If you can only pre fish a few days before a tournament, how do you guys do it?

I heard its better to go figure out what color and what structure the fish are on, but when they bite dont hook them, just let them let it go and move on. that way you know there are fish there, and they will still bite the same lure on tournament day.

any one else do this?

I hook a few - have to see what you are getting bit by. Can't win a Tx with dinks.

Afoster I have heard that too bout not hooking. But Im going to prefish tomorrow and I usually hook up a couple to see what the size if small I will hook a few more just to see if theres a keeper. Then I run looking for some of the same cover or structure that I found those fish. And see if the same bite is there!!

i agree , i will stick a couple , then i go in search for the same conditions on the lake , and if i have plenty of time , i will fish spots that are new or different hoping for an alternate pattern.

Well prefishing last friday I think I must have stuck myself. Come sunday I did not catch a fish. Friday I fished till 1230 before I caught one and I hooked two around some brush and they were barely 14". Had one go after my sinko but i pulled it away. That was in bout 4 cast. So I leave and go to fish some rocks and hang a 6 14 and another that weighed 2 1/2. So I had around 10lbs and decided I had a plan. Sunday was a long 9 hours!! My buddy caught one that we got to weigh. Looking back should i have caught what could on friday and had some fun?

I do the same when prefishing as most guys do. I stick one or two and then start bouncing all around the lake trying to duplicate the pattern and/or establish another pattern. A lot of times I can find them in the same area, i.e. depth/cover, and just find another technique to catch them so come tournament day I have a fall back.

Do this ^^^ and don't fish the area you plan to hit, if possible. Go sore mouth the fish somewhere else!