Hooks & Habits: Performance Psychology in the Bassmaster Elite Series
It takes a lot to be the top dog among the best. In a field of 101 consisting of some of the best bass anglers in the country, only a few are going to come out ahead of the pack. All of them are phenomenal with their individual journeys and skills to earn them a rightful spot on the Bassmaster Elite Series. That leads to the question, what are the mental habits of the anglers who have stood out and built a proven resume of success?
Putting in the hours, going the extra mile, dedicating your efforts to improving yourself- we all can see what goes into something externally, but what about within? What goes on inside for someone to compete and accomplish their tasks and goals. In sports psychology, the goal is to enhance performance and mental well-being, manage stress, improve focus, and build confidence. When the physical skills are mastered, the mind is what truly can dictate success. Athletes will often believe that 80-90% of their performance is driven by the mind.
What about professional bass anglers? What could they add that contributes to dialogue around sports psychology in an applied sense?
The full field competes the first two days, then the top 50 on day 3, and then the top 10 in the finale. (Day 1 of the 2025 Elite Series on Lake St Clair.)
While "sports" is in the name, the discipline is more accurately described as performance psychology. It’s the study of the human brain under pressure, whether that pressure comes from hitting a game-winning free throw, tackling a mountain of laundry, or a looming work deadline.
It has been said that “the Bassmaster Classic, or any event for that matter, is won before it even starts.” Sure practice, research are crucial, but before these, one thing must be present- being confident and committed to your game plan to drive your performance with tools not found in the boat, but found between the ears.. When speaking with Bassmaster Elite Series anglers, they all share common themes that are pillars within sports psychology.
We interviewed five great anglers to hear what they had to share and analyzed their response and language.
Two-time Classic Champion, Jordan Lee, of Alabama shares:
Jordan Lee stays ‘locked in’ because the knows the opportunity may strike in an instance. (Photo Courtesy of B.A.S.S.)
“you just got to really keep mentally in it more than anything because, you know, there's one area out here that's got them. I started getting away from the boats a little bit more and going to just places where I got a few bites and they ended up just kind of showing up. The fish just started showing themselves more in the afternoon for whatever reason.”
“As far as adjustments, it’s really not bait wise out here- it's just area. Keep moving until you find the right locations and knowing when to pick up vs when to stay put. That's the hardest part for this big lake because it’s knowing when to pick up your trolling motor and say that enough's enough.”
Photos Courtesy of B.A.S.S.
In his response, Jordan talks about decision making and spatial discipline (how he visualizes and analyzes the environment) for high performance. Practicing mental toughness to navigate a field of great anglers on huge waterways can be overwhelming. He uses endurance through fortitude and stamina to stay ‘locked in’ over hours of what can be building stress without the need to give into his thoughts and emotions .The opportunity may happen at any time and you have to stay sharp. Intuitive discipline is instinctual knowing rather than relying solely on rigid, external rules. Being able to trust your internal monologue for decision making is the difference between being persistent and stubborn. Lee demonstrates confidence in his abilities to deviate from the norm and do his own thing, a foundation of thinking independently and trusting his mind as a guide.
Three-time Bassmaster champion and 2021 Angler of the year, Seth Fieder, of Minnesota shares:
Seth Fieder is skilled at not only catching bass, but also embracing adversity. (Photo Courtesy of B.A.S.S.)
“I wanted the wind. I really struggled when I got flat out here the other day in practice. I could hardly catch anything. I think the wind had the smallmouth biting pretty good. This place (Lake St Clair) is just so full of fish and they're all over the place. You kind of just got to stick with it all day long because you never know. It might be another 50 yards in front of you where there might be a motherload. So just keep it moving, keep hunting, and don't get stuck on the past. Keep moving until you run into them.”
Photo Courtesy of B.A.S.S.
Seth speaks on something we all can learn from- embracing adversity. He has the mindset of an athlete where he said yesterday and practice doesn't matter. Grinding it out, a mix of winning fish could be close and he has to optimize his game on the water. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. By supporting his mental endurance and maintaining high intensity because the next ‘50 yards’ could be it. Reacting to what is happening in the moment, he stays fluid. Practice is great for a frame of reference, but it is just that . Themes of positional awareness and active persistence are a large component of his work ethic to make a conscious effort to maintain his course of action. Success being about staying in long enough for the opportunity.
Eight-time Bassmaster champion and 2022 AOY, Brandon Palanuik, of Idaho shares:
Brandon Palanuik keeps an open mind and stays fluid in his game plan to embrace change, (Photo Courtesy of B.A.S.S.)
