"Practice makes perfect." Everybody's heard that saying a million times, and it can be applied to just about any endeavor that requires a specific set of skills. Tournament angling definitely fits that criteria.

But when it comes to tournament preparation, is there such a thing as too much practice? FLW Tour pro Ray Scheide of Arkansas says yes. Particularly at this time of year, it's possible to overdo it.

"There is actually an art to getting the best tournament results out of your practice," he said. "Understand that there is no substitute for time on the water when you're learning how to catch fish, but developing a plan to catch fish over the next 4 days should be approached a little differently."

The Rule of 3s

When fish are in transition from one phase of the spawn to the next, their locations and moods can change rapidly. An angler who's focused on what they were doing a week ago could be in real trouble when the event gets under way.

"If your tournament is in the spring, when fish are on the move from pre-spawn to spawn to post-spawn conditions, try not to rely on spots or techniques prior to 3 days before the start of your event," Scheide said. "An angler can get caught fishing memories and not the moment."

In other words, don't key in on only what the fish are doing right now, but also consider what they're likely to be doing in the near future.

"While practicing, think about where the fish are headed and other methods you might try if your fish don't seem to be cooperating on tournament morning," he said.

Maintain Your Edge

Winter, summer and fall patterns can remain unchanged for extended periods, so extra practice isn't likely to be harmful. But one thing to consider: physical and mental rest are important.

Therefore, it's often advisable to skip practice the day before the tournament, or at least limit the duration of the session.

"Rest is important to staying sharp on tournament day," Scheide said. "Quick mental adjustments and being able to fish hard all day are essential. Many tournaments are won (or lost) in the last couple of hours."

All is Not Lost

Anglers who have a bad practice shouldn't think they have no chance once tournament day arrives. Often, an angler who just "goes fishing" during the tournament can gather the necessary clues that day to figure out what the fish are doing.

If he or she has spent a few days on the water looking around, the whatever revelations are discovered on tournament day can be duplicated in other places.

"For example, you catch a large fish in the back of a pocket on the last piece of structure – maybe a boat dock or a small brush pile," Scheide said. "If you've practiced, you can remember where you've seen similar cover in other places.

"It's easier said than done, but fish the moment."