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