Basspro87 Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 On May 1st I will fish my first high school tournament, and I was wondering if you guys had any tips on how to ignore the adrenaline rush of a tournament and to focus on fishing. Quote
Turtle135 Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 The first thing I figured out about tournaments is that I have a lot less time to operate than I am used to. The typical fishing trip for me usually involves getting on the water at sunrise and fishing until sunset. In a tournament you just do not have that kind of time. If you have been able to prefish and found a pattern/presentation that is working get to it right off the bat. Give it more than a fair chance to produce. Have two or three backup plans prepared in case option A does not pan out. From my personal experience that is likely all you will need (and have time for). If you have not been able to prefish go with your "strength & confidence" presentations. A tournament is not the time to experiment with something new, save that for another day. There will be a tendency, if the bites are not coming, to start fishing "faster". Fight that tendency. In fact that is when you likely need to be more deliberate in your presentations. Hope you do well but if not, don't sweat it, there will be more tournaments down the road (and you learn from each one you enter). Good luck! 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted April 26, 2015 Global Moderator Posted April 26, 2015 I just go fishing. If I get caught up in the whole "I'm in a tournament", thing I tend to spin out. If I just go fishing and do what I'd do if I was just out there fun fishing with a buddy I do much better. Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted April 26, 2015 Super User Posted April 26, 2015 I just go fishing. If I get caught up in the whole "I'm in a tournament", thing I tend to spin out. If I just go fishing and do what I'd do if I was just out there fun fishing with a buddy I do much better. Exactly. Let the adrenaline fuel your fishing. 2 Quote
Super User Ratherbfishing Posted April 28, 2015 Super User Posted April 28, 2015 Fish like absolute mad the first hour, stop, sit down, prop your feet up, have a coke and a cupcake, and then begin your serious fishing. Quote
CDMeyer Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 Don't ignore the adrenaline rush, use it to your advantage. Just trust in your angling and know that you are good and will catch fish. God out execute your plan and stay foccued..... and the biggest thing is have fun, if you are not having fun you will perform bad Quote
CDMeyer Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 The first thing I figured out about tournaments is that I have a lot less time to operate than I am used to. The typical fishing trip for me usually involves getting on the water at sunrise and fishing until sunset. In a tournament you just do not have that kind of time. If you have been able to prefish and found a pattern/presentation that is working get to it right off the bat. Give it more than a fair chance to produce. Have two or three backup plans prepared in case option A does not pan out. From my personal experience that is likely all you will need (and have time for). If you have not been able to prefish go with your "strength & confidence" presentations. A tournament is not the time to experiment with something new, save that for another day. There will be a tendency, if the bites are not coming, to start fishing "faster". Fight that tendency. In fact that is when you likely need to be more deliberate in your presentations. Hope you do well but if not, don't sweat it, there will be more tournaments down the road (and you learn from each one you enter). Good luck! So true just go out and relax and have fun Quote
uncustered Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 Have a plan b. And c, And d. Be flexible and let the fish tell you what to do. Quote
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