wild guide : walleye tournaments
Aside from the ease of trying this kind of event , single day tournaments also tend to cultivate a different kind of atmosphere than longer tournaments – one that may be friendlier to newcomers .
“ In the one day tournaments , it ’ s a more relaxed atmosphere , and you ’ ll see more sharing ,” says Dotoli . “ At the two day events , it is still fun but you have to make sure the areas you are fishing are going to produce quality fish both days , and have a backup plan if they do not .”
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE Another factor in minimizing difficulty is choosing the location . Look for tournaments that are close to home , and ideally , on a body of water that you have some experience with .
Think about it this way : other teams may have the advantage of experience with competitive fishing . So in your first event , you can balance out the odds with experience that you can bring to the game – knowledge of the water .
Choosing a competition nearby will also be less of a time drain . Driving will be quick and easy , and you may not need to book accommodations . Charging your boat and getting a good sleep the night before are easier at home . And on practice , or pre-fish , days , you ’ ll spend more time learning what the fish are doing , and less time on the highway .
PACK LIST : IMPORTANT ITEMS TO REMEMBER
• Fishing and boat operator licenses
• Canadian Coast Guard required safety gear
• Copy of the rules
• Life jackets
• Rain gear
• Hats and sunscreen
• Measure board and scale
• Net
• Memory and mapping cards for locators
• Lake map
• Polarized sunglasses
• First-aid kit
• Lots of food and beverages
• Extension cord ( for charging boat )
• Culling system
• Anchors
• Back-ups of your go-to lures
25 Wild Guide . Summer 2017