Pro vs Joe 2024
TOXIC reply :
First off, everybody think before they answer. No emotional outbursts!!
The age old question comes up all the time about guys fishing the bent rod pattern, spot poaching, encroaching, etc. Here's my question:
When a "professional" trail comes to your home body of water, FLW/Elite Series/Weekend Series/Opens, do you fish or do you find another activity for the weekend? Now I'm going to eliminate the obvious answers....
It's a public body of water....fish it.
These are pro's who feed their families by fishing.....don't fish it, stay off the water.
I'll give my opinion and why. I fish the Potomac where all summer long you will not find a weekend when there are no tournaments and some of the tournaments are higher level. Personally, I have hosted Elite Series anglers at my home on many occasions while pre-fishing and actually during the tournament and my experience is that at that level, they expect there to be "locals" on the water whether it be jetskis/pontoons/wakeboats and or other fishermen. IT becomes a problem when the local anglers follow them and then fish behind them or compete for the same spots so my answer is a blend. Will I fish? Yes. Will I vacate any area a pro pulls into? Yes again. And yes, I am aware some of the "Pro's" are not so "Pro"fessional at times but I feel that I can and should giveway to them. Not to say that I don't personally know of situations where the pro got totally out of line as well with local anglers. What say you?
.ghoti. reply :
An easy question to answer. I'll go elsewhere.
TOXIC reply :
On 7/21/2017 at 1:41 AM, .ghoti. said:An easy question to answer. I'll go elsewhere.
You would think.....but I have seen some heated discussions for both sides.
A-Jay reply :
I believe there will be an array of responses here.
Some on both sides of the fence & even a few 'in the middle'.
Perhaps if an angler is not at all a fan of tournament fishing or a competitive angler themselves, there could be a certain disregard for the derby participants. This may or may not impede the contestants.
If an angler happens to be a tournament fan or even a lower level participant - they could see fit to stand off or give way - and perhaps use this as an opportunity to learn.
I'm not a tournament participant but am a fan, so I'm hanging around to 'watch the show' but not fishing at all until it's over.
I will add that I'm in a part of the country where there are only a few local derbies on only the biggest waters so it would never really cut into 'my fishing time' which could be a determining factor for some anglers who have only a limited time on the water.
A-Jay
J Francho reply :
I don't follow them around, but if I'm already fishing a spot, and one shows up, it would depend on the spot whether I'd stay or leave. Some places fish small, some large. I've fished club tournaments alongside Elite or Open level tournaments on Oneida. No one was hurting for room. I fished right next to Jaime Hartman, who was leading a northern open at the time. The spot we had in common was pretty small, so I moved several yards away, and let him have the prime spot. I ended up moving to a bridge piling close by. He won that open, and I won my club tournament. I believe he had two more pounds than I.
Redlinerobert reply :
If there's a big tournament happening and you're there fishing in spots where the pros are likely to fish, you could alter the outcome of the tournament.
You don't see two guys playing catch on the field during an NFL game. And yes, I know, the water is 'public' all the time and you have the 'right' to fish it anytime you want. These guys are fishing for a paycheck. You're not.
.ghoti. reply :
On 7/21/2017 at 1:45 AM, TOXIC said:You would think.....but I have seen some heated discussions for both sides.
I hear ya. Let's hope we don't generate any "heat" about it here.
Choporoz reply :
I don't fish tournaments, nor do I follow the pros. I was somewhat interested when the elites were here last year, but I wasn't on the water when they were. That said, I suppose I would be very unlikely to move from a spot that I was fishing just because a pretty boat roared up. As to my 'altering the outcome'...wow...I don't see it that way....and even if I did, I don't think I'd care...if the spot I'm fishing is the only one on the lake/river that might allow that pro to be successful today,.....well, perhaps he's in over his head. I'm also probably pretty likely to want to watch and learn from someone who appears to know what they're doing....so, I'm sure that I'd faux pas all over the place and talk to or interrupt or otherwise get in their way
J Francho reply :
BTW, I've NEVER had a real pro be disrespectful. Dean Rojas asked if he could cut along side me to get to fish he saw yesterday. He never got any closer than 20 yards. Timmy Horton was hysterical. "I bet you caught my fish that's over here. " I'm like, "nope, nothing, but KVD beat this place up pretty bad." "That don't bug me, KVD doesn't know how fish right anyway."
