Entry 118-4
How to Keep a Streak Going with Mark Davis
Knowing When to Hold Them
Editor's Note: For four months in the spring of 2004, Mark Davis, of Mt. Ida, Arkansas, was possibly the hottest bass fisherman on the professional circuit. During that four-month period, Davis went on a winning streak and won three BASS tournaments against the best bass fishermen in the nation. For four months, Davis consistently performed at the very peak of his ability and consistently outperformed all of his competition. This week, Davis will tell us how he maintained that high level of bass-fishing performance for four months and won three major tournaments while he was in the zone. From listening to Davis explaining the streak, we’ll learn more about how to bass fish better and catch more bass every time we go fishing.
Davis: As long as I’m catching quality bass, I won’t give up a pattern, and as long as I have new water I can run to and apply that same pattern to a new spot on the lake, I will stay with that pattern. But, if I get bogged down and I’m not catching bass, and I don’t have new water to run to, then I know it’s time to change the way I’m fishing and the lures I’m using. Now, you never know when you have enough fish to win. Tournament bass fishing is not like a basketball game, because you can’t look up at a scoreboard and see whether you’re winning or losing and how much time is left in the game. You never know for sure that you have the tournament won until the fish are on the scales, and the weight is recorded. You can have an idea that you may have a chance to win, but you never really know.
Not one of the three events that I have won this year did I know that I had those events won until the fish were on the scales. I had to fish until the last possible second that I could be on the water and get back in without being penalized. That last cast could produce a really big bass that could win the tournament for me. Therefore, when you’re on a streak, you know you’re in-tune with the fish, and you’re catching bass, you don’t want to leave the water. When you know you are in the zone, you want to stay there as long as possible, because you know that even on that last cast, you may catch a big bass that can be the difference between winning and losing. If you’re having a great fishing streak, try to ride it as far as you can, for as long as you can.
I’ve learned that I can tell when I am in tune with the fish and with my fishing. There’s no greater feeling in bass fishing when you know what those fish want to do, why they want to do it, where they want to go, and why they want to go there. I have been able to think like the bass that I am trying to catch. When you can attain that mindset and become one with the bass’ environment, you have the confidence to make the adjustments and change your style of fishing to be able to continue to catch the bass.
