Outside Iowa: Having the competitive bone
It’s far from “new news,” but I have a real competitive side. During the spring, summer and early fall I find the “scratch” for that “itch” competing in local bass tournaments.
During a cool summer morning, not much can compare to the sound of oily outboards churning, accented with the musty smell of an Iowa lake mixed with aroma of 2-cycle exhaust.
Ending the day with what bass anglers affectionately refer to as “Velcro-thumb” is a great feeling, especially if that thumb is clutching a hefty check after weighing in the winning bag.
There is just not enough room in this weekly column to adequately explain what it takes to be successful in this sport, as there have been endless books, articles, videos, etc. produced attempting to do just that. The bottom line? There is no better teacher than experience, and it takes time to become proficient on the water with a deadline.
Like any other outdoor pursuit, success in competitive angling only consistently comes to those who are students of the game, and pre-fishing a lake in advance of an approaching tournament is vital—and that’s all a part of the fun if you ask me.
While there are many clubs across the state that run different kinds of events, the team tournaments are my favorite and a great place to begin.
This is where you and a partner split an entry fee to fish together for a limit of five fish. Purses are usually paid out to the top three to five spots depending on the amount of teams competing, making a pretty nice check a possibility.
If you have been considering this venture, there is never a bad time to start! Be careful however, there’s a good chance this will become an addiction and you will inevitably drop all kinds of money on rods, reels, and more baits than you will know what to do with, but again, that’s all a part of the fun.
Honestly, you can’t have too much gear—at least that’s the excuse I give my wife.
I can promise you this: the experience you will gain by fishing with a “purpose”—other than pure recreation—will exponentially increase your productivity anytime you fish, regardless of why you are out there.
Having a quality rig to fish out of is nice, but simplicity will most certainly work. A quality livewell and aeration system is very necessary to keeping fish alive for the post-weigh-in release.
Keeping your gear in fine working order is also a key element to success.
For the most part, tournaments are regional, meaning you won’t have to travel far to fish.
In fact, you could keep busy nearly every other weekend fishing lakes like Anita, Icaria, Brushy Creek, Three Mile, Sugema, Badger Creek, Twelve Mile, Rock Creek, the Iowa Great Lakes the Mississippi River and the list goes on.
Get to know a few of these waters, enter in to a few tournaments, and scratch away!
It does take an open mind, patience, time, dedication and a little money, but you will eventually begin to produce results. Believe me, the sense of accomplishment that comes with taking home a first-place check rivals that of tagging a big buck or gobbler, not to mention this is a great way to pass the dog days of summer.
You know what I like to say, sharing the experience with a buddy makes the success and memory that much sweeter.
Keep conservation in mind as any resource can be depleted, do your best to keep your fish healthy and release them alive. When not in a tournament, practice Catch, Photo, Release (CPR).
Good luck and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!
Live It Up!
Thomas resides with his wife and two children in Guthrie Center. He is the Managing Editor with North American Fisherman, official publication for North American Fishing Club. For questions or archived articles please visit www.outsideiowa.com; tha481@gmail.com