Tournament Preparation;                   By Nick Ash

Most of us often wondered what we could have done differently to improve on our tournament success. Lets face it, fishing, in its self, should be an easy sport. Most of us have been fishing for most of our lives, and can catch fish. But in a tournament you need to find a way to put you ahead of the crowd. Here are a few simple thing that I do to help improve my odd in tournament fishing.
      One of the most easy thing to do to help with success is basic tackle eminence. I've seem first hand how weak line, dull hooks, improper knots, reels not properly setup, will efect the best fishermen.
In my opinion, there is no excuse for mistakes of this nature. Breaking off a nice fish is bound to happen now & again, but using old line increases that ten fold. Try to change line at least every other tournament outing. Hooks should be examined every time you set your bait, or catch a fish. The time it takes to sharpen a hook or re-tie a bait is a small inconvenience compared to loosing a keeper fish. Spend a couple of hours before getting on the water to check and make any repairs to your equipment. 
      Another thing I set aside time to do before a tournament is research. Lake Maps are an essential part of any tournament fishernens tackle. You can break down a lake into categories like spawn, pre-spawn, post spawn areas. Identifying shallow, deep water breaks is critical. Understanding the difference between fishing clear water, vs stained, vs dirty is also very important. This can help with your decisions on the water, during tournament hours. Once you figure a pattern, the map study will assist in quickly identifying the areas you should be fishing. In my experience, I have also alloted time before a tournament to put together a "deck box". This is a plano with everything I intend to begin the tournament throwing. What this allows me to do is not waste time locating baits during the tournament. Even more importantly it takes the uncertainly out of my game plan. As anglers we have a tendancy when the fishing is tough to panic, the deck box keeps me focused on what i need to be throwing.
     Last, but certainly not least, is the mental preparation for a tournament. Besides having a game plan, a person needs to be in a positive frame of mind going into tournament day. Try to avoid negative issues, and be certain to get a good nights sleep. This will help with focusing, and those times when frustration can set in, on tough days.
      I hope some of this information will assist you in your day on the water.   
Good fishing,
Nick Ash    ( Outlaw Tackle Pro Staff )