Pre fishin strategies

[Go2fish]

Wonderin what you guys have as a prefishing strategy.

How many fish do you catch on a spot before you leave? I go 3 max if they are quality fish. If it is a known good spot less.

How many spots do you try and get for a 4hr tourney? Understand more is better. I have sat on the same spot for 4hrs, mostly cuz I do not have enough spots, but I like to have 1 an hr.

How long before tourney do you try and prefish? I find the fish are generally on a spot for 2weeks and then gone. Maybe to never return.

I have never cashed a check so not sure this is the way to go.

[Cecil]

The number I catch depends on the spot I am fishing and the time before the tournament. If its a day before and I am looking at a new spot I will catch one good one and then shake off a couple. If I am checking a spot that I know, I will just shake em off. If its two weeks before I will catch a few then just move on or leave. I also look for a secondary spot close by if its a really good spot. Somewhere they MIGHT go if they move a lil or get spooked.

You can't set this ahead of time. If they are biting never leave. If they aren't and your gut is telling you they are elsewhere, leave and maybe come back later.

Spend as much time on the water as you can. Even if its a month in advance. Time on water equals success.

Of course I haven't cashed a check this year sooo....

[TonkaBass]

Spend as much time on the water as you can. Even if its a month in advance. Time on water equals success.

Biggest tip ever! I agree with Cecil 100%. Having a lot of spots is normally what it takes, but being able to make on the water adjustments accurately comes with experience!

[Go2fish]

Agree, time on the water is mostly what I am lacking. Feel like I am one or two spots short of a check every time....and those other guys are freakin good.

Fish Tonka a lot and it is a humbling lake.

So how do you guys search for new spots? I think I need to get better at finding spots quickly rather than methodically fishing a spot??

[Deitz Dittrich]

Man, there is nothing I hate worse than pre-fishing. You can put together a great pattern and then day of.... nothing.. Think of all them lips you could have ripped... I think I could have had some of my best days EVER prefishing and left a school.

When I am for real pre-fishing.. I spend way more time using my SI, and underwater camera. I may only hook 1 fish per spot. I'll throw back and see if I get bit again.. but will not set.. but again, all will depend on how far ahead of time it is..

Lastly, dont listen to me, I kind of suck this year.. Fun fishing, I am having one of my best years yet.. as of right now 652 bass in the boat this year..and maybe 40 over 4lbs... and 8 over 5lbs.. But my best tournament finish was a 2nd.. and even it was a fluke if you ask me. SO, back to the drawing board.

[CaptZ21]

This question is just like prefishing. Over a 100 answers and ways to look at it! First thing on the prefishing menu is have you done your homework on the lake, ie studied maps, talked to others who have fished there, and read blogs? Secondly is what is the season, what traditionally hold fish on that body of water that time of year? I had the great opportunity albliet many years ago to sit next to Hank Parker on a plane not too long after his 2nd Classic win. We began talkning and then I asked him how he found fish on a new lake. Remember this was long before good lake maps, chips, GPS, and sideimaging. He told me the conditions dictate where the fish will be basically by the season and then to just put the trolling motor down and let the fish tell you where they are and what they want to eat. I of course mentioned finding those "perfect spots" but couldnt get a bite on them. He once again said keep moving til you find active fish, if the spot is that good go back and check it a few times but that you cant make them be where you think they should be. As far as how many you stick on a spot, if it is less than 3 days I would never stick more than one fish on a KNOWN spot. If it is something I just found I would stick enough till I felt confident in the spot even if it was the day before, but might change the presentation the next day. Having said this I do tend to practice what he told me, and used it to good stead a 2 yrs ago when faced with 3 days to practice on Kerr Lake in NC, it is over 120,000 acres. Long story short we just covered water looking for bites and not looking back too much when something didnt produce. Tournament day found 336 boats competing and we finished 6th and got a pretty nice check. In closing I do think you can stick fish and then maybe reluctant to bite the next day but they are living creatures and they do neet to eat.