Denny Brauer on Bass Tournaments: Know You Can Win
John E. Phillips 02.03.13
Would you like to learn how to win a bass tournament and win millions of dollars? In the new eBook How to Win a Bass Tournament by John E. Phillips, he interviews eight professional bass fishermen who have won over $20 million in bass fishing tournaments and made over $50 million in residuals related to bass fishing.
In February 2013, the bass fishing world will be tuned-in for the Bassmaster Classic to see who the best bass fisherman for 2013 really is. Deep in the heart of every bass fisherman, especially tournament fisherman, is the dream of one day winning the Bassmaster Classic. In How to Win a Bass Tournament, you’ll learn how Kevin VanDam, George Cochran, Mark Davis, Shaw Grigsby, Rick Clunn, Mark Rose, Denny Brauer and Larry Nixon have won hundreds of bass tournaments.
One of the most versatile and most successful fishermen on the BASS circuit is Denny Brauer of Camdenton, Missouri, who has earned more than $3 million in tournament winnings from fishing Bassmaster and other tournament circuits, not including his endorsements and sponsors.
Although he’s tagged as a flipper and a pitcher, Brauer primarily fishes the jigging spoon, one of his favorite tactics, and also is deadly with the drop-shot. Brauer isalso noted for his quick wit and his love of aggravating the press. When asked about the five ways he hates to fish, he smiled and said, “There’s no way I don’t like to fish. I love to fish every tactic and every lure, and I love every body of water where I tournament fish.”
When you see the twinkle in Brauer’s eye and a smile as big as a Cheshire cat on his face after this type of statement, you instantly know he’s hooked you again. He finishes with the words, “I have no negative thoughts at all about fishing.” Then finally, with a big smile he says, “Okay, I’ll throw you some bread crumbs.” We can use Brauer’s wisdom to become better bass fishermen.
“The most important ingredient for winning a tournament is having confidence in yourself and your fishing ability to know you can win a tournament,” Denny Brauer emphasizes. “This one factor separates great fishermen from also-rans. At any tournament, you’ll have three different types of fishermen–some who think they can win, others who hope they eventually will win, and the few competitors who know they can win, and they’re the bass fishermen who win multiple tournaments. I don’t really know where all that confidence comes from, but success often breeds success. When you win a tournament, you seem to climb another rung in the ladder of bass fishing confidence.
“Actually that confidence in fishing a tournament is common sense. If you want to make money from endorsements, sponsors, speaking engagements and public appearances, you have to win and have that mentality to win. Early in my bass fishing career, I was just attempting to survive. When I first got into bass fishing, making sure I got a paycheck was far more important to me than winning or losing. But if you look at the big picture, you don’t have many opportunities to win in bass fishing.
“In NASCAR, a driver has 45 races a year where he can win. But on the Bassmaster circuit, we only have eight tournaments, and there are from 150 to 200 competitors in the race trying to win. So, I always figure, why squander one of those opportunities fishing conservatively? I swing for the fence every time I enter a BASS tournament, and I strike out a lot. But I also win. If I were to give someone advice on how to win a bass tournament, it would be to learn to find that confidence for yourself. Then when you go to a tournament, you won’t just hope to win or think you may win, you’ll know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’re willing to do whatever is required to win.”
To learn more about bass fishing and to get How to Win a Bass Tournament, click here. Or, go to http://www.amazon.com/kindle-ebooks, type in the name of the book, and download it to your Kindle and/or download a Kindle app for your iPad, SmartPhone or computer.
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."
