RLOS – Electric Bass Tournament Fishing – Virginia
Written by: Melissa Cusic
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Strategy: Going into the tournament, there wasn’t a straight forward strategy for this team. Their practice days leading to the tournament were not very successful at all. The recent weather patterns have been all over the place which made finding and catching fish a challenge. Slowing down and staying away from the North wind was key, and once they discovered that this was the ticket to getting fish in the boat, they were able to pull together a limit that took the win.
When people hear the words “bass fishing tournament”, most are inclined to picture hundreds of shiny, decorated fiberglass hulls floating peacefully near a ramp, the smell of smoke from the 2 stroke outboards, and the thrill of waiting for a high-powered blast off. This style of competition has long been the standard of bass tournament fishing in most areas, and it goes without saying that this will always be the dream at the top of the list when it comes to tournament competition. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of participating in a “big tournament”, where hopes and dreams can become realities for anglers who have dedicated their lives to the sport.
For many anglers just starting out, there are barriers to entry in the tournament world. Whether it be money, travel distance to large lakes, or lack of experience needed to compete on the larger scale, many find themselves starting out in smaller Jon boats on smaller bodies of water, using less equipment. Anglers often choose electric reservoir fishing as a good starting point to gain the knowledge and skills needed to eventually compete at a higher level – but not always.
Electric-only tournament fishing is growing and gaining popularity in many states along the East Coast, with large support in Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, and other states as well. With that trend, electric only tournaments and circuits have been gaining traction as a way to compete for a lot of money, on a much smaller scale, without all of the requirements needed to fish big. The talent that has emerged on the electric scene could be said to rival the talent seen on the large platforms, and there is no lack of competitive spirit in this arena. Anglers spend their “off season” building and modifying electric boats in an effort to gain tenths of miles per hour out of their rigs, which goes a long way when top speeds are barely seven miles per hour. Every tenth counts, and continuous modification to weight distribution and an understanding of hydrodynamics will go a long way in an electric boat.
Founded in 2016, RLOS has quickly become the largest electric-only tournament circuit in Central, VA fishing lakes and reservoirs within 2 hours of Richmond. Locations on the current schedule include Chickahominy Lake, Beaverdam, Diascund, and Little Creek Reservoirs, and Lake Prince in Suffolk, VA. Annual participation averages and is expected to exceed 300 members in 2021. The tournaments are organized and directed in the same manner of many larger tournaments, where entries are paid on the “day of”, and earnings are paid in cash immediately after weigh-ins have concluded. RLOS has drawn well known companies such as Torqeedo, Striker, Missile Baits, Bizz Baits, Vector Hooks, and Phoney Frogs to support the growth of this type of tournament fishing. Prizes and discounts from these and other local sponsors add to the value of earnings for which each team competes. Tournament entry fee is $60, and anglers are allowed to participate individually or as a team of two.
Notable quotes from RLOS angler interviews:
“100% of the faces you see on tournament days are the greatest group of fishermen I’ve been around. There are absolute hammers fishing this club, and there are teams gunning for the top spots. It gives me the drive to fish harder.”
“Payouts are incredible, and growing every year. I can make more money fishing electric than fishing in a big boat.”
“It is evident that there is a passion for this this thing… you can tell this by seeing how hard the organizers work to make everything possible, and the tournaments are really a lot of fun.”
For information on how to get involved with RLOS and electric-only fishing, please visit www.electricbassfishing.com or Facebook @RLOS – Electric Only Bass Fishing – VA.
