In The Zone

Welcome To In The Zone

Welcome to In the Zone! This segment of Bass Edge will introduce you to the principles of Performance Psychology. You are probably already familiar with some stories about how athletes in other sports use performance psychology principles to be more effective. Jack Nicklaus, for example, is famous for popularizing the practice of visualization in the game of golf. Professional football, baseball and basketball players frequently comment on the importance of concentration, confidence, and mental preparation. Olympic athletes from around the world have used sport psychology principles for decades to achieve peak performance.

More recently, competitive anglers have begun talking openly about the mental or psychological side of fishing. If you follow the professional fishing circuits, you have probably seen for yourself examples of where performance psychology dimensions like focused attention and mental concentration, (or lack thereof!) have had a significant effect on tournament results.

When you think about it, basic performance psychology dimensions are applicable to everyone, whether you are a weekend angler or a touring professional. Regardless of the level at which you fish, the days when you get bit with reckless abandon are relatively few. You need to use all of the physical and mental tools at your disposal to find fish, and then to catch them when you do locate them.

Everyone who fishes appreciates the importance of using good equipment. You wouldn’t intentionally go fishing with dull hooks or frayed line, for example. You try to come to the lake as physically well-prepared as possible. But do you consistently use sound psychological skills? If you have ever lost a good fish because you weren’t paying close enough attention, or if you have let unreasonable worries or fears interfere with your ability to make good decisions on the water, then you understand the role psychological variables can play in fishing success. You also recognize the significance of mental variables if you have ever truly been “in the zone”, that place where time stands still and you are in perfect harmony with the weather, the water, and the fish!

In the Zone is here to help you to have more of those kinds of days. On our web site we will provide a series of articles that show how performance psychology topics relate to fishing, competitive and otherwise. We will explain how various techniques work and describe the mental preparations top athletes in other sports use to be successful. Primarily we will focus on giving you practical exercises that will help you be a more successful angler.

Seasoned professionals refer to fishing lures as tools, and you should use this same attitude toward performance psychology techniques. In the same way that there are no “secret baits”, there are also no secret psychological tricks that will transform you into a world champion angler! Extending the lure, you already know you have to make a lot of casts for your lures to work, and you also realize you can’t sharpen your hooks once and expect them to last all season. Similarly, to get the most out of performance psychology techniques you will have to try several out, find some that work for you, and then practice them on a regular basis.

We will regularly post articles on this web site about different performance psychology topics. As you know, Bass Edge also has a television program that airs on the VERSUS Network (formerly Outdoor Life Network) Sunday and Wednesday mornings. Each week we will present a performance psychology segment on the program. You will also find a weekly article that expands on that same subject here on the bassedge.com web site.

You will also find several products and services available in the Bass Edge.com online store. We encourage you especially to consider purchasing The Psychology of Exceptional Fishing. This book lays out in great detail most of the performance psychology principles we will discuss in the coming issues of Bass Edge. This book should be available for pre-order in January of 2007 and shipping soon after.

Finally, we welcome your input, questions, and comments. If you find a performance psychology technique that works particularly well for you, let us know. Or, if we describe a particular exercise in a way that is unclear or difficult to use, let us know that, too. Our primary mission is to be helpful to you. We will do our best to translate sport psychology concepts into down-to-earth language and enjoyable exercises that everyone can use.

Once again, welcome to In the Zone!

--------

Jay T. McNamara Ph.D., L.P. is a psychologist, and also an avid bass and walleye angler. With more than 30 years of professional experience complemented by participation in competitive fishing at local and national levels, he is uniquely qualified illustrate how Performance Psychology principles apply to fishing. His writing has appeared in both recreational and competitive fishing journals.