Tournament Strategy

[KSanford33]

I'm fishing in my first tournament in a couple weeks, at Cayuga Lake, one of the finger lakes in NY. It's on a Saturday and there's roughly 30 people competing. Between those 30 and the regular weekend fishermen, I know the north end (which is known for bass) will be packed, so I'm thinking of fishing either the middle stretch or the southern end near Ithaca. 

 

 I've seen the Bassmaster series videos from there, but they're all from early summer, so I'm not sure how much would apply for a day that's scheduled to be in the 50's with water temperatures in the high 40's.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[DaubsNU1]

Following...as the temps here in Nebraska are looking very similar this weekend...

[J Francho]

I like the area called the "W" on west side near Rt. 124 near the preserve.

[EWREX]

i would target smallmouth and try to get a limit with hair jigs, ned rig, tubes, jerkbaits. look for rocky points and humps that are near deeper water

[KSanford33]

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I like the area called the "W" on west side near Rt. 124 near the preserve.

Thank you sir, but isn't the preserve on the eastern side, near Lansing? I grew up playing hockey in Lansing.

[J Francho]

4 minutes ago, EWREX said:

near deeper water

The entire lake is near deeper water, lol.

 

Here's the spot I'm talking about:

4 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

Thank you sir, but isn't the preserve on the eastern side, near Lansing? I grew up playing hockey in Lansing.

Look up Henry Hanley Preserve in google maps.

[KSanford33]

7 minutes ago, J Francho said:

The entire lake is near deeper water, lol.

 

Here's the spot I'm talking about:

Look up Henry Hanley Preserve in google maps.

Ah, my fault! Thank you sir. I thought you meant the cliffs preserve just north of Lansing.

[EWREX]

36 minutes ago, J Francho said:

The entire lake is near deeper water, lol.

 

Here's the spot I'm talking about:

Look up Henry Hanley Preserve in google maps.

haha i noticed that shortly after i visited navionics to look at the lake structure

[BassNJake]

1 hour ago, KSanford33 said:

I'm fishing in my first tournament in a couple weeks, at Cayuga Lake, one of the finger lakes in NY. It's on a Saturday and there's roughly 30 people competing. Between those 30 and the regular weekend fishermen, I know the north end (which is known for bass) will be packed, so I'm thinking of fishing either the middle stretch or the southern end near Ithaca. 

 

 I've seen the Bassmaster series videos from there, but they're all from early summer, so I'm not sure how much would apply for a day that's scheduled to be in the 50's with water temperatures in the high 40's.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Good luck!!