Ø     Don’t start fishing until you see fish, unless you’re trolling.  Wait till you at least see baitfish or other food sources. In shallow water, you can see fish/minnows being chased.  When fishing deeper water, you will have to rely on electronics.

Ø     Don’t waste time checking out, or fishing, a lot of similar territory.  If you have fished 3 different shallow, weedy points with no success, don’t go looking for a fourth point. Try a deeper point or open flat.

Ø     When you do find a successful pattern, don’t assume it is the only one that works.  During any single tournament, a variety of patterns have proven successful amongst different Team LNS members.

Ø     Until you locate fish and establish a pattern, fish quickly.  Usually this means a moving “horizontal” presentation.  A live bait rig, or spinner, behind a heavy bottom bouncer, a crankbait , or casting a spinner bait through high-percentage water.  If you think a slow presentation is the only way, don’t spend all day in one spot.  Fish quickly by limiting the amount of time you spend at each stop.

Ø     If things that should work don’t, try fishing areas and using presentations that normally would prove unsuccessful.  The open minded approach has won a lot of tournament money for myself and other Team LNS members.