Entry 277-1
How to Win with James Niggemeyer
Editor’s Note: The famous line from “The Gambler” with country-music star Kenny Rogers, “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em,” is especially true for professional bass fishermen. The Strike King Pros’ careers, in many cases, are based on the decisions they make on the water before and during a tournament. This week, we’ll look at how James Niggemeyer of Van, Texas, member of Strike King’s National Pro Team, makes the critical decision of when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em to win a tournament.
Part 1: How to Decide to Make a Long Run or Fish Close
Question: James, one of the hardest decisions for a tournament fisherman to make is whether to fish close to the launch site or make a long run to an area with less fishing pressure that may home bigger bass. How do you approach this decision?
Niggemeyer: I start planning before I reach the lake. I do my research on the Internet to find out how many pounds of bass are generally required to win a tournament on that particular lake. If I know I need 15 pounds of bass per day to make the top-12 cut, but I’m only catching 12 pounds of fish per day fishing close to the launch site, then I’ll make a long run if needed, especially if I can catch a better quality of bass further away from the launch site than closer to the launch site.
Question: James, how do you get your information about a lake?
Niggemeyer: There’s a tremendous amount of information on the Internet. Because BASS has held tournaments on most of the major lakes in the country, you can study the BASS records and learn what lures have produced big fish, which parts of the lake have homed the most big fish, and how many pounds of bass have been required to finish in the top 12 during the month the tournament will be held there. For instance, if a tournament is being held on Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, I’ll search “Reelfoot Lake fishing tournaments” on the Internet and then look through those results to see what kinds of weight have been required to win at the time of year I’ll be fishing there to earn a top-10 spot.
Question: How much time do you spend on the Internet searching for information about a lake you’ve never fished before?
Niggemeyer: If it’s a lake I’ve never fished before, I’ll spend 3 to 5 hours a day for several days, trying to learn as much as I can about that lake. Besides the weight needed to place in the top 10, I want to know what areas of the lake have consistently produced larger-than-average bass. 
Too, I’m searching for the typical seasonal pattern that usually produces the winning stringer on that lake. Some lakes will have their own idiosyncrasies. For instance, if you fish Lake Sam Rayburn in Texas, a lipless crankbait like a red-colored Diamond Shad may be your best bait. I also may learn through my research that many tournaments have taken place on Lake Sam Rayburn during that particular time of year I’ll be fishing there. All of this information will determine the lures and the tactics I use on that lake, in that tournament.
Next: When to Change Lures
Contents:
- Part 1: How to Decide to Make a Long Run or Fish Close
- Part 2: When to Change Lures
- Part 3: When to Leave Fish that Are Biting
- Part 4: Deciding When to Fold ‘Em
- Part 5: The Woman Behind the Man
