Story by Hunter Baughman | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Last week’s column about the Tuesday night tournaments ended up being one of my favorites I have written. Lots of memories were stirred up in that one. Since then, I’ve already fished four more tournaments. Kind of crazy, isn’t it?
One of those was a solo series in a different pool of the Arkansas River. I was able to win that event on fish schooling in two feet of water. As tournament fishermen, sometimes we make good decisions and then sometimes we just end up in the right place at the right time. That win consisted more of the latter. Yes, I knew which areas to target—and on this particular spot I’ve caught tons of fish—but I had no idea there would be above average sized fish schooling when I got there. When preparation and opportunity meet (a.k.a. “luck”), you must maximize your time to take advantage of the situation. I’d like to give you some tips on maximizing your time when it counts.
Before we go any farther, I feel like I should define what “schooling fish” means in case you are new to the sport. That term means multiple fish actively feeding on baitfish, usually on top of the water. It’s fun, extremely fast paced, and usually ends as unexpectedly as it began.
As you can imagine, time maximization is crucial in these types of situations. It’s also key in situations when you catch a fish on an offshore spot and the school stays “hot,” biting for several throws in a row. Here are three tips that will help you maximize your time
(1) Organization: It’s key to keep your boat and tackle organized to access a bait you need in a timely manner. There is nothing quick about digging through a pile of tangled lures trying to free the bait you need. Before any full day event, I do my best to throw away trash and put all tackle back in its place.
(2) Accurate and Successful Casting: Seems simple enough but hung lures and backlashes waste time. Practice makes perfect!
(3) Fish Handling: A feeding frenzy is not the time for pictures. Catch fish while they are eating and take those bragging pictures when the action cools.
Also, in a tournament situation, a culling system is important. Have a system in place to quickly add fish to the livewell while getting rid of the smallest. I prefer a digital scale and cull tags, but there are multiple different systems. Have one in place and move quickly.
I hope these tips increase your catch rates. Remember, we spend lots of time fishing when the fish aren’t biting. Be ready to make the most out of a situation when they decide to feed.
Hunter Baughman – Angler Profile
