Big Bass Tour - KVD Big Bass Classic - April 8-10th

[Big Bass Tour]

30 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

Not defending BBT in anyway, but I have seen being on the water my entire life more litter come  out of pleasure boats in a month than I've seen in a lifetime out of fishing boats. 

Their format is very fish friendly, as far as retaining fish, toting fish and weighing fish. I'm going to say, probably the best in the business. This is like our Ozark Anglers yearly derby where we weigh one for big. Same deal. 

For the most part we as locals hate to see them come and are more than glad when this weekend is over. Mostly because of just the pressure on the fish and unlike any other tournament they simply take the lake over for 3 days. 

I have not read the rules and I apologize for that but they need to tell these participants that pulling in front of others that are fishing a stretch is just a terrible idea. Lots and lots of the people fishing this fish no more than 5 times a year, maximum and just don't have a clue. 

Be interested to know how many actual locals participate.  Say residents or within 50 miles of the lake. I'm guessing a very low percentage. 

I could give a flip how much the tournament owners make. This is free enterprise and the good old USofA  God Speed on that. 

Tomorrow is Monday. They're gone, and I bet they left some for the rest of us to catch. 

 

 

Bill, it's roughly 50/50. I've attached this years zipcode map. We had right at 800 anglers this year and half are considered "local" or inside of 60 miles.  I think it's important to note that this weekend we had MLF College/High School on the lake and AIA anglers. Quite a few of our anglers mentioned getting cut off by both MLF and AIA anglers, so it's not always BBT anglers. It's VERY easy for everyone to assume because we are on the lake that all anglers here are in our event and that's simply not the case. 

Thanks for the kind words on our fish care process, it's important to us.

[dtrs5kprs]

5 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

I'm definitely not a fan of the BBT, but I do believe they absolutely do their best as far as fish handling. 

Over crowding, boat operation and just plain on the water fishing etiquette are the main problem they really need to address. 

Their main problem is for the participants, its all about ME.

The College and High School tournaments are just nightmares as far as fish care. 

In efforts to get as many youngsters on the water fishing a lot of the platforms these kids are fishing from are really inadequate to provide proper fish survival. 

In the past around State Park to Indian Point its looked like we have LMBV after a college or high school derby with all the dead fish floating. 

Not been a problem with the BBT. Of course some don't make it, but that's fishing. 

At some point we're going to have to follow the examples set by the Bass Pro Tour and the Kayak fishermen and release these fish where they are caught. 

Especially pre-pawn, spawn and the heat of the Summer. 

Good Luck

Immediate release should be the future. The excuses are pretty much out the window.

[dtrs5kprs]

39 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

Not defending BBT in anyway, but I have seen being on the water my entire life more litter come  out of pleasure boats in a month than I've seen in a lifetime out of fishing boats. 

Their format is very fish friendly, as far as retaining fish, toting fish and weighing fish. I'm going to say, probably the best in the business. This is like our Ozark Anglers yearly derby where we weigh one for big. Same deal. 

For the most part we as locals hate to see them come and are more than glad when this weekend is over. Mostly because of just the pressure on the fish and unlike any other tournament they simply take the lake over for 3 days. 

I have not read the rules and I apologize for that but they need to tell these participants that pulling in front of others that are fishing a stretch is just a terrible idea. Lots and lots of the people fishing this fish no more than 5 times a year, maximum and just don't have a clue. 

Be interested to know how many actual locals participate.  Say residents or within 50 miles of the lake. I'm guessing a very low percentage. 

I could give a flip how much the tournament owners make. This is free enterprise and the good old USofA  God Speed on that. 

Tomorrow is Monday. They're gone, and I bet they left some for the rest of us to catch. 

 

 

The great news is the Chicken Derby is coming in hot.

I may have to go back to fall trips...

[mixermarkb]

I look at events like the big bass trail and bass pro fishing fair as “outdoor lifestyle” events more than “bass fishing” events.

I’m frankly not all that worried about the damage to the resource with the big bass trail, because I feel like out of that 400+ boats, maybe 100 have the fishing chops to really catch a significant number of bass. It’s more or less a lottery ticket for folks who identify with fishing, but don’t get the chance to go all that often. They pay their fee, get a free rod, and get to role play as a “tournament fisherperson” for the weekend. It’s a hassle, but I don’t think it does the harm that the numbers of “real” tournaments do, simply because the “real” guys stick, transport, weigh, and release a lot more fish than 400 clueless flatlanders do. 

I’m all for the MLF/kayak style catch weigh and release on the spot taking over the sport though, and would like for regatta permits to come with some form of law/resource enforcement, for example an MDC officer at weigh ins, just to ensure best practices are being followed. 
 

We “serious” fisherman have to lead the way in both conservation and on the water manners and etiquette. Lots of folks like to fish a couple days a year. We have to accept that, and help them learn to do things the right way. Our guides in the Ozarks generally do that, with most of them being catch and release, and most of them being good teachers of sportsmanship.

