Editor’s Note: Thirty-five-year-old Brandon Palaniuk of Hayden, Idaho, has been a bass pro for 11 years and the Angler-of-the-Year and has earned $1.7+ million fishing. To learn more about Brandon, visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/brandonpalaniuk/.

One of the most-important elements of becoming a consistent bass fisherman is, “Don’t waste any tournament you’re in or any fishing trip you take.” Bass fishing is a sport where you’re constantly learning, so when you don’t do as well as you’ve hoped you will, you have to rethink the day and ask yourself, “What did I learn?” That way, what appears to be a bad day of fishing actually becomes a good day. Each bad trip on the water teaches you the things you’ve done wrong, but more importantly, the things you’ve done right. You can’t look in your rearview mirror, and by that I mean, you can’t let one bad day of fishing make your mind spiral downward. If you do, you won’t perform to the best of your abilities.

I don’t always make enough right decisions or get enough big bites for a good tournament. But I know I not only have to find more places to fish, but also fish them more intensely. Whether you’re bass fishing or playing tennis, football or ping pong, we know as competitors that we won’t perform our best in every tournament. So, you have to give credit where credit is due. Sometimes, the bass just beat us, but that helps us to stay humble and fish even better the next time we’re on the water.

To be successful you may have to shift gears from fishing deep rocks for smallmouths to fishing a grass lake. But I must concentrate on the conditions in the lake or river I’m fishing. In most years, I’ll put at least 40,000 miles on my truck, towing my boat. I’m not only chasing bass, but I’m chasing W’s (Wins).

Turkey season may be over, but you can become a better turkey caller for next season by listening to turkey calling experts. You’ll be able to hear 10% for free of the “” audible book at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Z5JHY42/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taud_p3_i4 On the right side of the page and below the offer for a free Audible trail, you can click on Buy the Audible Book. If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected]. You also can buy the Kindle version of the book at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IXXJWOQ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i4 and the print version of the book at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1720096821/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p7_i7. You may have to copy and paste these links into your browser.

To learn more about bass fishing, check out John E. Phillips’ book, “How to Bass Fish Like a Pro,” available in Kindle, print and Audible versions at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RP2LZS/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i2
You may have to copy and paste this click into your browser. When you click on this book, notice on the left where Amazon says you can read and hear 10% of the book for free. On the right side of the Audible page for this book and below the offer for free Audible trial, you can click on Buy the Audible with one click.

Tomorrow: Depth Finder Essentials with Brandon Palaniuk