BAHAHAHA!
The only issues I've gotten were "wanabe pros."
Doelman reply :
I pay for a fishing license and I pay taxes, I have every right to be on that public body of water fishing. With that said, if I know there's going to be a tournament I'll avoid that lake, but if I get there and there happens to be a tournament, I'm going to fish. I'm not going to follow anyone or try to fish their spots, but I'm not going to move if they want to fish the spot I'm already at. I work 5 days out of the week, someone who fishes for a living is not going to get any pity from me if I catch one of their fish. Dealing with other fisherman is part of fishing, if me fishing my spots is going to stop someone from putting food on the table, they should probably do the responsible thing and find another career.
RichF reply :
I just don't see the point in fishing a body of water when there's a big time tournament going on. These events only last 4 days! It's not like they're gonna be on that particular body of water all year long. Let them do their thing.
And yes, fishing the spots they find can absolutely have an effect on the outcome of the derby. So many spectators will mark locations then fish after the pro leaves. One more fish caught by the local is one more fish that will likely not be caught by the pro. How will something like that NOT effect the outcome of the event?
Lastly, to say these guys need to find a different career...c'mon. These guys have invested ridiculous amounts of money into this. It's no different than starting your own business. They're essentially self-employed and the vast majority work their tails off to make ends meet. Yes, paying the $30 for a license does give you the right to fish public waters. However, just because you have the "right" doesn't mean you can't show a little common decency and just leave these guys alone for the couple days they're on your water.
Outdoors reply :
On 7/21/2017 at 2:44 AM, Doelman said:I pay for a fishing license and I pay taxes, I have every right to be on that public body of water fishing. With that said, if I know there's going to be a tournament I'll avoid that lake, but if I get there and there happens to be a tournament, I'm going to fish. I'm not going to follow anyone or try to fish their spots, but I'm not going to move if they want to fish the spot I'm already at. I work 5 days out of the week, someone who fishes for a living is not going to get any pity from me if I catch one of their fish. Dealing with other fisherman is part of fishing, if me fishing my spots is going to stop someone from putting food on the table, they should probably do the responsible thing and find another career.
That and many of the pros probably have more cash than I'll ever see in person.
J Francho reply :
I would say maybe the top 10% are making good money. There's a pile of them at the bottom that barely get by. I know quite a few that huge debt, trying to break in the top level door.
Outdoors reply :
On 7/21/2017 at 4:00 AM, J Francho said:I would say maybe the top 10% are making good money. There's a pile of them at the bottom that barely get by. I know quite a few that huge debt, trying to break in the top level door.
Point taken. When writing that post, I was thinking of top names for some reason; Bill Dance, Hank Parker, etc.
Doelman reply :
I have no problem with tournament fisherman, if they can make a career out of it good for them! I wish I could. All I'm saying is if a few recreational fisherman are keeping them from putting food on the table, they clearly aren't good enough to be career fisherman and need to find some other way to make money, especially if they have a family to take care of.
Maybe everyone else is in a better location than me, but it's a couple hour drive for me to get to any big water. I'm not turning around and wasting an entire day of fishing because of a fishing tournament. We all try to make more money to be able to afford the things we want to do that make us happy right? If I'm out there doing what makes me happy, with the money I earned already, why should I not do that because people are on the water trying to make money for the exact same purpose? You can't get back a lost day of fishing.
Catt reply :
I know a dozen or so top level Pros, I also know a lot of guys in the Bass Champs, Bass-n-Bucks, & Texas Team Trail, & plenty in smaller tournament trails.
Probably 95% of them are great guys so I don't mind giving them the right of way because they will reciprocate!
A-Jay reply :
Seems both sides of the fence have been spoken for - not that there's anything wrong with that.
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
It would depend on the approach from the pro. If he approached like Rojas or Horton did to J Francho I'm out of the way quicker than quick. If someone came up with a chip on their shoulders, my ears might not work.
That being said, I most likely wouldn't fish if there were a tourney, I'd simply watch and learn.
I fish small lakes for a reason where nobody goes. Peace and quiet, and no people.
david in va reply :
Give them the water for a few days. No big deal. And I work 5 and a half days a week!
