Digging Out of a Slump by Justin Largen

Digging Out of a Slump

My spring tournaments did not go as planned. After a great start to the season in Florida, I had several bad events in a row. Poor finishes left me towards the bottom of the AOY standings for Bassmaster, with an uphill battle just to qualify for the ’24 Championship. I was competing on fantastic lakes that suit my style, but I wasn’t fishing well. At one event I couldn’t find better-than-average fish. At another I made poor decisions. Lost fish plagued me at others. I was close, but something was off. I’m pretty sure they call that a slump.I was thrilled to have good finishes at the KBF Potomac River Trail events at the end of April, but I wasn’t confident that the slump was behind me. The Potomac was my home water for more than 10 years, so I expected to do well there. With a little bit of a break before the next big tournament, I shifted gears and spent the month of May focused on fishing for fun. I picked up a Crescent UltraLite, a lightweight, paddle-only kayak with no bells and whistles, and I spent some time exploring small rivers and quiet, little lakes that don’t allow boats with outboards. This took me back to my roots, so to speak. It reminded me of why I started fishing from a kayak. The simplicity was refreshing. No motor, no electronics, no mountain of tackle. Just a couple of rods, a small box of lures, and a paddle to propel me. It was therapeutic to just lose myself on the water. I wasn’t stressing about crowded ramps, gas prices, entry fees, or trying to make a check. It was just me in nature chasing little green and brown fish.

I ran into some big stream smallmouth on those trips, and that left me hungry to come back. I found some nice largemouth in the little lakes too. And it was good to feel those neglected muscles in my back, shoulders, and core working again. Miles and miles of pedaling was great for the legs, but I felt awfully weak when I paddled a couple of miles against the current for the first time in years. These trips were a lot of fun, and I could feel myself reconnecting with the fish. I started to understand areas the smallmouth were using and how they were positioning, which boosted my confidence. Then I decided to sign up for a club tournament on the Shenandoah River. It was nostalgic being back on that river after several years away. I fished it nearly every day when I was in college, and I’ve made a number of return trips over the years. That river was responsible for much of my growth as an angler. It was good to me during the tournament too. I caught lots of fish and had a respectable limit, good enough for a top 10. A few weeks later, I fished another club event on the tidal Rappahannock. I’d never fished that river before, so I decided to bring the little UltraLite along with my Hobie. That turned out to be a good decision. The fish I located were in extremely shallow water around thick vegetation. The little kayak was perfect for navigating around the spatterdock and sliding over hydrilla. I caught them pretty well and ended up in 3rd place. Fast forward another week, and I used the little kayak for the KBF Trail I on Lake Chickamauga. I’d found fish in a skinny backwater and decided that the smaller kayak was the right tool for the job. At an event where most anglers used bigger kayaks with motors and high-end electronics, I paddled my way to a top 10. The following day, I returned to my Outback and finished 3rd in a different section of the lake. The slump was finally over!

To be fair, I’ve had two mediocre events since Chickamauga, but I still think the slump is behind me. My finishes on Cayuga and the Mississippi River were middle of the pack. They weren’t great, but they also weren’t bombs. Though I didn’t get the results I wanted, the standings aren’t the only measure of success. I’m happy with how I competed at both tournaments. I made good adjustments, took calculated risks, and converted most of my bites into catches – things I didn’t do earlier in the year.

So, what changed during that down time in May? How much of a role did the new kayak play? It was awesome having a small kayak to get me into some remote places, but my issue was bigger than the boat itself. The key for me was having fun again. I love competing in tournaments, but it can be stressful when you spend lots of time and money traveling and competing. I found myself focusing too much on results and losing sight of the fun part, the actual fishing. The time away from tournaments and travel gave me the opportunity to fish more back home. I got to revisit some of my favorite waters and explore new ones. Fishing in beautiful, remote places helped me rediscover the joy of kayak fishing. Being in a simple kayak was refreshing too. Loading and unloading was quick, and I didn’t need a ton of accessories or tackle. This simple approach reminded me that you don’t have to be on a world class fishery chasing checks and trophies to enjoy this sport. The most memorable outings are often spent close to home, with family and friends, just having a good time. Next time you have a bad tournament or two, hit the reset button. Remember to have fun, and good things will happen.

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