By Rob Newell
When it comes to performing better in bass fishing tournaments , you can learn just about any fishing technique you want , from skipping docks to cranking rocks . If you want to get better at a technique , pick up the tools and practice over and over to improve .
But can you learn how to win bass tournaments ?
Can you learn how to close angler-of-the-year or team-ofthe-year titles ?
Some anglers fish for decades and don ’ t win . Other anglers seem to make winning look easy . Why is that ? Did they “ learn ” to win ? Is that even possible ?
These questions were asked of some of the FLW Tour ’ s top money winners . Included in the discussion were Andy Morgan , Clark Wendlandt , John Cox and David Dudley . All of them have won their fair share of big events and titles in FLW competition , and they have the ability to “ close ” when the pressure is high .
Across the board , this collection of anglers believes that some of the basic components to winning can ’ t be found in a tackle box . Instead , intangible concepts and traits such as confidence , mental toughness , focus , determination , resiliency and rhythm are more important . Some of these traits can be exercised , honed and ultimately improved upon . However , some are not taught or learned as easily . They are simply inherent in individuals .
PART 1 : CONFIDENCE
It can be cultivated
Confidence is key , say the pros we queried . They all agree that some anglers are more confident than others by nature , but confidence is something that can be cultivated . Each pro offers his take .
John Cox : Improve confidence by learning from mistakes
“ Looking back on my career , I can now see a distinct difference in confidence levels ,” says Cox . “ These days , before a tournament starts , I may have no idea how or where I ’ m going to catch a bass , but deep down I know that sometime during the day I ’ m going to get five to 10 hits on my lure . There is no doubt in my mind about it .”
Cox believes he cultivated that confidence over time through experience on the FLW Tour .
“ When I first started fishing tournaments , I can honestly say I did not feel that kind of confidence ,” he adds . “ I took a lot of butt whippings out there , but I learned from them all , and it helped forge the confidence I have today .”
John Cox
David Dudley : Learn the “ access code ” to your confidence
Dudley sees confidence as being a big vault or bank account of experience and knowledge to which he is always making deposits .
“ The problem , though , is the password or access code to that vault is always changing ,” Dudley offers . “ I know the information to win a particular tournament is in that vault , but I ’ m going to have to keep trying passwords until I can access it . So confidence is not just the knowledge and experience you store up , but it ’ s also being able to quickly access it and apply it .”
Clark Wendlandt : Give confidence time to develop
For Wendlandt , confidence is defined by effortless and accurate decision-making on the water , which is something that can get better with time .
“ There is no doubt that experience on the water bolsters confidence ,” he offers , “ but only to a certain degree . I still maintain that confidence is a super fragile thing . Some tournaments you ’ re brimming with it , and other tournaments it just sinks away . When that happens , I think those who inherently have more confidence can rise above that sinking feeling and keep themselves from cratering .”
PHOTO BY GARRICK DIXON
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FLWFISHING . COM I FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017