Friday, April 27, 2012

The Mental Game - Step Three: Prepping Your Gear


After you have decided what all you need to take along with you (made your lists,) you need to get all your gear ready.  Make sure all your reels are spooled with good line, and make sure all your rods are in working order.  The next thing you need to do is gather up everything you need to take and begin packing it to make sure you have room.

I usually start with the lures and tackle I am going to bring.  I sort through all of my tackle and pull out the lures, hooks, etc. that are on my tournament prep-sheets.   Starting from presentation one, I grab the items I need and pack them in their own box, specific to that presentation.  Having everything you need for that presentation in one box will help you be more organized and manage your time when you are out on the water.  Repeat this for each presentation.  You will most likely want to reduce the amount of tackle and gear you have in your kayak to a minimum, so at this point try to double up and put two presentations in the same box.

Once you have your tackle organized, gather up whatever other gear (camping, safety, food, etc.) that you might need and bring it out to your kayak.  At this point you should start packing your kayak just like it will be on the water during your trip.  Start with the essentials!  Make sure you have room for everything that is a must first.  If you are camping from your kayak, be sure to pack your food, tent, and sleeping bag.  If you are fishing a tournament, make sure you have your measuring board, camera, and the tackle you need (starting with your number one presentation.)  Once the kayak is full, it is full.  Do not try to cram more items on-board.  This will only make everything miserable.  If you started with the most important items, then you should have everything you need on-board and the rest are just item that you think you might want.  If you have to cut back on the tackle you are bringing in order to have enough space to be in your kayak comfortably, do it.  You will thank me later.  Be sure to set your PFD in your seat so you do not forget it. 

You should be wearing it out on the water, so there is no need to pack it in with the rest.
Now that you have determined all of the items that you have room for and how you will pack your kayak, you are ready to go.  Load it up in your vehicle and hit the road.  If you are fishing a tournament, and you are worried that the conditions might change, bring the rest of your tackle with you.  Know that you will not be able to pack it in the kayak without eliminating something else, but bring it along just in case.  To me, it is better to have the lures I want in the truck rather than at home.  Conditions can unexpectedly change quickly, and if you need to make a last minute “tackle trade” the morning of the tournament, you will want to have what you need there.

Follow these steps that you have read over the last three articles, and you will be ready for fishing.  You will be far less likely to forget anything you need.  This will help you be able to remain more focused, and catch more fish, while out on the water.  Since we have now eliminated the worry about forgetting items, the next mental aspect we will conquer is actually preparing your mind to focus on your fishing!

This was step three.  To read steps one and two:

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