By Ryan Kennedy
What happened out there this weekend? Whether it was an after-work fishing trip, a major tournament, or a local derby competing for gas money and bragging rights, sometimes things just don’t go our way. It never ceases to amaze me that a 20-pound limit of tournament bass during the week can shrink down to a couple of squeakers by the weekend. Maybe a weather system rolled through and changed the position of the fish, or maybe it just wasn’t meant to be?
So, what now? We load the boat on the trailer and ready ourselves for the next outing. No matter how down on ourselves we may get or how many times the rods get thrown back in the rod locker with an “I’m done” mindset, we keep pressing on. Fishing is one of the few activities out there that will always offer hope for a new day no matter how many bad trips or tournaments we endure.
How does a bad day on the water offer us hope to go out and try again on the next fishing trip? If we look deep down inside of ourselves, we all know that the next bite could be our new personal best or the fish that wins a tournament. This deeply-rooted passion will follow us to our graves. It’s the crisp morning air, the beautifully painted sunrise that takes your breath away, the feeling of a bite at the end of your line, and letting your stress go as you set the hook after a bad day that keeps us coming back for more. It’s not just a hobby we are dealing with; fishing is passionate obsession. One of my favorite examples of a person who possesses a never-ending passion for the sport of fishing is Bassmaster Elite Series pro, Rick Clunn. In March of this year,
Clunn, at age 69, claimed his fifteenth B.A.S.S. win on the St. John’s River. Before this tournament, many people declared that Rick Clunn’s glory days were over and that it was time to throw in the towel. Clunn placed the negative opinions about his career and age behind him, kept pressing forward, and showed the world that the dream is still out there every day, and with hard work it can be achieved. So, if you are thinking about giving up, you might want to reconsider… because the fish that completely changes your perspective could be just one cast away. Keep your chin up and keep that rod tip bent.
“Never let yourself believe that your best moments are behind you.” – Rick Clunn
Ryan Kennedy is an avid bass tournament angler with aspirations of making the big stage. Check him out at YouTube: Ryan Kennedy Fishing and Instagram: ryankfishing or email him at ryankfishing@gmail.com.
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