Bass Tournament Strategy-Don’t get Discourage-Take a Backwards Approach

Welcome back-Your continued support is appreciated. Enjoy your fishing day!!

Instead of focusing on what is not working focus on the fact that you just eliminated what is not working!!

It has happened to all of us. We are practicing for a tournament or anxious for tournament day to arrive after finding all those fish the day or weekend before. We arrive shaking, nervous and anxious to get the day started, can’t even barely make the first cast. We start fishing and nothing… 15 minutes go by nothing…then an 1/2 hour….then an hour. Last weekend or the day before they were chasing bait, hitting top water eating an occasional crank bait… now nothing.

We go to the next area, same thing…where are they??? Keep throwing the top water, then the crank bait, then pick up a worm or jig, still nothing. We start getting discouraged, panic sets in. Your mind is telling you to go to another area just like the first and second. They must be there.Mmaybe you caught some fish there 2 years ago.  Your hopes and dreams of the day’s fishing are dwindling away. You must do something to catch some fish or the day is wasted.

Instead of focusing on all the negatives of what is happening and the fact that nothing you are doing is working, focus on what you have just learn. You have learned that what you are doing is indeed not working. Be glad you figured it out. You have just won half of the battle.

Only one of three things have happened:

1. The fish fish have completely left the area-doubtful.
2. The fish have decided just not to eat-maybe.
3. The fish have changed-most likely.

Rejoice in knowing you have just learned something. You have learned that what you are doing is not working. Be happy you figured it out in time. Now-what to do.

Stay calm, you still have time. Perhaps; go back to that area where the fish were just yesterday. Take a closer look at what is going on. Is the bait still there, if not were did they go?? Has the water changed color, did it rain last night, is there a front on the way, did a front pass through.

Either way; try to change with the fish. Move up shallower, move a little deeper, move up the bank, change tactics, change baits-not just colors or your retrieve.

Whatever the case; if something in life or fishing just isn’t working don’t keep doing the same thing. Look at what you learned, you learned what not to do. Change it. I’m not talking about moving from California to the South pole, maybe just a subtle change in the same direction is all you need.

Most importantly keep your bait in the water and maintain your confidence.If it still doesn’t work; keep trying. It will sooner or later. Eliminate what isn’t working.