If you want a good on the water training, give James Biggs a call. I had him take me out a few weeks ago for this exact reason. It was eye opening to watch and hear how he breaks areas down. Worth every penny.

Why are all you hotdogs drinking milk while running?

Where is he out of?

It’s an Indy Car thing, Okie. Reserved for the fastest of the fast hot dogs. I hear you’re getting a milk run now too, with the newly acquired bug.

Depends on the lake, if its Rayburn i don't like hooking fish. I rarely pre fish spots that i know always hold fish. Other lakes you need to know the size your catching, and I always cringe when i catch an 5+.

Livingston, I don't burn fish pre fishing cuz I know i may not get that many bites on Tournament day.

But alas you did say one of the "Better tournament guys"......So throw this out the window.

I tend to stay away from what I believe is a primary deal and look at other options and just fish the lake for the conditions. I do this so I can gauge what the lake can give at any moment and try to see as much water as possible. I don't get real hung up on specific techniques or baits practicing because I know that will change and just focus on learning as much as I can that I can use on tournament day. I feel I have enough experience that I can adapt day to day as long as I know where to look for specific features and types of water that suite that days conditions.

I was going to put my 2 cents in, but you asked for better tournament fisherman so I'm not qualified to answer this...

I can probably count on 1 hand how many times my tourney day has been the same as my pre-fishing day (in the last 20+ years of tourney fishing).
While prefishing a known lake I will go to places all over the lake that I do not frequent and re-affirm why that is. I have found that some places I thought dead in the past were suddenly working. In doing this I sometimes can develop a pattern or maybe even a bait that they prefer so no matter where I go I have a color / bait that I have more confidence in.
While pre-fishing a lake I am not familiar with I will spend much more time in the seat checking for oddities on interesting contour scenarios just hoping to find that special spot that holds lots of fish (rare this happens). In the end pre-fishing for me is really just another excuse to be out on the water doing what I truly enjoy.


Jody

Thanks for the reply, sounds like you’ve done this a time or 2. Only part I’m
Confused with is when you find that school of fish stacked up on that rock pile or in the creek swing, you don’t stop and pitch a jig down there or run a crank over them to see what you’re dealing with? I’m defiantly not confident enough to know what size fish I’m looking at on my graph. How do you know it’s not the daycare? Not trying to be a smart butt at all.