Mental successis the road to being the best!

When we experience the results we desire, we feel happy and good about ourselves. However, the tendency becomes that we fail to replicate that success when we set our next goal. The reason for this is due to inconsistency in that the same power and drive to achieve the first goal is not present in the second goal. This signifies a lack of mastery.

Therefore, in order to achieve the best every time, we need to put the same amount of resources into the goal, in terms of intention and the correct way of "doing and acting". This will make winning not a one time event, but an all time event and occurrence. Below you will find some guidelines that will help you to become a champion in whatever you do, to thus stand above everyone as a genius:

1. The reason why we fail to replicate our mental success, is because we are not sure of the factors that have created that success in the first place.

Therefore, we must educate ourselves as to what creates mental success. When we are not sure, we live in uncertainty and can never have maximum faith. When we are sure, we simply need to follow the correct sequence and success is therefore guaranteed.

2. You must learn from all of your successes and all of your failures.

When you look back at what you did right or wrong in a situation, you will know what works and what doesn't. From here, you can begin to replace your old habits with habits which are in tune with the successful way of doing things. So you need to learn to cut down the elements of an event and see what was right and what was wrong in it, and learn from those elements.

3. You need to set the intention that you will realise that the best is already within you.

The best that you can be is the best. In relation to other people, this will be the best in the world. And this realisation will become apparent to you, when you have acquired the knowledge of why you are the best with exact magnitude. You can achieve anything you want, but you first must be open minded to that possibility. Simply being open-minded to this thinking will put your life in a completely different trajectory which will allow your dreams to come true.

4. A genius intends to win in every situation.

You must therefore intend to be a winner that wins everytime. As you intend, so shall it become. So keep that intention up. Eventually, you will know every factor that creates or holds back success and be able to use them with elegance and ease. This will allow you to create a win simply on your intention, and it is indicative of true mental mastery

5. You will become what you intend.

What you intend, is what you have planted on firm soil through the power of intention. (see Using The Power of Intention)

6. You need to believe that you already have it.

Having is receiving. Achieving mastery is not about chasing after the goal and trying to reach it, as this will lead to failure. It is not you who is in charge of your life. It is the unconscious mind which sets the foundation for your life. You need to allow It to come through and give you what you want, and this is through believing that you already have it.

7. When you believe that you are the best that you can be, you think and create the best.

We simply need to access it by connecting with its nature. The unconscious mind holds the key to all mental powers you need and is the best, and therefore you must believe that you are the best as well, because you have an unconscious mind within you too. This will allow us to connect with the unconscious mind and use its power. The result will be that you will be able to think and create the best.

What To Expect

When you are on the road to mastery, you will have a greater impression and realisation of what these secrets truly mean. Until them, simply acting and doing things in the way above will pave the road to allow you to properly understand it. Only then can you begin to truly refine your mindset towards mastery. Apply these steps now and reap the rewards in your life.

If your goal is to become the greatest Bass Angler in the World, it is only attainable threw these tried and true steps of unleashing your subconscious mind and doing so we must understand in the realm world of the linguistics that is rapidly accelerating in Pro sports of any kind and especially Bass Angling we must not rely on one scenario of Bass angling but have a solid foundation and the skills to fall back on if such one scenario fails and without a solid foundation of these skills one is dead in the water!... So think of these step day in and day out and with the burning desire to win and become one of the best there ever was within your Sport of Bass Angling! I know i am!....So Tight Lines, Bent Rods, and Ripping Drags and See You on the water!

P.S. You won't ever catch me when i have my game on, Dock Talking...It only shows lack of confidence and abilities of
my coveted goal, of becoming one of the best there ever was!

BY: Gordon Holman

Follow up to "Was the Classic Unsafe" and Dave Wolak's Take

I had a post yesterday called “Was the Classic unsafe?”  I talked about the anglers using the new Lowrance Radar, and perhaps relying on it far too much.  My friend Tyler weighed in on the subject as well with his post “A Foggy Situation”. 

