Whats your strategy to find tournament winning fish?

[OKprofisher]

The trophy fish are in cover and are lazier than the smaller bass. The big bass wait for the baitfish to ambush their prey. 

[pawpaw]

I have gone into many tournaments confident that i was on winning fish only to find that things had changed over night, one way or another. Some days I was able to adjust and get back on them, other days I was not. I would say that most of my best finishes have been on days when I started out not exactly sure of what I needed to do to get on winning fish. I just kind of fished by the seat of my pants, let the day play out and made adjustments as the day progressed. This strategy is not ideal or one I would prefer but is the one I am usually faced with the most.

I guess what I'm saying is to prepare the best you can to get a strong pattern and even a back up pattern. Then don't get shook up if you have to throw it all away and junk fish. At least it should be a little easier to find where they went when you know where they were. If you don't get on anything in practice, stay calm and keep at it. Lucky beats good all the time.

[gulfcaptain]

#! Do your homework.  Find out as much as you can about the body of water you're fishing in.

#2 Fish in the present and not in the past.  Just because you caught them there before doesn't mean you will again especially if the lake has changed...IE weedbed then but not now, water down or up 25+ feet or more (S.CAL thing....lol) time of year.

#3 Have a stratagy, fish what the lake gives you and pay attention to the signs on the water.  If you were catching them in one place the day before and you go back and it doesn't feel right and conditions changed.....odds are it's time for plan B.  Have a plan B, C, D....etc.  Find different areas that hold fish and the baits that will catch them.  Find a pattern or two, or three.  Also try and have a plan where you're not running from one end of the lake to the other.  Have your areas planned out in advance as to what rotation you're going to fish them and if you have a finishing spot what time you need to leave your last spot by to give you time to get there and fish it.

#4 You get a limit in the boat, start fishing for the kickers.  Yes it's better to show up with 5 5llbers, but it's still better to show up with 5 2lbers then ZERO fish.  Once you get that limit in the boat it helps calm you down and lets you fish.  Means you're getting bites which will keep you fishing and your confidence up, lack of bites makes you second guess your fishing stratagy unless you know you can get 5 bites on th bait your fishing and are fine with that.....but remember those 5 bites have to count.  

Most important thing you can do is fish YOUR STRENGHTS.  Tournament days are not days to try something new.

And remember, If you panic you might as well take your boat to the ramp and go home because you're already out of the game.