Entry 64-4

Mark Davis - How To Get Ready For A Tournament

The Night Before Competition

Editor's Note: Mark Davis, of Mount Ida, Arkansas, is ranked third by www.bassfan.com. He won the Angler-of-the-Year title in 1995, 1998 and 2001 and the 1995 BASS Masters Classic.

Question: What do you do the night before the first day of competition?

Davis: I check the batteries, oil and gas in my boat to make sure I'm ready to go the next morning. Then I re-check my tackle to make sure I have plenty of what I need. If I’m bothered about a piece of my equipment, I’ll have it fixed or replaced that night. I don’t like going on the water the morning of a tournament and having to worry about a depth finder, a bilge pump, a switch or a reel. I like to go out on the lake with a clear mind.

A good night of rest is the last thing I try to do. Tournament fishermen can’t always get a good night's rest. Usually a fisherman is mentally going over where the fish may be, and how much trouble he’ll have trying to get to those areas. When a fisherman is trying to think through the different scenarios, it’s a combat between the thoughts in his mind and knowing he needs a good night's rest. I’ve found that I need two or three game plans because when I leave the dock, the first thing I’ve wanted to do or try may not work.

Next: Preparing A Partner

Contents:

• Part 1: Packing For A Tournament
• Part 2: Getting Ready At The Tournament Site
• Part 3: Using Local Information
• Part 4: The Night Before Competition
• Part 5: Preparing A Partner