I had the chance today to talk with an angler who was in the Classic and made those long runs to Venice on day one and two.  Dave Wolak was one of the anglers without the radar.  He runs Humminbird electronics and did not have the option, like those running Lowrance products. 

Dave told me he trusted his eye over the radar, even if he had the radar he would not have blown thru the fog.  When he got to fog he either idled thru it or went at plowing speed (10 to 12 mph).  When he came to a clearing he would take off until he reached a spot covered in fog again.

Dave told me: “long runs are always a calculated risk. That being said, I knew I may encounter fog and have to go slow. It’s the subjectivity of the call in the morning. If I am released and encounter fog that is unsafe to travel in anyway, then what is the difference....the difference is that I could have idles half way to Venice in that time. Also, that the area the winner was in would not have been beaten by Venice in that particular window of time no matter what time I or other competitors had down in Venice.... and how the stars alligned for the winning location and strategy was just unbeatable.....it’s just a different caliber and strain of fish there and when they are biting it's hard to beat from the river northern strain of Venice fish. But, total 8 hours of time in a tournament with the magnitude of the Classic I feel is essential. You have people qualifying from all over the world with complex strategies and all the competitors want is fairness across the board and objective rules that are not subject to "a call".

The biggest problem Dave pointed out with the fog delay was loss of time on the water.  On day two he had 40 minutes to fish and got five fish in that time.  Dave said as soon as number five hit the live well he was headed back.  He told me about day two more in-depth.  When he hit Venice the fog was so thick he didn’t think he could make it back for the weigh-in.  He told his marshal that if the fog did not lift he was going to make a call for his truck and pick him up there in Venice and call it a day.  He and the marshal with him could just fish for fun until his ride got there.  Soon things changed and fog began to lift, he got five keepers and though he could make it back.  The rest is history, he made it back didn’t make the cut and never got to fish day three.

Dave had some suggestions about what could have been done.  Everyone knew that fog is inevitable in the delta this time of year.  B.A.S.S. could have made take off time at 9:00 am when most of the fog burns off, moved the weigh-in time back which would have leveled the playing field for those making the long run. 

The time issue was a big deal this year.  I think Dave makes a great point.  What would have happened if the take off time had been moved back?   I want to leave you with this.  Radar is not the answer for  anglers to run fast down any body of water in fog.  Dave told me even if he had ten radars on his boat he would not have done that.  He would have used common sense and ran at a safe speed through the fog.  All anglers need to use are heads.

Anthony Smith lost his boat over the weekend on a body of water he knows very well when a log floating down stream struck his boat.  Radar would not have picked that up.  If fog had been added to the equation thing may have been worse.  Anthony may have lost his life not just a boat.

No matter how good the technology gets we need to make sure we use common sense and not always rely on the machines……I would hate to have to fight terminators someday!   

DROP SHOT RIG

Drop shot is an awesome technique for inshore, nearshore and the bays!
Probably the most popular freshwater technique in bass fishing today this is taking our local bays and nearshore areas by storm. It's a question we see a lot more of now than ever. Drop shotting is easy, fast and a great way to pick up multiple fish from a single area, it's also a way to find fish on tricky days when lockjaw seems to have infected the water around you.
The dropshot action drives bass wild and they are helpless to avoid attacking your baits. We recommend either a stick bait like the Senko or SaltShaker worm or something more fishy such as a fluke or minnow bait. Anything between 3" and 10" is fair game for the rig - just make sure to match your hook size and style to the bait. For small 3" baits an octopus wire hook will do the job, size 4 or so, but for larger or longer baits we shift to an extra wide gap Gamakatsu or similar in any size between 2/0 to 6/0. Generally fished on lighter tackle this is an excellent opportunity to dig out the spinning reels and use 6 lb or 8 lb test. In extreme situations you can up it to 10 lb but only if you really need to. Also, the bottom weight can be anywhere between 3/8oz to 5 or 6 oz depending on your depth, current and tides. Experiment! Practice!

