Clear Lake is famous for its outstanding bass fishing and has long been a favorite lake for bass tournaments. Whereas 10 years ago the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) issued up to 50 event tournament permits each year, that number dwindled to only 23 this past year, including only six major bass tournaments scheduled. Individual tournaments are required to have an “event” permit and club tournaments must have an annual permit.
There is no question many fishermen are taking a long and hard look at tournament fishing. Many are looking ahead to the tournaments they will compete in. A number of fishermen told me they will cut down on the number of circuits they plan on fishing. Others have said they will quit tournament fishing completely and switch to just recreational fishing.
Many tournament fishermen travel up to 300 miles round trip to reach the lake. The tournament entry fees average about $200 per team. The pro/ams can vary from as high as $1,000 for the pro to $250 for the amateur. The individual circuits are broken down by regions, which cover several lakes or other waters. Most have team circuits with a five- or six-tournament schedule of which at least two are held on Clear Lake. A good number of fishermen compete in all the circuits. Add in that most of the fishermen spend two or three days prefishing for a tournament and it adds up to a lot of money spent.
Just the cost to drive to and from Clear Lake and the cost of gas used in the bass boats can be very expensive. Most modern bass boats have tanks that hold 50 gallons of gas. On a lake as large as Clear Lake it’s not unusual to go through 30 gallons of gas each day. With gas presently selling for nearly $3 per gallon, that adds up to almost $90 per day. If a fisherman decides to spend several nights in a local motel and to eat out in at local restaurants, the price of competing in the tournaments is even higher. It wasn’t many years ago that the non-boater would give the boater $20 per day for his share of the gas expenses. That has now jumped to $50 or even higher.
Typically the winning team in a tournament pockets from $1,000 to $1,500. When you split that in half it means each member of the team will barely cover expenses or even go in the hole.
Not included in all of this is the cost of the bass boat itself. A new and fully rigged bass boat costs in the neighborhood of $60,000. The fishing rods, reels and other gear can add up to another several thousand dollars.
The decline in tournament participation started about 10 years ago. Prior to that, a typical team tournament would draw at least 100 boats. For example, the annual Record-Bee/Brunos Team Tournament drew up to 200 boats in the late 1980s and early 1990s. By comparison, most of the team tournaments held at Clear Lake last year drew fewer than 50 boats and some had only 20.
Even some of the major national bass tournaments are making changes. For example, BassMasters, the leader of professional bass tournaments, has changed its format. It will no longer hold tournaments in California.
The tournament organizations aren’t getting rich. The average circuit pays back 60 percent of its entry fee in cash awards to the fishermen. They also make a few dollars from sponsors. However, when a tournament only draws 30 boats, it’s hard to show any type of profit.
Since bass tournaments are not considered a paying spectator sport, there are no profits to be made from fans attending weigh-ins.
If tournament participation continues to decline, it could have an impact on the county’s tourist industry. Bass fishermen spend a lot of money here and often these tournaments are in the fall and winter months when the tourist buck is hard to come by for local businesses. The good news is that local tackle shops report seeing a lot more recreational fishermen.
