Entry 307-1
Handling the Highs and the Lows with Strike King Pro George Cochran
Editor’s Note: George Cochran of Hot Springs, Arkansas, has bass fished for more than 50 years, has won the FLW Cup and finished first in two Bassmaster Classics. Cochran says, “I just love what I do for a living.” Cochran’s known in fishing circuits as Gentleman George, the Gentle Bear and Mister Persistent. Cochran, a quiet railroad man, got into tournament bass fishing because he loved the sport. Each professional bass fisherman who stays in the sport for a number of years develops a style of fishing and a way of fishing that suits him. Kevin VanDam is a run-and-gun, high-energy, fast-casting, fast-running bass fisherman. Denny Brauer loves thick cover that probably nobody in his right mind can get to, let alone fish. But when you’re riding down the lake with a tournament angler, and he looks over at the bank and says, “That’s a George Cochran place,” that means that to all who see it, the place looks like there’s absolutely no reason to fish it. These spots are where Gentleman George fishes and wins tournaments. Cochran is patient, persistent and thorough. On TV, you’ll see some professional fishermen jump up and down, scream, shout and roll around the bottoms of their boats when they catch fish, but not Cochran. Whether Cochran puts a 2 pounder or a 10 pounder in the boat, he has the same quiet demeanor. This week we’ll look at how Gentleman George stays cool, calm and collected in the biggest bass-fishing tournaments in the world.
Part 1: Swing for the Fence
Question: George, how have you done so well in major bass tournaments? How are you handling the pressure of competitive fishing?
Cochran: Over the years, I’ve learned that being able to control my emotions, not get flustered, staying with my game plan, being deliberate and patient and tuning-out the outside world is often how I can find and catch more fish. Or, at least this system works for me.
Question: How do you handle it emotionally when you’ve got a chance to win a major tournament and you lose?
Cochran: When you decide to become a professional bass fisherman, you’ve got to realize that you will lose more tournaments than you win. 
Losing is not a major problem. How you handle and deal with the loss often determines your success and failure in tournament bass fishing. I’ve always tried to keep on a level keel. I look at participating in the end-of-the-year tournaments as the major goal I set-out to achieve during each season. I always try to do my best in tournaments, but I want to be like the baseball player who’s getting singles and doubles, knowing that if he reaches the World Series, he’ll swing for the fence and try to hit the home run. I try to always have my best game at the end-of-the-season championship, because that’s where the big money is, that’s what the sponsors see, that’s where you can help your sponsors the most, and that’s where you can build your reputation. 
I live to make a berth in the Bassmasters Classic or the FLW Championship.
When I started fishing for a living back in the 1970s and 80s, I realized that there were only two kinds of fishermen who were making a living in this business. They were the anglers who had some type of fishing-related business, or they were the anglers who’d won world championships or Bassmaster Classics. So, I put my whole energy for the whole year toward fishing those end-of-the-season tournaments. I’ve won two Bassmaster Classics and one FLW Cup, and I hope to win my fourth world championship in 2010.
Contents:
- Part 1: Swing for the Fence
- Part 2: A Slump is Only in Your Mind
- Part 3: Surviving Equipment Breakdowns
- Part 4: Catching Fish Isn't Everything
- Part 5: When You're Hot
