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"Building the Confidence
Before you go fishing, you feel the excitement building as you watch the launching of the boats. Your adrenaline races through your veins, and this is making your heart pound twice as fast. Its competition day on the water and the bass are your enemies. Your objective is to come out on top of the list when the weigh in is over, taken no prisoners. You wish it was your name always announced first at a fishing blastoff tournament, so you can get more fishing time in. “Boat #”, you slam down on that throttle so hard, your boat is air lifted out of the water (“what a rush”). For the rider, its the excitement riding that flat surface of water across a lake to your first fishing hole, and the competitiveness that drives all of us to succeed. You grip down tight on the railings, and you notice the white knuckles as you fly over the waves of the previous boaters that have taken off before you, or the elements of nature that has erupted this lake on this giving day.
The last boater picks up the mega phone and announces the official time and rules. All you care about is, “am I going to catch some fish”, and hope to win, or place of course. Others think of a strategy, or what I call “Building the Confidence”.
Tournament fishing can be very stressful at times, unlike leisure fishing, no pressure at all. This “Building the Confidence” is strongly intended for the tournament fishermen, and also highly recommended for the fishermen that pre-fishes a lake before a tournament. On average, the majority of guys that do very well during a fishing tournament, and pre-fishing, will create some kind of game plan before he attempts to wet a line.
Well fellows, pull the throttle back for a moment and ask yourself, what could I have done differently? Or what didn't I do this time that I did the last time I was on this lake! Hopefully you will remember what it was the next time you go fishing (keep a log). It might put more fish in your live well. Hopefully you will not be asking these questions to yourself after the weigh in. Here is a strategy chart that should help you develop your skills of bass fishing, and build your confidence back to the level you want. Hopefully it will also produce more fish. Good luck to all the Bergen Bassmasters this year, and also a warm welcome to the new observers that have joined our 2002 roster. You will not be disappointed. Remember, life Jackets saves lives, so please wear it when necessary. Good luck!
1.Study mapping-underwater topography map preferably.
2.Look for structure- (rocks, weeds, channels, brush piles, etc).
3.Pinpoint positions on map- (GPS if possible).
4.Search & discovery-ride around the lake and observe the surroundings.
5.Process of elimination -(Don't fish areas you do not want too).
6.Make a mental note (keep a log -(time, water temperatures are very important.
7.Types of fishing you intend to concentrate on-(Surface/medium depth/bottom).
8.Water clarity-is it (clear/stained/muddy).
9.Air temperature and wind-(what effects the surface water).
10.Water level- is it (Rising or dropping), or low.
11.Organization- Have all your fishing gear properly organized if all possible (spinner baits, worms, hooks, jigs, jerk baits, etc.)
12.Barometric pressure-(effects the fish metabolism, two kinds(-high and low)Try and study this if all possible.
The last boater picks up the mega phone and announces the official time and rules. All you care about is, “am I going to catch some fish”, and hope to win, or place of course. Others think of a strategy, or what I call “Building the Confidence”.
Tournament fishing can be very stressful at times, unlike leisure fishing, no pressure at all. This “Building the Confidence” is strongly intended for the tournament fishermen, and also highly recommended for the fishermen that pre-fishes a lake before a tournament. On average, the majority of guys that do very well during a fishing tournament, and pre-fishing, will create some kind of game plan before he attempts to wet a line.
Well fellows, pull the throttle back for a moment and ask yourself, what could I have done differently? Or what didn't I do this time that I did the last time I was on this lake! Hopefully you will remember what it was the next time you go fishing (keep a log). It might put more fish in your live well. Hopefully you will not be asking these questions to yourself after the weigh in. Here is a strategy chart that should help you develop your skills of bass fishing, and build your confidence back to the level you want. Hopefully it will also produce more fish. Good luck to all the Bergen Bassmasters this year, and also a warm welcome to the new observers that have joined our 2002 roster. You will not be disappointed. Remember, life Jackets saves lives, so please wear it when necessary. Good luck!
1.Study mapping-underwater topography map preferably.
2.Look for structure- (rocks, weeds, channels, brush piles, etc).
3.Pinpoint positions on map- (GPS if possible).
4.Search & discovery-ride around the lake and observe the surroundings.
5.Process of elimination -(Don't fish areas you do not want too).
6.Make a mental note (keep a log -(time, water temperatures are very important.
7.Types of fishing you intend to concentrate on-(Surface/medium depth/bottom).
8.Water clarity-is it (clear/stained/muddy).
9.Air temperature and wind-(what effects the surface water).
10.Water level- is it (Rising or dropping), or low.
11.Organization- Have all your fishing gear properly organized if all possible (spinner baits, worms, hooks, jigs, jerk baits, etc.)
12.Barometric pressure-(effects the fish metabolism, two kinds(-high and low)Try and study this if all possible.