It just boils down to the type of guy you are in general
MichaelCopeland reply :
Honestly I don't think I would ever have to make the choice to either stay and fish a spot or give up my spot for the pros. I'm a bank fisherman. Unless they're fishing from the bank too, I guess I would continue fishing. It would be cool to be able to get in one their boats and just learn, keeping as quiet as possible just watching them. Don't see that happening though. Don't even really know if any big tournaments come here in my area or not. I know they don't on Lake Buhlow anyways. Not the best place for bass fishing, at least in my experience there.
J Francho reply :
No one, no one, should ever mess with a bank fisherman's spot.
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 7/21/2017 at 7:43 AM, J Francho said:No one, no one, should ever mess with a bank fisherman's spot.
I guess if they came to the spot I was fishing from the bank, you know fishing towards the bank I was fishing, I would reel in my line and watch them to see if I could learn something.
NHBull reply :
I have yet to meet any competitor that was an ass. Truth be told, they have gone out of their way not to ruffle the feathers of the locals.
On an off weekend a couple came out to just spend some time on a quiet cove.
Asked if they could join us in a private cove and taught me more about the sport in an hour that I have learned in a couple years.
plenty of room on the water for all.....
J Francho reply :
On 7/21/2017 at 7:53 AM, MichaelCopeland said:I guess if they came to the spot I was fishing from the bank, you know fishing towards the bank I was fishing, I would reel in my line and watch them to see if I could learn something.
Anyone in a boat should give a shore/bank fisherman a wide berth, unless invited by them. People on shore are bound to their spot, and are not afforded the same level of freedom as a boater. But, yeah if you want to invite a boater over, go for it. I've been flagged down and even invited a few shore guys on board after talking to them.
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 7/21/2017 at 8:01 AM, J Francho said:
Anyone in a boat should give a shore/bank fisherman a wide berth, unless invited by them. People on shore are bound to their spot, and are not afforded the same level of freedom as a boater. But, yeah if you want to invite a boater over, go for it. I've been flagged down and even invited a few shore guys on board after talking to them.
Anyone in a boat should give a shore/bank fisherman a wide berth, unless invited by them. People on shore are bound to their spot, and are not afforded the same level of freedom as a boater.
Where I mostly get to fish, Lake Buhlow, there's a fair amount of accessible bank to fish from. Just not really alot of good cover that I can get to along it, at least that I can see anyways. In the event I was in the situation, I would invite them in to where I was fishing out of respect for their knowledge over mine and the chance to watch and learn.
huffman1988 reply :
I don't fish any lakes where there are an abundance of big tournaments. I fish some smaller tournaments, and even when other small tournaments Im not involved in are going on I won't cut anyone off. However if someone is pleasure fishing, and I am fishing a tournament I wont cut them off either. If I was fishing during a big tournament I would not impede by fishing around someone intentionally. If I was somewhere fishing, and they pulled up on me I am not going to pack my stuff and leave. I don't think someone fishing a tournament has any more right to a spot then anyone else, but you should still be courteous. As far as comparing it to playing catch on a football field during an NFL game I think you might go to jail for that, but its not illegal to keep fishing a spot if a tournament fisherman pulls up on you.
Gundog reply :
I'd probably just find something else to do instead of fishing that day on that lake. I've only once been on a body of water that was holding a tournament. Fortunately, it was a small, local contest and if it weren't for the yellow ribbons on the trolling motors I wouldn't have even known it was going on. I can usually find fish without following a crowd, or jumping on someone's spot so poaching is not even a consideration.
Catt reply :
@MichaelCopeland I see you're in central Louisiana 
There are a lot of FLW & Elite tournaments within a couple hours drive of Alexander.
FLW, FLW BFL, FLW Weekend Series, Bassmaster Elite, Bassmaster Open, Bassmaster Weekend Regional, Bass Champs, Bass-n-Bucks, Texas Team Trail, plus High School & College series.
All of these visit the Red River, Toledo Bend, Rayburn, Sabine River, & the marshes around New Orleans.
A Google search will reveal when & where, if you've never seen a weight-in ya need to!
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 7/21/2017 at 6:42 PM, Catt said:@MichaelCopeland I see you're in central Louisiana
There are a lot of FLW & Elite tournaments within a couple hours drive of Alexander.
