My very first bass tournament was in May of 2001. I was a non boater and was supposed to meet my partner at 5:00 a.m. At 4:50 a.m. my wife woke me up and asked "what time were you supposed to meet your friend? I scrambled to get ready, and rush out of the house (only 15 min to meeting place) and called the guy on the way on my flip phone. Needless to say I was late and he didn't seem to happy about it but didn't completed run me down.

Since that date, I have never been late for a tournament or meet with a partner, in fact, I am usually what some people call "stupid early" most of the time.

I was scheduled to fish a tournament today on Bridgeport for the Senior Anglers Trail (60 and over, fish on Wednesdays, $20 entry) which would have been my first one of this trail. I changed the time on my phone alarm no less than three times before going to bed settling on 3:30 a.m. time. The dog woke me up to go outside and it was 6:55 a.m. Sign up was from 6:00-6:30 and an hour drive from my house. Either my dum a#$ didn't turn it on, or the volume was so low I couldn't hear it (unlikely). Needless to say I missed the entire tournament.

Considering everthing that I have been doing to get boat, tackle, ect ready over the last few days (it was extensive not just hooking up throwing some rods in) I just sat on the edge of my bed in disbelief and am trying to "snap out of it" and not let it ruin the whole day.

Guess I start using two different alarms from now on...


Side note: My partner from the first tournament ended up winning the deal and we have fished together for the last 24 years.

Thank you for listening...That is all....

I’m a “stupid early” personality myself. Being that late for anything would make me crazy

Don’t beat yourself up over it. Sometimes even being fully prepared doesn’t prepare you for what might happen. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone else but it does to me.

What would be foolish is to not learn from the experience and make corrections. Doesn’t sound like you’ll do that so keep your chin up and try and enjoy your day. In the grand scheme of things…

That's the way switching to daylight savings time go.....messes up the internal clock and causes foggy brain syndrome in many folks for about a week twice a year.

Same here. My Grandpa taught me to never, ever be late. That lesson was then reinforced by 20 in the military…

Being an oldster, I almost always wake up before the alarm goes off.

I guess I'm both lucky and cursed. I haven't needed an alarm in years. Always wake up when needed, even if it means 3:00 am. But if I have no reason to get up early, I still can't sleep past 6:00 or so. So no sleeping in for me.

When I was a very young AF Airman(17-18) I came to work late a few times and had to meet with the 1st Sergeant. After chewing my azz, he asked me if I had an alarm clock and I said yes. He ordered me to go immediately to the BX and buy another alarm clock and place it on the opposite side of my room from the other alarm. I was never late again and ever since have been a stickler for being early for every appt or event. Life lesson…learned the hard way.

Y'all actually get to sleep???

I’m a grandpa and have instilled in my grandsons, 3 of 4 key principles. They will tell you all three, word for word if you ask:
1) Do what you say you’re going to do
2) Pay your bills
3) Be on time

#4 is “Always wrap that rascal”. It’s too early for that one but it will added get in soon.

3) "Be on time" means at least 15 minutes early !

That was what I was taught. For fishing tournaments, for me at least, 15 minutes early is almost an hour too late, but that is just me.

My grandfather and father instilled these principles:
1. God is always first
2. Be on time
3. Look a man in his eye and shake hands firmly
4. Not under any circumstance do you lose integrity. Keep your word, your promises, and live by example

Course both of them at times would say "you aint got the brains God gave you" or "don't get smart...you don't know how"...

Grandfather passed at 103 years, Dad still here at 95

I refuse to be tied down by time of day.
But put down in the stupid early club.

I carried a old school wind up alarm clock, stupid loud and set it on the opposite end of the room. Using your cell phone for an alarm clock is convenient, but far from reliable.

I’ve never been late for anything.