Should I hate tournaments?

[BurleyDog]

This is a serious question for you all. Should I hate tournaments?

I don't tournament fish (never have) nor do I watch it on TV. It seems to me like in the last several years the number of tournaments has exploded and every weekend, every major lake in Ky has one.

I guess people are making money off them and I guess public interest in fishing is a good thing. However its really hard for me to not hate fishing tournaments. One thing I love about fishing is the solitude, the laid back attitude, and the act of fishing itself. It chaps my hide to see the sponser stickered boats racing around, the unfriendly attitudes of some folks, etc.

Please you all give me a reason to change my attitude because it seems like we are stuck with these events forever now. Even on the smaller lakes....

[artcarney_agr]

Fishing tournaments draw out of state people, which means they buy non-resident licenses. The fuel, food, hotels, etc. that they drop money on help out the local economy. Most businesses are only open due to fishing tournaments, especially those places out in the middle of nowhere along the lakes.

The more money brought in to the state, the better.

If you want solitude, go during the week. The fishing is usually better then too.

[GeoFisher]

with me, it is a love/hate relationship.

I love the changes to equipment, new gear, better boats, etc, etc that are a DIRECT result of tourneys.

I love the professional anglers that respect other anglers, respect the resource, TEACH others, etc, etc.

I hate those FOOLS that give professional tournament anglers a bad name.

I hate those FOOLS who act like FOOLS on the water.

Later,

Geo

[agreynolds]

Tournament fishing is for those of us who like the adrenalin rush of competition. Many people golf and wager on it some play poker some coach their kids ball teams. All these forms of competition when rendered fairly are healthy. I fish about the same amount in each way, I take my wife and daughter fishing for crappie, bass and bluegill, and I fish about 20 tournaments a year. The fun fishing relaxes me and the tournaments get me pumped up. Growing up in central KY I played most every organized sport available, after college I needed an outlet for my competitve nature. Tournament fishing has provided this for me. So love all fishing and get out as much as possible.

[barkleyhawggitter]

This is a serious question for you all. Should I hate tournaments?

I don't tournament fish (never have) nor do I watch it on TV. It seems to me like in the last several years the number of tournaments has exploded and every weekend, every major lake in Ky has one.

I guess people are making money off them and I guess public interest in fishing is a good thing. However its really hard for me to not hate fishing tournaments. One thing I love about fishing is the solitude, the laid back attitude, and the act of fishing itself. It chaps my hide to see the sponser stickered boats racing around, the unfriendly attitudes of some folks, etc.

Please you all give me a reason to change my attitude because it seems like we are stuck with these events forever now. Even on the smaller lakes....

tournaments have really made fishing miserable on kentucky and barkley some days. it so crowded sometimes i have to get to the 8th or ninth spot before i find an opening to fish where i want. only a few folks make money on tournaments maybe less than 5 percent that fish them. the rest are wannabe's. yes hate them like i do.

[stickem charlie]

tournaments have really made fishing miserable on kentucky and barkley some days. it so crowded sometimes i have to get to the 8th or ninth spot before i find an opening to fish where i want. only a few folks make money on tournaments maybe less than 5 percent that fish them. the rest are wannabe's. yes hate them like i do.

There are thousands of acers of water between ky and barkley, that's two lakes that will never fish small, green river lake maybe I would believe, and I agree with earlier comments fish weekdays they are better and one last thing Ive always had a problem with run about boats and baja boats not wrapped pro pole "wanna be" professional fisherman

[fisherman5]

Without tournaments there would be no bass pro shops.

[creekrock]

Well ,since you asked,yes you should.

[barkleyhawggitter]

There are thousands of acers of water between ky and barkley, that's two lakes that will never fish small, green river lake maybe I would believe, and I agree with earlier comments fish weekdays they are better and one last thing Ive always had a problem with run about boats and baja boats not wrapped pro pole "wanna be" professional fisherman

dude, i live down here on barkley and fish both lakes combined about 100 days per year. the fishing pressure is incredible. the only time i the pressure is off is in december january and february. the fishing is great in the winter and very light pressure. only about 10 percent of any lake has any quality fish in it. i hate it when the big tourneys are here and i have to drive around to find a ledge to fish in the summer because the boats are literally in line to fish a spot. i watch them, one leaves and another drives right to the spot when he leaves and then it repeats itself, rediculous. it is getting worse every year. at least the crappie fisherman have thinned out a lot since the crappie fishing went down the tubes four years ago.

[Fntsyfbgod]

Fishing is much better off because of tournament fishing. Because of the competition of tournaments the equipement we have keeps improving and the boats and technology keeps improving. Not only that tournament fishing were a big component in the improvement of fisheries management.

Then there is the impact tournament money has on the economy. Thats been mentioned so I won't get into that. So if you ask me are the benifits of tournaments worth some people crying about the number of boats on the lake I say yes its worth it.

If you want to get away from the tournament boats fish a small 150 acre or less they don't have many tournaments. Or fish waters that are electric only.

[roughscott]

Look at the pay out , 100% and try it or sit on our computer and cry .

[Jared Harmon]

I don't hate the tournaments. Like said above, they bring in business to your local economy and create a little fun and competion for some local fisherman that wish to partake. I am not a bass fisherman and never will be, but I respect ALL fisherman on the lake as long as they respect me. However I do hate how most tournament anglers treat others on the water. On plane in the head waters of any creek no matter who else is around, flying right upon ya anywhere they decide to throw her in neutral and kill it pushing wake all over ya, rude a$$holes 98% of the time with no respect for ANYONE else on the water. Just an example, a local bait and tackle shop owner was fishing off my boat with me last summer while a tournament was going on. We were on a shallow flat in fishing creek when a bass boat tourney angler came flying in on uswide open, turned her off and coasted almost into my boat. As his wake sloshed and splashed all over my boat and just barely coasted by without hitting us, my friend asked the man if he ever shopped at his store here in somerset. The man replied, yes, all the time. Friend quickly replied, Dont ever come in there again if you dont have any more respect and sense than this! I just hate how most of the tourney guys (key on MOST) think they can disregard all safety issues and guidelines when tourney fishing. SLOW DOWN, CHILL OUT and be more repectful and courteous to others and I'll guarntee, this topic wouldn't even be an issue!