FLW, FLW BFL, FLW Weekend Series, Bassmaster Elite, Bassmaster Open, Bassmaster Weekend Regional, Bass Champs, Bass-n-Bucks, Texas Team Trail, plus High School & College series.
All of these visit the Red River, Toledo Bend, Rayburn, Sabine River, & the marshes around New Orleans.
A Google search will reveal when & where, if you've never seen a weight-in ya need to!
I'll definitely have to look into that and see what my chances are of getting out to one or more of them. It would cool to see how some real bass pros do it. I did meet Mark Daniels Jr. A couple summers ago. He's a very nice guy. He's also an FLW and Team Rat-L-Trap pro. He came to my work to see how they were made and all. Gotta a pic of him with my girlfriend and me somewhere. I'll post it up when I find it.
jtharris3 reply :
scaleface reply :
I would fish it but would never follow anybody . I like to find my own fish . To me thats the whole sport . If I see a pro I would probably give way to him but would like to have a brief conversation .
Now the wanna b pros wearing their jerseys and fishing bent rod patterns , I'll give them no leeway .
Jaderose reply :
A fisherman (or woman) is a fisherman to me. I steer clear and expect the same courtesy.If I'm working a shoreline and hit upon a hot spot that I'm focusing on, I would expect someone behind me to to give a wide berth as they go around. I would prefer they not fall in in front of me and work the shoreline ahead of me in the direction I am working but I don't think anything about if they do. I do the same for others. It's simply about respect and enjoyment on the water for all.
With all that said, I've never been on a lake with a pro tournament going on. I suspect I'd just stay off of it and let the pro's work.
Tlauz reply :
Not a problem for me. I don't fish any lakes where there are tournaments. I think there is a BASS college tourney close to me this year and I may go watch and not fish. If I did live where there are a lot of tournaments, I wouldn't fish. Too many good lakes around. Find one not as busy. I hate crowds. I always try to fish away from people. Many days there are only a handful of boats when I am fishing. Also, If I was on a big lake my boat could never keep up with theirs, so following them wouldn't be an option 
The only exception would be if there was only one lake in the area and this was my only time to fish. Then I would try to find fish away from everyone.
hoosierbass07 reply :
If they are holding tournaments every freaking weekend, I would tell them to go jump off a bridge. It's a PUBLIC lake! I work very hard at work M-F eight hours and sometimes twelve hours every night. If I go to a lake and they holding tournaments every weekend I would definitely fish at that lake and if they shove me around I would shove them back.
Bulletman20XD reply :
A few years ago I was fishing a local tourney that no one mentioned or knew had opened up for the Elite practice days. A WELL KNOWN pro approached and basically asked me to move he was practicing for the upcoming Elite tourney. I told him I was fishing a tourney and wasn't moving for him or anyone else. He continued running his mouth until I told him I personally knew a couple of his fellow Elite competitors and Trip Weldon and would make a phone call if he didn't shut his mouth. He moved away!
Like most others if an Elite or any other tourney is on a lake I will go elsewhere if I know it. If I'm fishing and a guy tells me he's fishing a tourney I'll give way to him. BUT Mr. NJ or anyone else orders me to get out of their way, move etc... I will get irate in about .2 seconds. Retired Army, Ex Cop, Type A personality what do they expect??? LOL
NHBull reply :
Recently I have met a few retired tournament fishermen.....guys who got checks for a few years, and have to say they have been fun and very helpful now that they are not competiting.
I have learned a lot this summer, just having coffee with them
Bluebasser86 reply :
I've been on the water for both Classics in Oklahoma on Grand, and a Bass Fest on Table Rock. I fished all 3 times and crossed paths with pros on all occasions. The first Classic, my brother in law and I were fishing a point when Ike and his floatilla roared up to the point and he dropped his trolling motor to fish. We reeled in and backed off and watched him make about 10 cast before he took off again. We returned to the point and continued to catch fish like we had before he'd pulled up.
I'm on the water, I'm going to be fishing, but I'm not going to fish an area while a pro is fishing or try to intentionally go in behind them and catch fish to feel better about myself or whatever reasons some folks seem to do that for. I understand they're trying to make a living at something that is very difficult to make a living doing. I'm going to respect them and behave just like I'd hope they'd do for me if the rolls were reversed.
