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It gets to where it’s a grind it’s not fun anymore I like fishing it’s fun tournaments get to be not fun

Bless you thank you for your service fo our great country. Be strong I cant imagine. ✌️

good call

I can only speak for myself. When the fishing becomes entirely focused on the catching and the money all of the soul and the love of the outdoors will be destroyed.

Im 77 and have fished since I was 5. I don't tournament fish. I think tournaments hurt fishing. I fish about every week, salt and fresh, in Florida. I think tournament fishermen are killing their own sport an mine. Welcome back to being a Sportsman again.

Really honest and cool self reflection man. This “I’m the best fisherman” dick measuring contest is a nationwide sickness. The bass and the environment suffer the most from it. There is an I’m a pro, or I’m in a tournament arrogance as well. People believing they are more entitled to a spot because of their superiority as a non recreational fisherman. This is buisness. Finding fish and sharing them, sharing techniques with other anglers is what really matters. Take a kid fishing. Not send a wake over the bank and ruin shore anglers success because your a pro A hole.

I don't have PTSD but I do have bad depression and anxiety issues that I have been dealing with for 40 yrs. Mental health issues suck because you don't understand why you feel so miserable when everything seems like it's going good but you just don't feel right. My issues were actually brought up by our therapist for marriage counseling and when she said that she thought I had depression I started crying, I knew right then and their that's what my problem has been for years......I still remember that day. What I have learned is to not put myself in a position that will cause anxiety. Between medication and knowing my limitations as far as things pushing my anxiety/depression things have gotten so much better. Don't be afraid of medication, it may not be a cure all but it certainly can help a lot, also find a mental help professional that you are comfortable with. Good luck to you.

😂😂 I feel you there been a huge learning curve. It’s still very clicky but just got to keep to your self haters will always be there. I’m still thinking we need a different tournament series in the pnw.

Find some fishing challenges like Catch22. Fun, no stress and supports a great veteran charity.

Bro, You are so intense about winning. You are winning just by participating. You are on the right track quitting if it gets you so uptight about it. I applaud your honesty and introspection. I pray you find peace fishing somehow.

You lost me at "beloved"... LOL! Milliken is an arrogant douch bag.

I've seen your personality type in many new kayak fishermen who glommed onto this sport without much experience in fishing in general- fun fishing in a non-competitive aspect, for example. Your thought process is very common in the bass boat tournament world- that is why I didn't like it. Too many took themselves too seriously and thought they were going to be the next KVD. If they don't enjoy the camaraderie of the sport, they are too arrogant to care about anyone else. That is not healthy. Those folks who have accomplished something big in their life outside fishing (work, education, etc.) do not NEED to have fishing be that "big ego-boosting accomplishment"-they treat fishing as something to enjoy- not a hill to die on.

It’s not strange or hard to understand at all brother. Im the same way. When I compete, in anything, I hate to lose. That’s why I don’t fish tournaments. I don’t want the pressure and stress of trying to win. I fish for the stress relief and for that reason I’m not going to bring stress in to the sport I love.

Awesome to hear such honesty on a platform full of liars and posers!

I stumbled across this and glad I did. It's probably the most nakedly honestself assessment I've ever seen. Huge kudos to you, sir. Best wishes in all you do.

I love bass fishing,that's why I never have fished in a tournament, I love bass fishing,not all the boats when I'm out there!

Really great video brother, you do you because your mental health is more important to everyone that loves you but first and foremost you. People are not calling this out as much as they should, because talking about these issues is healing and helping others

What an honest video, tournament angling is hard; I’ve seen it for years. When I started I was good and did well; after years of doing this I know I’m not the best but I love my friends, enjoy getting out there and find the enjoyment without winning. I think you put too much pressure on yourself,just go fish and enjoy it.

First time I've ever seen one of your videos. You said a few times it's your "fault". I don't think there's any fault here. That has a negative connotation. You just made a decision to benefit your health. Props to you for realizing that there was a problem and finding a solution, and for having the inner strength to share this with everyone. Have fun out there every day.

