Go ahead and tell me Kansas bass pro Brent Chapman on the bow of the Triton bass boat in this photo isn't focused, and I'll send you the phone number for my optometrist. It's plenty evident, to even a casual observer, that Chapman isn't the least bit distracted by the fact the bow of his boat is dipping into the waves. If his eyes were lasers, they would be burning holes in that bait he's dragging back to the boat. In short, he simply oozes concentration and focus, which, according to master cinematographer and author of Bass Forever Glen Lau, "are critical aspects of being a good bass fisherman.
"Casting, boat position, and lure selection," explains Lau, "are all important to getting the bass to strike, but once you've got your bait or lure in the water, concentration becomes just as important to your success. You can elevate your fishing dramatically by concentrating on what you are doing and focusing on the environment around you. This is really nothing more than living in the moment and not letting work or home distractions take away from your fishing time."
Bass fishing all-time great Bill Dance echoes those sentiments. "Pay close attention to what you're doing and what's going on around you while fishing," he says. "Your degree of alertness and powers of observation are excellent indicators for the amount of concentration and confidence you have at the moment. If you persist in worrying about what happened at work, or that the yard needs mowing, or what you've got to do next week, or anything else at all, you might as well load up and pick another day to fish.
"Fishing should be fun, and you should be out there enjoying yourself, not worrying about something else," Dance continues. "Your concentration should be on your fishing. Concentrating on what's taking place around you can tip the scales toward success.
"Also be alert. You may just recognize a circumstance that can help you catch more fish. A good angler hears as well as sees, and his mind registers the impressions. If, for example, a bass nabs a baitfish on the surface behind you, your ears should convey the message, even though you're concentrating on casting to a target. The trick is to train your senses to accept the common place in nature and seek out the unusual.
"Let's carry this line of thought a little farther," challenges Dance. "Perhaps shad are working on the surface. Your ears register and accept this sound as normal. But then you hear a deeper splash-like sound--an engulfing sound that signals feeding predator fish. Such sound should attract your immediate attention.
"Good fishermen are forever able to recall the circumstances surrounding the catching of fish after fish. They seem to remember water depth, water clarity and temperature, type of lure and color, speed of retrieve, wind direction, weather, and a host of other variables. They have total recall of these facts, even years later. If we can interpret this uncanny ability, it boils down to concentration and observation.
"Nothing good anglers do is haphazard; each piece of the puzzle fits into place in their minds. When you train yourself to concentrate as thoroughly as they do, you're well on your way to being at the top of your game."
It can't be stressed how psychologically important concentration is to the sport of competitive angling. We all know how critical it is to pay attention at all times to what your rod, line and lure are doing and not let your mind wander.
You can go long periods of time without a single bite and then suddenly have to react. To do this, you need to focus your attention on relevant environmental cues and be able to maintain that attention for continued good performance. It's also a good idea to block out past events (like losing a fish), as well as future events (like the consequences of losing a fish). In a nutshell, stay focused in the present.
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