With the 2014 Elite Bassmasters All-Star event coming to West Michigan this month, we thought it would be insightful if we ask one of our own local Bassmaster members who regularly fishes the tour. It’s one thing to watch them catching their limit or their anxious moments at weigh-in, but what does it take to participate in these events, and what is life like behind the scenes leading up to it? We caught up with Chris Noffsinger, of Interlochen, Michigan and asked him about the preparation and the mechanics to fish in a Bassmaster tournament.
TAM: How do you qualify for a Bassmaster tournament?
CHRIS: Typically for Opens you pay an entry fee. In the Elite series, you qualify if you’re in the top five in points, and in the All-Star event the top eight in Elite series points plus top four fan voted-in anglers.
TAM: So you are a couple of weeks away from a tournament, what is your prep work to be ready to compete?
CHRIS: You are always looking at tournament results from the lake, looking at maps, tweaking tackle preparation, and reading past information about the location you are about to fish.
TAM: What about your equipment? Do you have a mechanic look it over or do you do your own inspections?
CHRIS: You are always checking your equipment. There are tech trailers at all of the Opens and Elite Series events.
TAM: How many days do you prefish?
CHRIS: Opens have unlimited practice. Elites you get three days. I try to get 3 to 5 days in at each event.
TAM: Are there any rules to the amount of days you can practice and who you can talk to?
CHRIS: Opens you can only get info from outside sources until three days prior to the event. Elites are shut off 30 days prior to the event. However, you can share information amongst other competitors in the tournament if you so choose.
TAM:During the tournament, do the anglers stay at the same accommodations/hotels or are they spread out? Any hanging out in the evening together or is it all business and sponsors work?
CHRIS: Definitely spread out. We definitely hang out in the evenings when we can, but there is always work to be done.
TAM: How many rods do you prepare and have ready for action?
CHRIS: Depends on patterns and lakes. Usually 3 to 15 rods.
TAM: Have you ever been in a tournament and you wish you had brought certain lures?
CHRIS: Definitely! You always forget something LOL!
TAM: Do you typically travel alone or does your family ever come with you?
CHRIS: Alone mostly, but I try to bring the family when I can.
TAM: What was the best tip you received from a pro when you got started in tournament fishing
CHRIS: Stay focused and don’t spin out.
TAM: So now it’s the night before the first day, what are you doing? What’s the last minute prep work? Any rituals, superstitions?
CHRIS: You do the final tweaks to your tackle making sure you have the line up of presentations you want. I don’t really have any superstitions, but I call my family before the start of every tournament.
TAM: So you’re in your boat ready for the start and you have your 1st spot picked. What if another angler goes to the same spot?
CHRIS: Depending on the size of the area, either stay and fish, or you always have back up plans.
TAM: After you prefish and study, how many spots have you listed for your attack?
CHRIS: This all depends on pre fishing. I try to find no less than 5 to 10 areas with good potential.
TAM: Any fights or arguments on fishing spots?
CHRIS: I wouldn’t say fights, but occasionally, feathers definitely get ruffled.
TAM: How long do you fish a spot?
CHRIS: That is tough to say. I usually won’t stay any longer than an hour if a spot is not producing.
TAM: Do you fish with someone or by yourself?
CHRIS: In the opens, there is a co-angler with you.
TAM: Do you always fish to the last minute?
CHRIS: Yes, always fishing or looking for new areas until the last minute.
TAM: Have you ever missed a weigh in?
CHRIS: Knock on wood, no.
TAM: After each weigh in, do you go and analyze the day and what is this process?
CHRIS: For sure. You always look at the weights and try and figure out your game plan for the next day.
Chris is a B.A.S.S. Northern Open Competitor and Captain and owner of Northern Adventures Fishing, LLC in the Grand Traverse Bay area of Northern Michigan. northernadventurefishing.com
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