Mental Backlash

With an upcoming bass fishing tournament, it's easy to lose your direction or confidence. I have been struggling with that the last few days. I have been second guessing almost every detail from tackle to put in the boat to what direction I'm going to paddle in come tournament morning.  It's a "mental backlash" I found myself in, and now it's time to pick it out. As the tournament gets closer I find myself calming down and thinking clearer, sure I want to do well but it not the end of the world if I don't. I fall back to some things that I learned playing golf it's play with your swing, don't try to correct it.  It's what anglers call fish the moment.  

But how does one get to that place? For me I look at weather, time of year and what should work. Lastly I try to remember just fish by gut feeling if you feel like moving do, or if I feel a different color would work then change don't wait to make a change. 

Good luck and tight lines 

First kayak bass trip of 2016

Seven kayak anglers met up at Rancho Saco lake, with a $5 dollar big fish pot.  We all set out to catch a big fish. Water was perfect calm, 55* and clear.  But fishing on a near full moon is not always the best choice. Undeterred I paddled to a few of my waypoints and watched the fish finder did not see what I was looking for, I also trolled a spybait from spot to spot but no luck. Moved to the old end of the lake as the wind started to pick up, I dragged a drop shot and got a quick tick I set and nothing let it fall back and quickly go a second tick I set and landed a 14" I didn't think this was going to be my big fish so I tossed him back without a picture. This was a $35 dollar mistake as it was the only fish of the day for me and the only other fish caught by the seven others a 12.25" took the pot.  While trying to find a second fish I moved up into the shallow looking for bedding bass, saw a few beds but no males or female hold on them. Still a month a way for that bite.  Was a great day on the water, looking forward to the kayak fishing season.

January 3 Bass fishing

Second day on the water for 2016, back out a Lake Camanche. My brother wanted redemption and he is pre-fishing for a tournament on the 17th of this month. Still started the morning of with a late start 9:10 am launch. But much better weather, sunny, no fog and no wind. We went main body looking for more Rock walls that had most day sun. The water temp was much warmer and that seamed to be the key two days earlier. Having terminal tackle we could tie on some drop shots and my brother hooked his first fish at 11:42 am and a second at 11:58am.  Bang my bother got the monkey off this back. He hooked into a third fish a better fish that I helped him land so I just flipped my bail open and landed the fish and weighed him. 2lbs 10oz. As I pick up my rod to start fishing I am snagged on the bottom I work the boat back and try to free it as it come free on one of my pops. On slack line a fish hit it and I set. reel him in a another pounder. Four fish in one sport time to move when pre-fishing. I we moved to a new spot we fished two days before. a little more slower this time my brother hooked his fourth keeper.  We grinded the bank but could not get a second bite.  So we went to new main body bluff point.  I tossed a little more shallow and worked it to deep. I got bit, set the hook and bam just like that we caught our limit fish and last fish of the day.  A better day on the water than new years day, double the fish count, air temp was warmer and water almost got to 51*

January 1st 2016 Bass fishing

My brother and I went up to Lake Camanche, knowning it was going to be cold we waited to launch until 9am. As soon as my brother backed the boat in a jumped in he goes "shit! I don't have any terminal tackle it all at home". Well having just payed $28 bucks we were not going home to get it. So we tossed jigs, senko, and what ever was tied on to the rods we brought. We went up in the narrows along with what seemed like most everyone else.  The fog and wind came up, very unpredictable from the weather reports. I had to get more heavier gloves on. With no bites we made a move about 11:30 to main body to one of the few places we fish that were still covered by water. I caught my first fish deep on a plastic worm on dart head yeah he had some odds and ends stuff and we made it work. This fish had a weird broken back but we put it back no photos.  I snagged and re-tied the same thing moved down the bank and a second fish. Booyah, what looked like a crapshoot day was looking up.  Brother put it back in the water, and I turned the boat around. We made a second pass, no luck moved to our third honey hole. My brother had one bite, set and fought for a few seconds and then off.  Made one more stop at "spybait point" we named it that because last winter I would catch one off the point with a spybait. Well this time it was to cold for that. I pulled that dart head up slope...tick tick, set on my third fish of the day. Only three fish all a pound to pound 8.  Nothing too crazy but fish.

 

Water down 58 feet from spillway

Temp 48*-50*

Bass on the bottom

Tackle Unboxing #1 2016