Amazing coincidence that after watching this video, I tuned in to MLF at Lake Travis. I think it was Scott Suggs who had a real giant on right up close to the boat. It came off and lo and behold, his comment was that he might as well load the boat, he was done for the day. The way I get my concentration back is to think back to times when I have caught the tournament winner at the very last minute. Once, I had 3 minutes till lines out and caught a 2 and 6 !/2 on the next to last and last cast. Those positive experiences seem to remind me to NEVER GIVE UP!

Breathe work and mindset. I’m so glad I subbed; these topics are never talked, even in other sports. This video is a gem.

I've never thought of that way. Much appreciated

Excellent video. Positive mental attitude is critical in all competitions.

yep, confidence is key. I definitely believe that and focus on the cast and control the variables that you can control and not the ones you can't.

Great video! I have a fishing buddy who gets super frustrated at what to me are little things. Kenny Rogers said it the best, "there'll be time to count your money when the dealin is done." I approach it as not being in it from the get go, everything is upward and onward from there, gotta stay focused and get after it to cash a check, the same holds true in all of life.

Great advice, not just for tournament anglers

So..... One could say that Ike charges his demons head on.....lol Thanks for sharing your personal off water efforts on this subject. So many clichés and phrases that encourage positive thinking. As the story goes that I read from a bass Marshall on KVD's boat one tournament day. Marshall witnessed Kevin hook and loose 2-3 kicker fish in a row. Marshall asked Kevin a question..... Kevin turned to him with a big grin and said..... 'I'm not worried.....They're bitting' I read this story......so take it for whatever it's worth. Being your a northern born fisherman, maybe talk about the most difficult skills/tasks/mindset that you had to work on to become competitive on southern fisheries. Thank for the vid keep up the great work

Agree 100%! My first stop last season was on a body of water I had past success on and I fished hard right up to the last cast and only weighed in 1 fish. Our 4th stop was on a body of water I have never had any success on and do not enjoy fishing. I didn't have a bite after the first 3 hours and I was mentally done 3 hours into the tournament. Some of my favorite tournaments are on bodies of water I have never been on because it takes away a lot of the mental battle. "You don't know what you don't know" can be very advantageous.

I'm not a tournament angler, but I love fishing and fish as often as possible. Caught a six pounder over the weekend and my heart was racing for 20-30 mins. I noticed that I was fishing too fast after that, not even casting as well, etc. Once I calmed down and refocused I was much better off. I totally understand what you're talking about with the adrenaline rush and agree. If I wanted to be a good tournament angler I would have to control that somehow to be consistent.

This actually happened to me yesterday for my ABA tournament I caught one first thing in the morning and wasn’t a keeper then one got off my crankbait right at the boat, then the rest of the day was a grind and nothing then but I told myself I can’t go out like this I put my head down sat down had a sandwich refocused then the last 45 minutes I got my limit all in one spot cranking the bridge pylons and finished 7th out of 26...so it definitely pays to even take that few minutes have something to eat or drink and mentally refocus

I totally agree with you, it only takes 15 minutes to get 5 so don't worry about if you lost one! Usually if I lose one i jump right up and fire right back in there, where there is one there is 2 or 3 ! Take my word for it. They travel by pairs or groups!

Great stuff Matt! Thanks for sharing

Happens to all of us. I go back to basics and fish small jigs or drop shots. Once you catch a few easy fish, your confidence goes back up rather quickly. It may sound like you're targeting smaller fish but it's surprising how many decent fish are caught with those basic methods. I see friends of mine switching baits real quick and tell them to find a bait you feel confident with. Makes all the difference in the world when both align.

