Attitude Affects Fishing

[MN_Bassin]

Throughout my years of fishing, I've noticed that whenever I get negative or frusterated, fish avoid my lure and nothing seems to click together. I can't even count how many times that I'm using the same lure and presenting it the same as my friend, and he's smoking the fish, while I'm negative and getting skunked. Then it only takes one little thing within an instant to change my mood and then I'll hammer 'em. Or vice versa. I'll start out feeling good and can't keep them off my line, while my friend can't get a hit and he's having a hissy fit. I have no clue what ever causes this, the fish can't sense that kind of stuff....? Also, I always seem to catch fish on presentations that I'm most confident in, verses a new bait I'm second thoughts about. Do you guys encounter similar outings like that? What are your theories why this is? My dad's friend always claims that you must "fish with swagger".

[Canyon explorer]

Throughout my years of fishing, I've noticed that whenever I get negative or frusterated, fish avoid my lure and nothing seems to click together. I can't even count how many times that I'm using the same lure and presenting it the same as my friend, and he's smoking the fish, while I'm negative and getting skunked. Then it only takes one little thing within an instant to change my mood and then I'll hammer 'em. Or vice versa. I'll start out feeling good and can't keep them off my line, while my friend can't get a hit and he's having a hissy fit. I have no clue what ever causes this, the fish can't sense that kind of stuff....? Also, I always seem to catch fish on presentations that I'm most confident in, verses a new bait I'm second thoughts about. Do you guys encounter similar outings like that? What are your theories why this is? My dad's friend always claims that you must "fish with swagger".

It is called being " In the Zone" You will know it when you are in it; Feel it when you have it.

[lo n slo]

The bass have the ability to humble you like nothing else.

[AdamsEye]

Ah Rick Clunn covers this area quite well, Quantum Physics I think he called it. He noted several times seeing a grumpy guy get skunked while everyone else is catching fish all around him on the same boat. http://www.bassmaster.com/news/greatest-bass-angler-all-time-talks-about-intellect-intution-and-being-zone

 

That is not the orginal article I read, I think that was in a BASS magazine.

 

Any how I found it to be very interesting.

[Fisher-O-men]

The negativity transfers down the line and causes the Bass to lose their appetite!  Pretty sure that is not true, but I am sure that I am happier and more positive when I am catching fish.  No mystery there!

[lo n slo]

How about the guy who really likes to rub it in when he's killing you but wants to put it on the trailer when you're burning him up?

[MIbassyaker]

Throughout my years of fishing, I've noticed that whenever I get negative or frusterated, fish avoid my lure and nothing seems to click together. I can't even count how many times that I'm using the same lure and presenting it the same as my friend, and he's smoking the fish, while I'm negative and getting skunked. Then it only takes one little thing within an instant to change my mood and then I'll hammer 'em. Or vice versa. I'll start out feeling good and can't keep them off my line, while my friend can't get a hit and he's having a hissy fit. I have no clue what ever causes this, the fish can't sense that kind of stuff....? Also, I always seem to catch fish on presentations that I'm most confident in, verses a new bait I'm second thoughts about. Do you guys encounter similar outings like that? What are your theories why this is? My dad's friend always claims that you must "fish with swagger".

 

But...you're negative in the first place BECAUSE they're already avoiding your lure, no?  What I mean is, you're negative because you're getting skunked. If you're already getting skunked, you're already doing something wrong. Unless you figure out what it is that you're doing wrong, you're probably not going to fix it. So you're going to keep getting skunked. In that case the attitude is not the cause; it's an effect that gives the illusion of being a cause because you don't know what the real cause is (if you knew, you'd just fix it!). The real cause is some aspect of location or presentation you haven't figured out.

[MN_Bassin]

But...you're negative in the first place BECAUSE they're already avoiding your lure, no?  What I mean is, you're negative because you're getting skunked. If you're already getting skunked, you're already doing something wrong. Unless you figure out what it is that you're doing wrong, you're probably not going to fix it. So you're going to keep getting skunked. In that case the attitude is not the cause; it's an effect that gives the illusion of being a cause because you don't know what the real cause is (if you knew, you'd just fix it!). The real cause is some aspect of location or presentation you haven't figured out.

