rookie needs advice

[kybasshunter]

Ive been fishing tournaments for a couple of years now and still havent had any success. Ive got tournaments at Nolin and Green in March.If i keep doing the wrong things and fishing the wrong places im never gonna get better.Can anyone give me some details on where and how to fish these lakes.Last year i would always ask the successful guys at each tournament what their secret was and found out most people were pretty tight lipped and had no interest in helping a fellow angler......Thanks for any help you can give...God bless and good fishin....

[Catch]

Greg, Wish I could help you, but I'm trying myself. Don't know where you're at but I'll help you all I can.I have bought tapes,
books ,read all , Nothing beats time on the water,
something I can't do as much as I'd like to. I like to fish,if
you're close give me a call. Maybe we can go down to LBL and
get somelessons from Dave Stewart.Told my son that when we zeroed in Midwest Finals Last year.He's to proud! HaHa I need all
help I can get. Good Luck! Ray

[biggw]

just fish a black an blue jig,stay on the points fish very slow you will do ok.........IT ALWAYS WORKS

[BassBest]

Study the maps of the lakes like you've never studied anything before.

Learn how bass relate to their underwater environment. "Become the Bass"

Never ask anyone else how or what they did to be successful.

Prespawn can be tough, determine where the fish will be....find the area of the lake that holds the warmest water.

Always go with your 1st instinct.

Practice practice practice

Take care.

[kybasshunter]

main lake points or secondary? Wheres the most productive areas ,down lake or up near head water?????

[dew32202]

All of the above is good advice also dont run all over the lake pick 1 creek bay and treat it like its a lake to its self

[BassBest]

kybasshunter,
This is information you need to find out for yourself. If you rely on others to tell you where and how to fish, then you are not the successful one. Buy or borrow a couple of Buck Perry's "Guideline For Fishing Success" and learn what makes a bass tick.
Note: Most people will tell the opposite of what you should do, especially if they fish tourneys on that lake. Good reason not to ask a lot of questions. If you read enoug bass books, you won't need to ask questions, trust me. I have been reading bass books and magazines for 13 years and let's just say I hope my 2nd tourney season is at least half as good as last year.
Take Care and good luck

[flippindrew]

EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE- Live on the water, fish every possible second you can. Learn how to find fish by yourself. Fish withe several different people that are considered guys to beat. Learn each persons strength. Dont copy it just try to bring part of it into your game. Experience is the number one thing that has helped me. During the summer im on the water 4 or more days a week, right now still usually 2-3 days a week. As far as something that always works- JIG. Stop wondering what you are doing wrong and just go out there and do what you feel. Most of all, follow your instincts, if you are running down the lake and see a bank that looks good and your subconcious is telling you to fish it but you really dont want to. DO IT. Thats one thing that I have learned from myself. It seems I always do better when I fish something that my instincs are telling me rather than when I sit and really think about it. Good luck, stay on the water!

[eatsleepfish]

Dew32202 gave you the best advice on how to begin your tournament strategy. Pick a major creek arm and treat it like it was only that body of water that your are going to compete on for that day. Find the warmest water in the creek(might just be 1 or 2 degrees difference) and begin fishing there. The jig has always been a solid first choice but I like to begin by covering water a little more quickly with something like a 3/4ounce single bladded spinnerbait and slow-crawling it along the bottom. If you come across a visible piece of structure then stop and pitch that big jig right in the middle of it. One more piece of advice, don't be shy about fishing the windiest bank that you can get on. Wind blows shad against the banks and this will cause what fish is in the area to become active. good Luck

remember...eatsleepfish

[LAWNMAN]

fish,fish,fish,fish,fish,fish,fish,&REMEMBER

thats all i know to do

[gettingonefishin]

First of all when your fishing tournaments, your not just a fellow angler. I know I never tell no one where or how when i am doin tourneys. But the only thing I can tell ya is spend alot of time on the water with a bait in it. I am talking every spare minute that ya can. If ya have a hard time remebering stuff get yourself a map and a log book. Start writing down how ya caught a fish, what time it was and where. Just try and cover as much bank as ya can and try alot of different techniques. Bass fishin is not as easy as it seems. Ya got to work at it. Watch out for other bass fisherman and see where they are fishin and how. So dont get discouraged and give up, except maybe some of the tournament fishing. Before I fish a tournament I am on fish or I dont put up my money. What I mean is if you have been fishin tourneys for 2 years and not doin any good maybe ya should just do some fun fishing and get ya some kind of pattern before putting up money. Just my advice. Dont give up and luck to ya my friend.

[dpage70]

gettingone just gave you some great advice. fish for fun first until you have the confidence of finding fish. i did the same thing you're doing now about 10 years ago and was to stubborn to listen to that advice and wound up burnt out and gave it up for a few years. now i'm getting back into it and doing more fun fishing and i'm starting to find fish. learn the lakes and find you some honey holes that dont get beat up by fisherman. i've been going around all winter with my gps marking spots and thats taught me a huge mount about nolin and rough and i THOUGHT i really knew the lakes. I DIDNT KNOW ANYTHING.