| There are certain tactics that give a | | | | on. Most of the fish in lakes that are highly |
| tournament fisherman an edge over the other | | | | pressured by recreational and tournament |
| competitors, and produce a win. Sometimes | | | | anglers for years and years, become |
| just doing a little extra homework and | | | | conditioned to certain baits. There are |
| preparation is all it takes. Planning, | | | | always fish that can be caught on |
| practice, and confidence are the keys factors | | | | conventional baits such as spinnerbaits, |
| that helped us win local, state, club, and | | | | worms, and jerkbaits, but these generally are |
| regional tournaments consistently while | | | | the fish that don't win tournaments. You can |
| working our way up the ranks of competitive | | | | come in with a decent bag of five fish |
| bass fishing. Here are some of the most | | | | weighing ten to thirteen pounds, but it |
| important things to do to prepare yourself | | | | generally doesn't get you a check except in |
| mentally and physically for the | | | | some local and club tournaments. The larger |
| challenge.MENTAL AND PHYSICAL | | | | fish, the from five and six pounds up,are |
| PREPARATIONBefore you even can consider | | | | usually caught on baits such as "Snag Proof" |
| embarking on a tournament trail, or even | | | | frogs, prop baits, walking baits, and other |
| local, and club events, you must be in good | | | | types of new freak baits, such as a "Sweet |
| physical condition. This involves being able | | | | Beaver". Jigs will always take some of the |
| to lift, bend, twist, and move in a variety | | | | better fish, but will not always win. Old |
| of positions, without getting injured. Many | | | | style topwaters, such as a Devils Horse, |
| people think that fishing is a leisurely | | | | Dying Flutters, and others, take many large |
| sport, but in order to be in top shape for | | | | bass. Let me emphasize though, that I like to |
| winning tournaments, you must prepare ahead | | | | get a limit in the boat first before pursuing |
| of time. We not only eat and sleep properly, | | | | that big "kicker" fish!Creek Chubs, Zara |
| but do regular physical workouts, to get in | | | | Spooks, Lucky Craft "Sammy's", Jitterbugs, |
| good shape to lift equipment, jump from the | | | | and others, take more quality fish than you |
| front and back of boats, maintain good | | | | can imagine, due to the fact that they are |
| balance, have quick reflexes, and be able to | | | | fooled by the baits they just don't see. Of |
| go long periods of time, without wasting time | | | | course, there are specific ways to work these |
| eating and drinking. Being able to jump down | | | | baits, that will produce the better fish, |
| to your knees quickly, and maneuvering many | | | | even if you are using the same baits as |
| directions efficiently can mean the | | | | another angler, and that is the trick.Recent |
| difference in winning or losing. One lost | | | | studies just out this year in 2005, indicate |
| fish can mean the difference in first place | | | | that bass may learn and remember lures they |
| and last place many times. Not only do we | | | | were caught on much longer than previously |
| work out physically to prepare, but we | | | | thought. The new research indicates that bass |
| practice our techniques in the off season as | | | | can remember up to six weeks, so this really |
| well.In the winter, and all times of the year | | | | comes into play when fishing heavily |
| in between tournaments, we practice our | | | | pressured lakes.When casting to structure |
| flipping, pitching, and casting techniques. | | | | with a topwater bait, dead sticking, and |
| In the colder months we set up boxes, | | | | casting directly to the target, and not past |
| simulate docks to practice pitching and | | | | it, can be critical. Patience and steady |
| flipping, and cast to targets in the yard. | | | | nerves are required to do this properly. |
| Knowing your equipment like the back of your | | | | Deadsticking a bait is an extremely effective |
| hand, and being able to quickly execute a | | | | way to win a tournament on highly pressured |
| maneuver is critical in a tournament. | | | | waters such as Table Rock Lake and many other |
| Practicing all techniques constantly is vital | | | | highly pressured impoundments. In colder |
| in giving you the confidence that you need to | | | | water, this is extremely important also. You |
| win when you get to the tournament. Being | | | | should let a Senko or other bait such as a |
| able to control your emotions, and relax in | | | | fluke or "Sizmic Flugo" fall weightless for a |
| the prior days and nights can give you an | | | | long time by the structure, without giving it |
| edge over the more inexperienced anglers. | | | | any movement at all. Suspending Jerkbaits |
| Most tournament pros even at intermediate | | | | worked in this manner also produce the bigger |
| levels are at the top of their game, and take | | | | bass in pressured waters. Don't give the bait |
| it very seriously, so a slight edge can mean | | | | to much action, and let it sit for a long |
| a great deal. The people who can maintain | | | | time in between movements. This is the |
| their composure and confidence, and can stick | | | | key.TIME MANAGEMENTYou must learn how to |
| to their game plans under pressure, are the | | | | manage your time properly also, as you have |
| ones that consistently place in the | | | | to be thorough with the baits, but know when |
