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Planning out another full season on tour, it's time to set my goals again. I start by reviewing my season from last year. Things that come to mind are, what would I have done different? How can I get to my goal for each event? Why did'nt I see the signs? How can I get up to the level that the top 5 or 10 guys did last year?
This past season, while I had some mild success I feel like I lost to many opportunities at the bigger prize. I look back at the end of each event and feel I either wasted some of my time, or did'nt figure things out over the course of the 3 days. You can kick yourself countless times in life, but gettting past all these things and making improvements is where the better fishermen shine. I learned you had better be like a closer in Baseball (forget a bad outting quickly). Never take the past event to the next one, and keep the confidence where it needs to be.
Learning the lesson:
You can't control what others are going to do, so be prepared for everything. While we all love to fish "our" fish, others will find you or them, so I need to get a better grip on that.
Maybe adjust the "game plan", maybe I need to leave my best spot alone on the 1st day? You know just stay the course and glide through day one with my fish from my 2nd and 3rd spots. This way I leave my best for the "stretch run".
Adjustments to my "pre-fishing" are greatly needed! I don't watch enough, meaning I'm really only worried about what I'm doing and don't look at who else is around. I know that if there others chances are pretty good that they have groups of anglers or might be telling others? I need to leave fish alone once I know they are there and I can catch them (I never pound them anyways, I just like to keep track of them). I often get asked who is fishing near me (during pre-fishing) 90% of the time I have NO idea, I always felt it did'nt matter (boy was I wrong).
"New" styles:
The tournament game is changing, I have to learn to adjust to the "new school" anglers and what they are willing to do to beat me. My "style" is be coming a thing of the past, is it time to play the other way? Well it's a hard pill for me to swallow, but to get to the next level I might have to drop my morals a tad and get some of the advantages tilted in my favor. I struggle with this everytime i think about it, however I have seen the advantages 1st hand! Considering the 15K it will cost me to fish this year (entries, travel, lodging, fuel) I need to consider the alternative (not fishing tournaments) or getting with the new program.
Being a number:
This game is about getting noticed, and I'm talking about off the water here. In order to get your name out anymore, I will have to get better. I can do it the way of writing, but I just feel it's all getting re-hashed anymore, you don't seem to read anything new! Just old stuff re-written by new guys. Or you can "jump" on board with the program of the tour you fish. These days the tours are about sponsorships, every angler understands why they need them. My choice in sponsors products "may" need to change? Only thing is I like the ones I have, and making a move is always risky when the ones you have don't expect the world from you. I just never want to get into that group of guys considered by some as a "chaser" you know always chasing the buck. Plus I like the products and have confidence in them, you know that comfortable feeling.
So I'm caught up this time of year, how high do I set my real goals? Do I consider a 10 spot improvement as a step forward, or do I set them higher? Do I lean harder on my partners this year, or do I just continue the way I have always done my business? The goal is always to cash checks and set yourself up for a win or top 10, plus the Championship. So now is the time I have to decide just how far to take it, or how far I'm willing to go to get to the next level.
"Real goals" are what I'm talking about, not the ones we all dream about!
Thanks for listening, I just thank the Lord I have time yet to figure "myself" out!
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Location: Rhinelander | I have spent a fair amount of time watching the competition out there over the last few seasons; it's a combination of everything you posted and more that will win or lose any one event or far that matter, set you up to cash a check.
Improving your attack plan from year to year includes networking, applying whatever tactics and techniques you should to advance your opportunities on the water and off, and then sticking to the game plan for better or worse. Some of the successful 'teams' out there are so because of a pool of diverse talent. Some are just plain powerhouses that will put a couple members in the money almost every event. Some are more self reliant and do well on the merit of a more loosely based network. Some rely on sponsorship to make the baseline, many do not. there isn't really a 'norm' at this point out there other than the obvious need to network, big time. | |
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| Walleye tour angler - 2/13/2007 11:15 AM
Adjustments to my "pre-fishing" are greatly needed! I don't watch enough, meaning I'm really only worried about what I'm doing and don't look at who else is around. I know that if there others chances are pretty good that they have groups of anglers or might be telling others? I need to leave fish alone once I know they are there and I can catch them (I never pound them anyways, I just like to keep track of them). I often get asked who is fishing near me (during pre-fishing) 90% of the time I have NO idea, I always felt it did'nt matter (boy was I wrong).
