Mental Game

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ben Holten on July 17, 2009 at 10:31am

I put time into making sure I am doing well physicaly. I make sure to have sunscreen on, eat even if I am not feeling hungry, drink a lot, and even jump in the water. Part of my theory being if that I am in good shape physicaly I will be in a better state mentally.

I used to be a competitive triathlete, and took some sports psycology classes in college. There is a lot that you can do to calm yourself down. Work on breathing, mental imaging the night before, flexing your muscles really tight and than letting go. Having a game plan that you stick to is a great place to start though. I rarely deviate from my game plan...not that I have a great plan to start with, or really know a ton.

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on July 17, 2009 at 11:06am

Jeff,
There are obviously more qualified guys on this site to answer your question, but I'll give you my 2 cents worth. I started T fishing about 11 years ago. Most of the T's I fished at that time were by myself. The interesting thing is I did much better in the first 5-6 years vs. the last 5 years. My problem is I have a tendency to over-think what I'm doing now and not fishing instinctually like I used to. To touch on your question about focus- I can be kind of a d!ck on T day because I'm maybe too focused. Ask Eric, he'll be talking to me and I have no idea what he is saying. (I think this may be a sub conscience defense mechanism to protect my sanity). I have a wierd ability to stay completely focused all day even if things aren't going well. BUT I don't think this is a good thing, and my recent results prove that.. As you can see I have to make some changes with my approach to T's because I'm sick of donating my money, and no one should ever beat Eric and I. Seriously. Dont take that comment as being cocky, but if you go into a T thinking you will get your a$$ handed to you then you already lost. Mark my words, all of the guys on this site who consistently do well feel this way. Most of it is mental and believing you will catch fish. Dont be afraid of changing things up if the fish are not cooperating. It happens all the time that pre fish is great but T day the fish are doing something different. I can almost guarantee you that the fish are still there or very close by and you just have to change your approach slightly. Dont let the first few hours ruin your entire day. You cant get frustrated or you might as well load the boat up and go home. Many T's are won in the 11th hour.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on July 17, 2009 at 4:24pm

My best word of advice for you Jeff is just go fish. You found them in practice right? Well when the fish aren't following the same pattern the next week go find a new one. Hopping spots that have all the same similarities and you don't catch a thing off the first two, then something should tell you nothing is on the third fourth or fifth, the quicker you figure out they are doing something different the better off you will be. This switch takes alot of mental toughness not to worry and just fish. These tourneys are not do or die, if you don't cash a check, the house payment will still get paid and the kids will still get fed...right? So no pressure at all. You shouldn't be stressed out that you did not catch one on your last cast but be excited about the next cast. Alls it take is one good bite that tells you something that can change the day.
Fall back patterns I don't really have one, I go fish and let my instincts take over fish were I want what I want and how I want. This can change from minute to minute until I find the lethal combo.

I think everyone should take Wolskeys advice and "cast towards shore" it is the best advice I have ever recieved. Keep it simple the fish aren't that smart.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on July 17, 2009 at 6:13pm

Mike Bess said: " I have a wierd ability to stay completely focused all day even if things aren't going well."

Maybe he is focused on the inside?

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on July 17, 2009 at 7:22pm

That is extreme internal focus and wanting to eat a bullet all at the same time

Permalink Reply by Zach Chandler on July 17, 2009 at 7:28pm

"I think everyone should take Wolskeys advice and "cast towards shore" it is the best advice I have ever recieved. Keep it simple the fish aren't that smart."

I like that

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on July 18, 2009 at 11:30am

Mike I had the same experience fishing with delay. I didn't sit down but eating a bullet sounds very appealing half way through the day.

Mike Bess said:

That is extreme internal focus and wanting to eat a bullet all at the same time

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on July 18, 2009 at 12:45pm

Grimes,
If you want to do better in these tourneys you need to spend more time "flexing your muscles really tight and then letting go".

That is some revolutionary and sound advice Ben.

Ben Holten said:

I put time into making sure I am doing well physicaly. I make sure to have sunscreen on, eat even if I am not feeling hungry, drink a lot, and even jump in the water. Part of my theory being if that I am in good shape physicaly I will be in a better state mentally.

I used to be a competitive triathlete, and took some sports psycology classes in college. There is a lot that you can do to calm yourself down. Work on breathing, mental imaging the night before, flexing your muscles really tight and than letting go. Having a game plan that you stick to is a great place to start though. I rarely deviate from my game plan...not that I have a great plan to start with, or really know a ton.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on July 18, 2009 at 12:47pm

So instead of eating a bullet you wolfed down my lunch like a Rotweiler. I remember hearing some mumbling:"mmmm....good tuna...mmmm.....this is great". Well no more sandwiches for you Mr. Hobbs.

Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

Mike I had the same experience fishing with delay. I didn't sit down but eating a bullet sounds very appealing half way through the day.

Mike Bess said:

That is extreme internal focus and wanting to eat a bullet all at the same time

Permalink Reply by Jeff Grimes on July 18, 2009 at 12:52pm

Hey now....I wasn't whining about not doing well in tournaments .....I know that I can do better and my time will come. I was curious about how you other bozos deal with the frustrations.

By the way.......were you "focusing" when you left your power pole down and decided to take off? or were you flexing at the time ?



Eric DeLay said:

Grimes,
If you want to do better in these tourneys you need to spend more time "flexing your muscles really tight and then letting go".

That is some revolutionary and sound advice Ben.

Ben Holten said:

I put time into making sure I am doing well physicaly. I make sure to have sunscreen on, eat even if I am not feeling hungry, drink a lot, and even jump in the water. Part of my theory being if that I am in good shape physicaly I will be in a better state mentally.

I used to be a competitive triathlete, and took some sports psycology classes in college. There is a lot that you can do to calm yourself down. Work on breathing, mental imaging the night before, flexing your muscles really tight and than letting go. Having a game plan that you stick to is a great place to start though. I rarely deviate from my game plan...not that I have a great plan to start with, or really know a ton.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on July 18, 2009 at 2:33pm

That's right ask your wife next time theres a tourney to make a couple extra sandwiches for me..the best tuna fish sandwich ever!!!

Eric DeLay said:

So instead of eating a bullet you wolfed down my lunch like a Rotweiler. I remember hearing some mumbling:"mmmm....good tuna...mmmm.....this is great". Well no more sandwiches for you Mr. Hobbs.

Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

Mike I had the same experience fishing with delay. I didn't sit down but eating a bullet sounds very appealing half way through the day.

Mike Bess said:

That is extreme internal focus and wanting to eat a bullet all at the same time

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on July 18, 2009 at 5:01pm

Did the tuna fish have "pickled" pickels in it? I bet it did. Those will make any meal taste great.

Hobbs: Interesting advice...."just cast toward shore".....is there times when that stategy does not work? Many times I go out, and it seems like fish have vacated shallow structure near shore....and that maybe a deeper approach could be the deadly combo?

The only reason I ask...is because I get the feeling that most hack bassers....such as myself....spend too much time fishing shorelines, instead of being comfortable fishing deep.

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