The object of the game is to keep your weight on the bottom and your line tight while you provide jiggly jiggly action to the bait. You accomplish this by twitching your rod tip up and down, putting the slightest amount of slack into the line and snapping it back very quickly. If your weight isn't staying on the bottom easily or if it the current is pushing it around size up your weights. Local celebrity angler Scott "Fishtricks" Johnson will also advise you to stand up, put one hand on your hip, lean back and jiggle away while pretending to focus on something else. Eventually you'll reach down to grab a soda or move your gaff to another location and that's when you'll get bit. Works every time.

Kayaks provide a great opportunity to deadstick a dropshot bait as well. Because of our smaller hulls and lighter weight we move around a good deal more on the surface of the water than traditional boats. Tighten up a line and drop it in a rod holder and let the action of the swell and drift do the work. Saltwater bass aren't as picky or wily as their freshwater cousins and will pounce on this presentation quite readily. Just be ready to snatch up the rod and drive the hook home when it goes bendo!

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 5 minutes

Here's How:
1.Decide on yoru hook size, bait and lead size
2.Tie your hook onto your line with a Palomar knot but leave a long tag end - 36" is safe
3.After you draw your Palomar knot tight your hook should point out and up as in the picture. If it does not (or even if it does) take the tag end and run it through the eye of the hook one more time from the front, pull down and this will put your hook into proper alignment.
4.Tie your weight onto the tag end at the desired length. It's better to start long and short the distance between the hook and the weight as you'll find yourself in trouble trying to go the other way. :)
5.Thread your bait on the hook with whichever method is appropriate (depending on hook style).
6.Catch fish.

BY: Anthony Smith

Double whammy!

There are some bass fishing techniques that people really seem to enjoy. I believe that one of those is topwater fishing. There is just something about a big bass exploding on your topwater bait that get your adrenalin going.  Topwater fishing is my favorite type of fishing. I  am sure that when the bass are biting that many anglers would agree that topwater fishing can be very exciting. One of my favorite lures to use on topwater is the Lucky Craft Sammy. I know that there are other brands that make very similar baits that can do the same trick, but I prefer the Lucky Craft Sammy for the action, the sound, and the reaction I get from the bass.

A couple of years ago I bought my first Sammy, it was ghost minnow color and a one knocker. I really did not know how to "walk the dog," but I had heard a lot about it. I needed and wanted to learn how to "walk the dog" and I really thought that it would be rewarding.
You need to have a decent rod, with good length and a fast tip. I use a 6'8" rod with a fast tip for my Sammy and walk the dog technique. The ideal size depends alot on you. The longer the rod, the better help you will have in tightening the line quickly when the bass hit, mostly needed for longer casts. Too long of a rod and you might have trouble trying to get the right motion on the rod and the bait for walking the dog.
I like to use monofilament line for topwater, since it floats on water and has more stretch to counter act my all to often quick reaction hooksets. I believe it is really important to use floating line to keep the action of the lure walking properly.
Once you have made a nice long cast, you can start making short twitches of the rod tip to make the bait walk. I prefer pointing the rod down toward the water when I twitch. Once you establish a nice rhythm with your twitches, make sure they are big enough movements to allow enough slack for the bait's nose to go side to side. Try not to get discouraged, this took me many hours of practice to master.
One cold fall morning, on the river near where I live, (Three Rivers, MI) I was working on this technique in particular. My oldest son came with me, and after about two hours of casting and reeling he decided he has had enough. He put his poles away and curled up on the bench seats to get out of the wind. Two and a half hours of trying to learn walk the dog with nothing to show for it.  Sure, I threw some crankbaits here and there. I happened to notice a spot of calm water, nestled next to some brush, protected by wind and current so I made a cast there when I twitched it once and boom, he hit it. The bass took it down and was tangled in a log. I had to maneuver my boat and position my rod to work him out. When he finally came up I realized that not just one, but TWO bass on my Sammy! My son woke up quickly, (with my sceaming, of course.) and grabbed the net and he netted the bass. That net must have weighed around eight or nine pounds with those bass in it!
Maybe A double hit doesn't happen very often, but you can learn to be successful while walking the dog. I was using a slow rhythm when I caught those bass, I have since learned to use a real fast rhythm, that would mimic fleeing baitfish. One should try different speeds and retrieves until you find what the bass are telling you. Keep lines tight. Fish with fury.
By:Joe Minor
Inside bass fishing
Pro staff

