Page 6 - Lady Bass Digital Magazine May 2023 Revised

What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do

by Pam Horne

So, you’re all ready to leave for your out of state tourna- seems to be the best option.
ment and have high expectations and in very high spirits.
You have hours of travel time and all the time in the world Day #1 – you’re riding to the ramp in a borrowed boat and
to imagine all the giant bass you’re going to be weighing luckily you have your co-angler in the vehicle with you as
in. Practice and getting familiar with the lake become well as one more co-angler and you have a blow out with
the new focus and you’re ready for day #1 of the tourna- no spare. One or two phone calls and you have someone
ment……UNTIL, while wiping down the boat you notice on the way with a spare, arrange for a ride for your 2nd
oil down inside the jackplate, front of the motor and all the co-angler so they can actually make the take-off. Tire is
hoses. Your heart sinks, you feel sick to your stomach and
you feel all the air draining from your whole body. IF you
are lucky enough, you’ll have people to reach out to that
can give you some kind of idea what could be going on but
having even the slightest bit of knowledge of any motor,
you know immediately that an oil leak is a no bueno and
definitely something to not take chances with. Couple of
phone calls gives you a little hope that it’s nothing major
but still something that will knock you out of commis-
sion for the tournament and you’re scheduled to be at the
local marine early the next morning, thanks to another
competitor’s contact. If you don’t have at least 5-10 people
that you can reach out to with just about everything, you changed and you’re back on your way, little later but have
should. These contacts can be lifesavers and the difference the chance to fish the majority of the day. Late enough
in fishing or packing up and going home. getting in the water that your skeptical of going with your
original plan so you opt for plan B and it actually starts off
Visit to the promising. Your co-angler is doing well and has a limit
local ma- with several culls and although it takes all day, you do find
rine shop a limit of fish even though your electronics never worked
does not on the bow of the boat. Back to the house and regroup for
give you any day #2 and still feeling confident but still leery of going
hope for the with your original plan before everything fell apart. What
tournament can you do?? I used to have a horrible temper and would
and in your throw or hit anything nearby or scream and cuss, but I
mind, you’re guess the older I get the less energy I exert, the better…
already lol. It doesn’t do any good whatsoever to get mad or upset,
packing up doesn’t make it any better and definitely makes you less
and decid- cognitive out on the water.
ing when to
leave to head
back home. Day #2 – you get a little skidish when you pass by the
Finally you get a little break when you find out you’ve had blowout area on your way to the ramp and probably hold
a couple of influential people going ahead of you helping your breath too but you make it to the ramp and all is well.
in tremendous ways and you’re offered options that could Still have that gut feeling that you shouldn’t take chances
keep you on the water. Pre-tournament meeting and you with your original plan so you opt for the plan that worked
receive another blessing and now you have a third option yesterday and your co-angler hooks up with a good one
so which one do you choose?? I opted for the third option early but loses it at the boat but your optimistic that it
and I’m in a boat and lots of preparation but definitely could be a salvageable day and you get a good one not long

6 Lady Bass Anglers Association What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do