Decisions, decisions, decisions…. that is something both coaches and tournament anglers have in common. For a baseball coach, he must decide when to make a pitching change. If he waits too long, the opponent will take advantage and push runs across the plate. For a football coach, calling the right play at the right time can be the difference between winning or losing.
But for a tournament bass angler, he or she must make the right decision all the time or they’ll get to watch someone else walk across the stage collecting the check that was meant for themself. For anglers, it’s about being in the right place at the right time. Timing in bass fishing is everything and it’s important that the angler plan out his day and try to be in the right location approximately at the same time he might have caught them the day before, give or take an hour.
Some anglers keep a log of every practice day and make notes on when, where, and how they caught fish. Some anglers use what is called an iSolunar Chart which is a predictor of daily wild game activity. This chart is based off the position of the moon and its location in the sky. For example, when the moon is underfoot or overhead, game activity is supposed to be at its peak. I’m a firm believer in this chart and it has proven itself to be fairly accurate over my many years of fishing and hunting.
Now don’t misunderstand, it’s not an exact science but it is based off science. The way I attempt to use this chart is to make sure I’m in one of the better areas I found in practice during the predicted peak time the chart says. The problem with using this type of logic, or science, is that if you don’t catch them during this so-called peak period predicted, it can cause you to spin out or lose confidence, which is something all anglers try to avoid.
For tournament bass fishermen, confidence is very important. You must believe in and try to execute whatever game plan you’ve put together. Whether they believe in moon charts or horoscopes, an angler’s mental state of mind is crucial for their success. But the one constant that great anglers tend to have is the ability to adjust their game plan depending on changing conditions that mother nature presents.
In bass fishing, every day is a new day and how you caught them in practice may not be how you catch them on tournament day. Bass fishing is a constantly evolving game depending on the conditions. No two days are hardly ever the same except during the summer months when the weather tends to be stable with less fronts coming through.
Once again, tournament fishing is all about making the right decision at the right time. Like a poker game, you must know when to hold them or when to fold them. Till next time good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to apply your sunscreen. Melanoma is the number one killer of all types of cancers. Don’t take any chances, wear good UV protective clothing, and use sunscreen.
Steve Graf
Angler’s Perspective