Product Review: Talon Lures Shibui Yana

Every so often, I do a review of a product and find an amazing lure I would almost rather keep a secret. One such bait is the Shibui Yana by Talon Lures.  The idea behind it is pretty cool, it's basically a swim jig and spinnerbait combined, with the biggest difference being the type of blade. It is a propeller type blade that is rigged like an inline spinner.  This is something very unique and I can honestly say I have never fished a bait like this.  

This type of design is popular in Japan, but until Talon lures released the Shibui Yana a few months ago, bass in America have been safe.  The design of the bait is what really makes it all come together.  The head is weighed with an offset design and the propeller blade creates flash and vibration.  I have had my best luck with the bait on a stop and go type retrieve.  When stopped, it slowly flashes as it falls.  When you start back with a fast retrieve it will dart side to side as it rights itself and picks up speed.  From my experience, this bait won't roll over no matter how fast you reel it.  I have also had success burning it just under the surface.

The components that make up the Shibui Yana are a complete package.  The hook is big (6/0) and very strong.  I was also very impressed with the lifelike head of the entire Shibui lineup (they also make a swim jig). There are some other small additions that I think are pretty cool, a V-Claw trailer keeper and wire wrapped skirt. While both of these things are minor, they are crucial to keep your trailer in place and to prevent the skirt from sliding down the hook.  It comes in 14 colors and in both 1/2 and 3/4 oz sizes.  So far my favorite has been a 1/2oz in the Sexy Shad color.  

To see the entire Talon Lures lineup, check out their website.

Also, don't forget to check them out on Facebook.

By: Tyler Brinks

Living the Dream

The morning air always seems brisk on the day of a tournament, and the sun has an ominous look as it rises over the water.  Senses are heightened, nerves are sharp and spiny, and the anticipation of blast off invokes anxiety.  Most tournament bass guys get their fix right then.  We do it for the adrenaline; the pure emotion which can only be met by competition.  Some fish the Tour.  Others are weekend or weeknight warriors fishing for local bragging rights.  Yet beyond the lights and glamour, there is another group of tournament anglers.  A group often overlooked and overshadowed by the guys beating the tournament trail.  Yes, I’m talking about the Die-Hards. 

The ice had only just left the surface of the water on a frigid April morning, and two of the best friends ever to share a boat are headed to a lonely patch of river to dodge floating ice in the hopes of feeling the first fish of spring.  As expected, the boat ramp is empty and the flowing water looks as thick as the syrup from my morning toaster waffle.  My lifelong friend and fishing teacher Correy is hustling around to get his boat ready to head up river to inaugurate another year of bass fishing.  Correy is a river maniac who lives for the bite.  This would be our 25^th year of fishing together and after five months of winter we are ready to get on the water.  In those five months, we organized our tackle a dozen times, prepared rods and reels, looked at maps and dreamt about getting back out there.  We were over prepared to say the least, but dreams of fishing again kept our blood pumping through the winter.  After a quick check of the equipment and a puff stale exhaust from his Yamaha, we were en route.  

After a tooth chattering 15 minute ride we arrived at the “honey hole”, a small slack riffle on the edge of a steep river bank.  Although it was only about 30º that morning, the sun was peeking out and may have drawn some fish to shallow areas and current breaks.  I started the day with a Strike King Series 4S bouncing lazily around some wood and chunk rock hoping to find a hungry beast with spring fever.  After every cast I methodically chipped the ice out of my line guides and off the front of my casting reel.    Occasionally I would lift or lower my rod tip to keep my line from snagging up on small sheets of ice as they floated by us on their way down river.  Though my mind told me I was crazy to be cranking 3’ of 33º water, my body was warmed by the casting and reeling.  Anticipation of a strike pumped heat through my veins and kept my fingers tingling, reminding me they were still attached to my hand.  Correy threw a little grub and a tube in the same areas, and picked apart some familiar structure in hopes of catching the first one.  He knew as well as I did, though, that we were there just to be there.  Catching one would be a bonus.

