The Psychology of Fishing

What does your personality mean to your success?

By Mark Schram

www.myfishingpartner.com

 

Psychology….What are you talking about?  I throw my best lure on my best spot and I catch fish…Psychology…..nonsense.

 

Everyone has their own personality in life and the same is true when they fish.  Some of us are diehard tournament anglers and others individuals just enjoy a day or two on the water each year.  But how much does your personality and mindset affect your result?

 

Understanding your Personality

Fishing can inevitably create some type of stress.  The stress of getting ready to go to the fishing hole, needing to succeed (deliver dinner), or not catching fish/wrong type of fish.  There are a couple of components to understand your fishing personality:

 

1. Temperament:  What is the breaking point?  How do I handle things when I get to that point?
2. Energy: Are you spending your energy being emotional?  Catching a fish is exciting, but do you act like Mike Iaconalli doing break dance moves in the front deck of the boat?    
3. Learning:  How do I learn?  Do I learn most efficiently by reading, watching, or trial and error? 

 

Many times I see fisherman driving their Mercury 250 hp motor at full tilt at all times.  That is part of their “personality on the water.”  Other guys might take slightly more time to watch their electronics to make sure they haven’t missed a school of fish. Neither fisherman is wrong; rather, they are exhibiting their own personality.

 

There is no right or wrong answers to these questions.  The correct answer is: Do I understand my own personality?

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Going for Broke vs. Consistency

Many tournament anglers struggle with this question.  At the launch of each tournament, the decision has been made as to the game plan for that particular event.  I recently read an article on one of the Professional Walleye Trail fisherman.  He made the statement that he had consistently finished just a few spots out of the money his entire career.  He changed his personal philosophy to go for broke each tournament.  Finishing last has the same payout as one spot out of the money, he proclaimed.  However, if you can not handle the stigma of finishing last, maybe consistency is the ticket to your success.  Just be yourself!

 

 

 

Target What You Want     

Anyone who has ever played golf before has faced a water hazard.  After carefully inspecting the water for big fish possibilities, it’s your turn to make your shot.  You address the ball, but what are you focused on?  Hitting the green, or not hitting the ball in the water?  This process is called visualization.

 

Visualization is a mental business plan.  Essentially, it becomes the subliminal pathway to get from point A to point B, hopefully without interruption.  Visualizing what your desires are before accomplishing your end results increases your chance of success.  Odds are if the focus is on the tree at the shore line, the next cast will be into that tree.  Rather focus on the target where you want your lure to drop, say next to the big lilly pad.  

 

 Another variable is the skill level.  I would not expect a 4 year old to flip bass baits under the dock because he “visualizes it.”  The element of practice leads to skill enhancement which is also a key portion of this formula.

 

 

 

 

 

Goal Setting

Ok, I heard this one all my life……so there must be some credence to goal setting.  How do I set goals for fishing?  Solid goals have the following features:

 

1. Specific
2. Obtainable
3. Measurable
4. Time table for completion

 

If you set the following goal of “I want to win the tournament”-- that just won’t cut it.  Rather, incorporate the above characteristics. 

 

Let’s say the rules are a 5 fish limit, 6 hour time frame with the ability to cull.  A perfect goal might be to catch one legal fish each hour (6 fish).  The goal will lead toward the end result.  This goal is measurable, obtainable, and has a specific time frame.  It sounds a lot easier to catch one fish per hour than it does to catch 6 fish.  The other advantage is the ability to measure your result as the day progresses.         

 

There is no right or wrong answer to understanding the psychology of fishing.  Rather understanding your personal chemistry might give the edge you are looking for each time out on the water.  Understanding what being “you” means may be the greatest factor between success and failure.

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