The ds.fish Blog
Practical guides for tournament directors and anglers — running events, rules, scoring, formats, and how to fish your first tournament.
Fishing Tournament Glossary: Weighted Fish, Cull, Limit & More
Confused by tournament lingo? This glossary defines the terms you'll hear at the ramp and the scale — limit, cull, slot, kicker, and more.
Tournament Fishing Rules: Live Bait, Gear & What's Allowed
Can you use live bait in a tournament? What about multiple rods or electronics? Here's how common gear and bait rules usually work.
Fishing Tournament Formats Explained: Derby, Open & Team
Derby, open, team, and series formats each play differently. Here's what each one means and which suits your event or your style.
How to Enter Your First Fishing Tournament (Cost & What to Expect)
A friendly walkthrough for first-time competitors: how much it costs, how to register, what gear you need, and what happens on tournament day.
How Do Bass Tournaments Work? A Beginner's Guide
New to competitive fishing? Here's how bass tournaments work — formats, limits, weigh-ins, the dead-fish penalty, and how winners are decided.
How to Promote and Fill Your Fishing Tournament
Practical, low-cost ways to get anglers to register — from a shareable tournament page to sponsors, social posts, and early-bird pricing.
How to Score a Fishing Tournament: Weigh-In vs. Catch-Photo-Release
Compare the two main scoring methods — physical weigh-in and catch-photo-release — and learn how to pick the right one for your event.
Permits, Liability & Insurance for Fishing Tournaments
What permits you may need, why event liability insurance matters, and how to reduce risk before you launch your fishing tournament.
Fishing Tournament Rules: What to Include (Free Template)
A complete checklist of what every fishing tournament rulebook should cover, with plain-English explanations directors can copy and adapt.
How to Run a Fishing Tournament: A Step-by-Step Guide
Everything a first-time director needs to plan, launch, and score a fishing tournament — from format and rules to registration, weigh-in, and payouts.