Love the video!!! I am 18 and just starred fishing tournaments about a year and a half ago, I love fishing and have a dream to become a professional angler one day. I have been getting better at tournaments I fish locally and in arazona, and I started off in last place for my first tourney, and the next few tourneys I have been working up getting. 11th, 9th, 8th and my last tournament I got 5th, so this year I am going to work my hardest to make top 3

This is true for all of life. Life is hard. Letting setbacks control you for any amount of time makes it harder. Accepting the fact that obstacles and struggles is a part of everything makes it easier to overcome them. I usually just have multiple plans in place from the onset. Even then I just accept that the best laid plans often implode upon implementation. Id recommend everyone simply practice adaptation regularly. When that eventual bad thing happens simply go into adaptation mode instantly. I know it's harder for some to do, but with practice like anything else it will get you to the other side far more rapidly. A deep breath does help though.

Very well framed and articulated!!! takes 20 years to get 20 years experience. As you are acutely aware that is the solid foundation of your success along with the positive mental attitude. 👍😃🎣🎣🎣

I seldom catch fish. I’m not a good angler, yet. After losing a monster right at the kayak, last Saturday, I gave up instead of regaining control, responding, and reacting. Thank you for the guidance to stop feeling sorry and get back at it.

Enjoyed the video, some really good info. Can you do some content on alewives and other northern baitfish? Us southerners could learn something.

Am I the only one that has to strut a little when the Matt Stefan Fishing theme song is on? That song comes on and I be struttin'.

This is true in really anything you want to be elite in. Again, no matter what I’m competing in, I often think of Tiger Woods. He was the most fierce competitor that could grind his way around the course and eventually make a shot that saved a stroke or gave him the momentum. As a career musician, I did the breathing exercises also. Again, Tiger could make a key shot, let the energy out, feeding off the crowd and be calm again for the next shot. I believe this takes intentional focus and practice. In basketball, it is often said that great shooters have no conscience. They’ve never missed a shot in their mind and they’re definitely going to make the next one!

Great video. Thank you.

I can see why you're successful at this sport.

Nice video

I tend to let my demons take over quicker now with my back issues, and once it gets rolling it's a hard train to stop. I might try some of the breathing techniques, gotta be better than what I'm doing.

Great topic! Question: how do you break out of a "slump"? When I lose my mojo I find myself cycling through more rods/techniques than I should and generally fishing too fast. But, if I try to slow down I have doubts about the area I'm fishing or the lure choice, and my mind speeds up even though I'm supposed to be slowing down! It's easy when things are going good, but how do you get that confident feeling back? Fall back on "go to" bait even if it's not working?

I coach wrestling, tennis, and chess-all disciplines where a mental slip can mean the difference between victory and defeat. I’ve found after 30 years one fail-proof strategy to keep those demons at bay. Mentally singing Beach Boys songs! Give it a try-I’m 100% serious!!

I usually blow the fishing whistle as loud as I can and then I feel better.

I totally agree with but this is what I do but I am not saying it the best way but it works for me so to me bass fish is just like being an NFL QB or cornerback so I played football ever since I was little so when you have to have a very short term memory and just no that just because you lost that fish you can learn from what just happened fist thing I say was my knot right did I get a good hook set if I did all of the small things right and that fish broke me off then I have nothing to feel bad about like I always say do the small things big and the rest will handle its self but I always take the time to retire after every catch and check my line after every ten cast when fishing a crankbait or any search bait

If I lose a big fish. I always tell myself that wasn’t a fluke and I’m in the right area and I’m on the right pattern and the next cast could be another good fish.

Chutes and Ladders Philosophy: Much easier to slide down then climb up and out.

It sounds cliche but I always do better when I'm just out to purely have fun and go fish, but at the same time it's tough when you show up to an event with a 12 footer against guys $60,000 fishing boats but you could have just as much of a platform to fish from as those expensive boats

I love guys who freak out when they find a banana in their boat...got to be stronger than that. Focus and visualize. Always find the positive to hold on to

Laying around sulking or thinking about a lost fish or whatever. Definitely isn't going to help.. or make it better. Just know there are a million bass out there and just like any other day.. the next cast could be it and if it's your day then it's your day. Press forward.

Picture yourself as a stallion owned by a middle eastern shiek (The Goods).

Sometimes, I take my demons out for a drink.