Does anybody think that there is any New tackle that will give you an edge in competition that came out in 2009-2012? I want to find an "edge" or advantage for the 25 tournaments I will be fishing in 2012

My best advice would be to worry less about what is in your boat and more about what is under it.

The key to consistantly doing well in fishing whether you are in a tournament or just fun fishing is the ability to locate the fish. Spending the time needed to understand the formula put out by In-Fisherman many years ago will help you understand the process.

F - Fish +

L - Location +

P - Presentation =

Success

You already have the edge you need. It's between your ears. Learn how to use it. There is no silver bullet.

If you are looking for some inanimate object to give you an advantage in competition, you've already become a donator. Learn your lakes, understand how the fish relate, and what baits work in that lake. Learn how to catch them on a bad day for fishing, and just realizing that it's becoming a bad day for fishing and you'll do well.

Does anybody think that there is any New tackle that will give you an edge in competition that came out in 2009-2012? I want to find an "edge" or advantage for the 25 tournaments I will be fishing in 2012

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E.

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E.

This. To be honest there really is no magic lure. Each lure in your tackle box will catch fish, it just has to be used in the right place, at the right time under the right conditions.

Does anybody think that there is any New tackle that will give you an edge in competition that came out in 2009-2012? I want to find an "edge" or advantage for the 25 tournaments I will be fishing in 2012

have to agree with most everyone else here so far. there is no magic lures. the best thing for you is gonna be to soak up all you can about fishing and apply it to the situations your facing in each tournament, and to also spend time on the water.

Lets say IF there was a lure invented to draw in bass and entice a bite on every cast, what good is it if youre fishing where there are no fish at the given time? its much more than about what lure is on the end of your line

Every bait, every lure, every rod and reel, every boat, trolling motor, and depthfinder.... they're all just tools just like the tools in your garage, or irons in your golf bag. Knowing how and when to use them is the key to success with all of these things.

I agree with every one else that time on the water is key. But if I had to pick something I would say side imaging. Since it cuts your time lioking for fish.

Go to this website, and take your pick. Just about everything they sell is so good that it may be banned.

http://www.ngcsports.com/index.cfm?s=GOOGLE&gclid=CJTqqMjGqqwCFUbf4Aodwz9y5w

I'm sorry. I had to!

What I meant was something like a hook that increases your landingor hook up ratio......... Stuff like that..... I'm not looking for a magic lure

Like everyone said, knowledgeis key. BUT I will go ahead just for the fun of it and say the new VMC Spinshot hooks (or the Gammy equivalents that debuted at icast) will help my frustration level when dropshotting. at least they look like they'll help. We'll see.

Like everyone said, knowledgeis key. BUT I will go ahead just for the fun of it and say the new VMC Spinshot hooks (or the Gammy equivalents that debuted at icast) will help my frustration level when dropshotting. at least they look like they'll help. We'll see.

They will definately help, helped me in my one outing since purchasing the VMCs.

What Glenn said.

But there's a difference in tools. Snap-on or Made in Taiwan. Any rod,reel,line,lure,electronics, etc. will work. Some just work better than others. Some make the job easier than others. I think the fishermans knowledge and ability to adapt trumps everything else.

I will bite..

Trokar hooks for flipping

Owner mosquito for wacky rigging

Bill Dance used to preach about having confidence in what you were doing while fishing. This is a huge factor. If you think you need a new lure then by all means get it. If you think there is a different way to present what you have then that is what you should try.

People that gain confidence by buying lures, quickly lose that confidence. Confidence is a buzzword that means nothing when it isn't accompanied by success. Neither comes easily, and its a chicken or the egg problem. Time on the water will open opportunity for both.

over the years what i have enjoyed more then any other advance is my 1198SI on the gim mount the 1098 SI in dash and the 1098 SI on the front deck more then anything else. if you are looking for something that will make you better the SI\DI units will help you find more fish plain and simple it wont make you catch them but it will help you find them or where they should be.

Not to sound mean but...Nothing will give an edge over the competition. Prepare yourself and your equipment. One thing will, in time, give you an edge....experience. You will have to pay your dues to gain that. It's not sold in a blister pack.

If you want an "edge", go buy a knife. Otherwise, paying attention and gaining experience is the key. I view using fishing tackle like a tennis racquet. A good tennis player can still play reasonably well with a cheaper racquet (at least once he gets use to it) but a lousy tennis player will play lousy-regardless of the racquet uses. I will concede, however, that you shouldn't scrimp too much on gear. I do not regret the day when I moved away from cheap spincast equipment, for instance. Not because it caught less fish, necessarily, but because I had far fewer headaches when I got away from it.

An interesting thread with some very good advice. There is no substitute for experience and knowledge. Read everything available on gear, baits, and techniques, and as much time on the water as you possibly can finding what works best for you. Pay more attention to details and work harder than everyone else. That is your edge. Watch a few Bassmaster episodes and study KVD. It is not by accident that he wins more often than the rest...

Definitely buy a bag of Senkos.

Some things never change. Fish + Location + Presentation = Success. Having said that, I do think that there is such a thing as a "hot lure"

For instance, I distinctly remember the success I had the first couple of years that I discovered senkos, which I haven't really duplicated the past few years. There have been similar experiences with Terminator spinnerbaits and Timber Tiger crank baits, Chompers brand soft plastics and there have probably been others that I'm not remembering right now.

Of course, I've had the experience of getting some fishing toy and thinking it would make a huge difference and it didn't. Oh well.

Every time I come across a fishing toy that I can afford, I ask myself a question, " Is there a chance that this might help me catch a fish?" If the answer is yes, then I'll probably buy it.

It is only money. During these tough times, we all need to do our part to keep all the different companies alive that feed our addiction.

Now I'm joking, but the point is that should you see some piece of fishing tackle that might make a difference for you, go ahead and buy it.

Your opinion is the only one that matters if getting some piece of tackle is smart or dumb.

p.s. I have caught fish on a Banjo minnow, both rigged as a jerkbait and as part of a dropshot rig.. So, you never know until you try.