Pond Tournament Practice Advice

[Jyzurp]

Hi everyone. I live in southeast Massachusetts and I'm fishing a local tournament on a smaller body of water in late April. I'm looking for any and all advice on how to approach practice fishing this lake. I've never fished here before but I know that it is just over 100 acres with max depth of 14 ft and an average depth of 8ft. I'm guessing based off other similar water in the area that visibility is about 2-4 ft. The lake is frozen now and it still probably be March before I can get on it which gives me about 6 weeks before the tournament. Because it's a smaller water I'm concerned about over fishing it while practicing. I don't want to hip too many bass to my patterns but I also want to figure the place out. Any tips, advice, or suggested links would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone

[jhoffman]

Map out the spots you want to look at so you dont waste time during practice. Also, if youre fishing it near the tournament date dont sit there and stick the fish in the holes you intend to fish tournament time.

[Jyzurp]

I plan to cut some hooks and take trebles off my hard baits so I can find bites without sticking the fish. Probably gonna switch to no hooks at least 2 weeks prior to tournament.

[WIGuide]

I would suggest getting on it as soon as possible. Go ahead and catch a few. 6 weeks before a tourney is longer than you need to worry about sticking a fish. Find out what the average size fish is so you know what it will take to win. Also, after you do that pick out spots not where the fish are at that time, but look where they're going to spawn and draw the line on how they are going to get from where they are to where they will spawn. I'm not sure entirely what type of conditions you are going to have at the end of April over there, but I'd be guessing the bass will be setting up in a prespawn pattern. If there is a lake or pond nearby that's similar do the rest of your prefishing on there. Keep an eye on what the fish are doing there and although it will change a little from lake to lake, it'll be close enough to the other lake that when the tournament rolls around you'll have a pretty good idea what the bass are doing an what they'll be keying on. Match that with the knowledge of the lake you're fishing and you'll have a pretty good game plan.