Drew Gregory, Garrett Wade and Jun Sensano are my pick 3 ...Good Luck Tandi and Evan!

I miss fishing that lake. I wish I could have traveled for this one. I haven't fished it quite this early, it will be a little challenging. I would pick Bryce Gibbs, who grew up at Havasu and one of the best sticks I've ever met, but I don't see Bryce signed up. Bryce and Brad are good friends. Caymen definitely has a shot. Never count Drew Gregory out.

I agree with your 1st and 2nd place picks. If the large mouth come out to play Rasmussen will be first. If it’s the small mouth drew for the win. Rasmussen won the west coast championship 2 times! I hope the Foil’s from Idaho make the top 5. 156 1/2 wins

174 inches wins it

I can relate to this friend. I am introverted and stick to myself. I get overwhelmed in big groups and the pressure of socializing gets to me. I have also dealt with anger issues. I love fishing alone and do it for pleasure now. Getting out in nature and getting closer to my maker and far away from everyone else. If I ever fish a tournament it will be for pure fun, that’s the only way I can approach it. I like your honesty and I can tell this is an emotional thing for you. Take a breath, take pleasure in it and have some fun. Fish a tournament again and pretend you are just fishing for fun. No rush, no pressure, If you catch anything it’s a bonus. God loves you brother.

Good video man! Fishing tournaments as a whole will never be completely fair. Information networks, money, it's all out of balance. Keep casting, subscribed! 🤙

You were not Ready For The Stress Of Competition, you hadn't been Tournament fishing enough , those few short years, you weren't ready

WOW, this is a video many people should watch, this message (nothing to do with fishing) this is a problem many people face and experience in many facets of life, high school kids needs to hear the truth about mental struggles. Keep going with this message. Thank you for being brave and telling the truth.

Semper Fi Brother. Same boat here. 2x Iraq combat vet (2003 and 2004) 100% p&t myself. I completely understand what you are saying and oddly enough I'm struggling with the exact same thing. I can't tell you how many tournaments I've fished where the old timers are all hanging out shooting the bull, having a great time and I roll in and roll out without ever speaking to anyone. I think we are wired a little differently to where when it's go time, it's go time. No time for the bs, just get straight to work and since we have that "straight to work" mentality, I feel like we think the other folks aren't as locked in and prepared as we are. You're right, it's a struggle. I do appreciate your openness and honesty because I know it's hard to talk about this stuff, especially to a public who will likely judge. Recreational fishing is a blast, but like you, the tournament grind is more mentally exhausting. Stay in the fight brother. It's hard out here for us, but we've got your back homie.

Many years ago i started just club tournament bass fishing. I quickly learned after a couple of seasons i was not cut out for tournament fishing. It became more like a job then a hobby for me and took out all the fun of fishing. So i know exactly what you're talking about.

Great honest video. Thank you.

Good stuff man. RUclips could use more vids like this.

What do the tournaments, the culture, and the people have in common? They all suck.

The Journey is can be a rocky road. If you take the fun out of fishing it's not worth being out there. I've fished a couple tournaments and they can be stressful. As hard as it is you can't take it to seriously. Keep Fishing fun, catch a fish or not. Good Luck, New Sub!

Best wishes and I hope you find peace.

I'm with you 100%. I walked away from it 2016 because I was taking it way to seriously. I would lose my mind if they changed the dates or lakes. If someone came into the area I was fishing I would be pissed. One day one of the guys had paid a large sum of money for him/wife's anniversary for the weekend after the tournament. Well something came up for one of the other anglers who was bumping the top of the AOY standings and he couldn't fish on the designated weekend for the tournament. So the tournament director decided to move the tournament to the next weekend where the man/wife had already paid unrefundable money for their anniversary trip. That was it for me. I left and never went back and haven't paid to play since. Don't get me wrong, I still miss it. But not at the cost of my own sanity.

One of the biggest things to overcome mental issues is realizing that you have them. The second is to seek help. Do it now!