;)
I don't know if your looking for any opinions, but IMHO, you are 100% wrong with that statement. You will know as well as anyone how many guys are on the "hot bite" during prefishing, and totally bomb in the tournament. The way i see it, if you start even thinking about anyone else on the water, you taking away from thinking about what is going on in your boat at that exact moment, and on top of that, you are worrying about something you can't control, your competition. Again, IMO, worrying about things you can't control, is completely useless, becuase, well, you can't control it. I could go on, but hopefully we'll get some other opinons here!! | |
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| Well I guess thats what your opinion is, I can only go by what my past shows me. I know for a fact when ever you load a bunch of boats in an area (even if it's the best) you are all fighting for the same fish (the ones to win with) Less pressured spots get better results at most events. You can read the 1st sentence in that statement, and it already tells you that "I" can't control that fact, but I can control the other aspects of my pre-fishing, like where and when. Always at some point in some event, I will be forced into fishing in large groups ( others will find the fish or will have been told of the fish)
I believe that at any giving event 20% of the anglers find the right fish, 80% do not. This does'nt mean they won't be on those fish. it means they did'nt find them, they were told or found the fishermen. Here again, I 100% understand I can't control any of that. I just know the less time I spend on fish the better off "I" may be, meaning I should spend more time elimimating water or finding the 6-7 spots that I won't see another boat on. It's a poker game to start, and maybe I should'nt show my hand before I draw cards? Thats all I was saying, nothing more. | |
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| Interesting insights from someone who has been there and is looking for ways to be able to stay.
I find from my experience, tournament fishing can sometimes make you feel like you're fishing against other people. However, it's at those times that I remind myself that it is really between me and the fish. That being said, obviously there are times you're going to be fishing in a group, but you might be on to something when you're talking about the 6-7 spots that you don't expect to see other fisherman...
Aim to get out of Tournament fishing what you want from it and remain true to yourself and your goals. Unless you enjoy going after the endorsements, etc. don't be a "chaser" but instead be a fisher. However, if you want the life of a full-time professional tournament fisherman, realistically you may need to become somewhat of a walking billboard. Or, in other words, a marketing tool for the advertisers that write the checks. It's definitely hard work, but it might be a good gig if you can get it. | |
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| Wow, what ever happend to the go out and catch 5 winning fish to take to the weigh-in! First of all, I'm no expert when it comes to tournament fishing, but as far as your old-school techniques, you have to fish with whatever gives you a chance to win and if you have not mastered that certain technique, a person has to spend time working on it.
Eventually, you will have to fish in the crowd, and there are some things you can do to work on your crowd management program. I used to hate fishing the crowd until I forced myself to work on it. Now, I actually enjoy and look foward fishing in the crowds. Although its nice to have a spot that gets very little pressure. I'm sure at your level those spots are rare.
Never beat them up during pre-fishing. find the fish and move on. Usually a tournament can be won at several different locations and I would suggest that you don't hold back on a good spot until the second or third day of the tournament. One of the toughest parts of tournament fishing is to know when to move or stay on a spot.
The team thing is different. It would be tough to fish independently against a good team. Personally, I have the techniques and the ability to fish at that level, but there is no way I could not be successful against "the teams". If you can't beat them, do you join them?
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| Thanks for the good stuff so far. I already know (or have shown I can compete) I'm just trying to find the way to get to that next level. I'm talking about, moving up the ranks. I could say that so far I'm happy to have done what I have so far, but to me, thats not my nature. I want more, I want to advance my own level and finish at a higher ranking. Like most anglers fishing tours, I understand my strenghts. So now do I just wait for "it" to happen or do I change my approach? The true question is just what will it take? Will I need to change or stay the course? I know that not changing may result in another "avg" year, and changing "might" result in an above avg year.
