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A Question To All Tournament Anglers

2K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  Paul Blair 
#1 ·
I just fished my first tournament and lets just say it didn't turn out to well. I was on a unfamiliar lake, and I tried to do my research but it obviously wasn't enough. I just was wondering how do you approach an unfamiliar lake (technique, location, bait, etc.)? I come back to fish the same lake March 15th for a SC High School State Tournament.
 
#2 ·
most of the unfamiliar lakes i fished this year with our club i was able to pre-fish but still had limited success on some, others it paid off big time. looked for: 1. structure , particularly ones that had deeper water nearby. 2.baitfish 3. break areas in water temp and clarity 4. since all i fished were TVA lakes, i looked at generation schedules and topo maps looking for interesting offshore humps and flats 5. feeder creeks , submerged springs and rivers

i found the structure for this one by accident while pre-fishing. i looked for 5-10 good places when i pre-fished. structure i fished first didn't give up a single keeper
 

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#3 ·
I fish them same as lakes that I do know, google earth and good maps are the first things I look at to get game plan. I find area's on the map that compare to what I'm used to fishing and I go from there. I seen another post on here about keeping logs, I also keep logs, but I keep 2 log books, mine and others. If somebody has brought 10 pounds more than others to the scales I keep up with it, I want to know why they did as good as they did or why I was so far off. I have been tourn fishing for 28 yrs I'm never to old to learn something new. New lake use to intimidate me, they don't anymore. I like heavy structure, trees, grass etc. The first time I went to a lake that didn't have any of that I freaked. But learned structure is still there and I can still fish it same way. If your style of fishing works for ya on lakes you know it will work on those you don't. This is a good topic, and take notes of any advice given.
 
#4 ·
I will use google earth to get a looksie at what the lake looks like. Talk to friends that may of fished it and see what they have to say. ( Friends that wont lie to you lol ) Also ask on this website... Then I will try to pre-fish it a time or two.
 
#5 ·
Most of the lakes I fish are basically the same, the big difference is size so much of what works at one will work at another. The only problem is finding the areas that hold fish. From year to year the areas tend to be the same but the search continues for new areas.
Rodney
 
#6 ·
honestly the more i prepare, the more i get locked into what i think is going on rather than what is.
I have switched over to getting a look at the lake for depth, weeds etc. rigging up lures to work top , mid, bottom, and just going out and being observant. Fish the day. See what other guys are doing and fish it your way if you get stuck possibly. i see too many people get stuck on what they think should be working and what actually is. having said that, most big weights come from guys flipping, and guys fishing deep. just gotta fish your strengths , and almost forget its a tourney. just go fish and follow your instincts, make up the plan as you go.
 
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