It almost seems contradictory that one of the greatest pastimes in the world can be considered emotional. Most of us fish for relaxation and to forget our concerns. Bass fishing can be great for this as long as you do not plan to enter bass fishing tournaments.
Bass fishing tournaments are like any other competitive activity. They get the adrenaline flowing and cause the nerves to work in over-time. Combine this with the fact that you are competing with other fishermen that are also running on adrenaline and that you are all actually competing against the very shy and secretive bass that is infamous for evading capture and you have a combination for a very emotional event.
Devoted bass tournament fishermen ignore many of the basic needs of life in an attempt to win that trophy and capture the prize bass. This passion fuels the desire to win and in turn emits such emotions as elation anger and frustration. The trick is to keep in mind that you are competing against the bass more than you are the other tournament fishermen. Learning to subdue your emotions can be pivotal to capturing the tournament trophy.
You will spend the night before in anctipation of the next day. This will cause you to miss sleep and will provide you with a restless night. This will be followed by a morning of being overcome with the sensation that you need to sleep. But of course this will quickly be replaced by the knee knocking emotion of desiring to take the victory of the tournament.
This anxiety will come into play in the way you cast and the way you approach the trophy bass that are waiting below the water’s surface. You will be overwhelmed with self-doubt. Are you using the right lure? Should you have less split shot on the line? Should you be fishing closer to the shore? Are you as good as the others?
All of this will be rattling around inside your head. But the truth is bass fishing tournaments are places for friendly competition and a test of your skills and knowledge and patience. Most of all patience. You have to overcome the emotions in order to focus on the fish that is going to do their best to evade your capture.
The bottom line is you need to restrain those emotions and focus on what you know. You are a good bass fishermen or you would not have entered bass fishing tournaments. Relax and remember the angler’s motto “If it is to be it is up to me”.
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