Oregon Native reply :
"Try" to follow the age old saying "Do unto others as you would have them do to you"
Doesn't work to bad and I feel better with myself.
scaleface reply :
On 9/2/2017 at 7:56 AM, Bulletman20XD said:BUT Mr. NJ or anyone else orders me to get out of their way, move
Well , I have a good guess who that was , not surprising either .
Bulletman20XD reply :
On 9/7/2017 at 6:01 AM, scaleface said:Well , I have a good guess who that was , not surprising either .
LOL----Was it that obvious?? If you hadn't noticed he's calmed down considerably from previous years. I was a Judge for the Toyota tourney on Rayburn back in May. During the training/orientation day, several of the BASS officials made jokes about him and his "antics" as they put it. Many I have spoken to over the years have had heated run-ins with him so I warned my partner who drew him on day 3. He said he was just as calm and quite as he could be. We surmised that BASS has told him to chill his heels.
Turkey sandwich reply :
I'm a big fan of civility on the water and have very rarely run into issues with other anglers. The ones I have, have typically voiced the "well, I spent money on a license..." logic. The problem with this logic is that you could extend it to whatever end and use it to justify all sorts of crap behavior. Arguing a "right" to interfere with someone's work on the basis of paying a small fee for access to public water is akin to standing in the middle of a road, during a parade and justifying it by means of paying taxes and it being public space. As much as it sometimes hurts to suck it up and move, the logic against it is crap and largely serves to justify being a jerk. With that said, pros also shouldn't act entitled to locals.
I also think this "problem" is a matter of perspective. Is it more important to you to not back down and puff out your chest, or do you look at fishing as an opportunity to learn? (obviously this is if you aren't also competing in a tournament that day) If I'm on a spot, and pros start pulling up, it's reinforcing my strategy and giving me an opportunity to watch their technique from a distance understanding that they're likely better than I am at what they're doing and I'm going to take a bunch of notes and appreciate a free learning experience. Might this keep my line out of the water? Sure, but it's going to make me better. I am not fishing to fill my freezer, whereas that guy is fishing to fill his freezer, pay his mortgage, put clothes on his kid, etc.
Frankly, the misconception that pros make a fortune only makes this problem worse. Half that field, or better hardly make real money after you take into account travel, housing, maintenance, etc. These guys likely guide every free weekend they can muster just to cover entry fees. Most folks don't realize how financially backwards fishing tournaments are run. Most of the prize money doesn't come from a sponsor, but from massive registration fees. The sponsors may cover production and logistical costs, but those anglers are all PAYING thousands of dollars for each tournament entry. So, imagine if you work in sales and pay for your leads, and on them, the old school Domino's Noid shows up and destroys your presentation. You probably aren't going to make much money, and you probably hate the Noid. Don't be the Noid.
Bulletman20XD reply :
Kicker I agree with some of your sentiment, but you brought up a related issue that I just had to shed light on. Years ago, while serving in the military I started fishing competitively and was very successful on the local level early on. This led me to have ambitions of becoming a professional angler. This is where I met a guy who is now one of the top Elite pros. I was consistently beating him back then which makes me reflect on what could have been every time I see him on TV, magazines, or tackle displays. At that time I had a new wife, a new baby, and was basically halfway thru a successful career with a decent retirement. I was literally one signature away from getting out of the Army and throwing all those years away. I quickly learned this was all going to come at a price. I almost lost my new wife due to the time spent on the water which was required of me to get there. After talking with a few people in the industry and learning of how difficult it is financially, and of how long it takes to get there, I quickly chose my family and career over those aspirations.
