"What a Country!!!"
By Rod Yoder
I started fishing tournaments 5 years ago. All I had and all I had ever
fished from was a small flat bottom boat that was only big enough for
fishing small ponds. I looked at what it costs to rent a guide and a bass
boat for a day of fishing and realized that a $75 draw tournament entry fee
was much cheaper and would accomplish the same, with the added bonus of a
slight possibility of a pay check!
My first tournament was a Redman on the Ohio River. I sent in my entry and
showed up Saturday afternoon for registration and the pairings. My biggest
fear was drawing someone with a piece of junk for a boat. These fears were
unfounded when I saw the parking lot full of the most beautiful boats I had
ever seen - all with their stainless steel props and many of them with
color matched Suburban tow vehicles!
I was on my own and didn't know a soul. Just stood back and listened to all
these "Bubbas" spin their tall tales. When my name was called I meet the
fellow I would be fishing with the next day. I told him this was my first
tournament and that I had never even been in a bass boat before. He said he
was wishing I had practiced and had some fish located but we'd just go to a
couple spots he had.
I went back to my hotel room and organized my tackle and tried to sleep but
woke up every hour until my alarm finally went off at 4:00 AM. Threw my
rods and tackle in the truck and checked out. Made it to the ramp a half
hour before I was suppose to meet my partner. Luckily I grew up on a farm
and was good at backing a manure speader because I had to back the boat
down the ramp after stowing rods, tackle box, rain gear and life jacket.
After parking the trailer and getting in the boat, we went through boat check.
They made sure the live wells were empty and functional, life jackets on,
and that kill switches worked. Then we idled away from the ramp and sat among the
many other boats waiting for take off.
This has become one of my favorite times of tournament fishing. 30 - 45
minutes of waiting. Still pretty dark. A hint of light in the east. The
smell of 150HP exhaust. A chance to chit chat and learn about the guy
you'll be spending the day with. Eat a dry pop tart and finish your cup of
coffee. Put that pork frog on your jig.
The guy I was with seemed nice enough, and said he'd try to take it easy
since this was my first experience in a bass boat. Said I'd better take off
my hat, and move my tackle box out from under my legs so I could get my
feet back under me to absorb the bouncing.... hhmmmm.
Well... we had a 45 min. run down the Ohio River that fine morning. Could
see nothing but the tops of the misty hills on either side and the rooster
tail of the boat ahead of us. My arms ached and my fingers became numb from
hanging on... "Guys do this every day!" I kept telling myself. I couldn't
hear myself though over the sound of the wind and that power box behind me
that seemed to want to push the back of the boat faster than the front of
the boat wanted to go. Tried to look over at my partner but couldn't turn
my head or my sun glasses would be ripped off my face. At least my hat was
safe... (I was sitting on it.)
Finally, we slowed slightly and headed towards a section of shore that
looked the same as the previous 35 miles of shoreline. As we approached I
saw an opening in the trees and a bridge up the small creek channel. Ah,
finally some relief from the pounding. A quick idle into the creek and
under the bridge and then back on plane. I'd guess 2-3 miles we wound up
that little creek - flooded timber and stumps just under the surface on
either side. Suddenly we slow and drop off plane... idle a few yards and
THUMP! the boat tilts up then drops back down. Partner looks at me and
smiles "I haven't figured a way to miss that stump yet." Hammer down and on
up the creek.
One hour after our boat # was called and we left on this trek I finally
picked up a rod and was fishing! I realized that I had already gotten my
money's worth! (Even though sitting on my hat apparently wasn't enough to
keep from loosing it during the ride.)
I didn't catch a keeper that day, (this is in Indiana on the Ohio River,
remember) but watching my partner pitch that jig, laying it softly beside
each stump or laying log, was an eye opening experience for me. It was
obvious I had some learning and practicing to do. It was my 3rd tournament
before I caught a keeper fish to take to the scales. What a proud day for me!
The following winter I went to a Bass Fishing Techniques seminar. Listened
to Larry Nixon and Denny Braur talk about worm and jig fishing. Remembered
that guy in my first tournament pitch a jig so well. I practiced all winter
in the warehouse at lunch.
The first tournament the next spring - same situation... I don't know
anyone, just pay my $75 entry and go along for the ride. Well this one too
was a Redman tournament on the Ohio. Nice little run up the river and into
a creek. Fished all day in that one area. My partner fished a worm and I
followed with a jig. That practice in the warehouse paid off! I caught 3
keepers and my partner caught a limit of 5... I beat him by just over a
pound and ended up winning the tournament and a check for $3000! What a
country!
That was in '93 and I'm hooked! I still don't own a bass boat but I've
gotten to know a number of anglers that are willing to allow me to practice
with them and share hotel/gas costs. So now I can stretch that $75 entry
fee into 2-4 days of guide, boat and fishing. For my money, you can't beat
it. And every time out there is a world of knowledge and experience to be
gained!
I really love these tournaments. Maybe I've just been lucky, but all the
guys I've met and fished with have been wonderful. Where else in life can
you spend the day with someone you've just met - go through all the highs and
lows of catching fish, losing fish, not getting bit - and at the end of the
day you've got a new friend. And even if you have a bad day fishing, there
is so much to be learned. I highly recommend it to anyone who is at all
interested in bass fishing. It may not turn out to be your cup of tea, but
at the least, it will be a learning experience.
I pick and choose from Redman and BASS Federation tournaments. I have also
fished a BP Top 100 pro-am and I'm on the waiting list for an FLW pro-am
this summer. I don't plan on going anywhere with my tournament fishing -
It's just my way of getting my fix!
That's my story. My claim to fame is my picture on page 14 of the Nov. '96
issue of BassMaster Magazine... What a country!
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