Lake County is a tourist destination and with Clear Lake being the No. 1 bass lake in the West, bass tournaments play a major role in the local economy. The problem is the tournaments no longer attract the number of fishermen they did a few years ago.
A good example was the WON BASS team tournament held Sunday. That tournament drew only 23 boats. A few years ago it would have been considered a poor turnout with 50 boats. The poor attendance at the tournaments is being blamed on the slow economy. For an out-of-county fisherman to fish a one-day tournament it can cost upward of $500 or more, which includes the entry fee, motel costs, meals and gas. In a tournament with only a 20-boat field, the payback isn”t enough to even cover expenses. Many unemployed fishermen just don”t have the extra money to compete.
Even the tournament organizations are having a hard time attracting sponsors. Major bass boat manufacturers are steering away from giving the tournaments thousands of dollars in sponsorship money and free boats. Actually, the boat companies are struggling to even sell a boat. A modern 21-foot bass boat with a 225 hp outboard costs about $50,000. Most of the fishermen can no longer qualify for a loan that big. And nothing depreciates faster than a bass boat. The minute it”s launched into the lake the value drops by at least $10,000. Many of the bass Web sites are loaded with used bass boats for sale at rock-bottom prices.
Rumors also abound on the future of the tournament circuits. One rumor going around the local tackle shops is that a major tournament organization is about to be purchased by another organization and the team events will be combined into one circuit. Recently Anglers Choice bought out the Western Rookie League of 100 Percent Bass. The poor economy is also being blamed for the FLW-Outdoors tournaments leaving Clear Lake.
Not all tournament organizations are struggling. The recent American Bass Tournament of Champions (TOC) held at Clear Lake drew 197 boats. But that is a rarity. Most of the TOCs are happy with 100 boats. The bass tournaments that continue to do well are the specialty tournaments such as the Triton Boat Owners Tournament, the annual Holder Ford-Mercury tournament, and the Stratos-Champion tournament. These events typically field from 100-150 boats.
Make no mistake, competing in tournaments is an expensive hobby. In addition to the expensive boats, the fishing equipment can also put a dent in the wallet. A fishing rod and reel can cost as much as $700 and most of the bass fishermen have at least five. Lures are also expensive. For example, the popular swimbaits can cost as much as $90. Even the cheap ones go for $25. The hottest lure on Clear Lake is the Lucky Craft LV500 crankbait, which costs $18.
A number of fishermen are saying we will see a dramatic change in the equipment fishermen purchase. The 17-foot aluminum boat with a 100 hp outboard could once again become popular. Fishermen will be buying the cheaper fishing rods and lures. Let”s face it, a bass doesn”t know if you”re in a $5,000 aluminum boat or a new $60,000 bass boat. For years bass tournament organizations limited the size of bass boats to 18-footers with a 150 hp outboard and everyone got along fine.
Of course, it”s not only the bass fishermen who are struggling to make it. The RV industry is struggling. The all-equipped $300,000 motor home is becoming a thing of the past. Resorts are struggling to fill their vacancies. Local fishing guides tell me their business is down 30-40 percent. I grew up in an era where camping consisted of pitching a tent and cooking over a campfire. Fishermen used cartop boats with small outboards. It was more of a family event. That began to change about 20 years ago when the economy boomed. The tent was traded in for an expensive RV and the small boat gave away to huge vessels that could race across the lake at more than 70 mph. The failing economy has made us realize that bigger is not always better.
