To tournament or not to tournament....that is the question

   As my first full tournament season comes to a close I have some reflections on the good, bad, and unexpected things I learned competing that may help some folks decide if they want to give it a shot in the future.  Competitive fishing doesn't appeal to some folks for various reasons and I can't argue that adding stress to an otherwise relaxing hobby is for everyone. I can say that I believe some people are intimidated by the thought that they can't win, their equipment isn't good enough, or "tournament" fishermen in general aren't the friendliest of folks.  All of these apprehensions are understandable but in my experience none of them are 100 percent true, and the fact is if you haven't entered an event in the past because of the above misgivings you may be missing out.

   I love to fish.  Fishing relaxes me and spending quality time with nature has appealed to me since I can remember.  I am very competitive.  I want to win, need to win, any competition I enter into be it tic-tac-toe, checkers, or tidily winks.  So for me to intermingle something I do for relaxation with my inner drive to be the best seemed like mixing water and oil which I feared would take the fun out of fishing.  In the end it was my desire to support the growing sport that pulled me into fishing competition, and now I wouldn't change my decision for anything.

   One of the biggest lessons I have learned since deciding to partake in competition is that I am competing against the fish not the other anglers.  For me it is a win if I accomplish my goal of figuring out how to catch fish and if someone else battles wits with the bass but catches bigger ones I am happy for them too.  This was hard for me I will admit, but once I let myself enjoy the moment I gained much from tournaments than money or prizes. If you let your competitiveness win out you can easily kill the enjoyment you get from fishing, but it is still ok to want to win, I mean who doesn't want to win every now and then.  

   Winning isn't everything and that is especially true with the fast growing network of kayak tournaments.  I started out with the idea that I would fish my local club tournaments to show my support and hopefully spread the word about both our club and kayak fishing in general.  That turned into fishing a couple of the states larger tournaments that benefit various charities.  One of the greatest things I can say about the kayak community is the overwhelming generosity of the people that participate, and the causes that it supports.  Fishing a tournament to win is ok, but being able to give time, money, and support to a worthy cause is much more fulfilling than any prize or trophy.  If for no other reason I would urge everyone to try and attend a local benefit event because you won't meet a better group of like minded friendly folks.

   Meeting new people that love the same hobby I am enamored with is an additional perk to attending tournaments.  I have been lucky enough to meet people during events that have turned into regular fishing buddies, and even good friends.  I think that overall most people that enter kayak tournaments are good guys that are willing to lend a hand and are there as much for the camaraderie as they are for competition.  If you go into the experience with a positive attitude looking to meet people and shoot the breeze, without preconceived notions or a chip on your shoulder, I think most guys would be surprised by how many new friends they find.  

   To me there isn't anything more fun than friendly banter between fishing buddies.  A tournament environment gives you the opportunity to fish for bragging rights between friends even if you aren't in contention.  A little smack talk or even general conversation helps pass time, and even if you don't know anyone in the tournament I've found that most guys don't mind a little chitchat out on the water.  Just make sure not to push the subject if you happen by someone that doesn't seem willing to engage in conversation.

   Aside from the 99.99 percent of anglers I met this year that were genuinely great folks I got to see the rare specimen of "that guy."  I personally didn't interact or have any dealings with "that guy" but his presence was known, and luckily it was a very large tournament so it didn't impact the enjoyment of everyone else.  Just be aware that there are always people who either take themselves too seriously, or try to bend the rules to get ahead but are never happy with the outcome in the end.  My advice is that if "that guy" pops up just ignore him or let tournament officials handle any confrontation.  

   I know competitive fishing isn't for everyone and for some folks it might be best they don't get involved.  If you are on the fence about entering I recommend hitting a local club or charity tournament to test the waters and form an opinion.  You may be surprised at how much fun you can have competing against old and new friends alike.

 

Fishing rod length matters!

   Opinions on fishing rods are as varied as the number of people giving them.  As the old adage goes opinions are like butt-holes, everyone has one and they all stink. With that said this is just my humble opinion on what makes a good fishing rod when I am in a kayak.
   LENGTH LENGTH LENGTH.  Lots of folks are of the opinion that due to the confined nature of a kayak shorter rods in the 6' to 6'6" range are more manageable.  I can not argue the shorter a rod is the less it may snag on overhanging trees, and the less space it takes up overall on your boat.  If you are fishing in a kayak less than 12' long or the species you are after isn't large, like crappie or bluegill, then by all means grab that 6' stick and have at it.  The big issue with rods less than 6'6" arises when you have a longer boat or chase after hard charging species like striper, drum, carp, and bass.  When a big fish fights near your kayak you need the ability to easily clear the bow and/or stern of the boat if they decide to run beneath you so you can continue the fight.  A 6'10" rod at minimum will allow you to control the fish for those close battles that we all got into kayak fishing for while still being manageable.  Just remember that losing a fish at the boat because you can't maneuver is a disservice to both you and the fish.

Welcome to my kayak fishing obsession

   Welcome to BassYak Productions, and thanks for taking the time to check out my new blog. I hope that the information and stories hereafter entertain you, and engross you in my kayak fishing world.
   My name is Damian Spradlin and I am from just outside of Roanoke Virginia close to the striper and bass mecca of Smith Mountain Lake. I've been an outdoor fanatic basically all of my 32 years on this earth, and my obsession with kayaks and kayak fishing has grown over the last 5 years.
   From here on I will be posting fishing reports from different lakes and rivers around Virginia based on my own first hand experience not hearsay. I am going to do various unbiased gear reviews on all things kayak fishing related as well as DIY mod instructions. Lastly I will try to tell the story of a kayak fishing nut and all the ups and downs of his obsession.
   Check back often and hang on for the ride.

Tight lines,

Damian