In an earlier post I mentioned I personally knew a couple elite pros (and another FLW pro). I won't mention their names to protect the guilty. The aforementioned person is one of the top pros the other is down the ladder a few rungs. They have many of the same sponsors but that is where the similarities end. Having the same sponsors some may believe they get the same perks from them, not necessarily true. In any professional sport, the higher you finish the more publicity you get, but there are other things a person must possess. Companies do not give a full sponsorships to one-hit-wonders. It's where you finish consistently, image, professionalism, attitude, and a few other things. If you have the "complete package", a pro can expect to receive more from his sponsors, but their expectations of you increases as well. Sponsors require you to give them publicity not only from their name/logo on the side of the boat and mentioning their name at weigh-ins that airs on national TV but from actually using their product and appearances at boat, tackle, and outdoor shows, TV commercials, magazine ads etc... It is nothing more than a product advertisement game. Advertisements on TV are extremely expensive. Sponsoring a fishing pro is relatively cheap in comparison. Whether on or off the water, the top pros usually have the cameras on them during the tourneys for extended periods of time, and at times for a much longer period of time than a 15-30 second TV commercial. Near all equipment sponsorships, to include top boat and truck sponsorships usually range from company cost, discounted prices, to free depending on who the angler is. Entry fees may also be paid in full or partial, again depending on the angler. The bigger the company name the bigger the perks. Take KVD for instance, he is not only a great angler but also a giant media draw no matter where he is. I would bet that there isn't a bass angler in the world that doesn't know his name or recognize his face. For this reason he could finish last in every tourney and still have full sponsorships with any company. He was in a slump for a few years but still maintained ALL his sponsors. Another case in point is a fairly recent Classic winner in the field that still places well in the top 50 and an occasional top 12. I bet 5 out of 10 people could not call him by name if he was standing in front of them. He has sponsors but not many, which is possibly because he has a bad reputation among his peers because of attitude. I believe if he could change that one single thing, his sponsorships would change along with it! There are many other well-known anglers who haven't won a tourney in years but still maintain great sponsors because of their image and the fan following they have (Skeet Reese, Gary Klein, Boyd Duckett). On the flip side, there are those elite anglers that don't usually do well and don't have great sponsorships. These are the guys who have their own businesses or are independently wealthy and pay their own way. As mentioned many pros guide on their home lakes to help pay their bills. Out of the 109 or so Elites, 60-70 of them struggle from year to year to stay. Many are not married, have no kids to feed, some even still live with mom. They choose that lifestyle to be able to afford to compete on that level.
Being a professional in this sport isn’t an easy game or lifestyle, they have to remember sponsorships is what pays the bills. Being a jerk on the water to fans and other fisherman, especially when there is a high likelihood it will be caught on camera, can cost them those sponsorships and eventually their livelihood!!
Just so you don't think I am BSing--I'm in the picture.
12poundbass reply :
On 9/7/2017 at 11:16 PM, Bulletman20XD said:Kicker I agree with some of your sentiment, but you brought up a related issue that I just had to shed light on. Years ago, while serving in the military I started fishing competitively and was very successful on the local level early on. This led me to have ambitions of becoming a professional angler. This is where I met a guy who is now one of the top Elite pros. I was consistently beating him back then which makes me reflect on what could have been every time I see him on TV, magazines, or tackle displays. At that time I had a new wife, a new baby, and was basically halfway thru a successful career with a decent retirement. I was literally one signature away from getting out of the Army and throwing all those years away. I quickly learned this was all going to come at a price. I almost lost my new wife due to the time spent on the water which was required of me to get there. After talking with a few people in the industry and learning of how difficult it is financially, and of how long it takes to get there, I quickly chose my family and career over those aspirations.