That's true in some cases, but sometimes I'd just be having a bad day and try to fix it by fishing, and between me and my friend both skipping docks with identical baits, he'd crush me somehow. I think maybe it has to do with having confidence, and that boosts performance (better placed casts).

[Lund Explorer]

Imagine how many bites you simply don't feel because your head isn't in the game. 

[the reel ess]

I don't get skunked a lot. Usually, when it happens is in the winter or after an early season cold front. But to me, it's more about expecting a bite. I missed an early spring/late winter monster this year because I wasn't expecting anything to hit. My dad used to call that head up the butt syndrome. He wasn't a fantastic bass fisherman by far. He only used a crankbait or a 6" worm most of the time. But he did have patience and concentration that he instilled in me. Pay attention at all times if your hook is in the water! When I started fishing he would get mad at me for losing one. He was late to the fishing just for fun party.

 

I don't ever really get a negative attitude about fishing anymore. I can usually take 5 lures and get a bite on one. After all, there are at least crawfish, bluegill and/or minnows everywhere I fish.

[A-Jay]

For me, it's all about being "Balanced"; My personal Life & My Fishing.

 

If I am casting & gritting my teeth, I might as well go home.

 

Over the years I've learned that I can fish with intensity while still being Relaxed.  

 

Also, I don't fish competitively so I can not speak as to what works in that area and what does not.  I'd think it would be different for each competitor.  In the end, seems like the challenge is what's in the live well.  Doesn't it end there ?

 

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jd_Phillips_Fishin]

When you don't have a good attitude your focused on all the bad that's happening and not on what's happening on the other end and you lose the patience to thoroughly work your bait.  That's what happens with me.

[blckshirt98]

It comes down to confidence.  Confidence in your lures, in your presentation, that you'll get the fish to bite.  If you have no confidence it'll affect how you attack the water, you'll get lazy in looking for the right spot, you'll pay no attention to finding the right color or depth, and your presentation will be sloppy.  You might junk fish and get lucky, but you'll never find a working pattern, and the majority of your presentations will suck and more than likely scare fish away.  If you don't have confidence it might be time to pack it in early and head home.

[georgeyew]

Maybe I just got lucky then. I got my PB down in FL while fishing in the middle of a hot and miserable day. We were ready to call it the day since it seemed that the bite had shut down and I was tired of throwing and winding my swim jig. And then out of nowhere, BOOM, my 7.5 lb PB bent my rod. I often catch my biggest fish when I am not fully paying attention.

[Canyon explorer]

It comes down to confidence.  Confidence in your lures, in your presentation, that you'll get the fish to bite.  If you have no confidence it'll affect how you attack the water, you'll get lazy in looking for the right spot, you'll pay no attention to finding the right color or depth, and your presentation will be sloppy.  You might junk fish and get lucky, but you'll never find a working pattern, and the majority of your presentations will suck and more than likely scare fish away.  If you don't have confidence it might be time to pack it in early and head home.

B~s98, I would say you are well on your way to "The Zone".

[bigbill]

Once a person says I never catch anything before going fishing I say stay home. I hate negativity.

[RoLo]

There is no question that attitude affects fishing.

We all know the importance of 'confidence', which is simply the word we use to describe a positive attitude.

In addition to attitude affecting my fishing, I've also noticed that fishing can affect my attitude....if you get my drift  

 

Roger

[AdamsEye]

The negativity transfers down the line and causes the Bass to lose their appetite!  Pretty sure that is not true, but I am sure that I am happier and more positive when I am catching fish.  No mystery there!

 

I have seen a few times where a dog can sense a person they can't see, even sense that they are up to no good. One of my dogs actually woke us up when someone was stealing my dads truck, and that dog could not see a thing. This is not a bass and a fisherman, but I have seen at least one instance in my life to confirm that animals can sense things that we might over look.

 

From what I know about it all, I can't say yes or no. My experiences in life lead me to yes, along with the little research I have done.

