Fishing "in the Zone"
8/22/01

By Mitch Passero
Publisher, ctfisherman.com

Many times when fishing, you forget all else. Problems with work, money and people thankfully leave your mind. You're "in the zone." Nothing else matters besides the anticipation of feeling that bite -- whether it's your first or last cast of the day.

Professional athletes often talk about the days when they perform exceptionally as being "in the zone." Days in the zone don't happen too often -- a few times a year at most -- even for the best of athletes. Reaching the top of one's game in athletic competition takes weeks, months and years of demanding physical training.

But in fishing, things are different. There is no "too old," "too short," or "too slow" to excel.

True, becoming an average fisherman takes a long time. Becoming a good one takes even longer. Becoming a great one...well, I'm not sure how long that takes. But the point is, anyone can get out there and fish. It doesn't take months of training to lose yourself and feel like you're "in the zone" while on the water.

Whether you went fishing just last week, or over a year ago, it doesn't take long for you to get the feeling that this is the only place in the world for me -- right here, right now, on this water.

No other sport is like ours.