I have entered alot of tournaments, mostly I have an excuse to go fishing and its a big reunion of my friends.
Things I have learned
1. Just because I like a certain style to catch fish, does not mean it will work. I enjoy sight casting to reds, but most of the time we don't see Redfish.
2. Being local is not a big advantage. I won the contest in Matagorda, never fished there before but some good advice put me in the right direction and I just paddled till I caught some fish. Next leg of the tournement was in Rockport, I got skunked.
3. Catching Reds and trout in the same place is not easy. I know places to go for Reds and other spots for Trout, but not really for both.
4. Catching fish, good fish is not that easy. Can you do it on a particular day? Sometimes the conditions are not on your side (wind, rain, thunderstorms, water clarity, or the dinner bell for fish is broken).
5. To relocate takes alot of time and effort as sometimes the prime fishing hours are limited.
6. Most of all, do not put pressure on yourself. One sure way of not catching fish is to press, worry about losing fish, or anxiety.
7. Stuff happens, its fishing. When you think about the one that got away, I realized it happens to everyone. There is always a story or something went wrong. On the other hand, sometimes it all falls in your lap. That is what makes fishing so cool. You never know.
8. Don't give up, keep something in the water, popping corks catch good fish, and fish till the last moment. I have enjoyed every tournament entered because thats the way I want it. I don't have time for arguing or finger pointing. No sense getting upset on something I enjoy so much.

The day I don't get excited to go fishing, is the day I don't go fishing anymore.
I came up with my own advice that might make sense. "I am wise, what that means is I have already screwed up so you don't have to". Now that I think more of this point I must be really wise

Excellent thoughts. thank you.

thats all good stuff......when you have that outlook nobody can mess with your day.......




just don't enter any spelling tournements and you'll be OK......

HA!!! Hahahahaha! You owe me a new monitor screen! This one has coffee all over it.

good advice there buddy.....think im getting comfortable enough to enter a tournament sometime soon!! but definitely some good words to live by

I was going to comment but I just remembered, you will always have the last word.
Anyone else can add to my list?

Thakns in addvanced.

Very well written.
Just get out and have fun.

Great post. The LSKS is a great tournament for tourney Noobs. The pressure of being in the top three to place is not an issue. The top 25% are in the money. The people running things are super nice.It feels like a friendly competition between friends. It is two redfish only. No searching for a good area for trout.

If you ever wanted to jump into tournament fishing, the LSKS would be a great place to start.

Great post, im looking forward to joining the tourneys next year. Im still learning.

LOL FISHERMAN NOT AN EDITOR

I would like to add to your advice...
1. Find a couple of guys drinking beer at a boat ramp and get their advice.
2. Water is above 72 deg f make a 100 cast an hour, otherwise 40 and that means go slow.
3. Keep moving after 20 -30 fan cast with no luck.
4. Your catching small fish....keep moving.
5. Think like a fish, and use tactical thoughts. Remember something is always trying to kill and eat them, and so are they.
6. Fish structure. A sand hole in the middle of grass can be structure too.

Dean, I have no idea what you are talking about.

i would like to add ...

once you find your fish prefishing dont pound on them & burn them out. once you find em leave em there ... exspecialy if it is a day or two before the tournament.



Thank you for the plug David ... we have tried to give the anglers what they want & so far it has been working for us ... see you on the 6th

Dustin

I will add:

1. Have a Plan B and a Plan C for launch sites and fishing areas in case weather conditions change or some sort of off-the-wall thing happens to, for example, close a road or launch site during the night before a tournament.

2. Avoid the crowd if possible.

3. Reduce transit times/distances as much as possible.

4. Deep grass flats with sand holes in them are the best places to catch a mixed bag/slam without having to relocate. Never be afraid to drift fish a good deep grass flat if you don't have specific X's to fish. It takes patience, but frequently pays off.

5. Reds prefer Turtle Grass. The other 2 tend to prefer the narrow-leaf sea grasses. Many grass flats are mixed, and you will find your Reds in the TG, your Trout in the sand holes with mixed grasses, and the Flounder in the mud or sand bars.

c a m o u f l a g e - camoflage.

Do I proceed to the next round?

"As soon as you make winning worth something someone will start trying to cheat".

Fish hard, have fun get your picture taken for the biggest fish and then give out the prizes or money based on a blind draw. Not many people will cheat just to have their picture taken.

Just one man's 2 cents.

You've apparently missed the entire Jerry Springer phenomenon.

LOL! Jerry Jerry Jerry!!!!

Great post...good observations.