How's the fishing been so far??

[Pete]

Hey Everyone,

How has the fishing been for everyone so far this season???

Have you been catching the big ones or like me, it's been a season of nothing but small fish no matter what you try and change??

Let us know.

Pete

[Gary]

Hey Pete,

My season's been pretty good. Been too busy workin', which involves lots of travel, but when I've gotten out I've done well. Been fishing lakes in PA such a Marburg, Raystown, Susquehanna River, for anything from catfish to smallmouth bass. I've managed to get home and fish White Lake once or twice and did decent there too. Can't complain...except that I need to get out more. Now if only I could get boaters who don't have motor trouble in tournaments... Actually, they haven't been that bad, it's just been the last couple.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. ;D

[andy]

Hey Pete!

Fishing has been good this weekend, placed third on the ottawa rockland with 17.92 lbs. Thats with the SEBO. Lets hope the fishing is that good next weekend on the Rideau with BAA and White lake with SEBO. How was your weekend in the states?

[Pete]

Hey Gary,

That is one thing that I can do a lot more of is fishing in the States. The fishing is different down there than it is up here. That is evident in my tournament results this season.

This is the first year that I have attempted this and it certainly has been a learning experience. I keep learning more and more every tournament.

Pete

[Pete]

Hey Andy,

Congratulations on the 3rd place finish on the Ottawa. You are having a great year. This weekend there will be some good weights that come in out of the Big Rideau that for sure.

Good luck with both the BAA and the SEBO events.

Pete

[Gary]

Pete,

Yeah, the fishing is a bit different down in the US. The northern lakes not so much, but further south definitely. Those big man made resevoirs are much different than our natural lakes. Personally I hate fishing them. They all look the same and don't possess the natural beauty of a natural lake.

Keep pluggin' man... This is your first season in the US. You just have to get your feet wet and learn the ropes. I'm in the same position as you...constantly learning. That's what makes it so fun!

Gary

[Pete]

I couldn't agree with you any more Gary. This is my first season fishing down there.

Although the biggest thing that I have learned fishing down there is the mental aspect of this games called fishing. I know that there is a physical demand on you when fishing but I didn't realize how big of a mental demand fishing is.

I am hoping that once I have the mental aspect of the game figured out that things will start to turn around for me.

Like you said though Gary, that's what makes it so fun. If it was easy everyone would be doing it.

Pete

[Gary]

Pete,

Oh yeah...alot of folks who don't fish competitively don't realize how much the mental side of things plays a factor. Even the physical side of things. Fishing serious tournaments takes a toll on you in both respects. I don't know about you, but when I'm done a serious tournament, especially a 4 day Everstart or something like that, my body is mush and my brain is mush.

But mentally, if you start to fade and think about other things, lose confidence, get tired mentally, or anything, your fishing day is shot. People often say to me, "How can fishing a tournament be hard work?". They don't realize it ain't sitting in a boat with a beer in one hand and a rod with a worm on the end of the line catching sunfish in the other. Competitive fishing can be truly punishing sometimes.

Gary

[Pete]

Gary,

I hear that same comment a lot....how can it be tiring If they only knew.

I think that only way to train yourself mentally is to be in as many tournaments as possible. You can practice or pre-fish all you want but until you are in a tournament and with all of the commotion around you that is involved with such an event you will not become mentally prepared to fish these events.

Just my thoughts and observations.

Pete

[Gary]

Pete,

You're right. Lsst year, my first year, it was a bit overwhelming, all the commotion, action, meetings, rules, etc. There was just so much to take in and think about that it took some time to get used to it and now it's all just there in the background and I don't think about it much. In fact, I'm really glad to took the time to get used to it all as a co-angler. When I make the move to boater it will be that much less to worry about. Boaters have enough to worry about with cost, maintenance, treating their co-angler fairly, etc.

Gary

[Pete]

Gary,

I'm sure that once you decide to make the move to the boater side that you will do well. I'll tell you that doing this for the first year and as a boater is a lot tougher than I expected.

I don't think that I can explain it, it's something that has to be experienced. I honestly believe though that any angler out there that wants the learn more about bass fishing should sign up for 1 or all of these tournaments as a non-boater. It will knock off years from your learning curve. I'm sure you can relate Gary??

We should try and get out this season, (I know it's slowly coming to an end) but we should try and do a team event together this year if our schedules permit.

Pete

[Gary]

Pete,

I'm actually going to be in Ottawa the week of August 22nd. If you have some time that week, I'd love to get out. I'll actually be in town the evening of Saturday August 20th, after the BFL 1000 Island tournament, and I'll be pretty free anytime after that for the rest of the week as I'm on vacation.

Gary

[Pete]

Gary,

Let me check it out and I'll get back to you.

If possible, we can do the BAA event on the 27th. This way you can meet some of the other members of this board afterwards as well.

Pete

[Gary]

Pete,

I'm not sure I'll still be in Ottawa on the 27th, but it is a possibility. Check your schedule for earlier in the week, maybe some evening, we can get out for a few hours.

Also, I was looking at the pictures of your crappie outings. Where do you guys go for Crappie in the Ottawa area?

Thanks.

Gary

[Jeremy]

Gary

Crappie , about 7 minutes from my House on the Rideau River they are best through the ice;D

Jeremy