I'm addicted to Tournament fishing...

[Kevin Evans - Kap]

I dont even want to go out with any of my friends anymore unless its pre-fishing for an event. I must say it's not so much for the monetary prize but the competition of testing my skills against other anglers and the fish on that given day. How many of you feel this way? Or is it just myself a minority on this topic?

Kap

[Fishin' Dave]

Yes, I did for many years.

I am a recovering tournamentaholic. I used to fish 5 a month.

Taking some time away from the events has made me realize how much i enjoy just fishing. Catfish, bass, salmon, whatever. Put the bimini top up and troll along with a hot meatball sandwich on a foggy day, that is awesome!

The fire still burns in me and I will return one day. Most every tournament angler has had the addiction and needed a break.

You are not alone Kap.

[Marty]

Me too Kap – even when you get your *** kicked and handed back on a silver platter. I just keep coming back for more – no quick in me! But my day will come and I will get my!

[straitline]

Yeah I have the same problem!! I was out of it for 5 years because it did not work well with my wife and buisness I had going. Now that, that is behind me I decided at the first of the year I would go give it A shot. My buddies and I sat around drinking beer talking about it ,and figured I would go get my arss handed to me a couple of times. Then I would be over it! But then the un thinkable happend in the next 8 tournaments I finished with A 4th,5th, 6th,and three wins. Now I really dont think I will be done with it for along time!!!!!

[Ryan L]

last year was my first tournament i fished the entire furure pro tour schedule. and now all i do is think about fishing and when the next tournament is i am hooked for life

[Guest]

And here I thought I was the only one. I guess that's why I'm going to start striper fishing this spring to put the fun back into the Delta.

[Bill kizer]

I guess I might be also. I just spent the last three hours; restringing reels, swapping reels between rods, and trying to find someone to go to Berressa tomorrow to prefish for a tournament a month away.
I guess that's why I have gardening service, she thinks I mowed lawns, weeded, amd planted flowers all day. Now she won't mind if I go.

[MIKE TREMONT]

My name is Mike and I'm tournament fishoholic. It truley can be a problem, luckily I haven't crossed the line and started risking my families well being.
I'm just the same as you, I don't fun fish hardley at all anymore, it's always a prefish, even if it's a year away!!
I got to get out and chase some trout or stripers around again!

[ownfl4g]

I just fished my first tournament with my boat the other weekend, i think the best rush is how much more intense it is fighting the fish, you REALLY dont want to lose it as opposed to alright i got a fish...

[Skeeterman]

Yes I have to admit im addicted also the the fun fishing is gone its ether prefish or tournaments.I do love the compution of bass tour.even when I have a bad day and want to give up I think about it then the withdraws kick in you can,t wait for the next tourny.

[FISHorDIE]

Oh you guys dont know the half of it.. for years I bank fished, .. finally decided to get a 185 tracker in 2005, said I would never fish tournaments because I enjoy just fishing for fun, 10 months later I trade it in for a 2006 nitro 591, fished future pro tour and the rest was history. Before I was balanced now everything I do has something to do with bass fishing. Certain bills are late, the only clothes I buy are for protection or comfort while fishing, relationships with the woman come second, the friends I find myself talking to the most are bass fisherman, my diet is poor now from all the junk I eat while fishing tournaments, cant seem to stop buying equipment and lures even though I have enough and l NEVER can fall asleep before a tournament, sitting up all night playing with plastics and imagining how that bass is going to inhale my lure! It's safe to say im addicted.

[Gator]

Hey Fish -

Take a look at this. May slow your pulse down a little.

http://www.westernbass.com/dotcom/libra ... ml?id=2267

This is not specifically for you but for those who are looking to get into the tournament thing. I think my circumstances helped me get a calmer attitude to the whole tournament thing. Yes, I still get the morning jitters, but after a short time I focus on the fish and not much else.

[bassindon69]

I think the Big fish fishing has a better hold on me. LOL!

Best of luck you Bassaholics!

Don.

[Matt Moreau]

Yes i too am a tournamenholic. I love competing and the rush i get catchin, not losin, a biggin in a tournament. Its a passion that drives me to be the best i can and leaves me broke and without gas. All i can say is i love it!

But I just love being on the water. Yes i would prefer it be fishing or prefishing but as long as im on the water i am happy!

