A person once told me....

A person once told me that the only way you can go when you are on top is down. How true is this? Well, this was the year it happened to me. I have done well in my fair share of tournaments. For that I am very thankful. This year I did something that I have never done before and that was placing first in the USA Bassin Classic and winning a boat. Throughout that whole week of practice and in the tournament I felt different. I cannot explain it and I wish I knew how to get that feeling back. Anyway, after that win, my tournament fishing went downhill fast. I mean like a land slide. It seemed like every event I fished, I would lose the ones that would put me in the money, or make bad decisions and that cost me. For whatever reason, nothing seemed to work out for me. Finally after not winning a penny in three and a half months I won an event on East Lake in Sparta. My decision making was flawless and I never lost a fish. That day I had the same feeling. It was a good sort of calming feeling like everything is going to be ok. Whatever happened in between those two wins, I really have no idea. That is how tournament fishing goes. You have to have confidence in every event and you have to fish to win. Sometimes it works out and other times it does not. It is something that cannot be forced upon. When you force it, then it turns into disaster. I believe stress causes a lot of pressure on our fishing, even if we think we aren’t thinking about it. It is there subconsciously. Maybe that was what happened to me this year. After that big win I wanted more and put unwanted pressure on myself to do it and it backfired. Why am I telling you all this. Because I see so many guys that want to fish professionally, just like myself, but aren’t near ready. They put too much pressure on themselves and it just does not work. People do not realize the sacrifice it takes to do it full time. A couple of years ago, I would have risked everything to fish professionally, but thankfully the big man upstairs stopped me. I still fish hard but have changed my priorities. Tournament fishing will always have its ups and downs and you have to take those and learn from each one of them. If you are on a role cashing checks in every event you fish, then role with it, because eventually it will end. I f you are in a slump, do not stop fishing, because all of a sudden, something will change and you will be out of it. Trust me, I have been there. Last but not least, enjoy it. If you are a true die hard tournament fisherman like me, then you will never stop doing it, but prioritize some things. Fish hard when you can but if you are in college, study first. If you are married, your spouse comes first. If you have kids, they come first. If you have a great job, then work comes first. Tournament fishing is not going away. Just remember that there are other things in life that we all need to enjoy.