Lessons from My Rookie Year of Illinois Tournament Bass Fishing

Scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, posts are popping up already about tournament fishing for the 2018 Illinois Tournament Season.  It's hunting season and ice fishing is right around the corner and people are already talking tournaments in 2018.  That's cool though, I have too!  It inspired me to drop a few lines about my rookie year of fishing tournaments and what I learned along the way.

Mike Iaconelli would tell you "never give up"!  This is a picture from the Lincoln Bass Club's two day tournament out at Jim Edgar Panther Creek.  Two days  and we only weighed in one fish. Within the final hour of the tournament I reeled in my biggest tournament fish at 5 pounds 13 ounces.  Never overlook a small victory.

Tournament Organizers Apply for Permits Starting November 1st for 2018 Season

While many of us are thinking ducks and bucks, tournament anglers should already start thinking about next year.

If you are a director of a circuit or are wishing to apply for a permit to host a tournament on an Illinois lake, then this is for you.  Starting November 1, 2017 those who wish, can submit an application through the IDNR website.  See below for the press release from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  

2018 Illinois Fishing Tournament Applications Accepted by IDNR Beginning Nov. 1

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Fishing tournament organizers can begin applying for 2018 tournament permits on November 1, 2017.

Libertyville High School Kicks Some Bass at Lake Springfield / FLW High School Illinois Open

Any tournament angler knows that when you hit the water it is not you against the other anglers, its more like you against the fish.  From across Illinois and from our neighboring state of Missouri, high school anglers arrived Friday night for registration to take on that challenge.  It was then that they were informed that the tournament would be postponed a day.  A great call by tournament Director Dave Maxfield.  If you were outside on Saturday you can understand why.

Top 5 teams from Sunday's FLW High School Bass Open on Lake Springfield