04/26/2026
Adjust, adapt, overcome.
Momentum comes and goes during a tournament. When things doesn’t go your way, that’s when it matters most.
Two scenarios come to mind for me from last weekend.
1. I had a fish get wrapped up in a brush pile. I was able to keep calm and not put too much pressure on the fish. I first tired to maneuver my rod tip to get my line off what it was wrapped around. That didn't work, and I still felt the fish on the line. I was able to see one little part of the limb. I grabbed that part and pulled on it. It was heavy and with how I was positioned, the majority of the brush was under my kayak. When I lifted, I could see the fish but a big limb was hitting the bottom of my kayak. I repositioned, and lifted again. I had to set my rod down, and use one hand to lift and one hand to grab the fish which was still almost a foot and. A half under the water. I couldn't get it any higher. I eventually had to cut my line, because I couldn't get the fish off the hook, and couldn't get the line unsnagged. I honestly don't rememeber how I was able to keep the limb pulled up, hold on to the fish, and cut the line all at once, but I made it happen, and landed that fish to upgrade!
2. After not getting a bite for a while on day 2, I moved to another spot, and hooked into what I through was a catfish. I felt it spinning, and what felt like the tail slapping the line. I was convinced. I lifted my rod tip enough and got a view of what was on the end of my line. It was a big bass. I grabbed my net as I always do, and got it in the ready position. I continued to fight the fish and when it got closer to the kayak, I went to grab my net. I did a double take, but my net wasn't there. I look up, and my net is about 15 feet away slowly sinking to the bottom. Instantly, I knew what had to be done. I haven't hand landed a fish with a mouth full of treble hooks in a tournament, probably ever. But I knew what had to be done. I've watched the elites land fish hundreds of times. I got down low, and got the fish next to the kayak and scooped it up with my arm and flopped it in to the kayak.
Things don't always go our way, the key is being able to adapt.
