Talk About A Lack Of Respect... 2024
coots reply :
Go look at the picture that Tharp posted on his Facebook page.
Let the guy do work man!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=637357819634885&set=a.574449475925720.1073741833.377240898979913&type=1&theater
I know it anyone's water OK.... but that is down right ridiculous.
J Francho reply :
I'm thinking that's a pic taken when driving through the crowd to get to a new spot.
WRB reply :
The Classic anglers are really upset with the locals at this event, no respect, no sportsmanship given. If the the anglers leave a spot it's fished immediately, and the locals get on the spots early in the morning...before start times.
It's public water, however is the crown jewel of our sport. IF B.A.S.S. never returns it will be too soon!
Tom
gripnrip reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:19 PM, WRB said:The Classic anglers are really upset with the locals at this event, no respect, no sportsmanship given. If the the anglers leave a spot it's fished immediately, and the locals get on the spots early in the morning...before start times.
It's public water, however is the crown jewel of our sport. IF B.A.S.S. never returns it will be too soon!
Tom
What a shame. As far as I'm aware, the locals last year were in good graces. There was just as many I'm sure.
BassnChris reply :
People!
IowaHusker28 reply :
I know its part of the sport having spectators on the water and its really awesome being able to watch your favorite pro fish a 100 feet in front of you but its the classic. I am personally a fan of not allowing people spectate. The negative effects have to out weigh the positives. I mean boat traffic for everyone, distractions, and I personally feel it makes it an un-even playing field and that reason right there is the biggest one. It has to be easier to fish when theres 2 people watching you compared to 50 boats around that you have to deal with. I would like to see strict spectator rules and somehow policing them. I don't know, I'm just spitballing here.
tomustang reply :
I find it funny that I can rent out one of my towns parks and have a private football playoff there without other people playing through but big bass groups can't hold a tourney without having to navigate though spectators.
flyingmonkie reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:24 PM, gripnrip said:What a shame. As far as I'm aware, the locals last year were in good graces. There was just as many I'm sure.
I was at day three on Grand last year... there were a lot of boats out, but most of us kept our distance. I remember some floaters getting a little close to Cliff and he had to say something - that was the only problem I recall. The camera boats got surprisingly close, and the low-flying helicopters were annoying as all hell though.
flyingmonkie reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:36 PM, IowaHusker28 said:I know its part of the sport having spectators on the water and its really awesome being able to watch your favorite pro fish a 100 feet in front of you but its the classic. I am personally a fan of not allowing people spectate. The negative effects have to out weigh the positives. I mean boat traffic for everyone, distractions, and I personally feel it makes it an un-even playing field and that reason right there is the biggest one. It has to be easier to fish when theres 2 people watching you compared to 50 boats around that you have to deal with. I would like to see strict spectator rules and somehow policing them. I don't know, I'm just spitballing here.
I don't see this lasting much longer. I think we'll look back 10 years from now and comment on how weird it was. I think part of the novelty in spectating is that it ISN'T policed, and it's fee - almost too good to be true?
You can't keep people off the lakes, but you can keep them away from the boats. I'd be surprised if there's not a lake patrol boat for ever fisherman at Guntersville... there is no reason why they couldn't enforce a distance rule at the least.
gripnrip reply :
Like it or not, the lakes are public waters. The only way for it to change is if the states make a law not allowing boats, whether on plane or idle, to be a certain number of feet apart. Common rule is 100ft for competitors. If the groups stay back at least that far then I think that is fair.
jbsoonerfan reply :
Totally ridiculous that people are allowed on the water with the pros. You should have to have credentials to be on the water.
jbsoonerfan reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:45 PM, gripnrip said:Like it or not, the lakes are public waters. The only way for it to change is if the states make a law not allowing boats, whether on plane or idle, to be a certain number of feet apart. Common rule is 100ft for competitors. If the groups stay back at least that far then I think that is fair.
I agree, but the US Open is sometimes played on public courses. However, the course isn't open to the public during the tourn.
Hooked_On_Bass reply :
Wow. Some of those people really need to give their head a shake .
Wbeadlescomb reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:48 PM, jbsoonerfan said:Totally ridiculous that people are allowed on the water with the pros. You should have to have credentials to be on the water.
That's crazy guntersville is massive you can't keep someone off public water no matter what type of event is going on.
gripnrip reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:49 PM, jbsoonerfan said:I agree, but the US Open is sometimes played on public courses. However, the course isn't open to the public during the tourn.
Ahhhh! jbsoonerfan that is an excellent point. What about the other people who use the lake? Other fishermen? Or how can you keep people off of a natural resource?
flyingmonkie reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:49 PM, jbsoonerfan said:I agree, but the US Open is sometimes played on public courses. However, the course isn't open to the public during the tourn.
The difference is that "public" golf courses are still privately owned and not supported by tax dollars - they are public because they don't require a membership. Lake Guntersville is a State Park, so technically, it belongs to the residents of Alabama.
