Tournament Question about rods.

I posted this on the tournament section but did not get a answer. Would have thought one of the 30 people reading it would have known. So here go again I know the people on this section fish the tournaments.

I have never fished a tournament and have a question about the 8 rod limit. Can my pardner and i only have 8 rods in the boat or we can only be fishing 8 lines in the water at one time. I had planned on carrying a set of 8 rods for spider rigging and a set of rods for long lining with a couple backup of each type. He fished the Stars and Stripes Bass tournaments and said they could carry a whole sporting goods store of rods if you had a big enough boat. We hope to start fishing the Northern tournaments and maybe down to about Orlando. I don't travel well anymore but would want to get in the 5 per year. Don

Don't fish tournaments, but I'm pretty sure it 8 being used... Maybe somebody can verify that for you.

Thanks. I would think that would be the case as a couple spare rods could save the day. When you don't know the lake or what the weather might give you you may have to change methods. I don't think I will make a very good tournament fisherman I have just got to kicked back in my old age. Don

You can have as many rods as you want in your boat. Only 8 lines can be in the water at a time during tournament hours. Any combination you choose will work.

Thank you very much. That is what I expected but one is better to know the rules before hand then find out the hard way.

No problem. My work schedule changed my availability to fish the FCC tournaments. Hopefully I can return before the season is over.

Being retired we don't fish on Saturday so I don't even know if we will be able to catch a fish on a weekend. lol Don

It's not my favorite day either but the fish are still there. lol

Yep I'm with you. Fish mainly during the week but try to make a tournament ever so often with the FCC. Come on out and join us we have a good time. Next tournament is 6/23/18 at Floral City.

Most of the tournaments are farther South then I like to drive or ride to. My fishing pardner said we could get a room for the night but I got to much electronics and fishing gear to take off and lug into a hotel room. Our 18' poles are no longer 2 piece so it is hard to store them just anywhere. Takes me a hour just getting the stuff on the boat here at home. Sure going to do a few in this area. Will need to do the 5 next year because Crescent and dead Lake, Dead Lake mostly, is our favorite. Don

Why not just ask the tournament directors when you sign up??

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Originally Posted by elkhunter

Why not just ask the tournament directors when you sign up??

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Why? Because what am I to do with 10 18' poles after driving 100 miles to a tournament when it looks to be a long lining day? It is just better to know in advance. I am sure the tournament directors read these post and wouldn't mine helping a newbie out. Don

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Originally Posted by D Johnson

Most of the tournaments are farther South then I like to drive or ride to. My fishing pardner said we could get a room for the night but I got to much electronics and fishing gear to take off and lug into a hotel room. Our 18' poles are no longer 2 piece so it is hard to store them just anywhere. Takes me a hour just getting the stuff on the boat here at home. Sure going to do a few in this area. Will need to do the 5 next year because Crescent and dead Lake, Dead Lake mostly, is our favorite. Don

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I hear you..see you at Crescent..good fishing..

BigSlab would be the feller to ask. I'd be interested to know the answer also.

To be honest, the main thing keeping me from fishing the tournaments is the catch and release thing. Lot of driving to do if I can't even bring dinner home. I do understand it being the rule, just hard for me as I've always fished for support, rather than sport. haha

Keep all you want on practice days. Well up to the limit lol.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Hey Don, over on the Florida Crappie Club Forum -at the top of the page it says, Attention 2018 changes. If you open this and scroll to the bottom, it gives the President and Vice President's phone number for any questions.

Regards,

We keep our fish if we want, or someone is always taking them. State law applies.

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Originally Posted by D Johnson

Why? Because what am I to do with 10 18' poles after driving 100 miles to a tournament when it looks to be a long lining day? It is just better to know in advance. I am sure the tournament directors read these post and wouldn't mine helping a newbie out. Don

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Sorry, I wrongly assumed (spell assume) you would enter days or weeks in advance and you would get a copy of the tournament rules at that time. I don't fish tournaments.

No problem Elkhunter. I have read the rules as they were posted on the forum just needed some clarification. I think their tournaments are sign up on tournament day at the launch site. Are you a gun hunter or bow? I have done both years ago. Don

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Originally Posted by D Johnson

No problem Elkhunter. I have read the rules as they were posted on the forum just needed some clarification. I think their tournaments are sign up on tournament day at the launch site. Are you a gun hunter or bow? I have done both years ago. Don

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Thanks for the reply. I've hunted with both but mostly gun. The elk pictured was shot in Colorado with a 7mm Weatherby Magnum. I've since moved up to a 300 Weatherby Magnum Ultralight.

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Originally Posted by 2boatjoe

Keep all you want on practice days. Well up to the limit lol.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Practice days? lol, I wish. I'm at least 90 minutes from the nearest lake that a tourney is held on.

Speckanator had it right. You have have all you want in the boat but only 8 rods in the water at any given time, usually with a limit of 2 baits per line. That's the rules that CrappieUSA, Crappie Masters and ACT have. Most of the local clubs like FCC, Peach State Crappie Club, CrappieNutz etc, usually follow those same guidelines. I have seen smaller Fruit Jar/Pot Luck tournaments waive the 8 pole limit and go with 12 or as many as you like. But whatever is specified is the amounts of rods that can be fished at any given time during tournament hours....God Luck!!

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Originally Posted by TnT

Speckanator had it right. You have have all you want in the boat but only 8 rods in the water at any given time, usually with a limit of 2 baits per line. That's the rules that CrappieUSA, Crappie Masters and ACT have. Most of the local clubs like FCC, Peach State Crappie Club, CrappieNutz etc, usually follow those same guidelines. I have seen smaller Fruit Jar/Pot Luck tournaments waive the 8 pole limit and go with 12 or as many as you like. But whatever is specified is the amounts of rods that can be fished at any given time during tournament hours....God Luck!!

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We have pushed jigs with 10 off the bow before but I prefer 8 anyway. 12 would be a mess, but I do drop a 9th bait back behind the boat maybe 50 feet on a float. We are learning long lining now and about 3 per aft quarter is all we seam to be able to handle on the turns. Tom is normally assigned the trolling motor and I do electronics and being jig pushers for years he tends to make turns to tight. Don

Tournament answer: Most tournament fishermen carry around 20 plus rods on board. Rulling is: can only fish max of 8 rods at any one time: You are allowed 2 baits per pole - live or artifical

On the Florida Crappie Club Forum at top of page: There should be listed the schedule for 2018 plus rules that apply
If you have problems getting it - contact me: Harold McGhee -Fishin813 -send me you e-mail address and i will forward
copy for you or you can call 813 215-9759 and i will be glad to assist you.

A lot of tournament fishermen in the Florida Crappie Club pull more than 100 mi to fish -
Have not had any trouble at any of Motels most of us stay at: Don't have to bring everything in:
Electronics are taken in or stored below deck - rods etc stay on boat - a lot of us have covers to put over boat
out of sight thing . Can also purchase alarm system for boat - usually that is good for the wood be lookers