Keith Lusher 06.27.24
Among the greatest bass fishermen will be discovered competing in “fruit jar” type tournaments. The occasions are sometimes held on the identical river week after week and entice among the native sticks. Joe Picone of Covington, LA has fished these tournaments all his life. “I really like em’! The camaraderie and the issues I’ve realized from fishing these small tournaments can’t are immeasurable,” Picone says. And on the ripe age of 77 years outdated, Picone has give you a event that he says is without doubt one of the greatest bass trails he’s ever been part of.
Picone fashioned the Double Nickel Bass Membership about two years in the past and since then it has grown to assemble between 20-30 anglers. Whereas that quantity isn’t staggering, it’s fairly an achievement being that the occasion is held on a Tuesday morning.
What’s totally different about this membership is that it is just open to those that are 55 years of age or older. “We’ve anglers that fish within the membership that vary from 55 to 80 years of age. And sure…they nonetheless have some juice left,” Picone jokes. Since it’s supposed for retirees, Picone has restricted the time the fishermen are out on the water. “One of many greatest complaints I heard was that the opposite tournaments have been too long-lasting till midday,” he mentioned. The Double Nickel runs from daylight and goes 5 hours.
One other adjustment Picone made was decreasing the event restrict from 5 fish to three which permits the anglers to begin culling earlier. “This takes a whole lot of strain off the angler and makes for nearer competitors I discover,” he says. The event pays out 3 spots and in addition has a ‘Huge Bass” pot that pays out for the largest bass.
For now, the membership meets on the East Pearl River which serves because the border between Louisiana and Mississippi however says he could take into account holding the occasion on totally different rivers sooner or later.
For these excited by beginning up a event that caters to retirees, Picone recommends conserving it easy and taking the main focus off of the competitors placing it extra on the camaraderie. “It’s good to have the ability to get collectively each week with these guys,” he mentioned. “I’ve made a whole lot of actually good associates out right here.” Double Nickel’s success is a direct results of Picone’s “exterior the field” pondering and willingness to attempt one thing new. “There’s actually no restrict to the varied sorts of tournaments you possibly can create,” he says. “In case you’re keen to give you one thing that everybody enjoys fishing then tweaking the foundations may be the factor that makes it a hit!”
