Bass Clubs

[jeb]

I moved to this area about 4 years ago from MN. I'm 52 and LOVE the weather down here after spending 35 winters in the ice box. I was a big bass fisherman up there when I was in my 20's. Then I got big time into dirt bikes and pheasant hunting and only fished a couple of times a year. Well, there's no pheasant hunting down here and I'm starting to get a little burned out on the dirt bike thing, although I'm the current pres of the dirt bike club in my area.

Anyway, I've gotten more and more back into the bass fishing thing since moving here, and finally went over the edge this summer with a new skeeter, lots of money in Loomis and Humminbird, etc. I've put almost 100 hours on the motor on Beaver and Table Rock since June, and the dirt bikes are collecting a lot of dust these days. I've been reading mags, watching online vids and tv shows, reading the forums, etc and have learned a lot. But I feel like I'm just thrashing around at times, probably not fishing the right areas or right tackle given conditions.

So I've been thinking about joining a club to try and learn more and possibly competing at some point. But in talking to the guys at the bait store, the clubs are just loose organizations setup mostly for the members to compete against one another. That didn't make much sense to me. Is that pretty much the gist of it? I was hoping to go to meetings, talk to other guys about what to use when, network, etc. No, I'm not expecting someone to give me a map of the lake's hot spots, but just some pointers and general knowledge kind of stuff. I was hoping I'd be able to enter tourney's as a back seater just to learn, but it seems it doesn't work that way?

So the question is, are there clubs (preferably in the Beaver Lake area) that have what I'm looking for? If so, can you tell me who to contact about them? If not, how does one accelerate the learning process?

Thanks

[techo]

There is supposedly a pretty good bass club in Branson. Someone should pitch in soon. There is one in Springfield too that meets at a bowling alley on Thursdays or similar. A quick search should get you there.

Bass clubs could be fun, but they usually tell you who to fish with and so on. I hired Bill Babbler for Table Rock lessons and he jump started me. I think a half day with a guide gives great insight to the learning process. I am a slow learner though. A club would give you more socializing opportunity too. I am just trying to say if you are looking for lessons guides are worth the investment.

Where were you in Minnesota? I lived in International Falls for about ten years and graduated high school from a small town near Brainerd.

[Dutch]

What you are talking about is the way bass clubs used to be. That is not what the ones around my area are not. They are just regular monthly money derbies with a very loose structure and no real meeting structure. Most of them do compete as boat teams but normally they fish with the same guys all the time.

[techo]

http://www.eteamz.com/bransonbassmasters/

http://www.bassdozer.com/bass_clubs.shtml

[jeb]

Thanks guys. Good idea on a guide, I guess. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good black bass guide on Beaver?

[ks cranker]

Thanks guys. Good idea on a guide, I guess. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good black bass guide on Beaver?

Give hook line and sinker a call, they'll point you in the right direction for a guide.

[jeb]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm a regular at the Rogers HLS, and have thrown them a lot of business. We're on a first name basis. They have tried to help, but they're not really aware of a club that fits my needs.

[wily]

This Saturday is the Table Rock Bassmasters last club tourny. It's been a great year with many quality sacks and fish weighed in. The fishing is actually very good right now. Last Sunday's Anglers in Action tourny had 35 boats entered and I believe there were 23 limits caught. I'll give some results after tomorrow's club tourny.

Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 will be the start of a new season. If anyone is interested in joining a BASS affiliated club feel free to contact me. There are several quality members in the club, 33 total, that would love to share some of their knowledge. We are a catch, measure, and release club. We don't fish for $, just points. This years club placed 4 members out of 12 on the Missouri Bass Federation State Team to fish the central divisionals in May. This is almost unheard of to have that many place so high considering there were approx 270 fisherman vying for those 12 coveted spots.

If you're interested give a holler. If not, keep chuckin and a windin!! Merry Christmas!

i think this is the club techo was referencing. sounds like a good club from some of the posts by tpierce and other members