Bass Tournaments and Retirees: A Successful Mixture!

A few of the greatest bass fishermen may be discovered competing in “fruit jar” model tournaments. The occasions are sometimes held on the identical river week after week and entice a number of the native sticks. Joe Picone of Covington, LA has fished these tournaments all his life. “I like em’! The camaraderie and the issues I’ve realized from fishing these small tournaments can’t are immeasurable,” Picone says.  And on the ripe age of 77 years previous, Picone has give you a event that he says is without doubt one of the greatest bass trails he’s ever been part of.
Picone shaped the Double Nickel Bass Membership about two years in the past and since then it has grown to collect between 20-30 anglers. Whereas that quantity isn’t staggering, it’s fairly an achievement being that the occasion is held on a Tuesday morning.

What’s totally different about this membership is that it’s only open to those that are 55 years of age or older. “We now have anglers that fish within the membership that vary from 55 to 80 years of age. And sure…they nonetheless have some juice left,” Picone jokes. Since it’s meant for retirees, Picone has restricted the time the fishermen are out on the water. “One of many largest complaints I heard was that the opposite tournaments have been too long-lasting till midday,” he stated. The Double Nickel runs from daylight and goes 5 hours.

One other adjustment Picone made was decreasing the event restrict from 5 fish to three which permits the anglers to start out culling earlier. “This takes a variety of stress off the angler and makes for nearer competitors I discover,” he says. The event pays out 3 spots and likewise has a ‘Massive Bass” pot that pays out for the most important bass.

For now, the membership meets on the East Pearl River which serves because the border between Louisiana and Mississippi however says he could contemplate holding the occasion on totally different rivers sooner or later.
For these focused on beginning up a event that caters to retirees, Picone recommends maintaining it easy and taking the main target off of the competitors placing it extra on the camaraderie. “It’s good to have the ability to get collectively each week with these guys,” he stated. “I’ve made a variety of actually good mates out right here.” Double Nickel’s success is a direct results of Picone’s “exterior the field” pondering and willingness to attempt one thing new. “There’s actually no restrict to the assorted sorts of tournaments you may create,” he says. “In the event you’re keen to give you one thing that everybody enjoys fishing then tweaking the principles could be the factor that makes it a hit!”

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award profitable out of doors journalist that resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly out of doors column for the Slidell Impartial Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith electronic mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com