Have a tournament in about 35 days to be exact and was thinking about prefishing this weekend, but didn't know if it was to early. It is still in the mid 90's here in Oklahoma and during the week of the tournament the avg high temp is around 74.

The fish will obviously move a lot by then I would suspect, and didn't know if you thought I was wasting my time finding fish now, knowing they prob won't be there during the tourney.

I think it would be a good idea to start prefishing now.

The fish won't necessarily be doing the same thing as they are now, but you could look for spots that may hold fish.

You should look for spots and record them, so you could go back to them during the tournament or a couple of days before to see if they produce.

Personally I think it is a bad idea. My experience with prefishing too early is if I get on a good bite, I have a hard time leaving it alone. In the past I would try to keep searching for those lunkers I caught prefishing. If you have the control to give up what you found or adapt as needed then it would be worth it. Otherwise.... good luck.

When prefishing you have some goals to accomplish.

1.  Recon the areas where you want to fish so you will be familiar with the structure and cover. Look for docks, piers, gazebos, etc. that could hold fish.

Don't forget to use your sonar to find humps, road beds, trees, brush piles, stumps, etc.

Use a map when scouting the area and mark it as necessary.

2.  Check out the grasses and pads; water clarity; water temperature; and anything else you can find out about the water in the areas where you want to concentrate during the tournament.

3.  Try to fish the structure and cover you believe will hold the bass.

You could consider fishing with baits that do not have hooks. You want to find the fish; not injure them before the tournament.

As soon as you catch one at a location mark it on your GPS or on your map. Do not rely on your memory as things seem to change when you get back on the water and start looking for the same spots that you caught something when prefishing.

So many guys run out and start to fish when prefishing without thinking that they are on the water to learn what they can and to find where the fish will be holding on tournament day.

And remember, if the bass are holding on some wood today they will probably be holding on the same wood when you return for the tournament.

Make notes when you get home and plan your route and attack.

After doing your recon you are now ready to set up your rods and reels and select your baits.

Have two plans ready to roll. The first is based on what you found when prefishing.

The second is to be used when you find out that the bass are not where they were when you prefished!!!  ;D   ;D   ;D

Good luck and let us know how you do. 

all of the above. also you need to learn to navigate the lake. set up your areas and time them. you need to know how long it will take you to travel to certain areas and how long the run to the scales will be. Weather will/can change a run, but you need to know.

Never too early to learn a lake

Personally I think it is a bad idea. My experience with prefishing too early is if I get on a good bite, I have a hard time leaving it alone. In the past I would try to keep searching for those lunkers I caught prefishing. If you have the control to give up what you found or adapt as needed then it would be worth it. Otherwise.... good luck.

LOL I about fell out of my chair I to have the same problem I know now I'm not alone  ;D

fishfordollars, ohio, and sam have been given some pretty good advice here so I don't need to repeat whats already been said.

However, one thing I will say, homework in advance generally pays off, just remember to always be disciplined in how you go about it and pay attention to the slightest of details that the other guys have mentioned.

It will pay off!