Now that you have some areas to look at, just go fishing. As the day progresses you will be able to determine for yourself if this is going to set up as a pattern tournament or location tournament. There are advantages to both, but being that the water is unfamiliar to us, if the pattern is less than obvious we are at the disadvantage, because we will only know so many “similar” locations in which to run the pattern.
the boat is covering water at a very moderate to rapid pace. as a location tournament, having spent all your pre fish time looking to just locate schools of fish, now you have your whole tournament day to figure out how to get just five of those fish to bite. as simple as it sounds, make it a point to fish around big fish and you will be surprised what happens.
Nobody wins every tournament. As a visitor competing against locals, keep your expectations realistic. Unless you have a very strong network of anglers you share with, don’t expect to make the cut every time. don’t even expect to cash a check every time. Keep at it and you will see that figuring out unfamiliar bodies of water in such a limited time will make you a much more versatile and confident angler. Moving from 4-lb test in crystal clear water in one location to 65-lb braid in murky and stained water at the next is very trying. it makes you have to perform at your best every day. When you start cashing those checks, be proud of your accomplishments. don’t focus on the one that got away or the guy that cut you off. look at the hurdle you had in front of you and
how you adapted to over come it and leave with some winnings. The top-10’s will come with time as things magically fall into place just as the so elusive “wins” will come as you learn, apply and adapt to this sport.
As a good friend once explained to me and I’ve learned to believe, i start each day knowing i’m going to catch my fish. i may not have any idea where, how or on what bait; but i know that if i keep my head down and pay attention to the little details, i will get the bites i need to compete. i hope i have given you some fresh ideas regarding how i go about maximizing my time on the water and i have given you some tools to use to make the most of your limited pre-fish days. Good luck and always remember, if a single fishing day goes by that you don’t learn something new, you simply aren’t looking hard enough.
tournament pro Jim novotny is sponsored by Dobyns rods, which he exclaims is “the best rod built-period”, P-Line and Costa Sunglasses. novotny notes his Costas help him locate fish and structure others might miss.
Issue 3
June 2012
19
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