adminBen Chiganze A Bassfsherman’s Approach
I AM always inundated with calls and emails from colleagues who want to be taught the art of bass fishing. I am humbled by titles I get such as Bass Master, Samadziwa and Hombarume Mukuru. All these point to the fact that most people view me as an accomplished fisherman. Am I really one?
To some extent when one continuously receives praise and flattery as in my case it is easy to get carried away and start believing that one has arrived.
I was convinced that I am an authority in bass fishing until I went out fishing with my friend Nelson.
Nelson is a public relations executive with one of the leading telecommunications companies in Zimbabwe. He has eight years’ experience in bass fishing (three years less than me).
I tried to knock him off balance by using my usual intimidating tactics. He did not appear bothered by what I was doing.
Instead he was bubbling with confidence. He was a totally different fisherman. Though I was thoroughly good in using rubbers, he did not use too many rubbers; in fact his disposition was to using rapplers and spinners.
After three hours of fishing I was convinced that I could not compete with him unless I changed my tackle or did things differently.
At first I thought Nelson was using juju because he was catching four times my catch though we were fishing at the same spot.
After noticing how desperate I was to catch up, Nelson told me that although rubbers were the most commonly used baits they are not the most sought after baits by bass.
He added that through experience he had leant that spinners and rapplers attract bass faster than rubbers in most dams.
This marked a turning point in my belief about bass and bass fishing. I did a self-introspection.
Do I understand this sport or not? However, one thing was certain, I had to shape up or ship out. I had to adapt to Nelson’s fishing methods or face humiliation.
My mentor, Newton, is an accomplished rubber user and he had taught me the art of catching bass using rubber baits only.
He is not a keen spinner. He does not use spinners or rapplers at all. Over the past 10 years I have been preoccupied with perfecting the art of using rubbers while neglecting other skills.
In my mind I was a complete fisherman but the reality on the ground was totally different. When Nelson noticed that I was lagging behind he offered me some spinners.
This exposed my shortcoming as I could not use them. I did not have an idea of how to tie them to my line.
Is what you know not just a fraction of what you are supposed to understand? Instead of competing with Nelson on an equal footing I was relegated to a novice the whole day.
It was very hard for me to come to terms with the fact that my knowledge of bass fishing was limited.
At the end of the day it made me think and start asking questions. Do you give other people time to teach you what you don’t know?
It’s amazing how often we turn a blind eye to people who have the capacity to impart new knowledge.
At times we are quick to argue that whatever they say is textbook knowledge without giving them a chance to express themselves.
I actually mocked Nelson when he started using rapplers. I told him that his bait is useless but as the day progressed he proved me wrong.
I did not understand the biting patterns in the dam I purported to know very well. At times we fail to take other people seriously because they belong to an inferior social circle than us.
When does one stop learning? There are a lot of stereotypes about learning. Some argue that learning stops as soon as they attain an Ordinary Level or Advanced Level certificate. Some say after completing a first degree or masters or doctorate.
Others say they would stop learning after acquiring a certain skill or passing an apprenticeship.
Learning is a continuous activity which is mandatory for anyone who intends to scale greater heights in life.
It is progressive. One cannot afford to sit on their laurels once they acquire a skill and boast about yesteryear’s achievements.
However, it must not be continuously used to justify mediocrity. One of the leaders of a team that competes in various bass competitions is very notorious for saying, “It was a learning experience’’ when conceding defeat.
Ever since I started hearing that, his team has not yet won any match. Learning should enable you to acquire information which will later turn to knowledge that you can use as a competitive advantage.
Learning is only useful if it influences an individual in a way that leads to behavioural change or higher performance.
l The writer is a Managing Consultant at CLC Training International. E-mail [email protected]
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