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