How to Become an Amateur Angler

Improve your fishing skills and elevate your status as an occasional fisherman to an amateur angler. Many flashy and big-time tournaments are held for bass and walleye professional anglers. However, tournaments and competitions are also held for amateur fishermen. Ice fishing tournaments, which are open to all ice anglers, are also held in many locations including Pennsylvania. Becoming an amateur angler will enhance your skills, as well as the quality of your fishing experiences.

Things You'll Need

  • Fishing rods and reels
  • Baits and lures
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Instructions

    • 1

      Practice and fish as often as you can, at least twice a month. You should be able to catch 1- to 3-lb. bass regularly.

    • 2

      Collect adequate gear to fish effectively. Different types, weights and lengths of fishing rods work for different game fish and fishing conditions. You need the best gear you can afford, to fish as effectively and as productively as possible.

    • 3

      Keep learning and developing your technique. Expand your skills, and fish in different conditions. For example, if you mainly fish in all the traditional spots like shoreline, shallows and weedy places, try fishing in deeper waters. Target other areas like ledges and channels. Experiment with baits and lures; use bigger baits for bigger fish.

    • 4

      Gain experience, and sign up as a tournament co-angler. Many fishing tournaments have a co-angler division, where amateurs can be a co-angler to a professional fisherman. According to FLW Outdoors, a tournament fishing organization, co-anglers are randomly paired with professionals and fish from the back of the pros' boats. Regulations vary, but amateurs typically pay lower entry fees, because they are paid a smaller portion of the tournament purse.

    • 5

      Compete individually in amateur angler tournaments. You can meet other anglers, gain experience and show off your skills. Winning a prize isn't bad either. The Oakley Big Bass Tour's Blue Ridge Big Bass Classic holds amateur-only tournaments in various locations including Smith Mountain Lake in Roanoke, Virginia. Oakley Big Bass Tour events offer prizes for the biggest overall bass, as well as the five biggest fish weighed each hour. Hourly prizes can reach up to $500 based on 250 entrants.