In an earlier post I mentioned I personally knew a couple elite pros (and another FLW pro). I won't mention their names to protect the guilty. The aforementioned person is one of the top pros the other is down the ladder a few rungs. They have many of the same sponsors but that is where the similarities end. Having the same sponsors some may believe they get the same perks from them, not necessarily true. In any professional sport, the higher you finish the more publicity you get, but there are other things a person must possess. Companies do not give a full sponsorships to one-hit-wonders. It's where you finish consistently, image, professionalism, attitude, and a few other things. If you have the "complete package", a pro can expect to receive more from his sponsors, but their expectations of you increases as well. Sponsors require you to give them publicity not only from their name/logo on the side of the boat and mentioning their name at weigh-ins that airs on national TV but from actually using their product and appearances at boat, tackle, and outdoor shows, TV commercials, magazine ads etc... It is nothing more than a product advertisement game. Advertisements on TV are extremely expensive. Sponsoring a fishing pro is relatively cheap in comparison. Whether on or off the water, the top pros usually have the cameras on them during the tourneys for extended periods of time, and at times for a much longer period of time than a 15-30 second TV commercial. Near all equipment sponsorships, to include top boat and truck sponsorships usually range from company cost, discounted prices, to free depending on who the angler is. Entry fees may also be paid in full or partial, again depending on the angler. The bigger the company name the bigger the perks. Take KVD for instance, he is not only a great angler but also a giant media draw no matter where he is. I would bet that there isn't a bass angler in the world that doesn't know his name or recognize his face. For this reason he could finish last in every tourney and still have full sponsorships with any company. He was in a slump for a few years but still maintained ALL his sponsors. Another case in point is a fairly recent Classic winner in the field that still places well in the top 50 and an occasional top 12. I bet 5 out of 10 people could not call him by name if he was standing in front of them. He has sponsors but not many, which is possibly because he has a bad reputation among his peers because of attitude. I believe if he could change that one single thing, his sponsorships would change along with it! There are many other well-known anglers who haven't won a tourney in years but still maintain great sponsors because of their image and the fan following they have (Skeet Reese, Gary Klein, Boyd Duckett). On the flip side, there are those elite anglers that don't usually do well and don't have great sponsorships. These are the guys who have their own businesses or are independently wealthy and pay their own way. As mentioned many pros guide on their home lakes to help pay their bills. Out of the 109 or so Elites, 60-70 of them struggle from year to year to stay. Many are not married, have no kids to feed, some even still live with mom. They choose that lifestyle to be able to afford to compete on that level.
Being a professional in this sport isn’t an easy game or lifestyle, they have to remember sponsorships is what pays the bills. Being a jerk on the water to fans and other fisherman, especially when there is a high likelihood it will be caught on camera, can cost them those sponsorships and eventually their livelihood!!
Just so you don't think I am BSing--I'm in the picture.
Good write up. I know you're not an Ike fan (to each their own) I happen to be an Ike fan. I've read his book a couple times and his first marriage basically dissolved because of fishing. He also explains how he does his sponsorships. If I remember right he has 3-4 different tiers to his sponsorship. The more he gets from each sponsor the bigger their name on his boat/jersey. In return the more he gets the more he does. Ike fan or not he basically explains everything you've explained in his book. I'm not plugging the book, just saying it gives you and inside look into a professional angler the good and the bad. So much so some of his fellow anglers got upset at some of the content. Ike's lost sponsors because of his actions over the years. I've heard people like yourself say he's an a$$ and others say the opposite. The same can be said for probably every angler. Every dog has their day. He's toned it down over the years. I think age, new wife, newborns have slowed him down. Some of his antics are pure marketing which is pure genius. Win or lose you need to keep yourself relevant.
Gerald Swindle, 2 AOY'S and 0 Elite wins. One of the most recognizable and well like anglers. Marketing yourself plays a big part. He's loud, he's funny, and he makes himself seen even when he has a bad day.
I read an article a month ago about Mark Zona. He was quickly shooting up the ladder to the top. Then his wife dropped the bombshell "you're going to be a daddy". He quickly hit the brakes and weighed his options. He took the safe route and kept selling boats. Then KVD mentioned him to someone at ESPN and with a little nudge from his wife, long story short the rest is history.
It really takes a special person and risk taker to take that step. You were there you know what it feels like. Most of us will only imagine. Over the years I've thought I'd give anything to be a pro but honestly I wouldn't want it. It would be fun, but it would be a lot of work and a ton of stress. I enjoy fishing and trying to figure out the puzzle. I wouldn't want my livelihood to depend on whether or not I had enough pieces figured out for that day.
Ratherbfishing reply :
I think this applies to locals, recreational travelers, or tournament fishermen equally. IF I am aware that a big tournament is on a lake that I hoped to fish, I don't go. Same for why I don't fish from a boat on weekends. If, on the other hand, I, coincidentally, happen to be on a lake while a tournament is occurring, I do NOT change my habits for them. A public lake is a public lake is a public lake. Having said that, I try to be respectful to other boaters or bank fisherment-REGARDLESS s of their status. Will I leave a spot if someone asks me to? No. Will I "torment" them or "antagonize" them? Only if they have done so to me, first. What goes around comes around.
Arguments have been made that for tournament fishermen this is their living and, therefore, should be afforded special "accommodations." From where I'm sitting, the opportunity to fish is as important to me (for my sanity and recreation) and has as much validity and importance as their respective career. Not more but not less. Besides, with few exceptions, if they are patient, I will likely move out of their spot eventually anyway (unless they get nasty). If they are as good as they want to believe they are, they will catch the fish I missed.
