How to: Tournament Fishing With a Fish & Ski Boat

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Fish and ski boats are multipurpose boats used for recreation and tournament fishing. To enter your fish and ski boat into a tournament, check that you meet the minimum boat length and horsepower requirements set forth by the tournament organizers. Once you are registered to participate in your tournament of choice, outfit your boat as necessary to improve your chances of moving up the tournament ranks quickly with a high number of strikes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Livewell
Lockable rod box
Rod tie-down
Trolling motor
Tackle box
Fishing tackle

Step 1

Outfit your fish and ski boat with a lockable rod box and rod tie-down for the deck. Mount an aluminum lockable rod box that accommodates all styles of rod butts to the side of the boat according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mount the rod tie-down at the deck according to the manufacturer's instructions. Stock both storage units with at least three fishing rods and an ultra-light rod.

Step 2

Mount a storage/tackle box at the deck. Store your fishing lines inside to avoid water damage during hard break lines. Having a storage box will also make finding your tackle easy when fishing at night or during low visibility.

Step 3

Move to the bow or stern of the boat and start your trolling motor. Drive out to your fishing hole and cast your lines in the water for strikes. Install a trolling motor if one is not already using the pre-installed wiring. Contact the manufacturer for installation instructions, which vary by model.

Step 4

Watch your fishing lines from the fishing seats installed on your fish and ski boat. Adjust as necessary so you can survey the water for circling fish and watch your line for movement at the bottom.

Step 5

Store game fish inside your bait well, also called a livewell on the tournament circuit. Opt for a fish and ski boat with a pro-style, high-volume, re-circulating bait well, which is more suited to tournament fishing. Baitwells are designed to hold a large capacity of game fish, which is necessary while out on a tournament trail.

Tips & Warnings

Bass fishing tournament fees can be costly, ranging in price from $1,000 to $2,000 per tournament, according to the website Bass Resource.com.

Resources

Article Written By Charlie Gaston

Charlie Gaston has written numerous instructional articles on topics ranging from business to communications and estate planning. Gaston holds a bachelor's degree in international business and a master's degree in communications. She is fluent in Spanish and has extensive travel experience.

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