Fishing a tournament is not just about winning the hole shot and wetting a hook, there's a lot of strategy and planning involved if you want to get your hands on some of that prize money. Some of the aspects you have control over are research, planning, practice and knowledge. The ones you have no control over are luck and the cooperation of the fish in question - which are going to be extremely unwilling to negotiate a deal.
The first step toward a livewell full of victory is to know your opponent. Bass, for example, are a very popular tournament target. There are only three things that bass absolutely must have to survive and they are food, oxygen and cover. That sounds easy enough to deal with until you factor in all the different environmental influences that effect their behavior which can change yearly, seasonally, monthly, daily, hourly and even by the minute if you want to get technical. Some of the influential factors include, but are not limited to, vegetation, water depth, temperature and clarity, underwater structures for cover, oxygen content, pressure changes and weather.
Next, get to know the waters your fishing in. A map of the lake is a great place to start and a topographical map is even better. Make a call to an area marina and see if there is a guide available for hire to give you a tour of the lake and fishing hot spots - make sure tournament rules allow it first. You can also gain a wealth of knowledge and tips from speaking to resident patrons of the lake who can give you a verbal tour of highlights and local fishing trends. Look at the recent weather history for any significant changes that would impact fish behavior such as heavy rains which would affect water clarity near run-offs or strong fronts which could affect water temperature.
It's an excellent idea to choose alternate locations as back-up in case conditions suddenly change prior to or during the tournament. Fishing the more sheltered areas of the lake may be necessary due to changes in the winds or the weather. During your pre-tournament research be sure to map out the "best of the rest" of second and third-choice locations not only as a precaution for changes in environmental conditions but also as a precaution for the ever-present changes in fish behavior.
When you find your preferred spots during practice be careful not to over work them. Yes, it will fly in the face of your every instinct, but do whatever you can to NOT catch the fish. Shake them loose if possible and save them for tournament day.
There are huge advantages to finding great spots before tournament day, but remember that you are just working to locate the fish, not catch them. You would be shooting yourself in the foot by over working a good spot during practice, so you should try everything you can to get the fish off the hook instead of catching them. Understandably, this goes against your every instinct - I didn't say it would be easy but it will be advantageous.
Finally, make sure all your equipment is in working order. Organize your lures, put fresh line on your reels, sharpen your hooks and prep your boat the night before. This will save you valuable time on the water. Prepare any special rigs you may want to use in advance and have them ready and waiting in your dry box. Time is important during a tournament so the more you can save by preparing early, the better off you'll be.
Do your research, gather plenty of information, apply your knowledge and sign up for your next tournament with confidence. Sure, luck will always be a factor in fishing, but the ratio improves with knowledge and experience. Follow these tips for preparation, and don't forget your lucky cap, and before you know it you'll be in the prize money.
The first step toward a livewell full of victory is to know your opponent. Bass, for example, are a very popular tournament target. There are only three things that bass absolutely must have to survive and they are food, oxygen and cover. That sounds easy enough to deal with until you factor in all the different environmental influences that effect their behavior which can change yearly, seasonally, monthly, daily, hourly and even by the minute if you want to get technical. Some of the influential factors include, but are not limited to, vegetation, water depth, temperature and clarity, underwater structures for cover, oxygen content, pressure changes and weather.
Next, get to know the waters your fishing in. A map of the lake is a great place to start and a topographical map is even better. Make a call to an area marina and see if there is a guide available for hire to give you a tour of the lake and fishing hot spots - make sure tournament rules allow it first. You can also gain a wealth of knowledge and tips from speaking to resident patrons of the lake who can give you a verbal tour of highlights and local fishing trends. Look at the recent weather history for any significant changes that would impact fish behavior such as heavy rains which would affect water clarity near run-offs or strong fronts which could affect water temperature.
It's an excellent idea to choose alternate locations as back-up in case conditions suddenly change prior to or during the tournament. Fishing the more sheltered areas of the lake may be necessary due to changes in the winds or the weather. During your pre-tournament research be sure to map out the "best of the rest" of second and third-choice locations not only as a precaution for changes in environmental conditions but also as a precaution for the ever-present changes in fish behavior.
When you find your preferred spots during practice be careful not to over work them. Yes, it will fly in the face of your every instinct, but do whatever you can to NOT catch the fish. Shake them loose if possible and save them for tournament day.
There are huge advantages to finding great spots before tournament day, but remember that you are just working to locate the fish, not catch them. You would be shooting yourself in the foot by over working a good spot during practice, so you should try everything you can to get the fish off the hook instead of catching them. Understandably, this goes against your every instinct - I didn't say it would be easy but it will be advantageous.
Finally, make sure all your equipment is in working order. Organize your lures, put fresh line on your reels, sharpen your hooks and prep your boat the night before. This will save you valuable time on the water. Prepare any special rigs you may want to use in advance and have them ready and waiting in your dry box. Time is important during a tournament so the more you can save by preparing early, the better off you'll be.
Do your research, gather plenty of information, apply your knowledge and sign up for your next tournament with confidence. Sure, luck will always be a factor in fishing, but the ratio improves with knowledge and experience. Follow these tips for preparation, and don't forget your lucky cap, and before you know it you'll be in the prize money.
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