“The biggest thing is to keep an open mind and continue to move. Having the confidence in your abilities, in your ability to find fish and to get the fish to bite. It's going to allow you to make those decisions. So I'm constantly trying to make decisions on trying to catch the best way possible that day. When things don't go as planned, I always try to think, ‘okay, where were the fish? Why were they here? What changed and where did they go? Where are they moving to?’ Sometimes that can be a location change. Sometimes that can be a bait change to get the fish to bite, depending on water clarity and other variables like that. So it really comes down to reading the conditions and then adjusting to those as the day moves forward.”
Photos Courtesy of B.A.S.S.
BP discusses intellectual agility. When it comes to the mindset of a winner, he is a decorated wrestler as a two-time high school state champion in his home state of Idaho (2004 & 2006). He keeps an open mind that supports mental flexibility, confidence with his abilities, trusting his experience and knowledge, keeping a calculated composure, and having an analytical stance. Reading conditions and asking ‘why?’ to better understand things. How he sees variables and not obstacles.
Six-time Bassmaster Champion and 2014 Angler of the year, Greg Hackney of Louisiana shares:
A veteran of the tour, Greg Hackney has a seasoned perspective on the highs and lows of competitive fishing. (Photo Courtesy of B.A.S.S.)
“So I think you grow out of it. Does that make sense? Over time, you just kind of understand that there will be lows and highs and you just have to hunt the highs and accept the lows. You know what I mean? Like, if you feel like you went out there and you've done everything that you could do in your power, You can't really have any complaints. You know, sometimes things just don't work out”
Photos Courtesy of B.A.S.S.
This is a great view on perspective. Through time, it is something you grow into. “Hunt the highs and accept the lows”. In his perspective, mental toughness is what greco-roman philosophers would refer to as stoicism, the courage to chase the peak while having the grace to endure the valley. He puts the process over the scorecard. You can win the mental battle if you do everything in your power. There is a level of emotional maturity and effort-based peace and acceptance playing the long game.
Bass fishing hall-of-famer, 2006 angler of the year, Eight-time champion including the 2003 Bassmaster Classic, Michael “Ike” Iaconelli of New Jersey shares:
Ike lives by the phrase ‘fish the moment’ (Photo courtesy of Foresight Fishing Media)
“It's actually, that's one of the toughest things in all tournament fishing is to let go of history and fish the moment. So, like this was a good example. I had a couple schools this morning. I thought we're just going to be amazing, but things change, and you have to have, like, you could have 100 waypoints. But that's all what happened in practice. So you kind of have to use them as a template, but you got to just go fish every day. So, you know. Be flexible. Yeah, be flexible.”
Photo Courtesy of B.A.S.S.
As one of the most decorated anglers in Bass fishing history, Ike learned early on in his career what it takes to be competitive and navigate mental challenges on the water and in the real world. If you have not read his book, do yourself a favor and give it a read or a listen. He reflected how practice is a part of a map but the game is a whole territory. That is where letting go of history comes into discussion again. He takes his understanding of mental toughness to see what is vs should be happening. Practicing mindfulness when under pressure to ‘fish the moment’ in a curious, non-judgemental stance. By staying loose, it keeps him from being rigid for better intuition.
Michael Iaconelli recently announced 2026 will be his final year fishing competitively at the national level. To read more him and his career pivot, click here.
Your brain is the only piece of equipment that never experiences a functional failure—unless you let it. Anglers invest so much in gear, time, labor, and tackle, yet the most significant margin of victory is resting between our ears.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with Bassmaster! (Logo trademark of B.A.S.S)
Winning on the water isn’t about avoiding the "dry spells" or the heartbreak of a snapped line; it’s about how quickly you can reset after they happen. Whether you’re sitting on a pressured point in a local derby or staring down the final hour of the Bassmaster Classic, your focus and mind game is your ultimate power. When you stop fighting your own frustration and start being in the moment, the bites don't just feel more frequent—they feel inevitable.
The next time you may feel like things are not going your way on the water, do not give into challenging emotions and thoughts. Having a cluttered mind is not going to help put fish in the boat. All you have to do is just go fishing.
Thank you from the editor:
A special word of appreciation is shared for BASS for granting permission to use photos included in this article and having Foresight Fishing participate as a media guest at the Lake St Clair event in 2025. Best of wishes in safety and success to all in the upcoming season!.
