It’s that time of year when there’s not a whole lot going on in the bass fishing world. August is when there’s a lull on most tournament trails as they avoid the hot summer heat. But come September and October, trails start to crank up again with their end-of-the-season championship events.
The goal of all anglers who fish tournament trails all spring is to qualify for the fall championship. It’s where champions will be crowned and Anglers of the Year announced. It’s also when most tournament trails reveal their new schedules for the upcoming spring.
Most anglers make their decision on what circuit they will follow next season based on where the fall championship will be. Some like trails that stay close to home to help cut down on travel costs, while others like trails that travel more on a regional level and go to places that are known for quality fishing.
But one thing all anglers want is to wrap up the season at a great fishing venue where they can catch a lot of fish. While most anglers would love to win a regional championship, the reality is they want a place they can enjoy and to finish out their season on a high note at a good fishery. They want a great experience!
Most bass tournament trails also want to send anglers to great fishing destinations where anglers are rewarded for making the championship. But every once in a while, some circuits will send anglers to a place like the Red River, a body of water that tends to level the playing field with its diversity as a fishery.
Any time you go to places like Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Grand Lake, or maybe Texoma, there are a handful of anglers who frequent those bodies of water, giving them a distinct advantage going into the event, and potentially making them harder to beat.
River systems like the Red or the Arkansas River are places that aren’t as popular and tend to give more anglers a shot at taking home a win. Certain lakes like Arkansas’s Lake Ouachita and East Texas fisheries like Lake of the Pines or Lake Palestine are also places that are great for championship events.
But there’s also another huge factor that determines where a tournament trail will have its championship event. What city or community will be willing to put up the money to host these events? Yep, that’s right, it all comes down to who will foot the bill to host these major tournaments.
While these championship events bring in a lot of money over a weeklong period, it’s also great exposure for the local community. Most of the time, the standard of “how good is the fishery” falls way down on the list of things most important deciding who gets to host a championship event. Sure, the trail owners want all the anglers to have a good time, but in reality, it’s all about the money.
Other priorities a host community must provide are free hotel rooms for the entire staff that it takes to put on one of these championship events. They must have adequate boat ramp facilities and plenty of lodging options for anglers.
Here’s the bottom line. When anglers sign up for a particular tournament trail, the location of the season-ending-championship is very important. It’s a pride thing for all anglers to know they have qualified for the championship, as it means they have had a very good season.
For most anglers, these championship events are a great way to end the fishing season. It also means fall is right around the corner as anglers trade in their rods and reels for bows, rifles and shotguns.
They prepare to hit the woods and enjoy some great hunting. Bass boats will be parked, deer stands will be cleared of unwanted wasps, while duck blinds will be dressed, and four-wheelers will be cranked … because tournament anglers aren’t just bass fishermen, they are outdoorsmen who love the outdoors no matter what season it is.
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com