By Mark Tyler - I know more about fishing now than I ever have. I have more tricks, techniques, hot lures and knowledge of bass behavior than I did ten years ago. The problem is…my competition knows most of those tricks and techniques as well, I don’t think there is a secret lure anymore. Everybody has a pretty similar looking tackle box. As a tournament angler, what separates the good from the broke is generally not what you’re using, but how and where you’re using it. In professional golf all players have the same set of tools, driver thru pitching wedge. There are no secret clubs, yet one man always seems to win. Just having the right club, or in our case the“hot lure”, is not enough. It’s all about application. That is what separates the field.

A moment earlier, Tyler was preparing to grab a 4-pound bass that would have given him a huge boost in the Bassmaster Elite Series Blue Ridge Brawl at Smith Mountain Lake.

Then, with the fish just inches from Tyler's grasp, the hook popped out. Complete Story

BASS

The California native, who now resides just outside tiny Vian, Okla., failed to finish among the Top 50 in each of the first eight Elite Series tournaments of 2008. That fruitless stretch in which he failed to cash a check caused him to re-evaluate the way he approached his practice sessions, and the result was a solid conclusion to the Elite campaign, followed by profitable FLW Series outings on both coasts. Read More

With spring rapidly approaching, it is once again time to clean the cobwebs out of the bass boat sitting in the garage. I am sure most of you have began your spring preparations; gave the engine a tune-up, charged the batteries, sifted through your tackle and re-organized everything a half dozen times. Making these preparations is vital to your on the water enjoyment and fishing success. But how many of you spend any time preparing the most valuable fishing tool you own? Your mind. Being mentally prepared for a fishing season is an over looked aspect of angling that can greatly separate the average angler from the most successful anglers. Mental aspects of fishing are no doubt crucial to any tournament angler, but are as equally important to recreation fishermen just trying to catch more fish. Things like toughing out foul weather, dealing with other tournament competitors, tough bites, formulating game plans, and gaining personal confidence are all important mental aspects of tournament bassfishing.

Bass fishing has grown into a highly competitive sport. I am sure we can all agree on that. Just like any other competitive sport, if you want to succeed it requires hours, days, weeks, and years of dedicated hard work and practice. Unlike most other professional sports, a professional bass angler does not have a coach on the sidelines calling in plays, or giving motivated speeches at half-time. It is up to us to be our own coach, motivator, and toughest critic. Being an unbiased critic of yourself is a tough thing to do. It requires you to set your ego and pride aside and really evaluate your weaknesses and mistakes. Doing a self evaluation of your own fishing skills could be the most beneficial thing you do this year towards making you a better bass angler. I will share with you a short evaluation I made of my own fishing career a few years back, and how it has made me a much more complete angler. I hope this insight into my mistakes will help you along in becoming a better bass fisherman.