Many seasoned at the art of creating a game know what to look for in a good fishing spot. There must be plenty of fish, big ones and small ones. As a road player, I would usually take the boat out in the water and cast out the line. I would usually catch a small fish, and throw him back in the water, or let him win. This would show the big fish that eating the bait was not as fatal as it looked. The bigger fish would come biting on the line and it was my job to try and reel them in. Some took the bait quicker than others, and some put up a bigger fight than expected, but it was all another day at the office. I'm not saying that I came out of every battle unscathed, but I fared better than most. The life expectancy of a road player or money player who does not understand this concept is extremely short. By the time I was playing on the road and shuffling and hustling from one place to another, I understood the difference between being the fish and the fisherman. You could either be the guy filling the bucket, or you could be what was being tossed in the bucket. It's a classic example of the hunter and the hunted, with the roles reversing themselves at all points in between.
Earlier I explained that the suckers, or the smaller fish all aspire to be the Big Fish. This is what makes them suckers. Point blank, the Big Fish is probably the biggest sucker of them all. That's why they're the fish and you're not (I hope). The Big Fish in the little pond scenario is common in every pool hall I have ever been to. Trust me, the Big Fish usually has a Big Mouth as well. He usually can be overheard bragging about his past adventures. Just stay quiet and wait for him to bite the bait. The key to the whole approach is becoming a patient and quiet observer, as opposed to an aggressive, loud, reckless, opportunistic fool. My first road partner, Dexter Roberts, told me very early in my career that I need not worry about the guy with the big mouth. He told me to watch out for the quiet guy in the corner. Armed with this information, that is who I became, the quiet guy in the corner.
Making it Work for You
So we've adopted this new approach of being the hunter as opposed to being the hunted. In doing so, we have separated ourselves from the masses and climbed out of the pond and into the fishing boat in hopes of reeling in a big one. Easier said than done? Not really. If you fish in the pond long enough, you'll catch a fish. You'll be surprised at this fact as well: You'll only catch the stupid ones. The smart fish will swim right by you. They don't want what you're selling, and in our terms, they ain't biting! Usually, the smart ones will make you work a hell of a lot harder than you expected for your cash. Avoid that situation altogether by following the instructions that I give you. Though most of what I tell you here is designed for the road (or traveling) player, it can be used for every day use at the local pool hall as well. I am of the genre of players who believe that there is no fun in fishing in the same spot every day. I like variety, and, I like the element of surprise. I don't want anyone I play to know my true capabilities, at least not at first. Though I classify myself as a Road Player, I'm an old hustler at heart. There are a variety of different ways to mask and camouflage your true abilities, but nothing is better than having your opponent at a disadvantage due to his unfamiliarity with your abilities. This is the advantage that the traveling player has over the guys that never leave the streets.
