Walleye tournaments: Why every angler should get a rod in the game

“I was fairly terrified at my first tournament,” says Karen Watt. The event was the Cape Coppermine walleye tournament at Lac du Bonnet, Man., in June, 2015. She entered the event as part of a two-person team, with her husband Mike. “I went in with no expectations other than to not totally embarrass myself,” she laughs. From the outside looking in, walleye tournaments can look intimidating. Post-event stories are full of grit, guts and an almost god-like ability to connect with trophy fish. But stories are just stories. Most competitive walleye anglers describe the experience as one filled with excitement, encouragement and learning opportunities. “We met some amazing people who helped us with the process,” says Mike Watt. “Tournament fishing has helped me in so many ways. I have learned some great new techniques, discovered new sonar technology for studying structure and have learned to pay attention to the wind.” Make no mistake, fishing tournaments are very real competitions. But they are as much about fun and friendship as they are about winning. Karen Watt says that it’s an experience every walleye angler can gain from -- and it’s easier to start than you may think. “It’s very normal to be nervous. But once you try it, the fun, adventure and learning far outweigh the nerves.” What’s to gain? Fishing in tournaments will improve your overall abilities for two main reasons. They will push you to grow your skills and learn new techniques. And they will put you in the field with a variety of anglers you can learn from; people who have perfected different walleye techniques, which you may not otherwise have the chance to observe in real-time situations. “Tournaments give me, a newbie angler, an opportunity to fish against some of the best anglers in North America,” says Mike Watt. “It’s the only place that happens.” Newbies should be ready to learn before even wetting a line. Tournament anglers have launching and loading down to a science, and are quick to help “the new guy” navigate the process with precision. 25 boats down one ramp in an hour? No problem. And it may change the way you launch forever. Blast-off is the term often used to describe the official start time of the tournament. Trickle starts release one boat at a time, while shotgun starts send multiple boats out at once. Either way, it will challenge you to drive smarter, as you take part in a churned-up race to your first spot. Don’t be surprised when other boats pull up on the same area as you. At some events, they can stack up by the dozen. Those “community spots” are popular for a reason, and many people around are likely catching walleye. Between your own catches, you may have the opportunity to watch other anglers and ask questions about presentations, tournament etiquette and boat control. Be ready for challenges you may not have thought much about before too, like slot sizes. Then, it’s not only about finding the right species of fish, but targeting certain sizes and not wasting your time on others. You may hear those non-qualifying fish called names like “red zones.” They are regarded as a curse, and can break your heart if they are a hair too short to count. Learning to handle fish is another thing. If you join a weigh-in tournament, caring for the walleye in your livewell is everything. Tournament anglers must take their live-release responsibility seriously. If instead you have found a catch-photo-release (known as C.P.R.) tournament, learning how to measure and record fish correctly is just as important as catching them. More than anything, the biggest take-away an angler can gain from competitive fishing is the ability to adapt. “Tournaments are a great way to learn to adapt to different conditions that you might not face when heading out on the lake for a just few hours of fishing,” says Mike Dotoli, tournament director for the Cape Coppermine walleye tournament and committee member with the Central Walleye Trail (CWT). “Anglers learn to step outside their comfort zones to try a new technique or fish an area that they may not under normal conditions.” Just when you think you have determined what the fish are doing, where they are and how to get them to bite…variables like weather can change everything in an instant. When the clock is ticking, you are forced to learn quickly how to read the situation and make a move. Take it one day at a time A walleye tournament can be a single-day event at a lake near you. Or it can be a multi-day event, in a different province. The best way to test the waters and learn the game is to keep the difficulty level as low as possible. “A one day tournament, like Cape Coppermine, allows an angler to try tournament fishing without the amount of expenses and pressure that you would have with a two day tournament,” says Dotoli. One-day events are every bit as legitimate as their multi-day counterparts. In the CWT, single-day events sell out with big fields as often as multi-day events. In 2017, half of that trail’s qualifying events are single-day tournaments, and they count for full-points in the trail standings. 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. Get connected Other anglers want you to compete and to enjoy the experience. It’s in their interest to see the community grow. So it’s never hard to find people who will help you along the way. Organizers are the best place to start. Tournament directors will share stories and walk you through the format of their event – before, during and after. Some events are also part of tournament trails, like the CWT. Trails usually have a mandate of helping tournaments thrive and anglers succeed, so connecting via membership or even just on social media will give you access to helpful and experienced people. If you have the opportunity to fish your first tournament with an experienced angler, even better. Don’t know any? By asking organizers, you may learn about opportunities like pro/am events or registered anglers who haven’t yet chosen a partner. Reaping the rewards Tournaments have great prizes for multiple teams that place near the top. Finish places like first and second aren’t the only rewards to win at tournaments and in trails, either. Expect specialty categories with prizes for criteria like mixed teams, youth anglers, biggest fish, hidden weight and smallest weight. “At times, I think I am just as pumped as they are,” says Dotoli, who presented the Watts with a prize for their eighth place finish at Cape Coppermine. “It’s hard not to be, as teams come up to receive a prize and they are grinning from ear to ear, or if they finish in first place and are shaking with excitement.” While winning is great, it may not come right away. Remember, you may be competing against some of the most accomplished anglers around. If you recognize the other benefits that are to be gained from the tournament experience, you’ll leave the water satisfied no matter how you place. “A good tournament day is when we have a livewell full of big, healthy fish,” says Karen Watt. “But if we leave the water knowing that we tried our best, learned something new, treated nature with the respect she deserves and have sore sides from laughing with friends, then it’s been a great day.” Couples like the Watts register to fish together. Other people sign up with friends. Some even seize the opportunity to team up with children and grandchildren, in one of the rare sports that’s suitable for both young and old. No matter what your team looks like, or where your fishing experience lies, you can expect to be welcomed and encouraged from the moment you say, “sign me up.”