PHOTO BY PHOENIX MOORE
It takes a different mindset to win championship events in the fall . Alabama pro Jesse Wiggins changes up his whole tournament focus , starting on Day 1 of practice .
How to win your BFL Regional , Super Tournament or team-trail championship
Wiggins , Lawyer offer their proven tactics for succeeding in early fall tournaments
By Tyler Brinks
f you ’ re a tournament angler , you fish all year for this : Fall is generally the setting for most of the big-money events of the season . Everything from Phoenix Bass Fishing League two-day Super Tournaments and Regionals to team trail championships are held in September and October . The fishing is also typically more challenging than it ’ s been all season , and the stakes are simultaneously the highest .
According to Bass Pro Tour pros Jeremy Lawyer and Jesse Wiggins , having a shot to win at these early fall events takes a different mindset . And they would know : Lawyer and
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Wiggins both started their climbs through the fishing ranks by competing in local events and BFLs in Alabama and Missouri ( while working fulltime jobs during the week ) on their way to forging professional careers . Both offered valuable insight into what it takes to shine in your biggest tournaments of the year .
Forget about the points
Lawyer won the 2016 BFL All-American and qualified for the event six times . So , it should come as no surprise he has excelled in BFL Regionals , racking up nine Top 10s mainly because of a changed mindset .
“ Throughout the year , all you ’ re thinking about is making that Regional ,” Lawyer said . “ Points are always in the back of your mind , and you do whatever you have to do to fill your limit . At the Regional , though , you can throw that all out of
MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2024