Boat fishing: Sascha Todtenhausen reveals in an interview how a fishing tournament works

If you had to explain competition in one sentence, how does it sound?

"Competition is fishing without excuses." You immediately realise what really works - on the boat, on the technique, in the team. And you notice just as quickly where you "sugarcoat" things in everyday life. The only thing that counts in a tournament is: Is your technique stable?

What is the most important characteristic of your boat: horsepower, speed, layout?

Layout. It's not sexy, but it's true. When everything has its place, you stay calm. And in the end, calm is faster than any hectic pace. A fast boat without order is like a sports car with loose tools in the footwell.

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How do you organise the deck so that it never gets chaotic on the road?

We have zones. Bow is bow - there is only what is needed there. The stern is the stern. The board has its place. The landing net has its place. And everything that is not essential stays out. Chaos is a loss of time - and a loss of time leads to mistakes.

What is the biggest trap in a competition?

Discussions. "Should we ...? Maybe we should ...?" You need decision rules: If spot A doesn't work, we change after X minutes. If the wind changes, we take plan B. And then we go through with it.

Which technology helps - and which can also interfere?

Anything that can be operated quickly helps. Anything that drags you into menus can be annoying. You need to know your set-up so that you don't "operate" it, but use it. Otherwise you'll end up being more of a technician than an angler.

How do you prepare the boat and crew the evening before?

We go through the boat like a checklist: Fixed points, batteries/plugs, emergency kit, tools, bait logic. Then it's over. You can't optimise yourself into the night. Sleep is also performance.

Who does what on board - and why is that so important?

Rollers save words. One drives. One is responsible for the "handling". One for the "documentation". And everyone can relieve the other, but not at the same time. If everyone does everything, at some point nobody does anything right.

Which modification would you recommend to everyone?

Clean installation and clear labelling. It sounds small, but it's huge. If something fails under stress, you don't want to guess. You want to know.

The JuniorCup: What does young talent mean to you?

The JuniorCup is more than just "cute". It is serious. The kids learn respect, routine and safety. And they bring a fresh perspective. That's good for the sport - and for us adults too.

And the new 24-hour format: does that appeal to you?

Totally. Because it's rhythm. Not just "fast", but "good for a long time". It shows whether your system also works at night - physically, mentally, technically. That's a different kind of pressure.

Your advice to someone who wants to get a taste of competition?

Start with your boat, not your bait. Build a sequence. Practise the handling. Clean it up. If you stay calm, you will automatically get better - and eventually faster. The tournament in Kampen, the 24h, is perfect for anglers who want to try out the "tournament". Last time, "newcomers" dominated the field.