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The US fishing tournament calendar is booked practically year-round. No matter what season is upon us, chances are you can find an event somewhere to hone your fishing skills and maybe even bring home some nice prize money while you're at it. Fishing a tournament isn't just about speeding off into the middle of a lake and wetting a hook, there's some serious strategy involved if you want to do well. Success requires research, planning, practice and knowledge and those are just the aspects that you can control. The other side of a successful tournament is lots of luck and the cooperation of the fish - which are rather unwilling to negotiate a deal.

The first step toward a livewell full of victory is to know your opponent. Bass, for example, are a very popular tournament target. There are only three things that bass absolutely must have to survive and they are food, oxygen and cover. That sounds easy enough to deal with until you factor in all the different environmental influences that effect their behavior which can change yearly, seasonally, monthly, daily, hourly and even by the minute if you want to get technical. Some of the influential factors include, but are not limited to, vegetation, water depth, temperature and clarity, underwater structures for cover, oxygen content, pressure changes and weather.

Next, get to know the waters your fishing in. A map of the lake is a great place to start and a topographical map is even better. Make a call to an area marina and see if there is a guide available for hire to give you a tour of the lake and fishing hot spots - make sure tournament rules allow it first. You can also gain a wealth of knowledge and tips from speaking to resident patrons of the lake who can give you a verbal tour of highlights and local fishing trends. Look at the recent weather history for any significant changes that would impact fish behavior such as heavy rains which would affect water clarity near run-offs or strong fronts which could affect water temperature.

Make sure you have several groups of alternate locations mapped out aside from your choice-spots. Changes in weather and fish behavior can easily make your premium selections obsolete. Find several viable locations on the water that are more sheltered from the elements and include them in your "best of the rest" selections.

Visit some local bait shops and pay attention to which baits and colors are selling well off the shelves. This will give you a good idea of what works in the local waters. Use a variety of baits and colors in as many different locations as possible during practice. This will help determine what the fish are hitting and more importantly what they are not hitting. You can also gain valuable tips by dining at a local eatery and listening to the conversation. Fisherman love to brag and will probably include the what, where and how of their latest big catch.

Make time to visit local bait shops. Not only can you speak with the patrons and glean more valuable tips, but you can also see which baits and colors are selling well. This will give you a good idea of what the fish are hitting. Use a variety of baits and colors (not just the best sellers) in as many different areas as you can, you'll not only verify what the fish are hitting, but you can also discover what they are not hitting which can be just as important to your strategy.

Lastly, make sure your equipment is ready and in working order for the big day before it arrives. Organize your lures, put on fresh line, sharpen your hooks and prep your boat the night before rather than the day of. Any time consuming tasks such as preparing special rigs should be done ahead of time to avoid wasting valuable fishing time on tournament day.

Luck has always been and will always be a factor in fishing but knowledge, experience and preparation can help lessen your dependence on it. You can be in the prize money sooner than you think by knowing your opponent, being familiar with your environment and being well prepared - but just to be on the safe side, don't forget your lucky hat!