My Biggest Lesson from 2025: The Mental Game is Everything
As I wrap up my 2025 season AOY standings (3rd place Greylock Bass w/ two lunker smallmouth, BFL Regional qualifier), I wanted to share the most important thing I learned this year. It wasn't about technique, electronics, or bait selection.
It was about the mental game.
My best tournament days weren't when I had the most practice, the best plan, or even the most confidence in the water. My best days came when I got into what I call "The Zone" - I understand this better now and I think understanding this can help all of us fish better.
WHAT "THE ZONE" LOOKS LIKE FOR ME
My two club 2nd-place finishes at Lake George and Lake Champlain (both with good bags and lunker smallmouth) happened when:
I fished alone or was mentally alone
I had one AirPod in listening to Jimmy Buffett or fun, relaxed music
I told myself: "I'm going to have fun today and go catch fish"
I had realistic or low expectations - just have fun, catch fish and learn
I was relaxed and present in the moment
On those days, I felt almost zen-like. I could "feel" the ecosystem. Decisions flowed naturally without overthinking. I trusted my skills and preparation. I was confident but not pressured. It felt like my subconcious was making the decisions.
Here's the crazy part: At Lake Champlain, I didn't even practice because my boat was being repaired. Thanks again Falcon of Newberry, SC!!!! Tim D. is awesome!!! I just showed up, fished my pattern, and had fun. 2nd place with a smallmouth lunker.
THE SELF-TALK THAT WORKS
When I'm in the zone, my self-talk sounds like this:
✅ "I'm going to have fun today and go catch fish"
✅ "I know I can catch fish, I just don't know if they'll be the big ones"
✅ "You know you can fish and you have the competence, just find the fish"
✅ "Let the fish show themselves, feel where they are"
✅ "Like Star Wars - the force flows through you" (trust the feeling)
✅ "Have fun, sing, and know you can fish"
✅ "Let the winner be decided at the scale" - take the pressure of the soze of the bag off you just focus on the next fish.
This self-talk keeps me relaxed, confident, and present.
THE SELF-TALK THAT DESTROYS MY FISHING
When I struggled this year (especially at new BFL waters), my self-talk sounded like:
❌ "Why do people do this?"
❌ "Maybe I won't do them again"
❌ "Just get through the day"
❌ Questioning my competence or if I belong - "Do I even know how to do this?"
❌ Worrying if my co-angler thinks I'm incompetent or if they are having a good day fishing
❌ Comparing myself to others negatively
This self-talk took me OUT of my zone. It made me overthink. It made me doubt. It made me fish scared instead of fishing confident and relaxing. There was 0 in the zone flow.
WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT PRESSURE
Negative pressure sources that hurt my fishing:
Co-angler expectations - Feeling like I need to be their guide instead of fishing MY tournament
Self-imposed standards - "I'm AOY, I should perform" or "I'm sponsored, I have to be good"
Comparing myself to the field - "100 other boats know what they're doing"
Here's the truth: My best fishing happened when I stopped worrying about everyone else and just fished MY way.
When Tom Levictoire took me out boater-on-boater at Champlain BFL (my boat was broken), he fished simple - jigs on docks and weedy structure. Very similar to how I fish. It gave me a HUGE confidence boost to see someone successful fish like me. He wasn't trying to fish like anyone else. He was fishing HIS way with conviction.
That's when it clicked: Trust your style. Fish with conviction. Let the winner be decided at the scale.