Fisher_King:

#1. Don’t spend a lot of time in one spot fishing Soft Plastics or “slower” lures. Unless your totally convinced there are fish on a shoreline, try to manage your time from one area to the next. I give any/all shorelines at least 10-15 minutes. Even if I think there might be fish there I will either slowly move down the shore, (away from the spot), and circle back OR pick-up and move.

Managing your TIME is one of the main key’s to fishing Bass tourney’s.

#2. Learn to fish “searching” or “reaction strike” lures WELL. “Finding active fish” is more important than just “marking fish” or “knowing they are there”. Use “searching” or “reaction strike” lures such as Rattle Traps, Cranks, Spinnerbaits, Swimming Jigs, to find active fish. If you hit a 30-50 yard area and catch 3-5 fish, SLOW DOWN, circle back, and THEN use your Soft Plastic’s to work the area thoroughly.

#3. PRE-fish!!!! Even if you think you know a lake like the back of your hand, it’s important to Pre-fish at least 1 day before the tourney. Pre-fishing will keep you in contact with the active fish and spots you’ve already discovered.

#4. Don’t always “finesse fish”! There is a time and place to finesse fish. There is a time and place to NOT finesse fish. The old adage, “Big lures catch bigger fish” is true. Know WHEN to fish those bigger lures and you will win more Tourneys.

Bottom-line- If your tackle-box only has 4 -6″ Worms and “finesse tackle” you need to cover all bases and purchase some larger lures.

Here are 4 basic tips. Hope they help ya? Good luck.

Tim:

Know your strengths, and stick to them. Many people have a rough start when they first begin fishing tournaments because of the pressure, and will start “throwing the kitchen sink” at them, instead of buckling down and fishing the way they know how.

In other words, a tournament is not the time to learn how to use that popper you’ve never tried before.
Have a game plan before you hit the water, and an alternate in case that plan isn’t going, or conditions change, but don’t go crazy reaching for everything in your tackle bag