Why Join A Local Bass Club

Fishing local bass fishing tournaments.

As Spring gets into full swing many anglers are breaking out their fishing gear and heading to their favorite area lake. The early spring months are some of the most productive times of the year as bass are leaving their deeper water haunts and moving into the shallows to spawn. The odds of catching that "bass of a lifetime" are greatly increased during this time of year.

Fish are more actively feeding during this time also. In cold weather the metabolism of bass is slower and they just don't need to feed as often. As the air and water temps warm metabolism increases and bass began to feed more often. It's also a beautiful time of year to be on the water as the trees and other vegetation began to bud and grow new foliage.

This is also the time of year many local bass clubs begin their tournament season. Depending on the areas of country and weather conditions many clubs will start their tournament season in January or February. Could be somewhat later in more northern extremes. Generally a typical local bass club will hold 5 or 6 tournaments and perhaps a one or two day final.

Joining a local bass club is one of the best ways to learn the sport of bass fishing. All of the top bass anglers all the way up to the Elite's like Kevin VanDam and Mike Iaconelli started their professional careers fishing local bass clubs. Anglers love to talk about their experience and most are willing to share their techniques and favorite baits, though they may be a little vague on where they may have actually caught their fish...ha You can learn a good bit just by your involvement in the clubs.

What to look for when considering joining a local bass club. One obvious consideration will be the entry fee. $30 per tournament is the average but can range up $100 or more. Choose one that fits your budget and you are comfortable with. There may be a small membership fee for the purchase and upkeep of the scales and perhaps a little gratuity for the tournament director.

Check the club rules. Each local bass club should have a written set of rules either printed or posted on the internet. Most generally follow the guidelines set by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS). It is also the tournament directors duty to follow and enforce those rules to the letter. The idea of a local club is to enjoy a day on the lake with the opportunity to make a little money. If the club rules or not followed then that could potentially cost a member a check or place lower in the payout.

By joining a local bass club you will quickly learn new techniques and presentations others are using to catch their fish. Although I have fished many years I usually pick up something new each year. The more techniques you learn will allow you to become more competitive in the tournament and an overall better bass fisherman.

If you are new to bass fishing or perhaps don't have a boat, no problem. Many tournaments are team tournaments which allow two anglers to partner and fish together. Both anglers can contribute to their total weight at weigh-in and split any winnings. Check with a local bass club that offer team entries and see if someone needs a partner. This can give you invaluable experience and way to learn the sport. You will be with someone that has likely been fishing for a while and has learned many techniques for catching fish which you can learn also.

If you enjoy bass fishing or even want to learn the sport then you should consider joining a local bass fishing club. To many anglers think they are not good enough to fish a tournament. This is the entirely the wrong attitude to have. The whole idea and underlying purpose of these local bass clubs are to make their members and you a better angler.

The competitive spirit of fishing these clubs are what makes them so fun and appealing to many. I own much of my fishing success by fishing local bass clubs. Give it some thought next time you get the itch to go bass fishing and check into joining a club.

BTW: Take a kid fishing too. It's an experience you'll both enjoy and one they will never forget. And as the old saying goes, "A bad day on the water beats a good day in the office, anytime."