Would fishing as a CoAngler in a TTT event be good experiance for a newbie?

[Bitman]

Im really wanting to get into tourney fishing but I dont know anything about it and I dont really have any friends that fish for real. I was thinking of trying to fish as a co angler in the Texas Tournament Trail event at Lake Amistad in January. Woudl this be a good learning experiance??? Im reading that if will be hard for me to get in since I dont own a Ranger :( That stinks but I love me Bass Cat!!! :) Please give me any advice you can.
DannyG

[Tx Champ]

Personally, I'd try & get a little tournament experience in some local tournaments before going for a TTT non-boater spot. With the money involved, the boaters take their tournament fishing real serious, and the non-boater needs to be in a position and have the experience to lend a hand in landing the boater's fish.

Just my 2¢

[Bitman]

thanks tx champ! I was thinking the same thing maybe but I have been fishing my whole life and just now started taking it serious! I have always been a tugger and now Im looking for some bigger fish and some tourney no how and I thought why not learn from someone doing it already :) I can use a net, thats not all that hard but I know what you mean, they dont want some babbling fool on the boat with them and lucklily im not that guy :) Hahah, keep the info coming guys and I appreciate an honest opinion like Tx Champs alot, thanks man!
DannyG
PS Abilenes not too far from here, you fish Possum Kingdom ever?

[Tx Champ]

I like PK a lot. But I've not been there since the Golden Algae outbreaks. I'm hearing now of some decent fish being caught there, so it appears to be on the comeback. Saw where it took 18# to win a tourney there this summer. Most of the lakes west and south of Abilene are still hurting for water. You can pretty well draw a line from Hubbard Creek and OH Ivie and the lakes west of that line are in pretty bad shape and the ones east are in decent or fair shape. Exceptions are Stamford and Millers Creek which are both almost full. Two of my favorites, Sweetwater and Oak Creek are in really sad shape.

Keep checking Tournamenttime.net, there will be some open tournies in the spring at Ivie.

[fishnfireman]

Danny,

From what you are saying. It sounds like a small local club would be just right for you at this point.

I would say you are ready to fish as a co-angler at any level. It is a great chance to learn. Wish that I would have fished as a co-angler about 25 years ago. it would have shortened my learning curve a whole bunch.

[utinator]

Fishing as a co-angler is a good place to start if you want see how those types of tournaments work. Local amature tournaments have a different format than the FLW tournaments. I don't think you'll learn much more about catching fish than you already know. I started off as a co-angler to learn how those tournaments work. I didn't want to enter as a boater without a clue. Fishing the BFL or TTT as a co-angler is a good way to prepare yourself for the boater division. That's what my plan is anyway.

[Bitman]

My sentiments exactly Utinator!!! Im wanting to learn what goes on at a major styled production not so much the local thing. I am gonna join a good local soon but Im just wanting to try this for the mean time. Its cheap, its close to home, it the lake I fish alot and it sounds like a blast to boot.
DannyG

[BMCD]

I think it would be a good experience. But I doubt you'll be able to fish it because its Amistad, the first tournament in the series, and your not a Ranger owner.

But if you do get in it will be fun. And every baoter has something you can learn from no matter how bad they finish in the T