Pre Tournament Jitters

[The_Mad_Fisherman]

Does anyone else here get the pre-tournament butterflys?  I don't know if I'm alone with this or not.  I sometimes get the butterflys so bad that it makes me sick to my stomach.  Does anyone else deal with this?  And what can I do to help get rid of this problem?

Thanks

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I do, every time I go.  It's more out of excitement to be where I want to be, doing what I want to do,...more than anything.

I don't even compete but the excitement gets me going for sure.  

[squid]

I GET PUMPED UP...NOT JITTERS....NOR DO I FEEL SICK...IT IS AN AWESOME FEELING WHEN THE FIRST TOURNAMENTS HIT HERE IN MICHIGAN.

BUT I CHEAT...I HEAD SOUTH TO INDIANA FIRST....LOL

[suskyguide]

Hi everyone ,I just joined, nice board. If you don't get the jitters maybe you should try a different sport

[squid]

WELCOME ABOARD

HUH?   I HAVE NEVER HAD THE JITTERS ABOUT A TOURNAMENT.....CAUSE I ENJOY THE FISHING PART OF IT....SO I AM ALWAYS RELAXED.

NOW...WHEN I WAS DOING MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENTS...JITTERS ALL THE TIME....SINGING CONTEST...JITTERS ALL THE TIME....ONLY CAUSE I KNEW I WAS GOOD AND DID NOT WANT TO CHOCK....CAN'T CHOCK IN FISHING....LOL..YOU EITHER FIND THE BITE OR YOU DON'T....PERIOD.  THAT IS HOW I LOOK AT A TOURNAMENT.  I AM EITHER GONNA BE ON FISH, OR I CATCH THE HECK OUT OF THE SHORTS....WHICH IS STILL FUN TOO....LOL

[basspro05]

i used to get a little nervous before hands, never about my fishing skill, just for no apparent reason, after three or four tournaments I started loosening up, and now that nervousness has turned into a burning desire to win!!

[Garnet]

Mine are not that bad. It's part of the fun to control the adren. rush. After 25 years when the bite starts and I no it's performance time I hit the zone and start almost cold exacusion.

And when I win another it's smoken.

Garnet

[superstud55]

i for somereason have never been nervous before any kind of sporting event ever, or any kind of speech or anything.  i have played in many select hockey tournaments and championship games, and never seem to ge the butterflies.  I think am on of those kind of people that love the attention tho lol, like i love beeing in front of people and and stuff so it doesnt bother me.

[GobbleDog]

When I first started fishing tournaments, I got jitters.

Nowdays, sitting in the boat at 6:00 am before the sun rises waiting for the tourney to start... I just feel tired.

[senko_77]

lol.  i used to get them sooo bad.  it wasn't that i was nervous.  it was just pure adrenaline.  i never sleep before a tourny, and i fly out of bed the second my alarm clock goes off.  i fished a real big tourny last year, and i had the biggest knot in my stomach.  it was like my abs just locked up.  

does anyone have trouble eating?  drymouth?  those are classic sympstoms.  lol.  

i love the nervousness.  

for some reason the second my boat touches the water it goes away.  

[=Matt 5.0=]

I've never fished a tourney(yet) but we always get pumped up for hittin' the water. Lots of smack talk involved

Now, on the other hand, I was a crew member for two years on a drag racing team, you wanna talk about being extremely nervous and jittery? Nothing worse than first round of eliminations on a Sunday! Especially when you've been up the whole week before getting the car ready, and you just drove from Rhode Island to Sarasota FL, only stopping for deisel and pee breaks....

[The_Mad_Fisherman]

Good.  You guys hit the nail on the head.  I think it's more excitement, than nervousness.  But I get so excited and so tensed up that I hurts.  I get pains in my stomach and it goes even beyond the pain to sickness sometimes.  But funny, it goes away the instant the boat hits the water.  I used to notice that if I drank a soda on the way to the lake, I would get really sick, so I try the alternative, Kool-aid.  ;D  I'm still not sure what to do about the problem, but usually the farther we get into the season, the less it affects me.    But I know I'm not in the wrong sport.  Out of 15 tournaments that I fished last year, I won 9 of them, and the other 6, I placed in the top 4.   :-/  Maybe I'll get this thing figured out this year.

Thanks guys.

[Garnet]

I stay away from Diet Coke and do take a couple asprins for achs and pians but they also calm me. Most of my tourney are larger bodys of water and I take a smacking most days.

Garnet

[frogtog]

I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT MY T.P. and I don't go to bed the night before

can't sleep so I just set up and watch tv.

