Had some success on Lanier today with a short outing, it was certainly cold, windy, and spitting rain. Out with the kayak and just a few other bass boats around. Kept moving as recommended from Brian and found them on points around lots of bait balls and docks out of the wind with a swim bait and shaky head. Could not get a bite on crankbaits or spinner.
October 26
• Edited (Oct 26, 2025)
My PB rainbow. I don’t know big it is but I know it’s the biggest I’ve ever caught!
in 🎣 suf
October 25
00:10
In Miami for a really good friend, pretty much my brother’s birthday to hit the Miami Stanford game. The house we’re staying at is on a canal, the addition was itching every time I looked out back. I finally gave in on our last day and went to Walmart and bought a cheap ugly stick set up that I can put in my suitcase to get it back home. $20 rod and reel combo with 6lb, $4 pack of worms and ultra shout out to my wife for sliding in a little kit that had a mini crank bait in it. Got back and within the hour, he smoked it right off the ledge I was fishing from. (Kinda small pic by itself but the larger pic my wife got). Now off to the game.
in 📷 fishpics
October 25
Pulled in my PB Pike this morning! I know we usually talk Bass Fishing on this app, but this was too cool not to share. Trying to scout out the bass took a turn when he bit on my 6 lb test!! 😅
in 🎣 suf
October 25
Well this morning was not a bad morning at all! Put up 66 inches for the Fall Classic. All the bass wanted this morning was weightless Texas rigged fluke.
Who else likes fishing a fluke?
in 🎣 suf
October 25
Gotta go bigger but I’ll count it. Went further north on Lanier as da boys are moving. And of course it’s dangerous having tackle warehouse along the way to the ramp for stocking up 😂
in 📷 fishpics
October 25
DAWN PATROL! In full effect. 4.81# and 22 inches long. That should help. Buzz bait baby!! She had her lipstick on.
in 🎣 suf
October 25
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.