The old saying of 10 percent of the fishermen catch 90 percent of the fish still applies, in my opinion, and I’m going to group all of us in here as that 10 percent. It’s our job to lead by example. 
 

one last thought- how many of those free rods at the derby and how much of the fishing gear sold at “the worlds fishing fair” do you all think get used more than three days a year, if it ever sees the water at all?

 

 

[Maverickpro201]

6 hours ago, Big Bass Tour said:

You must be a lot of fun at parties...

Here's our Rules and How It Works pages for your review.

https://bigbasstour.com/rules

https://bigbasstour.com/how-it-works

To answer some of your other complaints/concerns:

1. You can't weigh a dead fish in our event.

2. It's an hourly big bass event so anglers aren't keeping fish in their livewells for extended periods.

3. We polygraph winners, leading fish and random anglers.

4. Our anglers take great care of the fisheries we visit, they're not in the business of littering and abusing the resource. You don't think much of your fellow angler it appears...

Thanks for all your feedback. This will be our last reply to you.

I guess fish24/7 does not run a boat on the lake that has exhaust either. 

[Bassin4fun]

I will say this...it was brutal. I fish the lower end of TR quite a bit with decent success. But, I struggled today and yesterday. The pressure definitely made a huge difference. The weather played a part as well. If I fish this event in the future...I will be doing some things different. I did not have anyone cut me off while I was fishing. I did have a couple of people in bass boats over the past three days that were driving their boats like a-holes. Had I not been fishing the event, I probably would not have even gone fishing on Table Rock Friday or today. I generally avoid going if the forecast calls for winds over 15mph. 

[Big Bass Tour]

6 minutes ago, Bassin4fun said:

I will say this...it was brutal. I fish the lower end of TR quite a bit with decent success. But, I struggled today and yesterday. The pressure definitely made a huge difference. The weather played a part as well. If I fish this event in the future...I will be doing some things different. I did not have anyone cut me off while I was fishing. I did have a couple of people in bass boats over the past three days that were driving their boats like a-holes. Had I not been fishing the event, I probably would not have even gone fishing on Table Rock Friday or today. I generally avoid going if the forecast calls for winds over 15mph. 

Thanks for fishing, the weather was pretty crazy this weekend. 

[Bassin4fun]

3 minutes ago, Big Bass Tour said:

Thanks for fishing, the weather was pretty crazy this weekend. 

Yeah, my reels were freezing up yesterday morning...it looked like a snow cone of shaved ice after I reeled in my line. 🤣😂 The wind Friday was the worst I have ever fished in...although the gusts today were pretty strong too. It was my first boat tourney. I will do it again next year...but with a different game plan. 😁

[Ketchup]

On 4/9/2022 at 2:26 PM, Big Bass Tour said:

It's not near as many as a 150 boat stringer event that happens on any given weekend across the country. Our format is extremely fish friendly, we limit the number of fish in the live wells, we take care of the fish while we have them and release them back in great shape. Maybe you should come check out our process and fish care before you comment. We've been coming here for 13 years and the fishery is in outstanding shape. 

You’re going to have haters in everything. I like the professional responses, but some just aren’t worth responding to. 

[Ketchup]

20 hours ago, Fish24/7 said:

I could care less about other tournaments around the country I don't live there...

You limit the number of fish in live wells? Anglers live wells ??? 

How do you monitor  that exactly? With 400+ boats  are you checking every live well during the entire event ?

How do you confirm every fish weighed in was caught from TR?? What's your practice to ensure there's no fish from other ponds or lakes weighed in at your event? 

I never said YOU handled fish improperly. It's some of the dopes who fish it who don't have a clue how to care for fish and with 400+ boats I'm sure there's a few dozen people who kill some fish due to that. 

Also there's  all the additional motor pollution from oil and gasoline  exhaust in the water. I bet the lake is covered with slicks right now.  Ever seen a boat running down the lake and the greasy oily trail they leave behind them in the water?? They almost all do it.

Another thing ,With all those boats there's always littering on the lake with trash. Do you have guys on the lake going around picking it up ? 

I just see too many reasons why I'd never fish any of your tournaments. 

Imagine how good the fishing might be if you never came back to TR?? 

I'm sure the mortality rate after you release fish is much higher than you think.

Huge tournaments are just put on by greedy money grabbing companies imo. What's the reason for yours?  What's your net profits off this one? 

I asked a lot of questions and I don't expect you to answer them . I've already formed an opinion. 

 

 

Man, you are 1 of 2 types: A person who lives in his closet, comes out to play when no one else is around, or you are the type that has had it handed to him in life, and therefore is angry at anyone that has a different view than yourself. Your posts sound like the latter. Your comments only focused on negativity, which goes back to his “you must be a hoot at the party type” instead of either being a neutral party “as I’m sure lots on this site are” or throw in some positive vibes, along with your hatred. 
 

As was stated above this, there are very few of the 800 anglers that actually caught fish, especially with the weather this year, so your lack luster approach to keeping this lake to yourself doesn’t work. 
 

oil slicks from all the boats? That’s funny. 
 

BBT participants throwing trash out?

Do you own a boat? 
Do you fish? 
Do you enjoy TR?

If not, why are you on this forum?