About fishing Crappie USA tournaments
In response to some of the threads about fishing tournaments and CrappieUSA. I have never fished in the CrappieUSA tournaments, but I have attended the seminars and some of the tournament weigh-ins. Crappie USA seems to be a very good bunch of guys. They have stopped and talked to my dad and I on many ocassions. My Dad and I are going to fish the Indiana tournaments this year at Salamonie and Patoka for the first time. We have pleasure fished for many years together and this will be our first tournaments together. I am looking forward to it.
The kids rodeo is something we should all be a part of as responsible anglers. If you're not fishing in the tournament maybe you can bring your kids out or find a kid that is less fortunate and bring him/her out to the rodeo. You wouldn't be turned away if the kids wanted to fish. Maybe you could just volunteer some help for an hour or two. You could be teaching a kid something that will last them a lifetime.
As for the payouts, it would be nice to cover some of the expenses but I don't live in fantasy world thinking I am going to catch the 7 biggest fish out of all the boats. I do think we can be competitive and have fun though. Any pay-out would be something special. We would fish some of the other tournaments but expenses get too high with out of state licenses, gas, lodging, and tournament entries. I haven't the slightest idea on how to get sponsors, so this all comes out of our pockets. I do wish some of the other tournament trails, CAST, Crappie Masters, etc... would give Indiana a try for some of their tournaments. We have some very good Crappie lakes in the state. Patoka, Monroe, Salamonie/Mississinewa, Cagles Mill just to name a few.
My point to this thread was......these organizations that promote fishing should not be bad mouthed, nor should they be criticized for their pay-outs. When something is rewarding it is much more important than being paid. My father and I are as excited about our 1st tournaments together as we could be. The time we have already spent discussing different strategies and techniques is more rewarding than any prize money.
So take your family out to some of the local Crappie USA weigh-ins. Take a kid to the Kids rodeo. Prize Money will soon be spent and the money will be gone. But when something is rewarding it lasts a lifetime.