Lets TalkAbout Crews

[Deep C]

The phone did a lot of ringing and the email was backed up pretty deep today with people passing their congrats along about recent tourney successes. Ok, so I have been on a streak or so it would seem. It doesn't mean a thing without pointing out that the streak that I have enjoyed more than just winning is the streak of good luck I have had with getting great team mates...
What makes a good team? Lets take a look... First and foremost is positive mental attitude. I walk into a tourney not just wanting a win but expecting a win through lots of preperation and hard work. A good team is scouting water, gathering bait, and taking care of details far in advance of an event. PMA goes a long way in making this work. I don't have time for guys that just "hope" for the best.
Boat owners ned to be dilligent that the machine is set in a way that is easy to work and more important is mechanically ready to go to work with no issues to distract things. Other pre-event duties include gathering accurate info as to what is where and what has been working. bait has to be sourced and locked in. There is no room for question marks come event time. Food and drink and equipment are stowed and space is opened up for as much working room as possible.
Communication is important in the pre stages. I love whne a team mate calls with a water report or a fish report even weeks in advance. They get the info and stay on top of it. As a team we process what info is comming in. There are no ego conflicts on a good team. Each man has a specific set of duties but every other man is in position to back up or take over a task. The leader of the group explains in detail why each step is being taken and asks for input to see if he is missing something. Decisions are made as a group.
This is all capped off with a full team meeting long before the captains meeting ever takes place...
Though I don't drink, I encourage my crew to have a few cold ones and relax before the show begins.
Things are crystal clear in everyones head before leaving the dock. The clock starts ticking when the engines are lit. Everyone is busy doing their part. That does not end until the clock says its over.
My crew made me proud yesterday. We were fishing as hard at 3:00 yesterday afternoon as when the chum bucket hit the water the first morning. Each bait was worked aand with little time remaining that "we will win" attitude never quit. I have won some in the first five minutes. Some in the last five. Negativity never gets near the crew. Its not over til that fat fish is eaten.
Years back I was fishing a tourney with the owner of daytona Speedway/ president of NASCAR. We were in good position and he kept calling out what fish other guys were catching and worrying about what theyw ere doing. Finally got in his face, " Bill, in all them races that NASCAR has run over the years has one ever been won or lost before that checkered flag dropped?" He answered "No." I barked back, "Then shut the F*** up, stop worrying about what others are doing and pay attention to what we are doing." That got the focus back on what WE needed to do to WIN...
When that fish caught air late in the day yesterday, it was game on and every man jumped to the task. four useless rods were cleared and stowed in a blink. Two flyers were set, gloves laid out, angler harnessed up, engines lit, pieces all in place in about a minute. One reeled one coached, one gave hand signals to the helm, the helm responded, the gaff man readied, second gaff man got in position, leader man slid in the spot. A well oiled machine. The fish did its thing and we did ours. It was like a lighning bolt at the end game. Leader, stick, second stick, tail line all in a matter of seconds. No ooh and ahh stuff. Every man on that boat did their job and the game was ours...
PMA, No Egos, Good Communication, everyone backing up each other, all hands aboard on the same page... That's what makes that "expectaion to win" a reality...

[WAHOONBOX]

ABSOLUTELY SCRIPT......SOME EL PRIMO WISDOM WHICH IS A MUST INHALED ..... A PURE RE-ALTO THEATRE....


YOU DO PRESENT A GOOD READ.....NOT TO MENTION YOU BACK IT ALL UP WITH AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

[snakeeyes]

MAN, ALL THAT FOR SECOND PLACE, PLEASE TELL US WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US TO PLACE FIRST. PAUL CONGRATS, PLEASE PASS IT ON TO DON AND CREW...DAVE

[sea scape]

WOW Deep that was a great read!

You put me back in the pit once again.. I could see myself winding in the loose bait, laying out the gloves, having the belt snapped on me, then tethered to the chair. Having the "coach" say reeeeeel, okay puuuuuuul, reeeeeeel faster! and feeling the burn in my shoulders, biseps and forarms as I am reeling and pulling.. Then to see the power of the fish come crashing out of the water as if to say.. NOT TODAY!, but, yeah today will be the day for you fishy.
I had my life play once again right before my eyes.

Thanks

[Deep C]

Snake
To take it up a notch... Be the fish ...

[FASTWATER]

My #1 mentor of fishing.my Dad once told me preperation and presentation is 99% of catching, RIGHT ON Deep tell it like it is!!!PEACE