first its not cheating, its called doing your homework and putting your time in. alot of people put out cover all winter just for next years tournaments. i personally have not had much luck with rock piles,because i think it takes a big rock pile to hold fish.(the size of a truck). i perfer wood cover with rocks to hold them down.
if i were to build a rock pile. i would put it on top edge of the drop with wood sticking out over the drop so the fish would have something to get under..... just my 2 cents