You’ll usually need to bring your own equipment, such as rods, reels, and lures. Each tournament has its own regulations and requirements for you to enter, so be sure to read through them before you register. Try to use the same type of bait as the lead angler, but choose a different color so it doesn’t get too confusing.
If your local fishing club doesn’t host its own tournaments, reach out to tackle shops or other anglers in the area to see if they know of any.
Remember that other anglers may fish in areas that you find. Make sure you find a few different spots and know which conditions to look for if you need to move.
If you want to fish in freshwater, some popular tournament circuits you can check out include Bassmaster, American Bass Anglers, BFL, Masters Walleye Circuit, or the National Walleye Tour. For saltwater fishing, try checking the Elite Fishing League or Fishing League Worldwide For tournaments for specific species of fish, just try searching for the name of the fish plus the phrase “tournament” to see if there are any events near you. Don’t feel pressured or rushed to jump into professional tournaments if you can’t afford them. It can take a bit of time and practice before you feel comfortable competing in them.
Avoid seeking sponsorships from brands you don’t use since you won’t be able to talk about them as knowledgeably.
In the email, ask if there’s a specific contact you can reach out to so you can make a more personal connection. You may need to reach out multiple times to hear a response back from the brand. You can even connect with local businesses to see if they’re able to promote you.
Even if they don’t say yes, thank them for the consideration and ask how you can still help out with the brand if possible. If you’re perseverent and show you’re passionate, then they may come back to sponsor you.
For example, you can say something like, “I caught this beautiful bass today using the Carbon Shad Rap lure from Rapala. I’ve never felt a fish strike my line so hard!”
Fees could cost you around $1,000–2,000 USD per tournament, but they’ll vary depending on the location and who’s hosting it.
Practice tying knots while you’re out fishing as well as at home so you’re used to making adjustments no matter the weather condition.
Some of the most common species fishermen catch professionally include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and walleye, but you can usually find competitions for most species. Try to go out in a variety of conditions since it could change how the fish behave. While some fish are more active on cloudy days, you may catch others when there’s clear weather. Research the fish online as well so you can see what other anglers have noticed.
Talk to other anglers in your area to get tips and recommendations for new spots to try. If you don’t consistently catch fish on your home lake or body of water, it’ll be really hard to find fish in unfamiliar waters.
As a rule of thumb, if you don’t get hits or catch anything for 10 minutes, try a different lure.
Fishing clubs usually have a yearly membership fee. Make sure you return the favor by offering tips and tricks you’ve learned along the way. If you don’t have a fishing club in your area, you can start one yourself!
Try to fish with as many different anglers as you can since they may all teach you new techniques or tips. [19] X Research source
