Does Health Play a Role in Bass Fishing? by Calvin Herndon
There is a stigma in fishing that there is not much that goes into fishing on the physical side of things. I would like to tell everyone that is so far from the truth. In this article I would like to break down why it is important to stay health while you are on the water.
Let’s start by explaining what happens to angler on a day of fishing. Bass fishermen are notorious for having to get up super early, so sleep is important to have the energy and the mental toughness to make decision on the fly. If you every get to hang around anyone that fishes in a competitive trail you will notice that they never stay out late and they priories their sleep. Bass Fishing can sometimes be an emotional sport with lack of sleep it can make people more irritable and emotional potential effecting interactions with others. Do you think it is important for Bass Fishermen to have a well-balanced diet?
If you answered yes to the question above you would be correct. A well-balanced diet is vital for fishermen because it helps them sustain energy level all day long. Long days on the water can deplete energy reserves. It is important for anglers to eat complex carbohydrates found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables they provide a steady release of energy, preventing crashes and maintaining stamina throughout the day. Your diet can also affect your focus and concentration. Mental sharpness is crucial for making strategic decisions, casting accuracy, and detecting subtle bites. A balanced diet, rich in nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, supports cognitive functioning and reduces mental fatigue. Lastly a well-balanced improves recovery and reduces muscle soreness. Repetitive casting, reeling, and battling fish can lead to muscle fatigue and soreness. Adequate protein intake, especially from sources like fish, aids in muscle repair and recovery, preparing the body for subsequent fishing sessions. Should bass fishermen have a workout routine?
The answer to the above question is yes. It is important for angler to have a workout routine that is based around strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance can improve physical performance on the water, reduce the risk of injuries, and enhancing overall enjoyment of the sport. It is important to remember that bass fishing can be taxing on the body so staying in shape is important for the long day on the water and fighting big bass at the side of the boat. Or standing at the front of the boat getting tossed around by the waves. It is also important to do some sort of mobility training every day for like 10 minutes a day.
Are we having too many night tournaments? by Carson Maddux
The muggiest time of year is here as August appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Temperatures and humidity are high and for most, bass fishing morale is low. Almost every major tournament trail shifts their focus to the northern states in smallmouth country. Our southern impoundments however tend to lean to local pot tournaments and night tournaments. Night tournaments are a major part of the sport’s culture, fueling competition and camaraderie. But as summer temperatures rise, more and more events shift into the night hours. While night tournaments offer relief from the heat and often better fishing conditions, an overload of them, especially on pressured lakes—can quietly damage both fish populations and the overall fishing experience.
Bass are more vulnerable to stress during summer due to higher water temperatures and lower dissolved oxygen levels. At night, surface temps may drop slightly, but deep water often stays warm, and oxygen levels remain low. I am not a fish biologist so I am not writing upon true scientific research, but I have noticed a surplus of dead fish at ramps after an evening derby. Dead fish happen, especially in the summer. Fish mortality is not necessarily a bad thing when done properly, but lakes with an already increase of pressure do not need tournaments every night.
I used to fish a lot of night tournaments and still do from time to time. They can be a fun way to scratch that competitive itch in an otherwise slow season for tournaments. I am not advocating for this pastime to go away completely, but I do think anglers should recognize the potential risks of overdoing it. Where I in Central Alabama, I can get to half a dozen lakes within an hour. Each one of these lakes will have at least 4 night tournaments a week, every week. Even if more of the participants were trained in fish care, there will still be an enormous amount of pressure on these fisheries. The fish are hammered day and night 365 days of the year. I feel like we could do a better job organizing these tournaments and keeping the sheer volume of them to a minimum.
In addition to increased conservation efforts, we should also be more careful when fishing at night. While most fishermen spend a ton of time on the water, the casual boater may not be. Summer nights often find reckless boaters, many who should not be driving in the first place, and accidents become regular. Not only this, but debris from the busy weekend can be floating out of eyesight which can damage your vessel or hurt yourself. More traffic on the lake at nights creates more opportunities for this to happen. If you plan on fishing night tournaments this summer, be mindful of your surroundings and encourage your competitors to do the same!
The Best Kept Secret:
Learning to Be the Best
Bruce Callis Jr
I have spent well over 50 years searching for that perfect fishing catching method. And I have tried a lot of different baits, lines, reels, fish finders, and boats. I have dedicated untold hours on the water and on the bank. I have watched countless podcasts and videos in my search. And I think I have found the answer to the burning question of what to use.
Without a doubt, the human mind is the most important tool we have. There was a funny saying years ago, and while it was meant to help keeps kids off drugs, it is the same thing about bass fishing. “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste!” And its still true about everything in life.
When I started on my life as an angler, I soaked up all the information I could. But unlike today, we didn’t have the internet to help us. I listened to professional anglers at fishing shows, I listened to local anglers who had been fishing for years, and I soaked up the magazines content. Bassmaster, Outdoor Life, and anything else I could find. As a Boy Scout, we started a Youth BASS Club. We had speakers come talk to us. I soaked it all up.
And today, I still soak up all the information I can. I want to be the best I can be. This doesn’t make me smarter than anyone else. This just means I am always trying to get better. Do I think I can outfish anyone, heck yeah. I believe in what information I have stored in my mind. Does it mean I can beat everyone? Heck no. On any given day, anybody can catch them. Why else does the best lose!
But the best thing to use to catch bass is your mind. Learn everything you can, put into play what you have learned, and never stop wanting to learn more. I go fishing with many other anglers and I always learn something on every outing. They don’t have to that Elite Pro for me to learn from. I have been with a few beginners who have taught me something. They did something I would never do, but they didn’t know better and caught bass.
One thing I have really learned took me years to figure out, and some people just don’t understand it. We can always improve what we do. And when we realize that fishing is all about having fun, and that winning isn’t the goal. Yes, I love to win. I believe I can win any tournament I enter. I believe I can beat anyone, head-to-head. If I didn’t believe in myself, I wouldn’t be doing it. But if I don’t have fun, I am missing out on everything.
I fished an online tournament, and the first day I had great luck while others struggled and had nothing. I knew I could keep my mouth shut and run away with the win, but, I also love to share my knowledge. I shared some information that helped others make some catches. Yes, I lost by a 1/4 inch on big bass. But I knew I had won because I helped teach others.
The greatest tool for catching bass is you and your mind. Soak in everything. Learn something every time you go fishing. Listen to others, soak it up, and don’t try to be them, make the information fit you and your style. Learning new techniques will help you become a more rounded angler, but each of us have something we really love to do. Refine that skill, but don’t skip learning. You just may find a special way to do something are already doing. Use your mind to soak up everything and make it work for you. A mind should never be wasted!
