I knew it would happen

[Fishtaco]

Welcome aboard.

The only person that can tell you if you're doing right or wrong is yourself. Do what you want, follow your dreams and let those that say you can't be proved wrong.

[yankee doodler]

Pretty good bunch of people with some great advice on this site.

If you want to get into some controversy just go to the OTCrappie forum and bring up politics.

[Lundman A-14]

Welcome from Alabama, good luck with your dreams. Have you checked to see if there's any local Crappie clubs having tourney's around your area that maybe you and a buddy can enter. Start at that level and learn and work your way up, don't give up on your dream because of a few people.

Come to think of it,... there just might be one close by. I should check into it and as you said,it would be a great level to learn on and start at. Hey,...as they say,...you gotta start somewhere!

[skiptomylu]

From Toledo Bend Texas!

I once gave a lot to thought to fishing bass tournaments when I was guiding (Bass) way back in the late 1970's, but back then it was not near as big as it is today (money is way different now) so I went another direction. So if that is what you want to do I say go for it and if you don't win at first it will be a learning experience and maybe set you up to win down the road a bit.

Good luck,
Skip

[2yrsnluvinit]

I have been one here for a short while and i have met some really nice and knowiedgable fishermen and women on this site they have help me to pass on some very well used tips to several of the people i fish with, as a matter of fact my brother went out with me this past weekend and he had never crappie fished before and with the information that i used to catch fish was all the information i received on this site and he thinks im the greatest crappie fisherman ever but i told him that i couldn't take the credit for the information and told him about this site, so welcome aboard and good luck.

[Lundman A-14]

From Toledo Bend Texas!

I once gave a lot to thought to fishing bass tournaments when I was guiding (Bass) way back in the late 1970's, but back then it was not near as big as it is today (money is way different now) so I went another direction. So if that is what you want to do I say go for it and if you don't win at first it will be a learning experience and maybe set you up to win down the road a bit.

Good luck,
Skip

Great point there and may I add,...great advice for a 'beginning' tournament angler shall we say! My question for you would be this;When you were fishing
tournaments,how did you go about preparing for any such tournament? Did
you have a system you followed that was comfortable for you such as how you set up your rods,reels,boat,lures,etc?

[Eager Beaver]

It really isn't about the equipment, but it is the knowledge that you have experienced. Time on the water with someone that has a lot of knowledge about how to fish under certain conditions, and has a lot of knowledge about the equipment and how to use and improve it. You need to learn how to read a lake map and interput what it is telling you. There is a lot of new fancy toy's out there that you can use to shortcut some of the process. Learn the basics of the quarry that you are after and you will be farther ahead of the game. You don't just fish a tourneyment and then wait for the next one. You have to be on the water in all kinds of weather and under all kinds of conditions to see how the fish will react under various conditions. You need to know all the different kinds of casting, trolling, jigging, dock shooting, spiderigging and be proficiant at all techniques. You need to know how to handle a boat to make a perfect presentation of your offering. You need to know how to use the wind to your advantage.
This isn't to discourage you but to let you be a little more aware of what you will have ahead of you in your endevere. There are a lot of Tounament fishermen and women on this site that have never won a tournament or even placed in one. Having a lot of self confidence is one thing but having the correct knowledge will take you a lot farther. I suspect this is what the members on the other board were trying to let you know you had ahead of you in tournament fishing. You need to have some sponsors and to get them you have to accomplish something that sets you apart from everyone else. Such as winning local tournaments or placing high in several.
Hope that you don't take this post as a negative response but one meant to inform you what you have to look forward to if you go for it. What is your age if you don't mind my asking? EB

[bttmline]

Welcome Lundy, you are welcome here and we wish you the best in your tournament adventures.

[tholmes]

Good luck! Everyone should have a dream to follow.

Know what the best way to make a small fortune as a tournament fisherman?

Start out with a large fortune!

just kidding:p

Tom

[rico]

Welcome Lund!!!!!! I am a guy that knows a thing or two about crappie in my area that aint to far away from you.