TOURNAMENT TACTICS TEAM STYLE - Part 1

Human nature is a competitive one and if you fish walleyes more than once a year, sooner or later you will want to try the tournament scene. There is more benefit to tournaments than just competing for money, and the text below will help to explain what we have learned in our past 20+ combined years of team tournament fishing.

Why tournaments? If you are fishing walleyes for fun, you learn something every time out, but it is a slow process unless you really apply yourself. You may get to where you fall into a rut, and you don't try a variety of techniques. How many times have you gone to your favorite lake, using the same technique, and do not catch a thing? Do you say that the fish are not biting or do you try something new? If you say that the fish are not biting, then you are definitely in a rut!

Tournaments where you put down a money entry fee are what I like to call college. You are trying to get a return on your money. If you are shelling out your hard-earned cash, it will force you to adapt and learn in order to compete. One thing that you will find, when fishing tournaments for the first time, is that you will learn more about fishing walleye in one year of tournaments, than you would have in ten years of watching videos or reading magazines.

You learn by watching other contestants (especially the veterans) fish, by noting how they adapt to fishing conditions, by the kinds of tactics they use in a given situation, and by the kind of products they use and why they use them. You will find that the return on your entry fee is more than just winning a check. It is a lifetime of information and lessons learned that you can take with you where ever you go, and it will make you a better fisherman.

You may also be surprised at the additional information that can be obtained from local walleye club members. Most walleye tournaments have local walleye club members who donate their time and services to that specific tournament director hosting the event. Thank these club members for their help at the tournament and show your appreciation of their continued efforts in conservation for that local fishery. Most will be more than happy to help you in locating their favorite hot spot. Try it the next time that your are at a tournament with club members helping out. It really works!

Where to start (local or pro)? It is a good idea to start fishing in tournaments gradually, to see if they really are for you. We started in local tournaments where there was a low entry fee or none at all. This gets you into the tournament scene without a lot of pressure. The pressure will definitely come when you have higher entry fees and have to fish bodies of water that you have never been on before. You will start to learn the ins and outs of weigh-in, rules meetings and tournament ethics. We suggest that you start on bodies of water that you feel comfortable. It will make it easier on you just knowing that you can catch fish and where the best spots are to catch them. If you fish that particular body of water often then you already know what kind of fish it will take to win the tourney, or if the weather changes you will know when to make changes in presentation, and so on. These are things that you will need to learn as you progress into tournaments where you are not familiar with the body of water. Once you have fished a few local tournaments and have done well, try one of the larger tournaments and see how you fare. It does not really matter how well you do. Remember that you are there to learn and to get your feet wet. One important thing to remember is that a walleye is a walleye in any body of water, and most tactics will work anywhere with a few exceptions. So don't panic. Do just what you know and the rest will come as you learn each body of water more thoroughly.

Once you get a few tournaments under your belt, and if you enjoyed it, then pick a tournament circuit that best fits your interest as well as your family life and wallet, and you will be on your way. Whatever you do, make sure that you do not over extend yourself. It is a sure way of changing something fun into something that is work. It is important to remember that fishing is FUN! If you keep that in mind, you will enjoy your tournaments much more.

Below is a photo of tournament boats waiting their turn to weigh in.

Questions and Answers

1. Why are the fish not biting? It may just be that they have moved, or went from aggressive to neutral. Try changing your presentation to something slower or or faster. These may trigger bites. If you do not see fish on your graph, go searching for more productive water.
2. How do I learn from just watching? It is not really the way it sounds. What you will see are small things such as other fishermen changing baits quite often, or moving deeper or more shallow. What they are doing is trying other tactics. Soon you will find yourself doing the same things and learning how to either find the fish or find a presentation that turns them on again.
3. What do you consider a low entry fee? There are many local tournaments and a few statewide in your area that will be anywhere from $5 to $100. These are good ones to try, to see if you are into the tournament scene.
4. What is the difference in weigh-ins?  Every club or organization has a different way of conducting weigh-ins. Most follow the same general guidelines, but there are many differences. Weigh-ins can vary as to how the fish are brought to the scales (i.e. bags, nets or baskets). There can also be additions or subtractions to your weight for live or dead fish. There may be other small changes that you will have to adjust to.
5. What are rules meetings? These are exactly as they sound. They are meetings to go over the set list of rules for that particular tournament. Make sure that you listen closely. There can be new rules set that are specific to the body of water that you are fishing. Take-off and return times will also be covered.  (very important) 
6. What are tournament ethics? These are unwritten ethics that go along with and are in addition to every day fishing ethics. Some examples are: 
   1. When another tournament boat is fishing an area, leave them space to fish and do not crowd; 
   2. Be courteous to the local boats; 
   3. Fish your own fish. Do not follow someone who caught fish on the first day. Remember they worked hard to find those fish; 
   4. Show sportsmanship even when you don't win;  
   5. Do not run across another angler's fishing area to save time getting to yours.
7. What kind of fish will it take to win? Study the body of water that you are fishing. Find out from the local bait shops the size of the average fish and the occasional large fish. This will give you a good idea of what it will take to get into the top 20 places.
   Example: If you are fishing a lake that has a lot of 18-22" fish with an occasional 24-28"  fish, then you can about guess that it will take approximately 20 pounds per day to stay in the top 20.
8. What kind of changes in presentation are you talking about? This can be a change from crankbaits to live bait due to a cold front. It could be changing from shallow water to deep, depending on wave action. It could be a change to a slower speed while trolling, or it could be as slight as a lure change that has less wobble. Keep an eye on your surroundings and you will learn when to change.
9. How will I know when I do well enough to move to bigger tournaments? We tell most people that you can try them anytime, but as a general guideline. If you can consistently place in the top 20% in smaller tournament, then give bigger tournaments a try.
10. What tournament circuits are there to choose from? As far as team circuits go, there are many that have select tournaments in most states. The Masters Walleye Circuit, the World Walleye Association and the United States Fishing Association are good tournaments to start with. Also check you state tournament trails. Some of these are getting very popular, with good pay outs like the Michigan Walleye Tour.