This weekend was our last club tournament of the year. Today, I caught my largest bag of the year at 15lbs and 10oz. Yesterday, I caught no bass!

In the past, I would have been so dejected and probably would not show up the next day.

This year has been a huge confidence building season for me with realistic expectations. Some days, it ain’t happening! Sure, sometimes we could be more prepared and other times it’s just nature.

Yesterday, I found the good grass, good tide, good water clarity, birds diving after the bait. Caught stripers, catfish and white bass. No LMB!

Came back the next day, full of confidence gained this year through B.Lat’s angler development program. I completely changed my strategy and went to area that is conducive with my specialist skills. I went up the Occoquan River to bounce a crankbait off the rocks and boulders.

I am so thankful to have the wisdom to listen to B.Lat, support of the SUF family and blessed to have developed a friendship with my BFL partner, Brian Barde.

This is the actual text Barde sent to me on the day of the tournament.

“ Good luck have fun and get in the zone. You have everything you need to win it just let the ecosystem tell you how to do it.”

Barde also came down to the Potomac River BFL a day early this summer to be my boater for a club tournament. He was there when I won my first club tournament ever. Boom!

Trust the system. Crawl, walk and run. There are no shortcuts.