This month we bring you steps 5 & 6 of Pete Robbins' series, Gary Yamamoto Inside Line's newest contributing author and a member of the Virginia State BASS Federation, on how to become a better tournament angler.  There are 12 steps in Pete's program.  We will present two steps per month.

STEP FIVE: TURNING LIMITED SKILLS INTO MORE FISH

Money won is better than money earned. --Fast Eddie Felson in the movie, The Color of Money

"Fish your strengths" is hardly a new approach to angling, but I believe that applying this maxim to a heightened level of self-analysis can produce improved results.

This began to crystallize further when I read Michael Lewis' bestseller "Moneyball."  Lewis detailed the methods by which the Oakland A's managed to remain competitive during the last decade.  At a time when the success of a professional baseball team was supposedly correlated almost directly to the amount of money spent on salaries, the A's remained competitive despite the fact that they were only able to spend a small fraction of what the big market teams' budgets.

By conducting statistical analysis and shedding traditional biases (disregarding "common wisdom") the A's acquired players other teams wouldn't consider.  For example, their braintrust believed that on-base percentage is the most valuable attribute for an everyday player, so they could afford to give up other attributes if that statistic was maximized.  In short, they sought to capitalize on market inefficiencies by favoring process over outcome.

Adapt Oakland's strategy in order to maximize the efficiency of your angling talents.  After all, there is nothing more satisfying than beating someone who is objectively "better" than you. We all mark progress not only in terms of the number and size of fish we catch, but how we stack up against the top anglers.

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STEP SIX: BEATING THE THREE-HEADED OPPONENT

It's just me against the fish. I don't think about other
fishermen. --Countless tour pros

To be the best you've got to beat the best. --Sports cliche

Your competition on the water is a three-headed monster.

First, you have to beat the fish -- if you don't put anything in the boat, you have no chance of winning.

Second, you have to outfish other anglers. Figure out what it will take to win. A spot where you can catch 100 one pounders doesn't help if others can catch five two pounders.
In some sports, the cliche about "beating the best" holds true…in boxing, for example, where you are in constant contact with the opponent. But in a fishing tournament, you
may be a hundred miles from your opponent. You don't know that he has 20 pounds in the livewell to your 18, and that you need to cull that 3 pounder. It's not directly competitive in the way that other sports are.

Third, you are fishing against yourself. Assuming you have followed my advice above, you have a pretty good idea of your abilities. The goal is to approach 100% efficiency.

Steps 1 & 2        Steps 3 & 4