Tournament Preparation Part 1

It has been said that luck happens when preparation meets opportunity. To increase your luck, i.e. opportunity for success, you must be as prepared as possible, physically and mentally. If being ready is most of the battle then your groundwork should be completed before you ever hit the water.

The key to tournament fishing is being efficient, thereby maximizing your time out on the water. No wasted time looking for you pliers or fumbling around trying to get your net untangled while you have a fish on the end of your line. No digging around the inside of your kayak looking for your stringer or ruler.

Fishing, like most hobbies, is all about personal preference; we do things as we see fit. My approach to tournament preparation is by no means the best way or even the most efficient, but it works for me. If you find a method that better suits your needs incorporate it into your preparation regimen.

I’ll start with tackle. I am a tackle enthusiast, a more flattering label for tackle junkie, and have accumulated quite an “investment” (idle collection) of tackle over the past few years. In the past I was one of those fishermen that carried everything I owned on every single trip and at the end of the day less than one percent of all that tackle was actually used.

And while I still carry way too much equipment, tournament fishing, as well as kayaking in general, has forced me to tone down the quantity and quality of what I cram into my tank well and hatches these days. Fishing tournaments you want to pack the bare essentials only; things you know you’re going to need over the course of a day of fishing. Toning down your tackle helps you stay organized while on the water. Organization and efficiency has also carried over into my recreational fishing, which has allowed me to be more productive at catching versus just fishing.


Essential equipment to bring aboard your kayak for tournament fishing purposes include a net, rods and reels, pliers, drinks and snacks, stake-out stick or some other anchoring device, the minimal amount of tackle needed, accurate measuring device, scale, stringer or livewell, drift sock, and a camera if necessary. Although you could add or subtract a thing or two these, more or less, are the necessities.

Knowing how to operate your equipment and making sure all your gear is functioning correctly is also a vital component in being prepared. Tournament day is not the time to test if your tackle is in proper working condition; this should be done days beforehand. Check to see if your rods and reels are functioning properly. Make sure hooks are sharp and all knots are cinched down appropriately. Look for cricks or frays in your line or leaders. Replace hooks, knots, leaders, and line as needed.

Depending on what type of tournament you are fishing, CPR or live weigh-in, you are going to need to know how to use the equipment required submitting your catch. Practice keeping fish alive in your livewell or taking pictures of fish on your measuring device. Although these tasks may seem easy, and they usually are after a little practice, you never know what problems you might encounter until you make an attempt yourself.

Another important consideration is to remember to bring plenty of liquids and quick snacks along with you to prevent dehydration and hunger. If you’re fishing hard you’re going to burn a ton of calories. There’s probably no smaller deed you can perform that will help you refocus while fishing than eating a snack and taking a drink. A loss of concentration can make a world of difference, especially considering the disparity between winning and losing can boil down to just one bite.

One of the most important aspects of tournament fishing and efficiency is time management. The simplest way to manage and keep track of time is by wearing a wristwatch; I always have a watch on my wrist on tournament day. You’re on a time limit, and catching winning fish does you no good if you can’t make the weigh-in. Calculate how long it takes you to drive from your fishing spot to the weigh-in. Know precisely how long it takes you to load up and connect your livewell. By the morning of the tournament I usually know when I have to be back to the launch to make the weigh-in almost to the minute. Another thing to consider is how long it will take you to paddle back to your launch site from the furthest distance you plan on fishing.

Fish hard until the very last minute as long as you don’t have fish. Many tournaments have been won in the crunch with literally minutes left of possible fishing. If you do you have fish to weigh-in then give yourself plenty of wiggle room to make it back on time. If you’re trying to upgrade then you have to make a decision if it’s worth not making the weigh-in to possibly upgrade. If you’re in an area where you know there’s fish then it might be worth the risk. I like to have all possible scenarios played out in my head before my kayak touches the water so when the time comes to make a decision I know what to do without hesitation.

The day before the tournament is usually when I like to unwind and relax. If I do fish it’s usually a short trip to check if the fish I found prefishing are still in the same location or get a gauge or feel for the conditions the next day. This is the time I use to make sure all my tackle in order after previous days of prefishing put everything in disarray.

Besides for registration purposes, captain’s meetings are more or less mandatory, mechanical gatherings that usually offer no more relevant information but do bestow participants with the opportunity to converse (fabricate stories) about past successes and blunders. Remember to sign up for the tournament you plan on participating in well beforehand, and have all paperwork filled out prior to attending the captains meeting. It saves both you and the tournament director trouble from having to verify registration and payment, and helps you avoid any late fees.

The captain’s meeting is usually the best time to mingle with your fellow kayakers but don’t overlook the weigh-in as a likely source of information. Anglers are usually willing to enlighten you about how their day went regardless of whether the outcome was good or bad. There is wealth of knowledge that leaves the mouths of participants and floats around the air, like a cloud on a foggy morning. I’ve heard about many David versus Goliath or the one that got away stories at these gatherings. Don’t be bashful, open your mouth and become a sponge if and when someone opens theirs.

Get plenty of rest the night before the tournament. You don’t want to wake up in the morning and feel groggy or scatterbrained while on the water. Remember to have fun; you’re fishing after all, not trying to get that hot blonde to go on a date with you. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself; go out and do what you love, just fish. If you’re not having fun you won’t do well, and you’ll probably lose interest in tournament fishing fairly quickly. Be confident in your game plan and fish efficiently and let the cards fall where they may.

I’m sure I didn’t cover everything and it would be impossible task, so if there’s anything I left out or if you want any more information regarding a specific issue feel free to send me a message.