Can't Prefishing 4 A Tournament!

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

I have been fishing in a club for a few years now and have noticed how much prefishing helps the other anglers win. Only problem is with a wife and kids youngest being 3 months old fishing every other weekends tournaments is all the free time I have. There is no time in my schedule for prefishing. The only information I have is whatever I learn the last time I was out. Let me add this little tid bit of information, I have on very few occasions had the opportunity to attempt prefishing 2 days before a tournament and got on a strong jig pattern, only to find out 2 days later that the pattern flopped. I know what you are thinking I went out and sore lipped them. Not the case once I figured out the pattern I moved on, I tried it in a few more spots got bit caught "A" fish and left. I guess my main question is how do you handle tournaments when you have not prefished? I know I can not be the only one that does not get to get out and prefish before a tournament.

 

I know to look for seasonal patterns of LMB and start there, but I feel like I am missing the bus on something. Even when I am throwing the same bait as everyone else ( and its usually a bait I have fished and caught fish on) I just am not having the same luck. Any lil private tips would be appreciated PM me to keep the cat in the bag

"wink wink"

 

Jay-

[Zseen]

I wish i could help ya. The deal is you will do better in the tournament if you prefish. I had a tournament at Pickwick lake, got there day before tournament and spent several hours locating fish. long story short, I finished second place and had big fish. 

 

Last weekend we had another tournament at a lake that was only 45 mins away and I fish it regular. I felt that prefishing this lake was dumb cause I know how to fish this lake... BULLS@#$. The day was cold, rainy and windy. The water was 51 - 52.5 degrees, I just knew the bass would be hanging in 4 to 6ft of water waiting to move up. Well I got my butt kicked and most of the guys fished 2ft water and caught nice sacks. If I would of prefished this I would of known my deep bite was not there and could of tried something else. 

 

I have several tournaments that I can't prefish, and when this happens I research as much as I can, but it still is not the same. 

[Koofy Smacker]

its tough but you basically have to learn as the day goes along. Look at water temp, water clarity, wind, sun and work from there. This usually takes away a lot of unproductive water before you leave the ramp. Think about those conditions and what worked last time you fished very similar conditions. Have rods rigged up with everything different, and just grind it out until you find fish.

Usually covering water and moving fast is how Ill start to see if I cant get o active fish, and if that doesnt work slow down and pick the area apart that you think looks productive

[jhoffman]

If you live close enough, you can prefish, you just have to do it when you dont think you have time. Its just like hunting, if I only hunted weekends, I would do very little. I have a family too and my state doesnt allow sunday hunting. But... in spring and early fall, I can have her take the boy to daycare and I can hunt an hour or two in the morning. Sure, it might not be ideal to get up at 4am, go to the lake, launch and fish for an hour to pull out and go to work, but its better than nothing. Or... go after they go to bed.

[Bass Dude]

In a way, not pre-fishing can be beneficial.  If you have ever heard of the saying "fishing the moment" then that's exactly what you're doing.  You're fishing the fish that day with the weather conditions you're in.  It does no good to fish a week before when it's 70 degrees and sunny, then when the tourney comes around, it's 40 degrees and pouring rain.  Also, sometimes you can get hung up on what you were doing a week ago, and most likely come tourney time, the fish are doing something totally different.  Especially, this time of year, when the conditions change so much and the fish are moving a lot more.  Case and point, the jig bite you explained you found, then a couple days later, it was gone.  Pre-fishing did nothing to help you in that case.

 

Pre--fishing can be beneficial, especially on a lake you haven't been to.  However, it can also be a hindrance for the reasons I stated above.  Use your knowlege of fish location, consider the conditions and just fish.  You'll be amazed at what you can do by going with your intuition.

 

Another idea, pre-fishing isn't just going to the lake.  At least find some time for map study.  Look at your map in conjunction with google earth or whatever satellite website you like and locate some spots you think fish would be.  Set up a 'loose' plan and go with it.  At least you don't go in totally blind.

 

I did this for a tourney where I hadn't been to the lake until the day of the tourney....I finished third!

 

[slonezp]

In my club, the guys normally in the money are out pre-fishing.  A few years ago, I was off work for the entire spring and summer due to having surgery. I spent 2-3 days pre-fishing before tourneys. We placed better, and won more money that year than any other. BUT time and time again my "money" fish are caught in my regular spots. The best thing pre-fishing has done for me is help me rule out non productive water. I would rather figure that out pre-fishing than wasting time on T day.

[mjseverson24]

If you dont get a chance to get out to a lake to prefish, generaly the best way to approach the day would be a run and gun approach. have atleast 15-20 spots picked out maybe many more. then do what some of the other guys have said and just go fishing in the moment.  Make the most out of the day by using search baits. once you find active fish slow down and try and find the quality size you need to finish well in the tourney. Main idea is to cover water. if you dont feel like flying all ove the lake there is another approach. pick three point/ humps/ weedbeds etc... pick up the dropshot and have it. If you dont catch a decent limit on the dropshot it would probabily be a tough touney for most. 

 

Mitch

[ww2farmer]

Some of the best guys on the local opens scene don't pre-fish much if at all. They just show up, do what they do, and take home money. Not saying that it's not a valuable tool, especially on unfamiliar bodies of water. But if they are bodies of water you know, often times just winging it and fishing the moment instead of memories can be a blessing in disguise.

[Felix77]

I am in the same boat as you buddy.  With 4 kids it's tough to spend any time prefishing tournaments.  Last year I went the entire season without prefishing.  It's even tougher for me because I am a co-angler.  When my partners pre-fish I generally can't commit to getting out.

 

So what do I do ... I definitely start with a gameplan.  Talk to as many trusted friends as I can about the waters and the conditions.  I prep with lures for those conditions but I also keep a well stocked tacklebag to get me through other conditions which may arise.  When tournament day comes all you can do is trust what you see (water temp, water clarity, weather, etc.) and fish accordingly.  Junk fish for a while until you catch a pattern.  Exhaust that pattern and repeat.

 

Stick with high confidence stuff and it should work out for you in most cases.

 

This was a hard lesson for me to learn last season.  I spent too much time thinking and retying last season and not enough time fishing.

 

Hope this helps.

[J Francho]

"Junk fishing" is probably one of the better plans for a co-angler/non boater. Pick four or five things you know you can do well, and apply them as the situation arises. I can't tell you how many times I caught fish out of the back of the boat on a drop shot off the deep side, only to back it up with another on a spinnerbait, shallow. I sometimes think the guy in the back actually covers more water than the guy up front, especially if they are a bank beater. I know now, as a boater, I always pay attention to the guy in the back, to see if they come up with something better than what I'm doing.