OK I've read, I've talked to some people and now I would like to know how you practice for tournaments. I am kinda of new to tournament fishing and would like some pointers on how you practice for a tournament. Example I have a tournament this coming weekend. How do I practice for it. I will be on the water at least 3 days this week. Thanks. Glen
Eliminate water. Find waters that fish to my strengths. Pretty simple for me. But I'm not on an elite tournament trail by any means. I guess I just try to keep it simple for me and have fun.
If it's familiar water, I wouldn't bother any of your regular hotspots - if they are hotspots, then you know there are fish there. Go search places you don't usually fish. Try to find new hotspots, paying particular attention to the depth of any active fish that you find. Don't stick very many.....they'll be much harder to catch on the weekend if you do.
When you find fish, look around the area for likely places they will go in the event of a cold front or other change in the weather (nearby drop-offs, heavy cover, etc.). When the weather changes, and it always does, you'll already have a plan!
DONT stick a bunch of fish. Its ok to catch a few but shake off most bites.
treat the lake like a new on in the spring, look at your conditions, study the map, and go where you think would be good spots to fish. You can always hit your usual spots, but i normally save the ones i think will be good for tourney day, fall back stuff. Go out and find a pattern, don't worry about sticking fish. If you're on the right pattern, there should be plenty of fish reloaded on the particular spot. Day prior, I catch a few fish and move, catch a few and move. Don't just set there and wear em' out, but catch enough to get a good feel for what the fish are doing and how they are positioning. If you have changing weather, you will still have to adapt to what the fish do/or will do for the particular day. My prefishing is more to check out water clarity, temp. and where the fish are in their yearly cycle, Josh
If it's a totally new body of water I start with internet searches, looking for maps or previous tournament results. When I get to the lake I will spend most of the day with the gas mtor running at idle as I run the shoreline and the first or second drop-off looking for structure. When I see a set-back I will investigate it using binoculars and if it looks interesting I will idle in to see how deep it runs and any features that look like will hold fish. I have run almost empty several times as I do this.
Once I mark structre, points, docks, over-hanging trees, brush, etc. I will go back and sample the area. This will frustrate my buddies who want to just cast away all day long waiting for a bite, I like to find spots or at least eliminate spots for tournament day. As someone else said, when you return for the next tournament look for new stuff, have faith in your good spots and stay off them.
I works well for me.
1989 Champion 184 DCR / 1989 Evinrude 150XP
For me...The best thing i have found is to not pre fish
http://Www.propatterns.com
This is how to practice
if you happen to find fish during practice- dont over fish them, just 'checking' them, use what youve found, and try and expand the pattern elsewhere....if its your home waters, of course, check what usually is good, but always try and fish new water, its the only to find new fish
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bassinthegrass »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">http://Www.propatterns.com
This is how to practice</td></tr></table>
Remember the past but dont get stuck in it. Once you figure a pattern spend the day refining it. dont worry about catching a bunch of fish just finding similar places.
Thank's for all the help gonna give it a try this week as soon as the snow melts. 60 degrees on Sat and 3 in. of snow on Sunday go figure. Again, thanks. any and all advice appreciated. "still learning"
For me nothing that's works for prefishing works the day of the tx.
I like to spend the 1st day doing what I want to do. OR, figuring out where they are and catching a few.
Spend the 2nd day and any other pre-fish days making sure they are not anywhere else.
IF I had 3 pre-fish days, I want to catch the 1st day, then spend the next two days without a bite.
If I don't find "anything" the 1st day, I'm usually in trouble.
I think the new secret color is "A-Rig"..........
Go catch a few the week prior to see if one area is holding better fish that another.
Eric Gandy
Most of the guys I fish against just use the old cell phone for practice. They have the best schools located prior to the tournament and throw the A-rig all day. I am more of a traditionalist. I prefer to fish long practice days trying various baits and types of locations based on the time of year. Usually after a long day or two, I have it narrowed down to two or three baits and types of watrer. My most gratifying days are when I can run a pattern at numerous locations on a lake and consistently catch fish.
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by JerryT »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> For me...The best thing i have found is to not pre fish
Same here .
アルは、非常に良い人です。
Yeah, it seems like I always win practice.
Start with this, be as open minded as absolutely possible! And I learned something over the years, a bass doesnt know the name of any particular bait. What I mean is dont let say a" Frog" (Topwater bait) deter you from trying it at any given time when the book says it wont work. The bass does'nt say to himself thats a "frog" up there and the water is cold so I'm not gonna hit that bait. It's a matter of presentation, size, speed, water displacement and how he sees it. I'm sure there are plenty of guys who have caught buzz bait fish while it was snowing. Too many times I've practiced and thought "No Way they're gona hit a spinnerbait or swimbait and then someone comes in with a fat sack on the baits you thought were a no go!
Take your seasonal patterns first and water temp and always try reaction baits first. And give them a fair chance. Dont make 30 cast and say their not bitting it. Like Iaconelli told me once ( Fish the moment). And remeber what some of the guys said here it changes bye Tourney day so..............keep the wheels turning!
Good Luck!
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