How Do You Handle A Bomb??

[Bass Dude]

I recently had a club tourney and I didn't get a bite. That's the first time, in a long time, that I blanked in a tourney. Even fun fishing, I haven't blanked in a VERY long time. I am having trouble getting over this one!!! I've done bad before, but never have I gone a day without even a bite. Not a slick, not a crappie, not a bluegill and not even a white bass bite----NOTHING!!!!

I zigged when I should have zagged, I yinged when I should have yanged...and so on!!!

I've already begun my map study and pre-fishing plans for my next tourney, but I'm still thinking about this last one.

Help a brother out....how do I get passed this one...it hurt!!!

[J Francho]

Come in the money on the next one. I didn't blank my two dayer on Champlain, but I came in dead last. Next tournament came in 2nd. Champlain was a distant memory by the time the next tournament came around. You have to have a short memory when it comes to competing successfully.

[NCbassmaster4Life]

Was it a lake you were familiar with?

[Glenn]

Shake it off. Even the best baseball players strike out every now and then.

It's just one day. You're better than that, and will prove it the next time.

[Bass Dude]

Was it a lake you were familiar with?

Unfortunately, I would call it my home lake!!

Thanks for the advice so far. I think putting my efforts into the next one will help me get over it.

I'm not sure why this one hurt so bad....I think maybe I had too high of expectations. I also thought that I had the correct game plan and thought it would only get better as the day wore on....it didn't! Because of the confidence in my plan, I was reluctant to adjust and by then it was too late.

[Nitrofreak]

Unfortunately, I would call it my home lake!!

Thanks for the advice so far. I think putting my efforts into the next one will help me get over it.

I'm not sure why this one hurt so bad....I think maybe I had too high of expectations. I also thought that I had the correct game plan and thought it would only get better as the day wore on....it didn't! Because of the confidence in my plan, I was reluctant to adjust and by then it was too late.

Here on my home lake, I have worked very hard to know the lake and how to fish it for the past ten years, TEN YEARS !!, every time I go out I catch fish, I have studied the plant growth and movements, the paths the fish travel were something I am very familure with, I have ALWAYS placed in the tourny's that we had for fun in the top two out of 20 to 30 boats, see I know my favorite lake !!!

The very first time I entered a tourny on this lake that I know almost intimately, cost me 500 just to enter!!

I had the utmost confidence I was sure to place at the very least, well guess what happened, yep, not one single nibble.

Why? what happened? ...overconfidence, thats what happened, I was so sure I had them figured out that I overlooked a lot of simple things just for the pure reason I thought I knew what they wanted.

I threw everything but a purple worm that day after the first two hours of nothing-ness...I know that's not a real word but I am using it anyway, I did not slow down enough to think things over after that, even though the screen shown I was in the right place my mind was in panic mode.

Take this as it is, learn from it and move on.

My wife swore to me NEVER AGAIN, she made it very clear, the next tourny though very very tough, mentally and physically, started just like the first, on the fish but not catching them, caused me to pause, clear my mind, and think basics, Stand up, look at the moment, don't overthink what you are doing here and just fish your basics, you know what when why and how, just very simply do it.

I placed 2nd, have confidence in yourself, this is not the last time this will happen to you I can almost assure you of that especially if your home lake is anything like mine.

What you should take from this humbling experience is that this is only one day out of a lifetime of fishing that you will learn from, everybody will have days like this.

It is what it is, nothing more, nothing less, get over it and go get em the next time !!!

[ww2farmer]

Happens. I came in dead last once with 1 fish one night at our local lakes Thursday evening tournament. This was on my "home" lake. In all reality, I don't care if I come in last. I don't fish for points in a club, I fish for cash. Anything short of a money spot is "last place". Now I go out and fish for fish that I think can win, if I fall flat on my face, so be it.

[NILBasser]

Last year I blanked inmy first tournament and my first buddy tournament of the year. It was definitly in my head after the first one and my buddy wasnt really helping me out. Decided to say screw it and just fish the way I fish and see what happened, never finished outside of 5th the rest of the season and if not for the blank I would have been top 3 overall for the season and possibly won the overall in the buddies if we could have caught 5lbs that first one.

[AndrewS]

bud it happenes I have zeroed tournaments but just keep plugging away. I was fishing a tournament this last weekend and nothing was going right. I only had one bite the entire day and that was an hour before weigh-in under the dock we had weigh-ins at. I was using a rental and found a leak just as I reached the back of the lake... I was ankle deep in water and it took me 30 mins to get back. I got back and switched out boats and stayed around the weigh in just to make sure that I didnt find another leak. Yea that one bite was an 8lb bass that won the entire tournament. It doesnt always end that way but it just shows keep on trying you never know whats going to happen.

[slonezp]

Ask Denny Brauer.

Shake it off and prepare better for the next one.