[Smileee]

I was that way back in '97 thru '00, but it became too much like work - anyway, Rallys are way more fun. I will fish the occasional tournaments, lkie the Reaper or Opens.

Smileee

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

I love Berryessa for instance but always feel that I should do my between tournaments fishing at a lake where I will soon be fishing a tournament,
Based on that and as much as I hated it, (HAR) I just have to fish the Delta and Clearlake. What a bummer.
It was great seeing you and talking to you at the National Guard FLW tournament

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

but it just never seems to happen, Maybe we should get together.

[SABP]

There is jus nothing like the preperation, the prefish, the actual tournament and everything that goes with it. It is addicting and many of us are tournament fishing junkies. I love it.

But, I think the key is "balance"

If the only thing there is in ones life is tournant fishing than you can get off balance (I don't mean crazy) but just out of wack. An angler must balance fishing with family, friends, work, christian walk etc. If fishing becomes more important than family than you are out of balance. Family should always come first. You should be able to share a tournament win with your family but also don't bring them down when you finish at the bottom and everything goes wrong on the water. Having a good family life actaully will make your fishing better.

I see so many guys wrap who they are around being a tournament angler that they forget how to handle everything else. Balance as a tournament angler and balance in life are key to maintaining relationships and being happy in life. Keeping everything in balance is definately hard work but whether you win or lose, it makes it all worth it at the end of the day.

[Fish Chris]

Hello Kevin. I can totally appreciate your passion for tournament fishing....... even though I'm on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.
Ya' see, I am completely addicted to trophy hunting ! It has nothing to do with money for me either (since I rarely make any, from catching big fish
I almost never "fun fish" with my friends either, because I'm too caught up in hard-core trophy hunting.
While I consider myself to be the least competitive guy on the planet (among fellow anglers) I absolutely HATE to be beaten by a fish ! Especially a big fish ! If I find a big one near an ambush point, I just can't make myself forget about that fish until I have put it in the boat ! If I find a big one on a bed, I have been known to sit on that fish for more than 10 hours straight, trying to get her to go ! It's not that I enjoy sitting on one spot for 10 hours straight. On the contrary, it just kills me ! But I just can't force myself to break away.

You would have to believe I was crazy, to be cruising down a shoreline, passing up 5 lb Smallmouths, and 8 lb Largemouths, simply because they were not 7's, or 10 plus fish ! In the old days, those fish would have been fun, but now I just have to have a bigger "fix".

Anyway, my point is, a passion is a passion....... or should I say, an addiction is an addiction ?

Great tournament success to you,
Fish

[Mick Karshner]

SABP, hit the nail on the head. Balance is everything and it is a constant process to keep it in check. I have been way out of balance before. My order is...

1- God
2- Family
3- Business
4- Fishing

It's a challenge to keep it straight sometimes but I do my best.

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

Why on earth would anyone want to be doing all of that stuff when he could be out fishing?????

[Kevin Evans - Kap]

These are the replies I was looking for. Good stuff Damon, Fish...
I hope to see you on the water Jim so we can talk more fishing. And that was a blast at the FLW Saturday...
I was truly amazed with the FLW staff and it all. I could see myself working for an Tournament Organization like that. HAR HAR

Kap

[bassindon69]

Working at a job that was around fishing would be cool for sure.

Don.

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

Hey Kevin, I don't fish all that many tourneys, mostly because of transportation or rather lack of it..But I am addicted to fishing..The walls of my bedroom are covered with rods and reels, the floor is littered with virtually everything else you would need to go fishing..Fishing is something that I think about virtually every hour of every day..If you ever need a partner for fishing, just let me know..

mac

[Kevin Evans - Kap]

I think we need to go then Mac... Let me schedule a vacation day off work first. You pick the body of water and were gone...
We can talk about our rally schedule?
Lets think 2 weeks out cause the Boss needs the advance notice.

Kap

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I'll give you a call..

mac

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

Its a great example of what can happen here on this forum when we are not criticising each other or correcting each others spelling and grammer.
I know both of you to be great guys who may just end up being lifetime friends.

[NaCl]

How does 3 vehicles and 3 boats in a family with with just 2 drivers equal "balance"? HaHa!

Good luck selling the Stratos and Explorer!

.....NaCl

[NaCl]

How'r you doing? I heard you went through some medical difficulties. I hope all is well with you now.

As far as tournaments. I'm leaning in the same direction as you. Hope to see you at the Wester Rally this summer.

.....NaCl