The Top Secret to Becoming a Better Bass Fisherman with Mark Davis
John E. Phillips 04.23.12
Mark Davis of Arkansas has won the Bassmaster Angler-of-the-Year title in 1995, 1998 and 2001. He was the Bassmaster Classic champion in 1995 and is one of the nation’s leading pro fishermen.
Mark Davis explains that, “The number one secret to turning a bad bass fishing season around, as simple as this may sound, is to take the time required to sit down and organize your tackle. Think through each tournament you’ll be fishing, and make sure you’ll have the exact baits you’ll need, when and where you’ll need them. Most guys want to be fishing, not getting their tackle ready to go fishing. If they have any days off, they prefer to fish rather than organize their tackle. But as a tournament fisherman, when I leave the house, I’ll be fishing from Texas to California, New York, Florida and many of the states in-between. So, I have to sit down and think through each tournament scenario and organize my tackle accordingly. I may be on the road for 2 or 3 months before I return home. I have to organize my tackle, so I’ll have the lures, the line, the rods, the reels and everything else I’ll need for each tournament. Then I have to put in the other lures I may need for the times when the lures I’ve thought I’ll need don’t work. This tackle organization can take a lot of time, thought and preparation. You also have to think about other stuff you’ll need, like a push pole or a sea anchor.
“After you’ve decided on the tackle you’ll need, you have to pack it in a way that you’ll know where it’s located in your truck or boat. Then you can go straight to those places and get what you need. By doing this, you’ll out-think and be better prepared than most fishermen. In most tournaments, many fishermen will take a wide variety of gear and lures with them and hope they have everything they need when they’ll need it. They don’t spend the time, the energy and the mental preparation to think through each fishing situation they may encounter on each lake to make sure they have the lures, the line, the rods and the reels they think they’ll need and the back up equipment and lures they may use, if their first-string tackle doesn’t pay off.
“Most professional anglers will tell you that bass fishing is more of a mental game than a physical game. So, to become a better bass fisherman, you have to spend plenty of time preparing mentally. You do this by thinking about the lake you’ll be fishing and the lures you’ll need, being certain not to overlook any other lures you may need. Before you leave home to go tournament fishing or fun fishing, spend the time required to think through that fishing trip, and organize your tackle and thoughts to be mentally and physically prepared for any water, wind and weather conditions you may face on that day. At the end of the week, you’ll see how step This step is the secret foundation upon which you build to become a better fisherman. One of the real disasters that happen to bass fishermen is when they get out on the water and decide there’s a lure they need to get the bass to bite, but they don’t have the lure with them. That one decision or lapse of preparation can cause you to go from a hero to a zero in bass fishing.”
To see Mark Davis tell you his secrets to river fishing for bass, check out the video below:
httpv://youtu.be/nhMuE8vG_e4
These tactics are just a sample of what you’ll learn in the new Kindle eBook, “How to Bass Fish Like a Pro” by John E. Phillips. Click here to see the eBook on Amazon.com.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
