This is just a general question open to everyone...

How is the tournament season going so far?

What tournaments have you competed in and how have you placed?

If you could change anything you did in a given tournament this season, what would you change and why?

Did anything you figured out last year contribute to your success or failure this year?

Is there anything you plan on changing before your next tournament?

Looking forward to hearing from everyone...

BC

Brendan
After having my 2nd knee surgery since last June, I was unable to fish the B.F.L. this season.
I had high expectations this year but there is always next year.

I have had the opportunity to fish a couple of our club tourneys where I finished second in both and enjoyed the time on the water.

I was just released today to start walking on my own (without crutchs)
Long rehab road ahead but I'll be able to fish some upcoming open tournaments on the River.

Want to wish everyone a safe and prosperous fishing season.

Keep chunkin and windin

River Rat I know your pain mine was my back. The surgery went fine and I have just got word that I can get in the boat and do some fishing myself. I hope that your recovery goes as good as mine has so far and hope that you can get back on the water soon.

As far as tournament standings I knew the surgery was going to take place and so I fished some team tournaments. We are in the top 20 right now with one more to go that I am not going to get to fish so hope Joe can pull us through. Couples tournament we are already in the championship so I will have two championship tournaments to fish at the end of the year. So things are going good for us. Looking forward to what the others are doing.
Conley

My season started with a bang and then the last 2 tournaments I have just done horrible.

I won the season opener and also got big bass.

Two weeks later I took 7th in a tournament near chicago.

Then came the 2 river touraments (I am a lake guy). I did terrible in both tournaments.

This weekend I have another tournament on the Mississippi River (unless it keeps rising). Hopefully I can pull it out of the gutter and start catching some fish again.


On a good note, I caught my biggest bass to date. It weighed in at 8 pounds 10 ounces. Which is pretty big for northern illinois. I caught it on a white spinnerbait coated in MegaStrike attractant.

JT Bagwell

Only had three tourneys so far this season, first one I blanked. One 12 inch smallie took the whole show. So I eaither came in second, or last depending on how you look at it.
Missed the second tourney due to boat problems, and the third I did a little better. 3 bass all day on one of my suspending baits, only one limit was caught. unofficial I am guessing 5th place, havent gotten my update yet. BFL starts june 7 in MD, with a club tourney in MA the day after. I am hoping for things to pick up. Goodluck to everyone.

Got an 87th (out of 157), not the best, I have two blanks, an 8th and a 5th, looks like I am headed in the right direction. Fishing Lake Okoboji (Iowa) next weekend (as a boater for the PVA, if there is anyone else close that is interested in a good experience and some good fishing, let me know).

I have a 6th, 23rd, and a 16th so far this season. I had hoped for better, but have learned some valuable lessons for the future. Like JT was talking about, some of my tournaments have been won up in the river of the res. were fishing. I need to become more confrontable doing this type of fishing.

Take Care - Roger

For those of you who are recuperating from surgery, we wish you all the best. Don't rush things. Take the safe path to recovery.

To those who don't believe they are doing well, be thankful you aren't this moderator.
In two tournaments, car trouble kept me out of one of them and "length problems" kept me off the scoreboard in the other. ("Length problems" means their tails were too close to their heads)

Those who are doing well: Keep up the good work. And don't forget to recycle that knowledge via our great message boards.

As to what I didn't do that contributed to my poor showing: My partner and I had intended to pre-fish Lake Lillinonah. We backed off because of bad weather. That was a mistake and it cost both of us.

I drew the same boater in our next T in June. We should do well, but then so should about 30 other guys. Dock Talk says get a limit and build on it. Others say go for the big ones early while they are still around. Both are good strategies if you can pull 'em off.

Just try to enjoy the day. Treat it as an adventure. You deserve it.

Bass Wishes to all. Joe

Thanks for the input guys...

So far this year, I'm off to a pretty good start:

Started out at the Bryan Kerchel Memorial Tournament (1 Day) on Candlewood Lake, CT and Finished 9th out of 90 teams.

Took a check for $400 and 2 Pinacle rods.

Next my partner and I fished the Candlewood Classic (2 Day) and finished 2nd out of a field of about 100 teams including some top northeast names like Terry Baksey, J.J. Zowlkowski, Art Singer, Lee Bailey Jr. and many others.

Took a check for $3,000

Congamond Lake, MA (2 Day club tournament) - 1st Place - (Check was too small to mention)

ABC Trial - Lake Lillinonah - (1 day)

11th Place (No check )

Big Water Bass Tournament (1 Day)

3rd Place - (Check was too small to mention)

If I could have done something different in a couple of these tournaments, it would have been:

Bryan Kerchel Trny- "I would not have left biting fish” Although the bite was slow, I was on quality fish and could have grinded my way into a higher finish.

Candlewood Classic - I again made the same mistake on day one leaving my primary area. I did realize this mistake after the first day and stayed put on day 2.

ABC Lillinonah - "I would have put a limit on the amount of time I spent working on bedding bass that were already spooky to begin with"

The one thing I learned not last year but many years ago is that every second counts. I make sure I fish to the last possible second and in 3 of the above tournaments, it paid off. I now always make sure to have my tournament clock set to the official time of the tournament committee.

Bren you broke the cardinal rule: Never leave biting fish....unless you already have a limit and need a kicker. The other exception is in a multi day tournament, don't dry up your spot on day 1