Bill Lowen, well-known shallow water specialist and one of a number of anglers observers are keeping an eye on as the 2011 Bassmaster Classic gets underway, has made a major last minute adjustment in his strategy. It's the kind of thing few anglers would do. But Lowen says he doesn't feel he has any other option.
"I was going to make a long run to some pretty good fish I'd found in practice but on Wednesday I decided to look around close to the ramp and see what was available. I found a few good ones that I think fit into my fishing style a lot better. It changed my whole approach to this year's Classic in just a couple of hours."
Lowen hints that his shallow water expertise has come into play in a big way. "I don't want to talk about what bait I'm using because, to tell you the truth, the bites have been pretty hot on it. I don't think anyone else has figured this pattern out. If they have I haven't heard about it. "It's a bait that fits perfectly into my non-finesse style of fishing shallow.
I feel 100 percent better about my chances after discovering what it would do on Wednesday. I wish I could talk about it a little more but I can't. Anybody could fish with it so I want to keep it to myself for as long as possible." Another factor in Lowen's decision to make a change is his dislike of long runs and short fishing times. "When I make a long run it seems like I don't fish well. I'm not sure what it is exactly. I think I hurry too much and worry about getting back on time.
I feel pressured. That messes me up. If I can fish close to home I'm more relaxed and have more time to do my thing. It's probably mental but at this level a big part of winning is mental. I want to put as many things as possible in my favor. "I'm fishing tomorrow (Friday) about 5 miles from the ramp. That'll give me 7 1/2 hours of fishing time.
I feel better doing that even if I haven't explored the area as thoroughly as I'd like. It's important to know your strengths and your weaknesses. It's even more important to play into them rather than be afraid of them. "It's a heck of a thing, though, to change your whole game plan at the last minute.
A guy can't help but have second thoughts about it. We'll know how smart this was sometime late tomorrow afternoon." Bill Lowen, well-known shallow water specialist and one of a number of anglers observers are keeping an eye on as the 2011 Bassmaster Classic gets underway, has made a major last minute adjustment in his strategy. It's the kind of thing few anglers would do. But Lowen says he doesn't feel he has any other option.
"I was going to make a long run to some pretty good fish I'd found in practice but on Wednesday I decided to look around close to the ramp and see what was available. I found a few good ones that I think fit into my fishing style a lot better. It changed my whole approach to this year's Classic in just a couple of hours." Lowen hints that his shallow water expertise has come into play in a big way.
"I don't want to talk about what bait I'm using because, to tell you the truth, the bites have been pretty hot on it. I don't think anyone else has figured this pattern out. If they have I haven't heard about it. "It's a bait that fits perfectly into my non-finesse style of fishing shallow.
I feel 100 percent better about my chances after discovering what it would do on Wednesday. I wish I could talk about it a little more but I can't. Anybody could fish with it so I want to keep it to myself for as long as possible." Another factor in Lowen's decision to make a change is his dislike of long runs and short fishing times. "When I make a long run it seems like I don't fish well.
I'm not sure what it is exactly. I think I hurry too much and worry about getting back on time. I feel pressured. That messes me up. If I can fish close to home I'm more relaxed and have more time to do my thing. It's probably mental but at this level a big part of winning is mental.
I want to put as many things as possible in my favor. "I'm fishing tomorrow (Friday) about 5 miles from the ramp. That'll give me 7 1/2 hours of fishing time. I feel better doing that even if I haven't explored the area as thoroughly as I'd like. It's important to know your strengths and your weaknesses.
It's even more important to play into them rather than be afraid of them. "It's a heck of a thing, though, to change your whole game plan at the last minute. A guy can't help but have second thoughts about it. We'll know how smart this was sometime late tomorrow afternoon."