On May 1st I will fish my first high school tournament, and I was wondering if you guys had any tips on how to ignore the adrenaline rush of a tournament and to focus on fishing.

The first thing I figured out about tournaments is that I have a lot less time to operate than I am used to. The typical fishing trip for me usually involves getting on the water at sunrise and fishing until sunset. In a tournament you just do not have that kind of time.

 

If you have been able to prefish and found a pattern/presentation that is working get to it right off the bat. Give it more than a fair chance to produce. Have two or three backup plans prepared in case option A does not pan out. From my personal experience that is likely all you will need (and have time for). If you have not been able to prefish go with your "strength & confidence" presentations. A tournament is not the time to experiment with something new, save that for another day.

 

There will be a tendency, if the bites are not coming, to start fishing "faster". Fight that tendency. In fact that is when you likely need to be more deliberate in your presentations. Hope you do well but if not, don't sweat it, there will be more tournaments down the road (and you learn from each one you enter). Good luck!

I just go fishing. If I get caught up in the whole "I'm in a tournament", thing I tend to spin out. If I just go fishing and do what I'd do if I was just out there fun fishing with a buddy I do much better. 

I just go fishing. If I get caught up in the whole "I'm in a tournament", thing I tend to spin out. If I just go fishing and do what I'd do if I was just out there fun fishing with a buddy I do much better.

Exactly. Let the adrenaline fuel your fishing.

Fish like absolute mad the first hour, stop, sit down, prop your feet up, have a coke and a cupcake, and then begin your serious fishing.

Don't ignore the adrenaline rush, use it to your advantage.

Just trust in your angling and know that you are good and will catch fish.  God out execute your plan and stay foccued..... and the biggest thing is have fun, if you are not having fun you will perform bad

The first thing I figured out about tournaments is that I have a lot less time to operate than I am used to. The typical fishing trip for me usually involves getting on the water at sunrise and fishing until sunset. In a tournament you just do not have that kind of time.

 

If you have been able to prefish and found a pattern/presentation that is working get to it right off the bat. Give it more than a fair chance to produce. Have two or three backup plans prepared in case option A does not pan out. From my personal experience that is likely all you will need (and have time for). If you have not been able to prefish go with your "strength & confidence" presentations. A tournament is not the time to experiment with something new, save that for another day.

 

There will be a tendency, if the bites are not coming, to start fishing "faster". Fight that tendency. In fact that is when you likely need to be more deliberate in your presentations. Hope you do well but if not, don't sweat it, there will be more tournaments down the road (and you learn from each one you enter). Good luck!

So true just go out and relax and have fun 

Have a plan b. And c, And d.

Be flexible and let the fish tell you what to do.