Spring 2019
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ATTITUDE
(MENTAL PREPAREDNESS):
The first and most important component of tournament
fishing is having the right mindset with a positive attitude
and enjoyment of the competitive event. To have the right
attitude, Quizon believes it is best to stick to what you know.
“Be confident in your abilities to fish,” he added.
Staying away from the dock talk is a way Ensign
suggests maintaining mental preparedness.
“Do what you are most comfortable doing,” he said. “If
you fish outside your box of knowledge, you may get lucky,
but you will not stay consistent.”
EQUIP YOURSELF
Next up is having the right equipment to get the job done.
KAYAK
Ensign and Quizon both fish out of pedal kayaks for efficiency. They like the ability to propel the kayak while keeping their hands free to fish. This is just a personal preference and they both suggested choosing a kayak for comfort and within budget.
RODS
Quizon always has eight rods fully0rigged to maximize efficiency and eliminate any potential downtime caused by having to re-tie or switch lures.
Ensign likes to start with eight rods during pre-fish; but, narrow his choices down to three or four rods for competition. His stripped-down selections keep choices simple and organized to prevent fumbles during competition.
OTHER NECESSARY GEAR
• Coast Guard approved life jacket
• Hawg Trough fish measuring device
• Depth finder (highly recommended) – 7” Lowrance
unit is a great option
• Cell phone or digital camera (in a waterproof case
and on a leash)
• Stern light visible from 360 degrees
• Net with long handle
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