how far do you go practicing/preparing for a tournament?

[ILbasslayer]

Hey guys, I have a couple questions.  I am a young angler and just starting to step my foot in the door of tournament angling. Out of the 3 I've fished, I can tell it is a TOTALLY different game.  I find a great interest in it, and am going to try and live the dream of making it to the Classic. 

My question is how far do you guys go in practicing, researching, and preparing for a tournament? Even little weekend, bass club tournaments.       

I am currently reading Mike Iaconelli's book Fishing On The Edge and LOVE it. Has alot of helpful pointers in it, but wanted to get some tips from anglers that are on my level.


Thanks a lot guys.

[DBrooke]

Read that book in 3 1/2 days

Well, tell ya what. Just fished a tourney today, next one at these lakes is in 2 weeks. My brain is already rolling on what the water and fish are going to do in this time frame. So mentally, I'm always getting ready. Prefishing... if the tourney is Sunday, I will fish Thursday at the latest and not touch the waters till D Day. #1 reason you will either confuse yourself by hitting it to much or stress out the fish before the tourney if you go out and catch them.

[ILbasslayer]

i am diggin' this book.       il probably read it a second time after i finish it. haha.      thanks for the advice.  i didn't know if you guys went to the extreme like he talks about in his book or not.   


THANKS!

[DBrooke]

I kinda do, but I'm a lil kooky myself

[Kal-Kevin]

I'm the odd ball on this the less I do before hand the better I do. If I pre-fish it is at least ten days before I find if I pre-fish it to soon before the tournament I get to set to in thinking I caught them like this the other day and can not abject to what the fish are doing that day. Now if I do pre-fish I will go to another lake and fish it then I have a open mind th eday of the tournament.
As for gear, boat, tackle, and rods, I play with them every day I have time and not on here!