Being the Best Means Preparing in the Worst

By: Cole Sands

As someone who is competing in their third year on the Bassmaster Elite Series, I am constantly blown away by the level of competition in 2025. Rookies are now winning tournaments, records are constantly being broken, and it is taking more weight than ever just to make a check. What that means for me is that I have to constantly step up my game. Every chance I get when I am not competing at a tournament, I am working on different aspects of becoming a better angler.

I am a firm believer that you reap what you sow and that hard work can beat talent when talent doesn't work hard. Just like muscle growth comes from putting your body through strenuous and uncomfortable conditions, I believe that becoming a better angler means going through the same process. It doesn't matter if the wind is blowing 20 miles per hour, or if it is going to rain 3 inches while you are out there, or if the heat index is well over 100 degrees, the tournament will still go on. 

In order to prepare for this level of competition, I am actively trying to fish when the weather is less than desirable. A good example of this has been this past week when the wind blew 20 to 40 mph all day long. A lot of people would have probably stayed at the house and tried to choose a different day, but I chose to take advantage of the opportunity. I forced myself to go out in 2-to-3-foot waves and get better at using forward facing sonar (FFS). Any fishermen who use FFS know just how difficult it is to stay on fish and to make an accurate cast when your boat is constantly being tossed up and down in rough water. However, there is a good chance that the next two Elite Series events will be heavily dominated by FFS, and I need to be ready for whatever the weather may throw at me. 

Another example of putting myself through some of the worst conditions to improve as an angler was this past winter. We had a two-week span in Northeast Tennessee where the temperature only got above freezing one day. Thankfully, our lakes didn't freeze all the way over and I was still able to get out there. Ironically enough, both instances ended up being some of the best fishing I've experienced all year and ultimately made me a better angler.

To put yourself in these conditions to become a better angler, you absolutely need the right clothing, or it is simply not possible. These are the 4 main Striker outfits I wear to face the conditions:

Cold/Cold Rain- Striker Denali Insulated rain suit. This is the ultimate rain suit for staying warm and dry.

Wind and Rain- The Adrenaline rain suit will keep you dry no matter how much it rains. It also works as a great windbreaker. I also like to integrate in the Stretch Fit brrr Gaiter to keep the wind off of my face

Extreme Heat- Striker Tournament Pant or Short, and UPF Guardian Hoody. These clothes breathe great and most importantly keep the sun off of your skin. 

Extreme Cold- Apex Bib and Jacket, Keystone Cuffed Hat, and fingerless gloves. I'll also base layer with the Barricade Hoody. While this is meant to be an ice fishing suit, I've used it countless times bass fishing in the winter. 

The strive to become a better angler will never die in me. Even if you took the competition factor out of it, I'd still want to find ways to catch more and bigger fish each time that I go out. A lot of us can't choose which days we get to go. We either work full time and only get certain days off, or we have set tournament schedules where we have to go no matter the conditions. The biggest thing that we as anglers can do to make our time more enjoyable is to choose the right gear. You can be warm when others are not. You can be dry when others are not. Go early. Go late. Go Prepared. Striker.