Minutes turned to an hour, and one hour to two.  I threw a few different lures and shared some new rods and reels with Correy;  I reveled in awe at the pile of ice shavings accumulating at my feet from my casting reel.  Even in the cold April air, with the inclement conditions our focus never lessened.  We continued our trek up river, tasked with the duty of beginning the year on a high note. 

The boat turned a corner, and revealed a wide spot with a bit slower current and a deep trough which the current flowed over.  I cast my jerkbait up current to the far side of the hole, and snapped it down to its running depth.  I watched, almost in slow motion as the current pushed my bait towards me and the line slackened in response.  I could picture in my mind exactly what that bait was doing; sinking slowly in the frigid water, shimmying side to side as the current pressed against it.  In perfect harmony, my expectation met my peripherals in the moment when my line jumped forward; my arms swung the rod through the slack line……the rest is history.

I have been a bass fisherman nearly all my life.  In fact, many of my friends and colleagues would say that it defines me.  I am fortunate to have a wonderful wife, employment, family and friends.  I am happy and content with my life and surroundings and want for very little.  As the battle ensued that cold April morning, between me and my first 2010 bass it reminded me that I was created to fish.  Although I fish tournaments, compete at different levels, participate in television shows and have the support of the industry’s best fishing companies, my existence is fueled by the next bite.  When Correy reached into the icy water to lip that first fish for me, it justified a miserable and cold winter.  It brought to me a joy that only exists in true fisherman. You can’t hang it on your wall, it doesn’t show up in pictures, and nobody has the logo to add to your jersey.  There is no board of directors, and membership is optional, but if you pay your dues you are in for life.  It’s easy to get caught up in the grind and business of fishing.  Too often we lose sight of the substance of fishing.  The day will come when tournaments are gone, but the Die Hard bass anglers will be around long after the Tour is forgotten.  

BY: Kendall Ulsh

Head Games

 Tournament fisherman have a lot to think about. I recently heard someone compare a golfer to a fisherman. The golfer can often get bogged down if he thinks about each little thing he needs to do to get the swing right. A fisherman can also get bogged down if he thinks too much about all the different choices that he could make for each circumstance.
Some of the issues that can come into play are water temperature, time of year, time of day, time of season, water clarity, air temperature, line type, line weight, pole type, pole flexibility, lure color, lure type, the list can go on and on...
One of the important things to do is to try to simplify you choices. Wouldn't it be quite a bit easier if there were only a few lure choices? If there were only a few colors to choose from? I try to keep only a few colors of each bait. A light color, a dark color, and a special color for each lure choice is really all that is necessary. Believe me, I understand with all the choices in colors available it makes it very difficult not to buy everything available, but one of the things I think really helps this situation is to try to keep things simple.
If you only have three color choices, in three depths of crankbaits, then you only have 9 choices of crankbaits. If you are fishing stained water, I try to use use a dark color crankbait, or a real bright color, like chartreuse. I try not to get caught up in buying every color of a lure. I try not to get every type of bait under the sun.
When I look at each tournament lake, I make a plan based on that particular lake, the time of year, and where I would expect to find the bass on the day of the tournament. When tournament day is here, I try to stick to the plan, unless some condition has changed that would change my game plan.
Sometimes people or things make us change our plans, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. One long time competitor says something like,"I think plastics is going to win today."
Talk about head games. Does that mean I should fish plastics? Or is it reverse psychology, meaning not to fish plastics? I try not to listen to dock talk, but it still makes it difficult to not affect the decisions made, one way or the other.
On tournament day, simplify your choices, do not listen to dock talk. Focus on the weather, time of year, and color of water, Fish what you know best. Tight lines. Fish with fury.

BY: Joe Minor
Inside Bass Fishing
Pro Staff