Welp....MrsGomer signed up GomerJr last night for the Middle School bass team for this fall and next spring. And, of course, she volunteered me to be a captain...nevermind that my only bass fishing experience is from the bank or a few years in a kayak. We'll be fishing at least 4 of the 7 tournaments at Guntersville, Holt, Smith, Demopolis, Pickwick, Wheeler and Neely Henry. I've never fished any of them, although Holt is in our backyard so we can hit it a few times between now and then. This will be the textbook definition of the blind leading the blind.

I'd love to use this as an excuse to get me a livescope and spot lock trolling motor but that would cost more than I paid for the dang boat itself.......guess I probably at least need to put some basic electronics on it though b/c I'm currently fishing old school with zero electronics.

Livescope is cool, but not needed. Good maps and a spotlock have almost become a must. Spotlock is worth its weight in gold.

GET a navionics card for sure with your electronics.

hows he looking on tackle? i got too dang much and could make you a helluva deal on some stuff..

virtually none...I usually just rig him up with some of my stuff. Shoot me a message with what you got

Sadly..I have more tackle than some stores😁 I go through the boat a few times a year and take what I don't/haven't used and put it away...before long I'll do it again and can hook him/you up with various items...free of charge... What's he using rod/reel wise?

When do the tournaments start? I fish holt a lot and love it in the fall...

Sept, I think...but Holt is first or second weekend in March. Right now he mostly just uses spinning reels. He's only really just started fishing at all so he's still not especially proficient with them yet so we haven't even attempted a baitcaster, but I may let him try one of mine soon with the brakes turned up a little tighter and see how he does. I suggested we hold off on the school fishing team a year or 2 and just do some small local tournaments for fun, but MrsGomer is more of a "jump right in with both feet" kind of person, so here we are....

Virtually in the same boat 2 years ago. my 0.02.
Wait for BPS or some online retailer to have a quality dv/sv 9+ inch sonar/GPS-mapping unit on sail. I grabbed the Garmin 9 SV. First year we went blind and I used the Navionics boating app on my phone for routes in unfamiliar territory. Not the best, but we made due.

We haven't upgrade to spotlock, but if I had money set aside for it I would have it. More saving for a wider boat capable of handling rougher waters. (17 foot tracker gets wobbly)

Get there early your first few, anchor down somewhere and get acclimated to the crowd. We all back boats, launch etc... but its a little different with 40 teams in line behind you. (cut your lights off when approaching the ramp, most can manage the light in their eyes, but you don't want to be around the one who can't and hit him with your beams)

Encourage your anglers to learn to study maps (Navionics boating is free app and google earth on pc will give historical/low water images) and pick starting spots. I didn't push this early and now it is a hassle to get them interested in studying for the tourney.

may be a no brainer, but have seen it be an issue. Have them decide what they will start with and have it tied on and ready to go, multiple rods.

If you don't like boat racing, either: 1. pick a starting spot close to hand/out of the way that you run to, stop and fish for a little then move on after the chaos 2. have a lane out of the main drag to run.(pre-fish and map out that lane).
MOST captains are cautious and courteous, however several are ego driven thrill seekers with no regard for safety or courtesy.

If you have a good team, you'll be fine. Our first year we were the only Jr boat so we travelled/fished solo. This year was much better.

Is the team only fishing BassTactix's trail? We've done ASABFA and BASS Nation HS/JR the past two. Have taken a hard look at Airport and Basstactix.

It's BassTactix. My understanding is even though we'll be a Jr team, we'll still be travelling with the HS team...But it'll be us and another (jr) kid so I'm guessing the other kid likely won't have anymore experience than GomerJr does. It's gonna be a learning process, for sure

Just let them have fun.

These would be my top choices.

Yeah. I keep trying to remind myself that this is just a learning experience for them and me. Just hoping I can get them on a few fish at least enough to be fun for them

My son just graduated and we have one tournament left next weekend. He's fished since 7th grade and I'm not gonna lie, I'm glad it's over. The best advice I can give you is get the boys to practice casting more than anything, you'll get tired of getting them out of the trees and boat docks. I also would highly recommend a graph at the console with a map card for navigation, as to not end up tearing your boat up on stumps/rocks. I would choose livescope hands down over a spot lock trolling motor. Spot lock is a very nice convenience but it's not going to help you catch many more fish, but livescope will hands down help you, especially winter/pre spawn fishing. And get your son a nice rain suit if he doesn't have one, most fishing teams are affiliated with Frogg Toggs and they offer a very generous discount for you and the kids. Good luck to you and your son this season.

Got two cousins that are apparently nationally ranked coming out of high school (Cullman). It’s been fun for them and looks to be leading to more good things. Good luck to your boy!

Between dirt bikes and jiu jitsu I’m not sure it wouldn’t have been cheaper to just get a boat and do the fishing thing

i think you should have probably went the local route for a year before jumping into it. i see a very frustrated gomer and gomer jr in the near future. id just try my best to go and have fun

Bass Tactix has been a good trail they just started it here this past year when Bob sold L&L and couldn’t do his trail anymore. The good thing about these are the captain can put in $40 and fish also your fish are separate and you compete against the other captains. It makes the day much better just sitting there all day isn’t much fun. The kids have a chance to win pretty decent money.

Anybody else thinking what I’m thinking? Gomer needs that 2023 Ranger Z521R. They’re only $85k plus another $20k for all the electronics a growing boy needs to catch fish.

Livescope over spot lock any day of the week. Imo