| rankings.STUDYING THE COMPETITION SITEBefore | | | | to switch and when to move. Plan this out in |
| we even start to prefish the lakes or rivers, | | | | advance and be able to adjust to the water |
| we obtain all the information we can in the | | | | conditions and mood of the fish that day, as |
| way of lake maps, topographical maps, | | | | things can change rapidly from one day to the |
| baitfish, and lake conditions from a variety | | | | next on a body of water, especially when a |
| of sources. Talking to anglers at the lake | | | | clod front moves through. Practice at all |
| and local tackle shops can sometimes reveal | | | | times of the year, when the weather is bad, |
| some interesting information. By no means, do | | | | and cold, odds are, that many tournament days |
| what they say dictate what our plans will be, | | | | will be in the rain and wind. You need to |
| but it is another tool to use in planning a | | | | know how to catch these fish under adverse |
| strategy for the lake. Knowing the lake age, | | | | conditions, not just fair weather. Plan your |
| composition of the bottom, structure, both | | | | trips when the weather is poor. It's the only |
| natural and manmade, along with water | | | | way the learn what to do. You must get |
| quality, fertility, and oxygen levels, all | | | | practice in real tournament conditions. Make |
| come into play when deciding how to start | | | | sure you time your run to the spots, and |
| pre-fishing the lake. Contacting local | | | | spend your time wisely there. Make as many |
| guides, and having some experience on the | | | | casts as you can until the very last minute, |
| body of water all help, although sometimes | | | | and then open it up and get back as quickly |
| this isn't always possible.When we start to | | | | as you can. You need to practice driving your |
| prefish the lake before a tournament, we | | | | boat in bad weather, under rough conditions, |
| break the lake down into sections. We | | | | and at high speeds, if you really want to |
| eliminate the unproductive water for that | | | | win.PRACTICE LANDING BIG FISHYou should try |
| time of year, and then section it off on | | | | to join a private lake and a club, or make |
| maps. We pick the most likely locations where | | | | trips to Mexico, Texas, Florida, and wherever |
| the fish should be holding for the water | | | | else you can experience fighting and landing |
| temperature and lake conditions, and then | | | | a lot of larger fish. Confidence is the key |
| make a complete run around the lake to view | | | | to success in this business. You must have |
| it physically before fishing.We start by | | | | the confidence in your ability to land big |
| looking for sandbars, points, humps, | | | | fish without getting overly excited. This is |
| structure, laydowns, grass beds, etc., all | | | | hard to do, so as much practice as you can |
| the time watching the shoreline in the area | | | | get doing this before entering major |
| for contours to indicate dropoffs and other | | | | tournaments is a definite plus! A big part of |
| structure. After surveying the lake, we then | | | | this game is mental. You must learn how to to |
| section off several of the best possible | | | | maintain a high level of concentration also. |
| locations, and start fishing there. First | | | | Don't pay attention to other things other |
| starting with a search bait, such as a | | | | than your line, the lure, and the fish. |
| spinnerbait, buzzbait, and a crankbait for | | | | Ignore other anglers and spectators that are |
| active fish. We mark the locations of where | | | | close by. Keep your focus, and stick to your |
| the active fish are on the GPS, and move on | | | | game plan. Don't try to show off. That comes |
| to the next spot. We never stick more than | | | | later at the weigh in with a twenty pound |
| two fish in an area. Sometimes we fish the | | | | bag!Maintain and use the best quality |
| baits without any hooks in them, and when | | | | equipment that you can get. This plays a big |
| they hit you just pull it away from them. Try | | | | part in confidence also. It doesn't always |
| to find three good sections of the lake with | | | | have to be the very highest quality |
| decent fish first, before exploring further | | | | equipment, but you must have confidence in |
| for the kicker fish. You can go back to these | | | | it, and in your own ability to use it |
| areas later the next day, and slow down to | | | | properly. Sometimes I go through thirty |
| find the fish that you need to win. Sometimes | | | | crankbaits and jerkbaits before I find the |
| early in the year bass will stage on a single | | | | best ones. Don't neglect the basics either. |
| piece of cover as small as a stick or blade | | | | Learn how to tie all the proper knots for the |
| of grass. It doesn't even have to be real | | | | baits you are using, and use the highest |
| structure sometimes, they just hold next to | | | | quality hooks available. I can't stress this |
| it. Most of the time, the larger bass, five | | | | enough. Follow these guidelines, and get out |
| pounds and up, are alone. They occupy the | | | | and practice as much as you can, and your |
| structure in the area by themselves, rarely | | | | recreational fishing as well as tournament |
| schooling with fish of the same | | | | fishing will improve drastically.1998 Big |
| size.UNCONVENTIONAL BAITSMost pros won't | | | | Bass World Champ/book author,tournament |
| reveal what they really catch the larger fish | | | | angler, and professional guide. |