[Fishingworld Library]
[Web Info and Pricing][Goto Main Directory]
[Boats N More]
Sharpen Confidence for Fishing Success
By Kevin VanDam
(EDITOR´S NOTE: This is an excerpt from VanDam´s new book,
KevinVanDam´s Bass Strategies. To obtain a copy, send $14.95
plus$3.50 shipping and handling to KVD Publications, P.O. Box
174,Jones, Mi., or call (800) 544-9343 with a credit card.)
Watching fishing videos or reading books and magazines may make
you more knowledgeable, but knowledge doesn´t guarantee success.
You still have to piece together the puzzle of a fish´s location,
depth and the lure presentation that will catch him. That´s where
most anglers veer off track. The mental side of fishing is the
single most importantaspect in becoming a consistent angler. All
of today´s top fishermen have one thing in common; they are good
thinkers. Their ability to recognize changes and adapt quickly
sets them apart from others who are equal in experience, ability
and equipment. It´s not easy to become mentally strong, nor is
mental strength easy to teach. It comes from within and goes
hand-in-hand with confidence. Unfortunately, confidence is easy
to gain, but easier to lose. I begin every day with confidence,
regardless of the fishing conditions. I look for something
positive in each situation, no matter how insignificant it is or
how dreadful the conditions are. My confidence carries me through
a tough day of fishing, as I believe that the next cast can
produce a strike when other anglers have given up. Sharpening
those mental skills is no easy task, but here´s what works for
me:
* Think positive. Never dwell on the negatives, as they will
rob you of confidence. If you lose a big fish, forget it.
Use what you learned to get another one to bite. If your
first stop of the morning doesn´t produce, use the
information you gathered to choose the next spot. If that
one fails, try again. Remember:every failure brings you
closer to success.
* Avoid dock talk. Unsuccessful anglers prepare themselves for
failure by talking about why bass shouldn´t bite. Associate
with fishermen who have positive attitudes and it will rub
off on you.
* Keep an open mind. Just because someone claims a pattern was
working, that doesn´t mean that it will work for you. Avoid
preconceived notions before you get on the water, but don´t
ignore your instincts. Keep your eyes open for any subtle
on-the-water observations that may lead to the best pattern
that fits your fishing style. Confidence will soar once you
can rely on the whispers coming from the back of the mind
that urge you to do something different. The more you´re
aware of what´s going on around you that affects the bass
environment, the more accurate those instincts become and
the sooner you´ll react to them.
* Utilize your strengths. Confident anglers know their
strengths and weaknesses and therefore rely on their
strengths to maintain an even keel of confidence. I'm not
saying anglersshould become one-dimensional or that
versatility isn´t important. But there´s nothing wrong with
utilizing your speciality when confidence in other
techniques begins to wane.
* Work on weaknesses. There is a time and place to work on
weaknesses and refine skills in other techniques, such as
when the fish are actively responding to that technique. It
takes time to build confidence in something new and you
should never force it, especially when fishing conditions
are tough. That will only lower your confidence and make it
tougher to overcome.
* Be aware of natures clues. I have honed my perceptive skills
through years of hunting. I´ve become more aware of the
little things that affect the animals and cause them to do
the things they do. Fishing is no different. Recognize the
variables that affect fish and adapt with them as they
change throughout the day. Those variables may be as simple
as increased boat traffic, a change in wind direction, or
the sun passing behind clouds. Good anglers think about how
changing conditions influence fish and will refine their
techniques and lure presentations accordingly. Being
perceptive and reacting to your observations isn´t easy, nor
can you develop it overnight. It is a trial and error
process that is refined with each day you spend on the
water. As your awareness and confidence increases, the
demons of negative thinking are less likely to interfere and
your fishing success´ will soar.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return to Stories & Articles
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Fishingworld Library] [Goto Main Directory]
(
geocities.com/yosemite)