I guess I really won't know until that time comes, for now I'm leaning towards staying my own course. The satisfaction in the end will be (to me) a big prize! If I do this for the long haul, I'm sure good things will continue to happen, I'm just not sure if great things will happen? So I'm struggling with just how far to take it?
Over the course of many years I have done what most anglers have, started out on the local scene and advanced over the years. Each time I have gone to the next level, I have found that I can compete, I have also found a chance in how people react and how much more intense or even cut-throat it can get. Everyone fishing these events is in the same boat as I am, they either want to stay on or near the top, or they want to get there. So just where do I stand? Am I good enough to do it the way I feel is right? Or do I change? I never though of this as a team sport, but I understand the need. Little time, huge costs and large bodies of water= the need to make the most of every event and get the cash!
Where would any of you consider a very good year? Meaning when it's all said and done, is a top 20 in the angler of the year a good year or is a top 10 a very good year? When you look at the anglers standings, do you base a year and how someone did, on the fact of where they ended the year? Do you find yourself saying angler X had a good year and angler Z had a below expected year? Or is making the championship considered a good year? Or do you base everything on how much money they won? | |
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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | My idea of a good year is how you finished overall. I look at it as, did I even have a chance of being angler of the year? If you're 30 places out of it, but made 3X as much money as the guy in 20th, did he really have a better year than you? I think you have to look at it as a whole picture. Money finishes, final angler of the year standings, and your average finish should give you a good idea.
Making the championship in the FLW Tour means you average a top 1/2 finish in all events (50 anglers go to the dance, Probably about 100 -120 doing all the events). The other thing I would factor in is, do you really feel that you have a chance to win at every single event? If you fished 4 events and you felt out of place at 2 of them, then I think there's a ways to go.
I think that getting to the next level at any level, is more or less a matter of how you prepare and how well you can adapt to change. One thing I learned over the last year is to have a few spots, but not to have 20. I'm learning to keep things simple, and not over-complicate things. On the other hand, you can't go into a tourney (especially a multiple day tourney) with only one spot, even only two is bad. Good luck this year, and I hope your planning and efforts pay off.
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| Your quote:
My "style" is be coming a thing of the past, is it time to play the other way? Well it's a hard pill for me to swallow, but to get to the next level I might have to drop my morals a tad and get some of the advantages tilted in my favor. I struggle with this everytime i think about it, however I have seen the advantages 1st hand!
If you feel comfortable, can you expand upon what your saying? I like to know more about what you feel you need to do which may be dropping your morals to compete against the other guys? What are these other guys doing that may have less moral. I'm thinking of taking this step and enjoying your comments.
Thanks | |
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| If you want the fast track to the top, you are going to have to join the team. The new techniques to improve your walleye catch will come with the shared information with your new teammates(did I just write that?).
I got a phone call from a respected fisherman who asked me to "join the team" at the FLW Detroit River tournament. After a brief explaination, I was shocked at the amount of teamwork that goes on. They want my ability to catch walleye in a river system, to help the team. From what I learned, it would be very difficult to win without help.
If you want to step up to the next level, you have no choice but to join the team concept, then your goal would be to someday lead the team. Your success and expectations will fall on the team and you can be proud of a win by a fellow team member. Now I understand why the bass guys went to a no-share information and zone fishing tournaments. | |
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| Interested - 2/15/2007 10:24 AM
Your quote:
My "style" is be coming a thing of the past, is it time to play the other way? Well it's a hard pill for me to swallow, but to get to the next level I might have to drop my morals a tad and get some of the advantages tilted in my favor. I struggle with this everytime i think about it, however I have seen the advantages 1st hand!
If you feel comfortable, can you expand upon what your saying? I like to know more about what you feel you need to do which may be dropping your morals to compete against the other guys? What are these other guys doing that may have less moral. I'm thinking of taking this step and enjoying your comments.
