This week, Carl Svebek discusses the technique of shaking fish off in practice, how rapid changes to water levels affect the bass bite, and what really separates a good amateur from a pro.
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Q & A with CARL SVEBEK III
Q: How often do you actually set the hook on your fish in practice? What is the best strategy for prefishing?
- Bryon Whiston , Robinson, Ill.
A: I often set the hook on my first few days of practice. Once I have discovered a particular pattern, especially as the tournament gets closer, I seldom set the hook. In some instances, as the tournament grows near, I will even fish without a hook. I have found that on certain occasions I have even caught a fish in the tournament that I had shaken the day before. This doesn't always happen, but if you catch one fish that you have previously shaken off, then you're ahead of the game. Good question and good luck in your tournaments.
Q: Me and a buddy of mine fished a tourney on the Dardanele Arkansas river. I caught a lot of fish in the 2- to 3-foot depth range, but I couldn’t seem to land the bigger fish. (On a side note, they also dropped the lake level approximately 8 feet during the tournament). Would this have caused the fishing to change, or was I just trying too hard?
- Travis Knight , Fayetteville, Ark.
A: Whenever the water falls at such a rapid pace, in most instances, it usually changes the fish’s behavior. A lot of times the fish will move to deeper structure and suspend, making them much tougher to catch. I would recommend taking a few hours out of your day and experimenting with fishing those places that are closer to drops and have a little deeper structure close by. Set aside some time during prefishing or on "fun" fishing days to practice fishing a little deeper near those drops, and you will begin to feel more confident when you have to go to that type of pattern in a tournament.
Q: What is it that separates a good bass angler from a great angler? Is it simply the amount of time spent on the water, or are there many factors? What can I do to improve my fishing? I have no ambition to be a pro, I just want to catch more fish on a regular basis. Thank you.
- Jeff Augustine , Pulaski, Wis.
A: I think time spent on the water is the main factor simply because of all the variables fishing has to offer. On many occasions I may use a particular technique or fishing strategy that I may have picked up from two or more years ago. My suggestion is to take a mental picture of everything you do and ask yourself, "What did I do correctly to catch this fish?" So many times we catch fish, and we don’t know the reasons why. It may be the time of day you're fishing or even the way you are working the lure.
Every little detail is critical to becoming a great angler. The more time you spend on the water (for fun or for tournaments), the more you will start to see the little details that make a difference for you. And that is the key, too. What works for one angler may or may not work for the next. I guess that is part of what makes this profession somewhat frustrating at times. You just have to take the time to go out and figure things out and see what really works for you. I know there have been times that I've changed my pattern because it wasn't what everyone else was doing. However, most of the time when I've done that, it didn’t work out for me. I’ve learned over the years that I have to put my time in on the water to really get a sense of what it is that I'm doing that triggers the bites. So, all in all, I guess it boils down to experience and time.
Q: While fishing tournaments every now and again, I find myself doing well during the first two days of practice only to fish poorly during the actual tournament. Then, to make matters more frustrating, I’ll wind up catching a good stringer the day or two after the tournament. I believe my problems are probably mental, but I was wondering if you have ever had this happen to you early in your career. If so, can you tell me how to solve this unusual phenomenon? Thanks.
- James Coroy , Cadiz, Ky.
A: My suggestion is to simplify your fishing as much as possible, because, as many pros can attest, we’ve all been in this situation during a tournament at one time or another. Basically, it is very important to be in the right frame of mind when fishing a tournament. Be sure to take what you did in practice into consideration. However, you also have to come into each tournament setting with a very open mind and adapt to the day by being willing to change from a particular pattern or technique. So many times we try to make tournament day a duplication of practice. Unfortunately, it doesn't always happen like that. So, be prepared to change and adapt, and you’ll have many more successful days in the future. Personally, I've had plenty of tournaments where I've had a great practice only to bomb the first day of the actual tournament. Looking back now, it probably was because I expected everything to be the same as it was in practice, and it isn't always going to turn out that way – every day is different. The days when I don't adapt are the days when I bring a small sack to the scales. Use the knowledge you’ve gained in practice, but keep in mind that the fish and the water change on a daily basis.
Carl Svebek III of Siloam Springs, Ark., continues to be a rising star on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour. A popular angler among fans and fellow competitors alike, Svebek has now racked up over $225,000 in career earnings at FLW Outdoors events over the past seven years. Svebek currently boasts four top-10 finishes on the FLW Tour, including a strong sixth-place finish at the FLW Tour Championship in 2000. During that same year, he was also chosen to compete in the high-profile ESPN Great Outdoor Games. In total, Svebek has 10 top-10 tournament finishes in all FLW Outdoors events including the EverStart Series, Texas Tournament Trail and Wal-Mart BFL. His FLW Tour sponsors include Ranger Boats and Land O'Lakes.
