any pointers

[bassfisher]

Hay i'm gana be in my first fish Tournament next weekend and its at a lake any pointers to help
bassfisher

[outdoorgirl]

Well, without knowing anything about the lake you're fishin....the best advise for anyone doing a touney is PRE FISH the lake!!! I have a lot of friends that do the tourneys and fishing it a couple of days before hand is key. Also, talk to people who do fish it to find out where the fish are hitting. Hope that helps!;)

[Choupiquer]

4" yum dinger

[Jaxon]

i'm thinking scuba divers and precaught fish in a bag....

[Timmy]

I'm down with the dinger:thumbs_up

[Johnny]

4inch yum dinger, followed by $1 spinner baits from walmart. I would also bring one Zara Spook as a top water presentation.

I would use the yum dinger weedless in all sorts of cover and to pull Fish out of deep cool water bottom areas.

I would run the spinner bait over an area that has already been bottom fished by the Dinger. This should catch suspended fish. I would reel the spinner bait at the slowest speed possible while still achieving maximum vibration. I would than repeat the retrieve fast & furious.

Good luck, post some pics of whats caught in the tournament along with the standings.

PS keep in mind, i'm no tornament winner...lol :D
I would ask T-DAWG, send him a pager message, he's the best.

[Osprey]

Spinner baits for sure. Try the cheapos from Wal-Mart since you will want to have a variety of them on hand. Certainly in weights ranging from 1/4oz to 3/4oz. Also look for different combinations of blade styles. Use the baits that are outfitted with willow leaf blade to fish deeper and faster and the ones sporting Colorado blades to fish shallower and slower. Color is less important than style and weight. Select a few in white and some others in silver. White presents a greater visual profile than silver and is preferred on cloud covered days.
You may want to consider thermocline as well. For those not familiar with the principal of thermocline, it's simple. In short thermocline is the stratificatiopn of the water that occurs in many fresh water eco-systems. The lake separates into three distinct layers of water, a mixed layer which extends down from the surface. Next the thermocline layer and below that a deep water layer. "Why does this matter?" you may ask. Here's why: The bass are trying to get out of the mid day heat and so they dive. How deep? Well that's why thermocline is key. Dissolved oxygen drops of sharply below the thermocline, hence the bass will suspend right on top of it. Study a map of the lake looking for the points, where those points intersect with the thermocline expect to find fish. Now all you need is a selection of crankbiats lipless crankbaits,and those heavier spinnerbaits that I mentioned.

Good luck and good fishing.

[bassfisher]

Thanks i'll post some stuff after the tornament

[T-DAWG]

i guess it all depends how serious u are

[bassfisher]

What do you mean

[BulBob]

Here's my favorite set up for bass.

A 7.5" Culprit purple worm on a large Eagle Claw weedless hook with the spring pre-twisted to the side so it spins when it pops in the fishes mouth. I use a BulletBobber slip rigged with a 1/8 oz split shot 4 - 6 foot above the worm. The reason for the BulletBobber is to cover more area per cast because keeping your bait in the water is the best way to catch fish! I go slow working the bait vertical and horizontally through structure. You can also make it plane under trees and docks without scaring the fish. The slip rig allows the fish to run with it and you to feel the slightest hit similar to a Carolina rig.

Someday an angler in a tournament will credit their win to the BulletBobber and they will have a sponsor.