Thanks
Lets just say it's getting to be alot like Nascar, or atleast what the public is just starting to find out about Nascar that is. Money and the way the tours are set up to promote anglers is why things are becoming what they are, and it goes for every sport! Look at the lenghts "pro's" of almost every sport have gone to the wrong methods to gain an edge. Fishing is no different. "Where theres a will theres a way".
My "style" is to do my homework on the body of water and once I show up use what I have learned or what I wanted to fish based on the maps. I never consider calling a bunch of the guys I'm fishing against and try getting info on how and where they are pre-fishing. I never have stood at the wiegh-in and asked others, "where is that guy fishing" or "whats that guy using". I take what "I" learned during pre-fishing and run my program. I NEVER go in on someone that has figured things out, or atleast has a better spot than what I could come up with. I never hunt down anglers during pre-fishing either. I take my lumps if not prepared and to this point have never just picked up stake and jumped in, if you know what I mean.
I consider it respect to the anglers that have it figured out, not to play the wrong way. I have seen the group of anglers on day one with the right fish, and I have seen the group grow to 3 times it's size on day two. While I'm sure some are invited, I'm also sure alot were not! I have seen the guys who don't have a clue on day one what to do, they spend 3/4 of the day running around seeing where everyone is and how they are fishing. I have also seen them on the best spots on the second day with a "game plan". I have witnessed anglers get into a screaming match over spots. "Bob just what are you doing here today" Bobs response: "You don't own the water". MY response would be: Your right but I have alot of money invested in this spot (my truck,boat,gear,time) only to have you come in on it and try and cheat me out of these things. (Atleast thats how I would feel)
Old school started out as a bunch of great anglers fishing against one another for some braggin rights and a little payday! New school is about doing whatever it takes to get money and fame, hense the Nascar refference and the extent we are now finding out these people will go to, to win! So it's a question of where I draw the line for my individual fishing, now. Do I just grin and go with it (while I disagree) or just hope someday to get to where I want to be? | |
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| I would suggest that if you can't look yourself in the mirror, perhaps fun fishing on weekends is the way to go.
Money is at the root of most of this discussion. That and the belief by to many that they should be at the top of the heep of this little game they are playing. From what I've read on many web sites (not that the web sites are gospel LOL) FAR TO MANY GUY'S TAKE THEMSELVES FAR TO SERIOUSLY.
When you have to get in a pack like a bunch of dogs to compete there is something wrong. Tournies in my opinion were never meant to be a team sport.
Man against man, but then most guy's couldn't compete one on one so hence the team thing.
Stick true to your beliefs, when you do win you will have a satisfaction that the "team" guy's will never understand.
Good luck in the future.
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Brian and Walleye Tour angler,
Very well said.
I'd rather fish with someone with character than fish with a bunch of characters. | |
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| Do you fish all the FLW events KLN? That circuit has an awsome tourney location this year. Looks like a lot of fun for you Pro's.. | |
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| Thats it i'm never going to fish another tournamets again since i dont belong to a secret team thats have some insight into what a walleye or bass like to eat that i cant figure out. i love fishing and catching foremost and the competition thingie second.I believe in my own game plan due to my prefishing and techniques i have aquired over the years . Do i have friends i share info with ofcourse but when the bell rings i'm on my own and i live and die by my own decisions and sure have made plenty of them that i regret! its time to hang up the tournys when it becomes such a difficult task and hardship that you really believe other competitors have the upperhand cause they have a "team" and if you feel old school its probally because you are old and should just move over and let us take this sport to a new level will you sit there on your lounger and remember the good old days! Amen | |
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| No, I do not fish the FLW. The FLW had Pro openings on the Detriot River and I was asked to enter and join a team. I have some new techniques, tackle, and knowledge that I would have liked to try on a river system like that. With that level of talent, it would be very hard to compete against the team concept. | |
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| Walleye Tour Agler, Knowing what your up against, it sure would be interesting follow your progress during the tournament season this year. Any way that can happen or do you want to stay anonymous. | |
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Making the cut in 2007