Johnbt reply :
I don't like crowds, especially crowds of noisy outboards - pro or non-pro.
I'd give a tournament fisherman about as much room as I'd give a professional tractor-trailer driver on the interstate - they're both driving fast and trying to make a living.
Having said that, the swarms of big fast trucks pulling big fast boats in the dark on a little two lane road are almost enough to make me leave home for the weekend. 
I know the speed limit is 55, and 45 in places, but these folks are used to getting places in a hurry. Zoom.
I'm a mile north of the ramp on that little road... "Aug 2, 2017 HENRICO — More than 300 anglers will take off from Osborne Park & Boat Landing at 6 a.m. on Thursday for the start of a pivotal event in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens series."
John
DINK WHISPERER reply :
I'll go somewhere else for the day/days. I don't like to put up with the crowds or the dirt bag wannabe pros. I was flipping on Okeechobee one day while a big tourney was going on(I didn't know). This big wrapped boat comes in right in front of us maybe 50ft and starts flipping right on top of us. I was ticked and told my buddy i wish we could pop one right in front of them. A couple minutes in to it I nail one over 6.5lbs. They actually rushed over and asked if we were in the tournament first then asked how much for the fish. I was disgusted and released it right in their faces. After that i avoid them when I can.
flyfisher reply :
On 12/3/2017 at 10:51 AM, DINK WHISPERER said:I'll go somewhere else for the day/days. I don't like to put up with the crowds or the dirt bag wannabe pros. I was flipping on Okeechobee one day while a big tourney was going on(I didn't know). This big wrapped boat comes in right in front of us maybe 50ft and starts flipping right on top of us. I was ticked and told my buddy i wish we could pop one right in front of them. A couple minutes in to it I nail one over 6.5lbs. They actually rushed over and asked if we were in the tournament first then asked how much for the fish. I was disgusted and released it right in their faces. After that i avoid them when I can.
who was the angler?
DINK WHISPERER reply :
On 12/3/2017 at 11:00 AM, flyfisher said:who was the angler?
Not really sure to be honest. Looked all fancy with the Jersey and big boat, the whole 9. Don't think it was a big time pro though. Probably a local is my guess.
TnRiver46 reply :
There are several tournaments on every lake anywhere near me every weekend all year long and quite a few on weekday evenings also. It's impossible to avoid them all. I used to float rivers in canoes to avoid tournament (anglers) but now they have jet boat river tournaments. I treat everybody the same and don't move in on anyone's spot. I wouldn't dream of moving in and asking someone if I could fish near them, that just sounds ridiculous even typing it. Around here if there is $350 on the line people have the green light to fish right next to your boat and be as rude as possible. Or they will just zoom by your canoe at 40 mph in 1 ft of water
N Florida Mike reply :
I generally fish small waters because I hate crowds , so its not likely to happen with me. That being said, if anyone fishing a tournament asked me nice, I would gladly give up the spot , unless I was fishing a tournament myself. If they roared up and cut in to where i was too close without asking , I would have a problem with that. Although I wouldnt leave , I may or may not say anything.
If I had the chance to share a few tips on spots and baits with a pro on a local water body I would do it in a heartbeat.
With me , its the non fisherman boaters that cause most of the problem. Had a dunce run right over my line the other day with no regard to me whatsoever. Then seemed genuinly suprised when he got yelled at !????
12poundbass reply :
On 12/12/2017 at 1:38 AM, N Florida Mike said:If I had the chance to share a few tips on spots and baits with a pro on a local water body I would do it in a heartbeat.
If the opportunity ever arises I'd advise against it. I'm pretty sure for B.A.S.S. at least it's against the rules at least when the tournament is going. Double check me or maybe someone else with better knowledge will chime in, but it's something along those lines.
TOXIC reply :
You are correct. In the bigger trails there is a "No Information" rule and now I think for the Elite Series it has been stepped up even more. I have a friend who fished the Elite Series and he used to stay with me when I lived in Florida to prefish the local tournament waters (Okeechobee, St Johns River, Harris Chain) when they had tournaments there. He was VERY careful on getting information.
TnRiver46 reply :
heres an insightful video on the subject
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