Upcoming Tournament on a Heavily-Pressured, Small Lake

[Junk Fisherman]

Just curious how you guys would approach this scenario.  Would you camp out in a couple areas or constantly move around even knowing that there will people everywhere?  I know a few productive areas that fish to my strengths where I should be able to get a few keepers maybe even a small limit which I would consider a success.  On a slow day earlier this week I caught a number of keepers and feel confident that fish will be there this Saturday.  Would you start with your numbers, finesse baits right from the start or use traditional sunrise, powerfishing tactics looking for active fish and then move to finesse later?  The number of people fishing and the anticipated pressure versus my limited knowledge of the lake is why I stumped on my strategy for the tournament.  I signed up for the this tournament since I was available but didn't realize that I would be playing bumper-boats on a such a small, pressured lakes.  Could be a long 8 hours.  Any thoughts are appreciated.  
 

[DitchPanda]

Well if it was me and I was faced with a scenario where keepers will go a long way id probably go to my confidence area with finesse if I thought I could get a limit early. A limit would put you way ahead of A lot of guys if the pressure is really gonna be that high . After I got a limit id switch gears and just hit high percentage areas with something like a big jig and a buzzbait looking for a kicker.

[slonezp]

I've fished highly pressured waters for a long time. Afflicted with Arron Martens syndrome, I have never placed better than 2nd place. Were I in your scenario, I'd be jumping around. 

[dodgeguy]

I'd try to get the early active bite then switch later.

[Bass Ninja]

While I'm not an experienced tournament angler, one piece of information that really helped me was something I saw on youtube from a really good fisherman. He said on small pressured lakes, go about the same distance off the bank that most people do, but instead of casting towards the shore and hitting all the normal spots, cast into deeper water and slowly work a chatterbait or spinnerbait or whatever else you feel confident in using as a search bait. He said most people go around, beat the bank all the way around the lake and call it a day. After awhile, the fish figured out the most unpressured part is the middle of the lake. Well, I gave it a shot last year in 2 tournaments on similar lakes, and I won the first, and came in 3rd the next tournament. The first time I tried it, I was in my kayak with no electronics, and there was a bass boat beating the bank following me. We're both about the same distance off the shore, but I'm casting into deeper water. 30 minutes in I caught the big one that ended up sealing the win for me. So now when I fish those lakes in a tournament, I only cast towards the bank if I'm the first boat there. If not, I make myself cast towards the middle. 

[frogflogger]

I would cover water fast - topwater for me - looking for any aggressive fish then get out the ned rig or finesse of your choice.

[Todd2]

13 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 I know a few productive areas that fish to my strengths where I should be able to get a few keepers maybe even a small limit which I would consider a success. 

I'm not a tournament guy but I think you answered your own question above. Confidence in an area and technique is huge. My 2 cents, probably worth less than that...lol

[WVU-SCPA]

Will be in a similar situation this weekend.

 

Current plan is to jump 3-4 spots looking for active fish in the first 60-90 minutes.  After that it will be hours of grinding a 50 yard area that has producing a better class of fish. 

 

Predicted storms could change this.

[Junk Fisherman]

53 minutes ago, WVU-SCPA said:

Will be in a similar situation this weekend.

 

Current plan is to jump 3-4 spots looking for active fish in the first 60-90 minutes.  After that it will be hours of grinding a 50 yard area that has producing a better class of fish. 

 

Predicted storms could change this.

 

We have predicted rain and possible thunderstorms.  I am hoping it is nasty to keep the fair weather fishermen home.

[BassNJake]

18 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

Just curious how you guys would approach this scenario.  Would you camp out in a couple areas or constantly move around even knowing that there will people everywhere?  I know a few productive areas that fish to my strengths where I should be able to get a few keepers maybe even a small limit which I would consider a success.  On a slow day earlier this week I caught a number of keepers and feel confident that fish will be there this Saturday.  Would you start with your numbers, finesse baits right from the start or use traditional sunrise, powerfishing tactics looking for active fish and then move to finesse later?  The number of people fishing and the anticipated pressure versus my limited knowledge of the lake is why I stumped on my strategy for the tournament.  I signed up for the this tournament since I was available but didn't realize that I would be playing bumper-boats on a such a small, pressured lakes.  Could be a long 8 hours.  Any thoughts are appreciated.  
 

Good question.

My approach in this scenario is to hit your best water first.

There's a chance you cant get on it whenever you want so I'd start there first.

 

Most tourneys I have a 1st or nothing else counts attitude and I'm just looking for big bites, but knowing its going to be pressured and its on a small lake would lead me to camping out on my most productive area throwing a variety of baits from various angles and letting baits sit longer than normal. 

[RoLo]

25 minutes ago, BassNJake said:

 

My approach in this scenario is to hit your best water first.

There's a chance you cant get on it whenever you want so I'd start there first.

 

Agreed;

In local tourneys, I used to save the best for last, as though I was eating a steak dinner.

Today, I head ‘straight’ to my best holding site, even if it’s the farthest waypoint from the ramp.

If it’s close to the ramp, so much the better, then it gets hit going out & coming back.

 

Roger

[Junk Fisherman]

Stuck to my main area and caught a limit for 13.5 lbs which was good enough for 2nd place.  Winner had a little over 15 lbs.  Happy with the results.  

[Wildbillb]

Fantastic