Circular Bass Fishing

Every now and then, something comes along in the bass fishing world that does not fit the usual mold.

Most fishing magazines tell you how to catch them, when to catch them, and where to go looking. There is certainly value in that. But once in a while a publication comes along that aims at something deeper. Circular Bass Fishing is that kind of magazine.

It is not the Sports Illustrated of bass fishing the way Bassmaster has become. It is not built around the standard how-to formulas or the usual where-and-when approach found in so many other fishing publications. Instead, it takes an in-depth look at the heart, mind, and soul of real bass fishing outdoorsmen.

That is what makes it different.

From several angles, this magazine breaks down concepts, mindsets, and proven mental attitudes, while offering a broader understanding of awareness, perception, and being on the water. It explores both the biological and environmental side of bass fishing, along with the angler’s side of the story. In many ways, it reaches into parts of fishing and the outdoors that have rarely been captured in writing, and almost never in photographs.

After reading the first issue of Circular Bass Fishing cover to cover, I came away feeling as though it had already moved me up a step on my own personal fishing ladder.

Some of the concepts in the magazine were things I had experienced and knew existed. But sometimes, even a long series of firsthand experiences does not fully reveal an obvious truth. Seeing those ideas put into words on paper can sharpen your understanding. Then, the next time you find yourself in that same situation on the water, you are better prepared to recognize it, understand it, and respond to it.

That is where real growth takes place.

This magazine is unlike anything most bass fishermen have ever read. It digs into the philosophy of fishing, the psychology of the bass fisherman, the bionomics we encounter on the water, and a number of other thought-provoking ideas that live within the larger sphere of bass fishing. The concepts may be advanced, even “high tech” in their own way, but the writing remains clear, enjoyable, and easy to follow.

One of the biggest strengths of Circular Bass Fishing is the involvement of Rick Clunn, who has been part of the magazine from the beginning and will continue contributing with his column, “In the Flow with Rick Clunn.” That alone makes the publication worth serious attention.

It is not often that everyday fishermen get a chance to learn directly from a master with Rick Clunn’s record and tournament accomplishments. In his article in Volume I, he gives readers a glimpse into the zone where many of his greatest successes have taken shape. According to the magazine, his articles will be presented in a building-block format from issue to issue, allowing readers to grow with the material as they go.

That is an opportunity few fishermen should pass up.

Since July 26, 1995, Circular Bass Fishing has been published on the Information Superhighway, the Internet. For those still unfamiliar with the Internet, it is a worldwide connection of computer users that already numbers in the tens of millions. Pat McCarty, who masterminds the layout of the magazine, is also responsible for carrying this publication into cyberspace.

That makes Circular Bass Fishing the world’s first bass fishing magazine published on the Internet, and without question one of the most modern bass fishing publications in existence.

The feature article in Volume I is written by publisher Phil Whittemore and is titled “Attitude Is Everything.” It serves as an important reminder of the frame of mind a fisherman ought to carry onto the water. Through firsthand accounts, the article shows how state of mind can sometimes be the deciding factor between catching fish and not catching fish. That is a subject too many fishermen overlook.

Future issues will explore topics such as spirit and character, themes that do not often get much room in outdoor writing, but probably should.

That is really the point of Circular Bass Fishing. It addresses a realm of bass fishing that many anglers may not have seriously considered before. It pushes you to think about the deeper workings behind success on the water and helps focus the kind of subconscious activity that can become one of the strongest tools in a fisherman’s arsenal.

If you are serious about improving as an angler, not just in technique but in balance, awareness, and understanding, this magazine offers something worth your time. It does not simply teach you how to fish. It asks you to think about why you fish, how you think when you fish, and what kind of fisherman you are becoming in the process.

And that is uncommon ground.

For anglers striving for real achievement, Circular Bass Fishing offers more than information. It offers perspective. In a sport where so many are chasing the next lure, the next spot, or the next pattern, this magazine dares to explore the water between the ears.

That may be the most important fishing ground of all.