[HPBB]

For the first tournament of the year. Not really nervousness, but excitement. Can't wait to get out there. Sleeping is a problem for the first of the year, Its like the night before Christmas when you were a little kid. after that I calm down and its time to fish.

I do get pumped up the morning of a tournament. Never have problem getting up and always seem ready to go as soon as my foot hits the floor.  Sitting in the boat just before the sun rises is very relaxing, it calms me.... Then the sound of the motors starting and its excitement. "lets go now!"

On drinking soda (here in Pittsburgh its POP) during a tournament. I drink Canada Dry. Ginger ale has a calming effect on ones stomach. try it, it works

[Glenn]

When I first started fishing tournaments, I got jitters.

Nowdays, sitting in the boat at 6:00 am before the sun rises waiting for the tourney to start... I just feel tired.

Man I'm with you on that one!  LOL!

I guess maybe it's the experience, maybe it's the confidence knowing your bite will be there at noon (and maybe even better than at 6am), maybe it's knowing the real competition is with the fish - which you experience every time you go out.

I guess I try to treat it like any other day.  It helps me maintain my focus.  Although I won't waste much time on dinks like I would if I were fun fishing.  Of course, when your day is going bad and it's 30 mins away from weigh-in time, then I get a little anxious...

[topwtr81]

if you ever stop feeling somewhat like that you should hang it up!!!!!

I love the feeling I have a cd that my sister burned for me with several song's that I very religously listen to in the truck just before I launch, My wife is my team partner and she know's to just leave me be because the tune's put me in the game time frame of mind

my play list in order is this

for those about to rock   ac/dc

loose yourself    eminem

cowboy's from hell pantara

anywhere I roam  mettallica

dead or alive  bon jovi

I love the smell of outboard oil in the morning!!!

[squid]

if you ever stop feeling somewhat like that you should hang it up!!!!!

I love the feeling I have a cd that my sister burned for me with several song's that I very religously listen to in the truck just before I launch, My wife is my team partner and she know's to just leave me be because the tune's put me in the game time frame of mind

my play list in order is this

for those about to rock ac/dc

loose yourself eminem

cowboy's from hell pantara

anywhere I roam mettallica

dead or alive bon jovi

I love the smell of outboard oil in the morning!!!

WE LISTEN TO "I'M A BASS-A-HOLIC"....LOL

[flyphisher #]

I dont really get nervous or anything anymore. I dont sleep good the night before ever. Just too much on my mind. especially if I have been pre-fishing. I crank up the Pantera and Metallica at 4 am no matter who is asleep on my floor. I just want to get out there and see if things work.

[bassmaster8100]

I always get pre tournament jitters. Its mainly the excitement, sometimes a little nervous if its on a body of water that Im not familiar with. But I mainly get em because Im so hyped up and ready to go.

[bassfishingnerd]

I don't really get the jitters, but I certainly don't sleep as well the night before.  I guess I'm just too excited.

[Banor]

My first tournament of the season is still about 3 weeks away.  I think I've had the jitters for about 2 weeks now.

Of course that could just be cabin fever giving me the shakes.  It's hard to tell.  Either way the wife is thinking about scheduling me to see a shrink.   8-)

B

[abelfisher]

 I'm still not sure what to do about the problem, but usually the farther we get into the season, the less it affects me.    But I know I'm not in the wrong sport.  Out of 15 tournaments that I fished last year, I won 9 of them, and the other 6, I placed in the top 4.   :-/  Maybe I'll get this thing figured out this year.

Thanks guys.

[bassnleo]

I don't really get nervous or the jitters but I really have trouble sleeping the night before. That kind of bothers me, I know to be mentally and physically sharp sleep is essential. I feel and peform soo much better if I can get at least 3-4 hours of sleep plus that long drive home isn't so bad. Nothing worse than having the head bobs while driving.

For those who said they stay up all night before, I don't know how you do it.

[earthworm77]

Brother, run into a housing project building after midnight chasing a gun wielding maniac that just put 4 bullets into another crack dealer on the street.......adrenaline has you running up stairs and around corners blindly, you can smell the gun powder and the body odor of the dirtbag because you are so close. When he runs out of room to run and you come up on him and hear his gun click because it is out of ammo and when you realize what you are doing.......those are jitters, you have butterflies and nothing to worry about. I approach my tournament fishing as if it was just another day out on the water. Only I keep and weigh my best 5. Don't put pressure on yourself.

If my wife knew what I really did when I was a cop, she'd freak!