| Having been an avid basser for years, and not having | | | | That really surprised me. Why didn't I know this |
| the wherewithal to purchase a boat, I've often felt | | | | years ago? It makes perfect sense, yet somehow |
| cheated and frustrated about not being able to get | | | | this information escaped me. |
| out to deeper waters (where I was certain the real | | | | Owning your own boat can be expensive. A decent |
| bass were). Having succumbed to this delimma for | | | | boat purchased new can easily run you around |
| some 40 years or more, I finally had something come | | | | $15,000. Ouch. Then there is the issue of storage, |
| my way that I never knew existed: my local bass | | | | insurance, fuel, the trailer, something to pull it with, |
| fishing club. | | | | maintenance and a whole slew of other expenses |
| I mean, I knew bass clubs existed, but I didn't know | | | | that come with the package. |
| they were for me. For one thing, how can you join a | | | | But not for the non-boater. I paid my bass club dues |
| bass fishing club if you don't have a boat. Additionally, | | | | (very affordable) and within 2 days I was out with |
| isn't it just the best bass fishermen that are in these | | | | the gang on my first local bass club fishing |
| clubs? These guys do tournaments and such. Not | | | | tournament - in a boat. My share of the costs was |
| sure if I could measure up. | | | | extremely reasonable compared to those in the last |
| Low and behold, the old saying "you won't know if | | | | paragraph. It was a 3 day trip and we even shared |
| you don't go" proved itself once again. Thanks to an | | | | the cost of a room. |
| Internet buddy, I was enlightened. I got the address | | | | Don't ask how the fishing was; that's a whole other |
| and went to my first bass club meeting. It was | | | | article. |
| simple, friendly, fun and I was fishing with them that | | | | In this club, we go out once a month to a different |
| weekend. | | | | lake and have our own little bass tournament. Each |
| First off, let's address the notion that you have to | | | | time we go out, the non-boaters are matched up |
| be a great bass fisherman to belong to one of these | | | | with a boater (also a different one each time). This |
| clubs. This is not true. In fact, most of these anglers | | | | way, you get to learn a little something from |
| are people just like me, only with a little more | | | | everyone. |
| experience (remember, I didn't have a boat - I was | | | | So, if you are bank bound like I was, and want to |
| bank fishing). Most of these people are happy to | | | | head out for more exciting fishing, go online or open |
| share that experience with you. | | | | up the phone book and contact you local bass fishing |
| Secondly, you do not have to have a boat. In fact, | | | | club. You could be out on the boat in no time. |
| most clubs are looking for non-boaters to help share | | | | Whether or not you catch any fish remains to be |
| the expense of the trip with someone who owns a | | | | seen. |
| boat. Brilliant! | | | | |