Dec 21, 2011 By Ken Duke When it comes to tournament fishing, whether you're competing in a club against your buddies or casting for the big cash on the Elite Series, off-season preparation is a big deal and vitally important to your success. You know what they say, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

One successful Elite pro who's always looking to improve his performance on the water is 11-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Brent Chapman. After back-to-back fifth-place finishes in the last two Classics, Chapman is ready to move up four spots and then have a big year in the Elites. To do that, he knows he needs to prepare, and his three-step system works for him. It could work for you, too, and part of it will definitely surprise you.

Get Away

You may be shocked to learn that Chapman hasn't done much of any bass fishing since the last Elite event of the 2011 season. That was back in June! For the affable Kansas pro, getting away from things for a while is an important aspect of getting ready.