Dont you hate it.......

[LipRip]

When you lose the fish, right at the boat, that would have won the tournament for u!!!!!!!? grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[billy8878]

Not that the one that got off would ever when a tournament for me because I have never won one or been that close to winning but I can only imagine the feeling.

[Lightningboy]

I've changed my attitude on that.  You let "the one that got away" get in your head, and you're dead meat; your focus will be gone and you'll just be going through the motions.

First thing to realize is that some fish will get off.  The percentage that do depends on a lot of things.  Smallies are worse than LM.  Heavier cover increases losses.  Some lure types like traps do too.  You can't eliminate losses, but you can decrease the percentage of losses.  With some techniques, like a soft stick, losses can become rare.  The choice of line/rod/reel + how you set/fight the fish can put the odds in your favor.

Second, but probably most important, is to change your attitude on the loss.  Yeah, it's a missed opportunity.  But it's an opportunity you created by getting a fish to bite & hooking 'em.  You need to turn your loss into a positive event.  If you could get that one to bite, you're doing something right!  Now go do it again!

If you don't make this simple, but powerful change in how you view the event, you'll lose all focus while you kick your own arse.  You'll miss the next bite because you're not concentrating.  And like a fighter in an old WWII movie, you'll just launch into that death spiral...

There's no such thing as luck, good or bad.  Every event in the universe can be calculated to percentage odds.  Good or bad luck is really a good or bad decision based on odds.  Decide that's the truth, and you take control of your destiny at anything.  KVD, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordan are not just highly skilled.  They're also better decision makers than the others.

[MadWags]

LightningBoy,
Your right on the money with your comments.
I agree with the softer tick as well.
Lighter tackle for smallies has made a big difference in my catch ratio.

[LipRip]

Thanks for the advise lightningboy. I was just venting, no long turn damage done! It was just nice to finally finish up close to the top! I have to admit tho, it steamed me for a good half hour when that fish flung my hook back at me! But after the half hour of swearing i was good. I relived the fight in my mind and try to figure out what went wrong, like I always do when I lose fish. Guess I need to work on stayin focused a little better instead of living in the past for a half hour!

[Dan]

Bad Luck VS Good Luck

Bottom line is "Luck" is nothing more than the intelligent use of experience.