Three Things by DD: Pickwick Lake
The things we can control, and the things we can’t
(The writer's opinions and observations expressed here are his own, and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, policies or positions of FLW.)
Pickwick and I did not have a good run this time around, and my 81st-place finish proves that. It’s certainly not my greatest finish, nor am I happy about it, but there are several important things that I can take away from Pickwick that others would overlook when viewing post-tournament results. This is by no means a grouchy Three Things by Darrell Davis; it’s a behind-the-scenes look into the head of an angler reflecting on the things he did and did not have control over at a tournament.
Lets talk about those uncontrollable circumstances. I experienced several of those at Pickwick, and I will highlight just three: weather, other people and the fish.
1. Weather
Weather is a huge detail that as anglers we have no control over and have to learn how to work around when it affects our tournament days. At Pickwick we experienced high winds on day one, which created a stressful situation for some. Conditions can be prepped for, but when it comes to being out there in the boat you will never know what to expect.
2. People
We look at Pickwick and notice that some of our fellow anglers were unable to weigh in due to a barge being stuck in the locks. A situation like that can hurt some anglers’ feelings when they reach the dock and are told they will be zeroed out due to being late, when they potentially have a winning bag in their livewell. Other people, in this case the lockmaster and the barge captain, can influence a tournament outcome and are usually out of our control.
3. The fish
As always, we cannot control the fish. We practice for three days before the tournament to learn the lake and adapt to conditions, but sometimes fishing patterns change. Sometimes they don’t bite the bait you’re throwing, or they don’t get hooked and end up falling off the line. At Pickwick I was on the fish – man, was I on them – but for one reason or another they just didn’t bite!
There are, however, things we can control. Let’s look at three of those: state of mind going into a tournament, tackle and time.
1. State of mind
Mental weakness is hard to hide, and competitors will feed on that. At each tournament it’s important to go in with a clear, positive head that will help to focus in on our goals for the day. Having a wholesome mental picture also plays into good sportsmanship. Taking a bad finish appropriately and turning it into a learning experience will bring respect from fellow anglers.
2. Tackle
We have control over what baits we throw. We have control of the rod and line that make our bait swim to the perfect 10-pound, 10-ounce bass. Utilizing our practice wisely will help narrow down the perfect bait to be used for the water color, temperature and area that will be fished on tournament days.
3. Time
FLW sends every angler a text letting him know takeoff and return times each and every tournament day. Knowing the mileage from takeoff to the first spot to the second and so on is in our hands. Making sure to be back in on time for weigh-in is 100 percent important. Just be certain that clocks and watches are in the right time zone!
Things happen, and you can’t let them get you frustrated when you are out on the water. However, when you have to take time out of your day to retrieve your favorite crankbait from a tree you make the decision to cut out casts that could potentially cost you the tournament. We all know it comes down to ounces. Just like NASCAR, it’s always on until those final seconds. I will take this bad finish and reflect on those uncontrollables in a way that will help my controllable situations at Kentucky Lake.