In all the years I’ve fished tournaments, I’ve never been late for a weigh-in. Being penalized for being late and losing ounces or even your whole day’s catch might mean losing money.

In the old days I relied on a Timex watch, and maybe had a backup somewhere in the boat, or just made sure my fishing partner’s watch and mine were synched. Nowadays, I still rely on the Timex, but I also have GPS too.

It’s always best to keep up with running times from one place to the next. By the end of the day, no matter where you wind up, you should be able to estimate how long it’s going to take to get back from where you are at quitting time.

I always give myself an extra 15 minutes beyond when I need to stop fishing. That’s just a little extra wiggle room in case I have motor trouble or have to ride in with another competitor, which I’ve had to do a time or two in the past.

I never cut anything close, especially if I’ve got fish to weigh-in.

—- Chevy pro Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark.