How To Become More Successful In Tournaments - By Neal Robinson
Many times I have been asked, “How is it that you are so successful in tournaments? What is your secret?” The answer to that question is so simple and any great tournament angler will tell you the same thing I am about to, “Time spent on the water is key.” No matter how an Angler looks at it, time spent on the water means everything. Never expect to win many tournaments without knowing the body of water being fished. But understanding the movements of the bass and how they relate to cover and structure will also aid in this matter on any lake along with some other factors.
It is a MUST to spend time learning on the water…
Time on the water does nearly everything for the Angler. It allows the Angler to better understand a particular body of water. How bass on that body of water relate to weather, to include rain, blue bird skies, windy days, barometric pressure, etc. How bass relate to and position themselves on structure and/or cover. Where the migration routes are. Where underwater humps, points, trash piles, creeks, flats, grass beds, etc., are located. Just as an Angler figures it all out, something within the environment changes; El Nino, droughts, bad hatch off, grass doesn’t grow where it thrived at one point and the learning process starts all over. This is a never-ending process of continual education on the water in order to capture that ever-elusive Emerald Gem that we call the Largemouth Bass.
Familiar waters…
I have been very successful on lakes that I frequent, due to the time spent on the water there. I have learned how and where the bass migrate, where they prefer to stage during certain times of the year and what the bass choose to feed on. This did not happen over night, in fact, this took years of fishing a particular body of water and being open to understanding what goes on with the lake. Maps helped a lot locating humps, creeks, etc. and once located the learning process begins. But without a good graph, this would be merely impossible unless an Angler has a great talent for triangulating their location. I know what lures work best and usually what times of year they work best on this lake, I also how they would like the bait to be presented. When throwing at cover, I learn what type of cover fish are attracted to and what they are least attracted to. All this adds up to being successful on that body of water and allows the Angler to be more confident in what they are doing when the next tournament arrives.
Unfamiliar waters…
Understanding that the bass is a predator and that all bass pretty much have the same instincts, I can take my knowledge and apply it anywhere. Knowledge of the lake helps because you know where the key structures are located. But knowing the bass helps an Angler on unfamiliar water. Three things should also apply with your knowledge; stick with the basics; your lure selection, follow your instincts about what you know about lake contours by looking at the shoreline and most of all be confident and feel confident; especially when tournament fishing. Fishing strengths on a new body of water will always benefit the Angler. If that means fishing points, do it. If that means flippin’ a jig, do it. And so on. Fishing a new body of water is usually looked at, as an experiment because Anglers are always trying something knew. In a tournament, there is no time to experiment, but be observant. If another Angler is within looking distance and they are catching fish, take mental notes. What are they doing? Why are they positioned there? Continually be observant of what they are doing. Once they leave, take a quick trip over to the location and answer those questions.
Time on the water even on your favorite lake allows an Angler to understand certain conditions that can be applied on all lakes. The will be slight differences, but they will apply. Bass will ALWAYS relate to structure and cover; find it and bass can be caught. Locate the baitfish and you will also locate bass; find the baitfish and bass can be caught. Bass are bass no matter where you go. Their instincts are the same and apply on any body of water, but time must be spent on the water to be familiar with what the bass want.
Environment/Nature…
While on the water, take the time to observe what the animals are doing. I gauge many fishing situations in accordance to what nature is doing. Are the birds, squirrels, etc., active? If they are, more than likely, the fish are as well. Listen to what is going on around you. If there is a splash in the water, what is it? Is this a fish jumping? Are the bass busting up baitfish? Are the baitfish active near the surface? Is the wind pushing baitfish to the shoreline? These observations are keys to what the fish are doing and when these instincts are applied, fishing becomes second nature and reacted to instinctively.
Is this the answer to winning tournaments? No, but it’s the answer to becoming more successful in a tournament environment. Understanding how a lake works, understanding how bass work and fish with confidence will allow you to become a better tournament angler, but if there is not time spent on the water, chances for success are limited.
Time to mingle…
Once the tournament is over, stick around and be nosy. Whether familiar or unfamiliar bodies of water, spending time at the ramp after tournaments helps dramatically. Intermingle with the anglers there and listen to what they BRAG about. They will talk about some of the locations there were in, what they were throwing, what the key factors were, etc. Sneak a peak in their boats and see what they have tied on, see what plastics are riddled in the bottom of the boat, or just ask them. However, there may be some anglers leery about someone asking about what they were using, but don’t worry. We all like to brag and if you listen long enough, it will come out. Not to mention, if you are near their boat, you can glance over and see what they are using. Again, always be observant, listen and learn. Once you do that, apply it on the water.
Available Resources…
Take advantage of current world that we live in today and jump into the Information Age were we have limitless access to all types of media. Whether that be magazines, newspapers, books and most of all, the Internet. Read what the Pro’s are doing and how they are so successful, not necessarily as a Professional Angler, but their techniques on whatever condition. Do not be close-minded in this sport. Just as you think you have it figured out, it changes. You MUST continue to learn and dissect what you have learned to your advantage. When all these applications are applied, hone them and success will come.
Be Confident…
Never, never, never underestimate your own abilities or you will yield to failure during a tournament. Once you have it in your mind that, “I can’t beat these guys because they are good,” or “I can’t beat these guys because I don’t know the water well enough,” then you have already lost without even casting a rod. You need to have enough confidence in your abilities that when you enter a tournament, you know that you are going to win. And when you feel it, you are on. You need to spend time on the water and be confident at tournaments so that when you pull up to the ramp that folks start mumbling, “Those are the guys to beat right there,” but don’t get big headed, just take it with a smile and move on. If you have it in mind that you can win and beat anyone, you have confidence and that brings success. When you know the body of water you are fishing or know what you are doing and how to read the water, success will follow.
Have fun…
Always, tournament or not, enter and leave the waters learning something new, anything else is routine. Even when I lose I feel great because I had fun and I learned something new. If your not having fun you will lose because you are not fishing within your normal self. Just imagine it as another weekend on the water and fish like you would then.
None of this is possible though without, “Time on the water.”
Good Luck on your next tournament,
Neal Robinson (a.k.a. BnBassin)
