I knew it would happen

[Lundman A-14]

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

Those are nice crappies,...love to hook into some of those!

[Lundman A-14]

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

Wow,...that sounds like alot to learn,...but as you said,...don't let this discourage me from tournament fishing. Well,...it hasn't and it won't.
These are things that I have been wanting to learn for a long time ,but just not have found anyone patient enough to take the time to show me these things. I can do some pitching to docks,but with a bobber rig and live bait.
Have not done it with artificials yet. I have to admit that I am somewhat old fashioned in my approach to fishing in a boat,...I do not own a bass boat,...just a little 14 ft. utility-v bottom with an 18 HP outboard,...no
trolling motor or electronics,either. I use open faced spinning reels wound
with 6 lb. test line for all my crappie fishing situations. I have fished with live bait for years,but nowdays,live bait is getting expensive to use anymore,...especially minnows. I end up wasting half of them. I feel that it is time to move up and learn to use the artificial lures such as Blakemoore Road Runner spinner bait type lures and such. One other member here suggested
looking into local crappie fishing organizations to get a feel for tournament
style fishing and to learn the ropes that way. May not be a bad idea for me
to look into that. I am 45 years old by the way.

[Eager Beaver]

One week-end with a pro can teach you more than you can imagine. Amatuer anglers always says they learned so much from the back of the boat fishing with a pro or even a guide for that matter. I thought I knew a lot about fishing until I started fishing with one of my mentors and realized that I really didn't know as much as I thought I did. Patients is a good teacher also. If you try a jig or lure stick with it until you know what it is doing all the time it is in the water. Good Luck and have fun with your fishing! EB

[guest01]

Welcome from GA, you will learn something new everyday with these guys and gals.:D You will also find some lifelong friends on here...Good Fishing To You......

[skeetbum]

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?

I have only fished a few tourneys, and luckily did well. Regardless, as you say preparation is key to success. Tackle, boat,directions to ramp, tourney rules, and so on prepare the physical aspects of what's ahead. This leaves out the most important item. Your mind. I rubbed elbows with some very good Skeet shooters in a past life, some of them world class. All agreed that competition is 10% mechanics and 90% mental. You will catch as many fish the night before a tourney as you will the day of. If you don't have a plan, where do you start? I wish you good fortune in answering your questions and following your dreams. Keep us posted, we're interested in the outcome - good or bad. Keep in mind that competing is not for every one.

[wannabe fisherman]

I am so glad I found this site and for good reason. I just dropped membership
from another site I used to belong to this morning. I shared some thoughts I
had about my goals and aspirations as a tournament crappie angler and was
hoping for words of encouragement,but instead,it was met with scoffing and
total lack of respect from guys who I THOUGHT were fishing buddies. I will
admit that I have lots to learn,...I will not deny that,...what I DO NOT need
is the lack of respect and scoffing from guys who actually should share words
of encouragement and give tips on what to do and what NOT to do in a tournament setting. Kidding around is one thing,but showing total lack of respect and scoffing at another's dreams,goals,and aspirations with comments
that had absolutely nothing to do with fishing is another. I hope that this does not happen on this site. Maybe this may be a bit too personal,but I just wanted to share this with you all with the hope that I will receive encouraging words
to pursue the goals,dreams,and aspirations I have as a tournament crappie angler.

Welcome to a friendlier group. I'll bet that was a bass forum you left. I was on one for about a month asked a couple of questions and never got a straight answer form anyone so figured it was time to move on.

[Lundman A-14]

Welcome to a friendlier group. I'll bet that was a bass forum you left. I was on one for about a month asked a couple of questions and never got a straight answer form anyone so figured it was time to move on.

It wasn't just a bass forum,...they covered all species of fish. It is just too bad
that I did not get the words of encouragement I was hoping for. Talk about not getting a straight answer to a question,...the board I came from was that way
alot of times,...but not all the time.

[Cane Pole]

Look inside first.

[jeepguyjames]

Lundman , dont sweat em, the world is full of knuckle heads, i had 3 guys that i work with read my post and make fun of me for being on here, asking questions, thanking everyone for their help, and always saying God bless. i guess the fact i want to be a better fisherman, that im thankful to the guys on here who answer my questions, and my belife in God is funny, but its what ever, dont allow it to get to you. and GOD BLESS....even my "friends" at work

[1028]

Lund, I personally wish you the best of luck ! Doesnt matterwhat your fishing for, just have fun doing it !!
sam