Tackle Choices Questions

[MikeOGNR]

Hello everyone im just wondering if i was to fish a tournament could i use abour 3 baits and still come out on top or do i have to get more vecasue i really only like fishing with 3 baits and they are all for largemouth bass since that is the fish i feel i should target for tournaments any advice would help

[collegefishing12]

Personally, I do not think a tournament can be won with less than 12 baits. I mean, look at KVD, Skeet, and all those guys. They have to have at least 20 rods on board at a time, and they win all the time.

[Sam]

Bait + Technique = Success

Techniques are based on many variables.

Baits are based on many variales.

If I was going to throw only three baits they would be:

Shaky Heads

Wacky Worms

Crankbaits

Now, the problem is what colors and depths do you need and line test is also a variable.

So drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Three baits is plenty...after all you can only fish one at a time. Especially if one of the three is a jig!!

[roadwarrior]

Hite won at Pickwick this year fishing the Berkley Hollow Belly exclusively.

http://blogs.tcpalm.com/ed_killer/2011/04/team-evinrudes-davy-hite-wins-bassmaster-elite-on-pickwick-denny-brauer-third.html

[collegefishing12]

I hope my earlier post was not taken seriously. As Roadwarrior properly pointed out, there are more than enough times were one or two baits win an entire tournament. If you are on fish and they like your presentation, there is no need to throw so many baits. However, if your having one of THOSE DAYS, it may take everything in the boat to catch a limit, including the crappie jig that you find snagged to a limb (plus your line) w/ 75 yards of 150lb braid from a bank fisherman.

Let the fish tell you how many baits to thrown, not your tackle box.

[MikeOGNR]

Well my Uncle is actually a semi proffessional fishermen and hes fished the flw tour way back in the day and i asked him what he uses and he told me all he uses to win most of the tournaments he competes in is a spider grub a carolina rigged lizard and the wacky worms but i dont understand what he does to find the fish and then catch them and he really is a jig fishermen persay because when i went fishing with him we mostly jigged all of those baits in about 10-20 ft of water but i cant determine whats a good spot and he fishes deep water also we catch alot of smallmouth any tips?

[Catt]

Better look again cause KVD, Skeet, and all those guys may have at least 20 rods on board at a time but they usually win with 2 maybe 3.

I’ve won tournaments with 1 rod, 1 lure, & 1 technique

[collegefishing12]

Better look again cause KVD, Skeet, and all those guys may have at least 20 rods on board at a time but they usually win with 2 maybe 3.

I’ve won tournaments with 1 rod, 1 lure, & 1 technique

see above clarification

[MikeOGNR]

what do you guys usually do for tournaments like how do you approach them?

[dhami013]

Study maps of the lake if you can find them. Also look at the lake from Google earth you can usually see where they may be some lay down trees, and shallower water.

Map out some places that look profitable. i.e. Drop offs.

Drop a thread on a local forum in that area and ask what baits they like to use on that lake. No one will give out their most dire secret but they might give you a place to start from.

When you do go out to fish the tournament. I would stick to what you have confidence in. Unless you've started practicing some new techniques and or baits and feel you could work them. Either way, confidence is key.

FOCUS! The day may be long and hard but it doesn't have to end that way. Sometimes waiting will pay off with a boat full of fish. You just have to make sure you pay attention to what you're doing. This way if you catch a fish you can figure out what you're doing, do that you can recreate what you just did. This leads to finding a pattern.

Good luck friend

[MikeOGNR]

the one thing i dont understand though is how to identify a drop off and such on a map and also what type of map i would need and shouldi try to target a species of bass like my uncle mostly goes for smallmouths and he catches a limit but he also catches big ones so he comes out on top any ideas?

[Siebert Outdoors]

IMO, yes. Around here you can bet on 3 lures. DD22, jig, shaky head. Thats about all that is thrown. The 4th would be a t rigged 10" worm. Other then that not much else is used.

[MikeOGNR]

Anyone here also no how to read lake maps like ones that have contour lines

[Punkinseedfyretailz]

i would have at least 5 rods with me. topwater (rapala walk), wacky worms(yum dinger or trigger x spadetails), shakey head(trigger x spadetail 1/8oz shakey jig), rattle trap (aruku shad, xcalibur), crankbait(bomber a squarebill or little john).

[Punkinseedfyretailz]

the one thing i dont understand though is how to identify a drop off and such on a map and also what type of map i would need and shouldi try to target a species of bass like my uncle mostly goes for smallmouths and he catches a limit but he also catches big ones so he comes out on top any ideas?

get a topo map. the closer the depth lines the steeper the grade. the farther apart they are the decline is less dramatic. the closer the intervals of depth the better, my maps show 5 ft intervals 3ft, 8,ft, 13 etc.... another good way to know where steep drops are is in the terrain around you, if the bank is part of a hill then chances are under the water it continues to drop rapidly. if the bank is relatively flat then the lake bottom probably is too

[MikeOGNR]

any of you guys use

1. carolina rigged lizards

2. wacky worms

3. and yammoto hula grub or spider grub

my uncle tells me those are all he uses to get on top of the weigh ins he just one 5000 grand at his last tournament with a weigh in of 26.4 pounds and 8 fish total

[MikeOGNR]

so what makes a good map for certain lakes and also when im reading these maps should i only look for drop offs or should i look for something more?

[dhami013]

Google earth for some lay downs, or structure on or near the shore. Drop offs by looking at a topographic map if they have one. Look for steep grades on a topo map. Some deep flats on the topo too, if you have a fish finder, cruise around a deep flat and see if you can find a structure pile. Then hit it with a shaky head, jigs, t-rig, c-rig. Anything you can really slow down with.

I'm just now getting onto bigger waters and it honestly just takes time on the water. There have been times where I've gone out and tried to do everything I've been told by everyone and haven't caught much. But then there's also been times where what people told me really paid off.

And the only way these people know these things is because they have spent days at a time on the water, learning things.

Keep practicing, keep studying, and keep reading articles on this website. My buddy and I have become much better anglers from just this website and going out and practicing it.

This is by far the best resource for fishing I have ever encountered. So read up my friend and good luck.

[Jigfishn10]

In my opinion, if you like and know only 3 baits, why would you go into a tourney and start experimenting with different lures and techniques? Why not fish what you have confidence in?

[RoLo]

The answer is Yes, you could get by with just 3 different lures, but the odds are not in your favor.

Tourney pros realize that they're toting far more tackle than they'll ever need.

Because on any given day, it's usually just a couple of lures that do the most damage.

If you had that information going into the tournament, then you could get by with only 3 lures.

But since you don't have that information at the onset, I'd suggest you bring 4 or even 5 different lures

Roger