For example, I recently read about an angler who blamed his teammate for a tournament loss...and went so far as to hang his gripes out there in writing for the whole world to see. As you might expect, that poor judgment call broke up the team. An apology was eventually forthcoming, but the damage had been done, and there was no going back.
The simple truth is that everyone occasionally has a bad day, and while it may be your partner today, it could be you tomorrow. To blame your partner for your team's poor finish is just plain stupid. Most of us know what it feels like to lose a good fish that would have made a difference in the final standings. We feel like crap. A good team has the ability to put such a misfortune behind them in a hurry and move on, without casting blame or bashing each other.
Here are some other very obvious common denominators among team-tournament anglers who really understand what it means to gel with their partners:
Trust. Team anglers who trust their partners seem to do better than those who don't. The trust involved here is whether you trust your partner's fishing abilities, trust their decisions on where to fish, when to move, when to change presentations, when to change tactics, and the like. Sure, their decisions may prove to be wrong, but so might yours.
Be a teacher. If your partner is new to the sport or has less experience than you, take the time to explain things to him. When you make adjustments on the water, tell him why. If you're fishing one type of bait, suggest that your partner fish a different bait...until one proves to be working the best. Doing so will help your partner become a better angler, and it also will help your team.
Be a learner. Strive to learn something new every time you go fishing, whether from your partner or on your own. Anglers who think they know it all about bass fishing are only kidding themselves. Team tournament anglers who learn from each other stand to become a better team.
Have confidence in each other. Next to having complete trust in your partner, having complete confidence in your partner is the second biggest element that successful teams seem to have in common. It's reassuring to know your partner will do exactly the right thing at exactly the right moment, especially when the pressure is on. It's not just a matter of being confident he will be right there with the net when you need it, you also need to be confident he will switch lures when the situation or conditions call for it. Further, it's confidence he will be prepared for almost anything that comes along. This type of confidence can only come from time spent together on the water. How many times have you heard tournament winners say they "just knew" they were going to win? While some may blow off this kind of response as cockiness, if it happens more than once, it's more likely a case of having total confidence.
Have confidence in yourself. How many times have you said, "I knew there was a fish there," after catching one? Better yet, how many times have you told your partner, "I'm going to catch one right there," and then did it? Some might just call this luck, but the truth of the matter is that it's self confidence at its absolute best, and you either have it or you don't. And when both team members have it, especially at the same time, they are going to be very tough to beat.
Encouragement. Giving your partner a pat on the back, bumping fists, or saying something like "Nice job!" once in a while when he does good can work wonders. But don't limit your encouragement to just good situations. When something happens like losing a fish, also offer a word of encouragement. Things like "Nice try," or "Great cast, you ought to catch one there" always are welcome ways to help him regain his confidence.
Communication. It's equally important that partners talk when one has made some mistakes or errors in judgment. Address these issues when they occur (or no later than the end of the tournament). Don't allow them to fester and become a more serious problem. Make sure you discuss any problem areas in a cool and calm manner. It very well may turn out to be nothing more than a simple misunderstanding or something that your partner didn't perceive as a problem. It certainly isn't something worth losing a friend over.
Remember, in the final analysis, it's just fishing...it's supposed to be fun.
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