This is extremely common with bass fishing tournaments. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with getting to the point where you don’t want to tournament fish. I recently quit myself. Bought an aluminum boat and I go for crappie, bass and the best part…I get to take my son fishing. Enjoy Gods creation. Be grateful for the opportunity to just fish.

You had half of what it takes to make a great tournament fisherman and that is a very high level of confidence.. All of the greats have had it and when they started they had it. KvD, Wheeler, Thrift, Iaconelli etc, but they also had a very strong foundation of talent. Paying your dues in bass fiahing used to definitely be required to be great, now FFS will allow Anglers that have been fishing for a cple of years to compete with champions. This has skewed a lot of people expectations and their journeys. I have been bass fishing since the mid 90s competitively and I have similar expectations. I enter every event fully expecting to win said event. However, i have learned along the way your going to be humbled by this sport way more than you will be successful. I appreciate and respect your honesty and I hope bass fishing can do for you what it has done for me in life. It literally saved my life in more ways than one. Now I have stage 4 colon cancer at 45 yrs old and I still fiah competitively every chance i get but I dont take any of them for granted. I fish every event like it may be my last. Good luck and good luck with your channel..

As a co-angler, I very much recommend you just do team tournaments if you decide to co angler.. because there's basically nothing more soul-sucking in all of tournament bass fishing and being a co-angler....

Man, I think anyone who has been into tournament fishing, even top tier pros, have got in a slump, felt frustrated, and had a perfect plan fall apart on game day. Hell, as a guy who has been fishing bass tournaments since the mid 90's, I can tell you after more than a few weigh-ins over the years, I've told my buddies, "I'm going to sell this damn bass boat and trade it in on a speed boat. Chasing 😻in a speed boat has got to be less stressful and I'm sure I can get a get a nice bowling ball for what all this tackle cost me." My point is, you started doing it for a reason. I'm guessing it's because you enjoyed it. Think about that before you quit. Also, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Gerald Swindle has been fishing the Elite Series since 2006 and has never won one, but he's won two AOY's

How to turn on an angler myself I see this a lot. Guys will show up to their first tournament on our circuit and zero in a tournament and you will never see that team again. Play see it at the club level 2. Tournament fishing is a whole different ball of wax and it's not for everybody. If you're overly competitive you cannot do it. It will absolutely eat you up.

Hey man. I completely understand and have been there. Take care of yourself!

I haven't watched this video yet but I also finally quit this year.... Sometimes we need a break to remind ourselves about priorities etc..

Thank you so much for your honesty. We need a lot more of people like you in our sport and society in general. Sounds like you are a strong man and knows what you’re doing. Good luck to you with everything you do!

Brave, honest podcast, Nick.

Thanks for sharing that was gut wrenching, I feel for you brother. Sad that something that meant so much to you has become a source of frustration but we (the kayak bass community) appreciate your current efforts and are wishing you the greatest success as a pod-caster. I appreciate you brother and thank you, if you need anything don't hesitate.

What’s up brother. This is Coey. I was the winner at Moses. I also have PTSD which comes with lots of sub issues and the one that is the hardest for me is dealing with anger that flares up for absolutely no reason. I took the past 2 years off from tournaments but plan to dab into it again this year. I’m going to limit myself to only doing 2 tournaments and focus on having fun and not winning. I also have a boat because fishing helps me with my issues. I can’t remember where you are located but anytime you want to go out fishing we can go out in the boat. Salmon season will be fun and we can get out and just enjoy the day. If you ever need anything just let me know. Take care and be safe my brother.

I know this feeling you were talking about and was my fear when I started last year. I’m trying to do a lot more tourneys this year, which will cut into the “fun fishing” I always do. I hope I don’t regret it.

It says a lot about you that you are honest with yourself. Do what is best for you. Enjoy fishing without it being a competition. I just enjoy being out there on the water. Catching fish is just a bonus.

I've never been a tourney guy but I am just as much into bass fishing to get better and love it as much as someone that is.