Shoop05

It's cool. I am a very competitive person too, there are just times when I have to step back and breathe a little or else I start to get in my own way.

When I say "F" it, that doesn't mean I am screwing around all day. I just mean that I am going fishing. Trying to relax myself while catching fish. If I gave the impression that I am partying in the back of the boat with a keg, I didn't mean to. It's just a way of approaching it. Letting things come to me as opposed to forcing them.

I didn't say I fish them strictly for fun. I said I decided to have fun in the last one. I fish for the money. I didn't mean in my post that I started fishing tournaments for fun, I meant I started fishing in general for fun. You can be very serious and focused in a tournament but still enjoy it. Too many guys are trying to be "hard A$$es" out there and they end up miserable all day. Don't get me wrong, it's game on when that horn blows. I just meant that I actually enjoyed fishing my last tournament. Sorry if my post was misleading.

Good stuff. I had one last weekend and said, "F" it. I was a co angler and just went fishin. Smoked the boater. We had a good time just laughing and joking around. The water got incredibly nasty and we were giggling like school girls while crashing through waves all the way into the ramp. It was a tough day, but we managed some keepers, I caught a bunch of short fish, but did manage to bring a couple to the scales. Overall it was a really fun day. Made me remember why I do this in the first place.

When flippin' or pitchin' be sure to hit the "not so obvious" stuff. So many guys hit the great looking stuff as they should, but I have seen numerous times when bass are caught in an area where there was much better looking cover around. Also, stay sharp on every cast. Treat it like your last cast and make em' all count. At the end of the day you'll be mentally drained, but it's always worth it!

Hey guys, just wondered what is the most memorable experience you've had while fishing. This usually brings up some cool stories, I am interested in hearing them.

It sounds great to me. I will go with 4#. Up here by Lake Erie I could donate a lot hopefully.

I have pre fished, I guess I should crank it up a notch. Some of the tournaments are difficult to prefish much due to distance and my schedule. I know how important prefishing is, so I stress it when I can get to the lake and really dissect it. It's not like I am zeroing, but there are those days when it feels like every bite I get I am scratching out. Im just going to keep my head down and charging along. Keep working hard and hopefully things begin to fall better into place. Thanks guys

Hey guys, just kinda wondering, what do you guys do about tournament slumps? I am currently in one. I am catching bass, but not getting the finishes I would like. I have made some mistakes and lost a fish here and there, but it seems like the more I press, the more it happens. Anyways, any advice??? I have fished tournaments as both a boater and non boater, same results. Usually 1 fish out of the money, or a big bite away from winning. Thoughts?

I agree with Felix too. Id say do some research, and have a pretty good array of lures tied on that you have confidence in. Be able to cover different situations. If it's a pre draw tournament and you're a co angler, ask your boater what he plans to do vaguely. If he plans to fish horizontal baits, have some tied on, if he's going vertical flipping and pitching be ready for that. You should still carry a couple of both though, that way if he or she changes their mind and switches their technique, you won't be retying. Above all else, ENJOY IT! Good luck, let us know how you do!

I voted for the big uns'. Simply because I think tournaments. I love to catch bass, but give me a big sack of 5 with a chance of beating my personal best.

Hey guys, Just wondering, why did you all choose bass fishing? There's a ton of stuff out there to do, and I am interested in hearing why you do this and how you got hooked!

I like KVD, Ike, and Shaw Grigsby. However the guy I pull for the most is Dave Lefebre. He's from my neck of the woods, and he's helped me with different things when I ask. A genuinely nice guy. Ike for his passion, KVD for his methodical approach to everything, and Shaw Grigsby because when I first met him I was about 12 or 13, and he literally talked to me for almost 45 minutes. Really great memory!

I always throw back. Even if he got my plastic. An example I have is a team tournament, I had a hit and set the hook. Due to my neglect, my line broke. (That's why you should retie often!) My partner threw right back to the same spot, and BAM, hooked a bass. He got it to the boat and low and behold my bait and hook were in it's mouth. My hook hadn't penetrated but was sideways in it's mouth. We added it to the livewell, and I got my bait and hook back.

Great point there.