 

Also I never said the bass would loose his appetite, just his interest in that offering. I agree your negative attitude can't alter the fishes hunger, but I feel it can totally effect his willingness to bite your bait.

[SirSnookalot]

With all due respect bass fishing is the easiest fishing I do.  I walk the banks of ponds and canals using light gear, doesn't take too much energy.  The fish are there, some days there is a good bite others days not so good, I just take in stride and enjoy myself.  I don't get skunked too often but it does happen.

I do other fishing that isn't relaxing, walking a beach, soft wet sand isn't easy to walk on.  I can go a long time without a strike, sometimes days, the fish aren't always there.  I may have run after a pod of bait or schooling fish, I may have run or walk a fish down that takes 10 minutes or more to land, some of them get unbuttoned and some are real small fish too.  I may or may not catch fish, I never get negative or discouraged, confident with any lure as I know what to use for certain conditions.  Fish are either on or off, they don't read my vibes.  I see no point in putting pressure on myself or getting depressed, it's supposed to be fun.

[Jaderose]

I call it "fishing angry" and it happens most every time I go out.  In fact, it's the REASON I go out.  I rarely catch much the first hour or so I'm out.  I'm thinking about everything BUT fishing.  Work....chores....money...whatever.  I cast wildly and fish way too fast.  And then........I start slowing down.  think about tactics and patterns....pay attention to lure selection and casting placement....working the angles.  I start actually fishing...and catching fish.  At that point I can sit out there for 8 hours and not even notice that time has passed at all.  In other words.........the ZONE

[Thornback]

How about the guy who really likes to rub it in when he's killing you but wants to put it on the trailer when you're burning him up?

That's not a good sign. Over the years I could write a book on fishing partners. One guy would start singing as soon as we got on the water, happy guy. Another guy would have the most negative attitude. He would drag me down after a few hours of listening to him. I always caught more bass than he did and he kept calling me lucky. Another guy would catch the first bass and start rubbing it in. If I caught the first bass I would ask him if he was going to catch that day or just watch me. We had a ball fishing and smack talking. I do believe a positive attitude makes a fishing trip more enjoyable, and produces more bites.

[Fisher-O-men]

I have seen a few times where a dog can sense a person they can't see, even sense that they are up to no good. One of my dogs actually woke us up when someone was stealing my dads truck, and that dog could not see a thing. This is not a bass and a fisherman, but I have seen at least one instance in my life to confirm that animals can sense things that we might over look.

 

From what I know about it all, I can't say yes or no. My experiences in life lead me to yes, along with the little research I have done.

 

Also I never said the bass would loose his appetite, just his interest in that offering. I agree your negative attitude can't alter the fishes hunger, but I feel it can totally effect his willingness to bite your bait.

Best scenario:  The fish has no idea you exist!  Stealth is key!

[the reel ess]

How about the guy who really likes to rub it in when he's killing you but wants to put it on the trailer when you're burning him up?

I have a buddy that used to be that way. Everything was a competition, complete with smack-talk. If we went out fishing and I landed 2 nice bass, but he landed 4 eyeball bluegill, he won! And he wanted to keep EVERYTHING-even got angry with me when I didn't. Over the years, I got used to his smack-talking and ignored it or engaged in it myself, while he was becoming a better angler and learning to catch bass and enjoy the fishing almost as much as hearing himself talk. He recently caught his PB from a kayak fishing with me and he released it. My work is done there.

[K_Mac]

With all due respect to Zen master Rick Clunn, using quantum physics to explain abstract metaphysical notions is a stretch I am not willing to make. Yes, attitude is important in staying focused and making good decisions. Implying that fish are more willing or more likely to bite my bait based on my psychological state is nonsense in my humble opinion.

[A-Jay]

With all due respect to Zen master Rick Clunn, using quantum physics to explain abstract metaphysical notions is a stretch I am not willing to make. Yes, attitude is important in staying focused and making good decisions. Implying that fish are more willing or more likely to bite my bait based on my psychological state is nonsense in my humble opinion.

 

So I'm not the only one who does not Zen Out on the bow before the launch then . . . .

 

 

A-Jay