Money does not grow on trees and tournament trails certainly do not raffle cash away either. With this predicament anglers have to weigh the costs of tournament weekend. Most anglers I talk to as well as myself save up a "fishing budget", during the off season and allocate funds per event. With a budget in mind anglers must choose from the following options: drive to the event tournament morning, camp in a primitive campsite or in an electric site with a camper or finally live high-on-the-hog and stay in a hotel or cabin. This article will list the costs and benefits as well as the trade-offs and drawbacks for tournament logistics, living accommodations, and economics.
For local anglers the most cost efficient way to compete in a tournament is to drive to the boat ramp the morning of the event, I like to refer to this as "road lighting". We have all done this at some point or another in our tournament seasons. To road light one must go to bed at or around dinner time and wake up between 1-2 AM. Then one must leave the house by 2:30-3 AM for a 2-3 hour drive and arrive at the boat ramp with a few minutes to launch and get to your starting spot. The main benefit of road lighting is to cut down on time away from home, the price of living accommodations, food, and supplies. However, there are downsides to road lighting, first would be trying to get to bed at a decent hour, the tournament jitters along with life obligations make it tough enough. Moreover, waking up at a very unusual time can throw the mind, appetite, and afternoon alertness for a loop. With all these considerations road lighting is only a viable option for events less than 3 hours away. Once a tournament reaches a 3 hour travel mark anglers start to see diminishing returns.
Camping is an American pastime and that rings true for the OKA tournament trail. Many OKA anglers camp before events and for good reasons. Oklahoma has a plethora of state parks and well managed city lakes with campsites and outdoor amenities. That is why anytime I get the chance to camp before an event I do. Camping offers so many benefits to tournament day. If done correctly, tent and or camper camping can be time efficient, low cost, and all around enjoyable. Lets face it who doesn't like sitting around a camp fire with several family members or fellow anglers with a few cold brews and stories of past fishing trips. After checking listings from: https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/campsites all non-electrical campsites are $16 per day, with electrical sites listing at $25 per day. Mike Ring who is the 2017 OKA Angler of the Year and 2019 Beavers Bend Kayak Classic Champion likes to camp with his Gulfstream Bumper Pull camper. " I like the camper because I try to stay close to the water and or tournament HQ as possible." With Mikes past and present success he wont be giving up the camper anytime soon. "The cost of gas and camping comes out pretty even compared to getting a room somewhere. I would tent camp if I didn't already have a camper."
Several years ago my wife and I booked a state park cabin for a large tournament with a big payout. The website had put its best foot forward and the cabin looked like a shining jewel in the middle of a beautiful wilderness. As we got there and started to unpack our stuff my wife promptly described the place as a "murder cabin." To my wife's credit we did have to prop a chair underneath the door handle because the door could be pushed open by hand. Long story short cabins and hotels are what you pay for. You can book the nicest cabin or economy motel in town and they serve whatever purpose you want. Heater and air conditioning, running water, convenient and clean restroom, bathtub along with a fridge or continental breakfast. The only drawback for indoor accommodations would be the vulnerability of your kayak and gear out in the parking lot or vehicle. Also, a higher price for the room compared to campsites. The deciding factor to rooming would the return on investment of the tournament compared to the price of the room. If you can double your expenses by placing in the top 10 % of the angling field then a room is in the realm of possibility.
Tournament kayak fishing is what you make it. If you are a nose to the grindstone angler trying to springboard to the next level or the weekend angler looking for a fun day at the lake a few hours away. A tournament budget and plan for events on the schedule will serve you well regardless. Whether you are making a day of it or a mini vacation built around a fishing derby, the choice is yours. Make the best of it and tight lines!
For local anglers the most cost efficient way to compete in a tournament is to drive to the boat ramp the morning of the event, I like to refer to this as "road lighting". We have all done this at some point or another in our tournament seasons. To road light one must go to bed at or around dinner time and wake up between 1-2 AM. Then one must leave the house by 2:30-3 AM for a 2-3 hour drive and arrive at the boat ramp with a few minutes to launch and get to your starting spot. The main benefit of road lighting is to cut down on time away from home, the price of living accommodations, food, and supplies. However, there are downsides to road lighting, first would be trying to get to bed at a decent hour, the tournament jitters along with life obligations make it tough enough. Moreover, waking up at a very unusual time can throw the mind, appetite, and afternoon alertness for a loop. With all these considerations road lighting is only a viable option for events less than 3 hours away. Once a tournament reaches a 3 hour travel mark anglers start to see diminishing returns.
Camping is an American pastime and that rings true for the OKA tournament trail. Many OKA anglers camp before events and for good reasons. Oklahoma has a plethora of state parks and well managed city lakes with campsites and outdoor amenities. That is why anytime I get the chance to camp before an event I do. Camping offers so many benefits to tournament day. If done correctly, tent and or camper camping can be time efficient, low cost, and all around enjoyable. Lets face it who doesn't like sitting around a camp fire with several family members or fellow anglers with a few cold brews and stories of past fishing trips. After checking listings from: https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/campsites all non-electrical campsites are $16 per day, with electrical sites listing at $25 per day. Mike Ring who is the 2017 OKA Angler of the Year and 2019 Beavers Bend Kayak Classic Champion likes to camp with his Gulfstream Bumper Pull camper. " I like the camper because I try to stay close to the water and or tournament HQ as possible." With Mikes past and present success he wont be giving up the camper anytime soon. "The cost of gas and camping comes out pretty even compared to getting a room somewhere. I would tent camp if I didn't already have a camper."
Several years ago my wife and I booked a state park cabin for a large tournament with a big payout. The website had put its best foot forward and the cabin looked like a shining jewel in the middle of a beautiful wilderness. As we got there and started to unpack our stuff my wife promptly described the place as a "murder cabin." To my wife's credit we did have to prop a chair underneath the door handle because the door could be pushed open by hand. Long story short cabins and hotels are what you pay for. You can book the nicest cabin or economy motel in town and they serve whatever purpose you want. Heater and air conditioning, running water, convenient and clean restroom, bathtub along with a fridge or continental breakfast. The only drawback for indoor accommodations would be the vulnerability of your kayak and gear out in the parking lot or vehicle. Also, a higher price for the room compared to campsites. The deciding factor to rooming would the return on investment of the tournament compared to the price of the room. If you can double your expenses by placing in the top 10 % of the angling field then a room is in the realm of possibility.
Tournament kayak fishing is what you make it. If you are a nose to the grindstone angler trying to springboard to the next level or the weekend angler looking for a fun day at the lake a few hours away. A tournament budget and plan for events on the schedule will serve you well regardless. Whether you are making a day of it or a mini vacation built around a fishing derby, the choice is yours. Make the best of it and tight lines!
Mike Rings camper and BBKC check
Mike Ring ready to prefish and camp
Hotel for the Hobie BOS at Dardenelle
The "murder cabin"
Lake of the Arbuckles campsite 2018
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