The way FLW Tour pro Scott Martin sees it, little separates the Top 150 or so bass anglers in the world, at least in terms of talent and fishing mechanics. In pro bass fishing, as in other sports, a strong mental game is usually what makes the cream rise to the top.
"Skills-wise, everybody out here (at the tour level) is about the same," he said. "Most of us have a particular strength, but we can all cast, run a trolling motor and flip a jig pretty much the same. Mechanically, it's a toss-up. The biggest difference is what's in your head."
Rarely does a peak performer strengthen his or her mental game without an external motivator. Sometimes that's a goal, like qualifying for a championship, sometimes it's a positive life change, and sometimes it's something else, like a coach, trainer, sports psychologist, guru or whatever. For Martin, 'mental help' came in the form of the latter, 4 years ago and five tournaments into his first tour season.
After a chance meeting with a man named Randy Clark, Martin's approach to fishing (and life) forever changed. (Yes, this Clark the same guy Scott's father, Roland, consulted with during this year's Table Rock Bassmaster, and whose help Roland credited for his 2nd-place finish.)
No Short Putts
Martin got to know Clark, an early BellSouth retiree, at the 2000 Pascagoula FLW. Martin ended up winning the tournament, after which the two became friends and traveling partners.
"He's not some guy I hired, and we don't sit down to sessions or anything like that," Martin said. "He's just a very dynamic, motivational guy. He thinks differently about life in general, like a Bear Bryant or Lou Holtz kind of mentality. He could probably quit fishing right now and be a motivational speaker." (Clark competes as an FLW co-angler.)
He said Clark "knows all the good quotes" and has a knack for drilling them into his fishing mindset. "Something he's said that's always in the back of my mind is: 'Short putts never go in.' That's a golf analogy, but it applies to fishing. It made me think about winning all the time, not having short-sighted goals."
Keeping with that analogy – also known as swinging for the fences, and not fishing for points – Martin said: "If I putt it hard enough, it might not hold the line or my aim might be off, but at least it has a chance to go in. If you don't hit it hard enough, it'll never go in."
This year's Atchafalaya FLW was a good example. He struggled to get anything going in practice and was tempted to give in to the bad conditions. "I had no idea how I was even going to catch a keeper a day," he said. "Deep down I just wanted to find a couple fish, get some points and a check, and get ready for the next event. But Randy kept saying, 'You're going to win this tournament.' He kept me plugging away and helped me keep my expectations up."
Martin wound up finishing 16th, but without the motivational help, he "might have just given up on the whole thing. But like (Clark) always says: 'Believe it, achieve it. Doubt it, go without it.'"
So what about his 121st at the next event, Old Hickory? Martin said: "I did terrible. It wasn't a good tournament, but that's okay. I was aiming high, and more often than not you're going to hit high. One thing I've learned from Randy is how to put things behind you. I don't look too far ahead, or behind me at all."
Martin says he's developed a tougher mindset since running with Clark, no matter the conditions or how the bite is going. "He helps me constantly try to improve and not get comfortable, even when I'm on fish," Martin said. "Every once in a while I'll get comfy with what I'm doing, but then he'll have me fishing like a maniac, always thinking I've got to find more fish.
"When conditions are tough, and I'm not catching them, I don't let negative thoughts pop in my head. These conditions are tough for everybody. Heck, if it's really cold and raining, you know at least half the field will be mentally crapped out. There could be 150 guys who really don't want to be out there. In my mind, I'm still thinking about winning."
Beyond the Mental Game
Clark has given Martin more than a better outlook on the water. Since the two became friends and running mates, Martin said he's learned to approach life in a whole new way.
"Four years ago (when they met), I was a totally different person. Once we started hanging out, I really began to appreciate his fellowship in the boat with me," he said. "At the time, I was wanting to know more about God, but never really understood all that stuff. Randy helped me get to know the Lord and learn how to truly enjoy life.
"He's just a great friend and a fellow Christian, my brother in Christ. He's all of that, but second to that he's an awesome motivator. He's not only helped me, but Dad too, plus a ton of other guys out here."
