHALL      7-APR-1988     1  Fishing Derby at Shirley Rod & Gun Club
   676  COLORS::MACINTYRE    14-APR-1988    13  NH State Open, 17th Annual
   697      AD::GIBSON       28-APR-1988     7  Tournament of Salters
   735    STAR::KMCDONOUGH   23-MAY-1988    23  Kibby Fishing Tournament
   747    VAX4::TOMAS         1-JUN-1988    65  HOPKINTON TOURNEY TIME!!
   757  SONATA::LANGE         7-JUN-1988     3  Paddlin' Tourney's....
   772  PERFCT::WIERSUM      20-JUN-1988    67  Drinking and Boating
   814      AD::GIBSON       26-JUL-1988     8  Bluefish Tourney!
   843  RAINBO::MACINTYRE    12-AUG-1988   191  2nd Annual Fall Fishing Noters Interstate Tournament
   862  BIGALO::VORHIS_AL    26-AUG-1988     3  ANOTHER BASS TOURNAMENT
   884  DONMAC::MACINTYRE     3-OCT-1988    42  Noters Tournament Ideas
   888  MEDUSA::BOURGEOIS     6-OCT-1988    26  Help - Derby
   894  PACKER::BACZKO       12-OCT-1988   300  ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT
   895  MRBASS::DSULLIVAN    13-OCT-1988    16  Who's Fishing Sunday??
   914  STOWMA::LANGE        21-NOV-1988    27  Spring Tourney?
   948    LEDS::CAMPBELL     18-JAN-1989     8  Farmpond ? Tourney

    The Tourneys sounds great, Monomoonac Lake sounds even better, were
    there ever any Tournaments at Winni? And how possible would it be to 
    have one there? 
    How many people usually enter these events?
    
    WHEN CAN WE ENTER?????
    
    
    Frank

    No, we haven't had a notesfile on Winni.  Most of our events have
    been on Monomonac to allow both NH and Mass people to fish without
    worrying about the other states licenses and registrations.
    
    Our notesfile tournaments are just occasional deals.  If your really
    fired up about trying tournament fishing you should join a club.
    
    donmac

    You all can be assured that if'n I do get this off the ground...it will
    NOT be at Monomonac!
    
    I kinda liked Stumpfield Marsh myself....
    
    					jeff

    Jeff, you know there's a bunch of us NHerites who just loves Stumpfield
    Marsh (Hopkington Lake in reaility).  How can anyone NOT like that
    place!       
                 
    I'd definitely be up for another tourny there.  Maybe it's time to 
    start trying to choose a date.  Have all our clubs schedules firmed 
    up?  (ABC's has, see note 998.0). 
           
    Don Mac

    Yep,My club "MassMasters" is all set with our tourney schedule....all
    clubs have to have there schedule submitted to Mass Bass by the March
    meeting,so lets try to get a common date everyone can fish this....
     
    		   "1989 Terminal Anglers Invitational"
    
    ...well there're two votes for HopStumpTonFieldLakeMarsh in print
    already...
    
    Anyone else?

   I am willing to fish anyplace in NH or MA except for that hole on
   the border.  

   For NH, I enjoy bouncing around in Hopkington's stumps.  I even
   bought a new Flippin Rod with them in mind.

   keith

    The only thing that hole was good for,was the "Dancin' Bear Show" at
    the weigh-in!
    

    I vote for the mighty Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester,  Great fishing
    plenty big, nice ramp, and right off I290.   Our club has its schedule
    firmed up.   I will post the days later.   When do we plan on having
    it, April?????  May??????
    
    
    Les

    how about starting a new spring tourny note.... donmac