If you could give one piece of advice to a new upcoming tournament fisherman what would it be?

Have a second job or a wife with lots of money  

Better find a rich girl at Penn Robby.

Consentration and focus

Plus filthy rich parents,gramma,Aunt,Uncle,inlaws ect.

Garnet

Tin of course I am looking for my sugar momma! So lets figure in that I already have my sugar momma (lawyer/rich girl). So Catt and Tin any other advice?

Be on the water as often as possible and not when the weather is perfect but in every imaginable condition. Learn to read a depth finder, learn to read a Topo Map, learn to read baitfish and learn to read a bass.

As Catt said, time on the water. Especially the bodies of water you will be fishing your club tourney's and BFL events on.

Take notes before, have a tape record for during and take notes after keep good files and allways challenge yourself.

Rick Clunn takes notes every 15 min. of everyday on the water.

Garnet

Rick Clunn takes notes every 15 min. of everyday on the water.

Does he really? That seems like a chore, but I can see how it can helps.

What Catt said, "Have a second job or a wife with lots of money" has a second.

Me!

Great advice.

x2 to the time on the water!

Also learn atleast the basics of every technique.  You don't have to be awesome at every single one but if you can use each technique when you identify the time and place where it is applicable you will be a very versatile fisherman.  Try to develop a few (2 or 3) techniques that you can excell at so when the time comes where they are the primary technique you will be able to put yourself in contention.

One thing that I am doing more of now is fishing as many different types of water.  I am planning a trip in March to Guntersville so I can work on my grass fishing techniques since we don't do a whole bunch of it here in NC.

All of this equals the need for a lot of money  ;D

I would say you should start as a co-angler and build confidence doing that.  While you are a co-angler, you will need to pay attention to the pro running the boat and see how he uses certain techniques and when he uses them.  You can usually ask him things and he will be gracious enough to tell you things.  Stay focused on the water during the tournament otherwise the time will fly by and you will have nothing in the livewell.

If you know baitfish, you'll always know where bass are.

There is only one time in the year that a food source is not key.

When they are trying to spawn.  

The rest of the year, knowing what the primary food source in the food chain is doing and knowing what they do, were they go during the day and night.

Hookem and good luck!

Have a second job or a wife with lots of money

X2...Also, do not get in a hurry, get your education,and take the time to work your way up. Do not worry about sponserships, they will come as you advance through the ranks.

As much time on the water as you can devote.

Listen and learn