Brian Needham reply :
I cant believe the stupid locals are down there spot burning with Arigs........ its unbelievable.
sure go over there and graph it, even drop a waypoint...... but to roll up and fish it is just being a complete and utter Dbag.
I sincerely hope the people doing any form of spot burning get a rusty hook in the eye!!!!!
Brian Needham reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 1:09 PM, flyingmonkie said:The difference is that "public" golf courses are still privately owned and not supported by tax dollars - .
false .......... Bethpage black is part of a state park.
but public or private water there is NO EXCUSE for what is going on at this years classic........and people wonder why fishing doesn't grow?
jbsoonerfan reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 1:09 PM, flyingmonkie said:The difference is that "public" golf courses are still privately owned and not supported by tax dollars - they are public because they don't require a membership. Lake Guntersville is a State Park, so technically, it belongs to the residents of Alabama.
There are many public courses in OK and around the country that are on state property and maintained by the state. However, they are protected from public use when a MAJOR event is being held on them. I don't see why a lake is any different. If anyone gets their panties in a knot because they aren't allowed on the water for a few days then they need to get a life. These events are how these pros make a living, no sense in letting a bunch of D-Bags interfere with their opportunity to do their job.
Long Mike reply :
A year or so ago, I was fishing Toledo Bend when the Elites were competing there. That lake is well over 100.000 acres. It was Sunday morning and my buddies and I had been fishing in this one bay for the last several days without seeing any of the pros. I was fishing a point off a small island when a well-known pro of small stature and loud mouth came roaring up. He said, "Mind if I fish here?" Knowing that he was trying to make a living, I said "Sure, help yourself," and began reeling in my line in preparation for departure. Well, apparently, I wasn't reeling in fast enough to suit him, so he cast his lure within two feet of my boat. I kept my mouth shut, but let's just say that little stunt of his ticked me off royally. I no longer have any respect for that little squirt. I left that spot at full RPM, and hoped that he didn't catch a danged thing on that point. Apparently he didn't, because he finished out of the running. Tough. Using proper manners may sometimes catch more fish than the proper lure.
Pz3 reply :
Yikes! I can't even imagine having that many people trying to be on my junk. I would think a camera boat / helicopter would be bad enough. Let alone all that.
tomustang reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 1:13 PM, Brian Needham said:and people wonder why fishing doesn't grow?
It's because people would rather fish than watch other people fish, it's not like basketball where you watch your team play, you can actually go out and do it too.
BridgerM reply :
I don't know if laws would allow, but using some california lakes as examples where they are closed to the public a few days a week. What about not allowing use of a lake or reservoir for certain days. Particularly on large tournament days? Or at least enforce a limit of non-pro/spectator boats.
Im new the the WHOLE bass thing, but it doesn't make a d**n bit of sense to me to try and look over a pros shoulder in a huge tournament. Sure, if its your home water you want to see how they fish your waters. But there is a point where you become a negative influence and just look silly. It certainly is a distraction when as a spectator you see 50 boats in the background!! I don't see a benefit or reason allowing anyone and everyone on the water for something like the classic.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I understand people wanting to fish, especially those that traveled long distances to be there and have maybe never fished the lake, but fishing a spot you know someone in the tournament is fishing is very disrespectful. I was on the water every day of the Classic last year and we did quite a bit of fishing but never on a spot one of the pros was fishing. The one time we were fishing and Ike pulled up to the point we were on we immediately put our rods down and backed off the point and let him have it. They're trying to make a living, I'm not about to get in their way or interfere with them trying to do that.
Missourifishin reply :
What's sad is that we wouldn't even be having a conversation about rules/laws to keep people off the water if people displayed a little class, courtesy and common sense.
Pz3 reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 2:50 PM, Missourifishin said:What's sad is that we wouldn't even be having a conversation about rules/laws to keep people off the water if people displayed a little class, courtesy and common sense.
Chaos Theory. As the population of the world increases everything will become infinitly more complexed.
Sam reply :
I need more information about the photo.
Is it as J says or is Tharp actually fishing?
Usually the spectator boats allow the anglers plenty of room.
Bama people are very polite and I do not believe this is a shot of Tharp fishing. I don't see a rod and reel in his hands.
Sam reply :
Guys, if you study the picture you do not see any rods or reels and tackle on the boat's deck.
I think this is probably a photo of Tharp before he blasts off or on his way in to weigh-in.
Just my take on the picture.
0119 reply :
I almost got to think, why are we surprised at this. There is no such thing as manners in todays American society. I have no love for pros or tournaments, they (not bass but redfish and tarpon) pros have destroyed my local waters. But I will never forget getting to shake the hands of VanDam and Brauer at the Classic Expo in Orlando years ago. Genuinely professional men. Here the locals are smarter. They wait for the tournaments to end and then bombard the release area 12 hours after the tournament!
nascar2428 reply :
The picture is from Randall's boat.
The guy had 50 boats follow him to the repair site after his breakdown.
I think the photo is misleading in relation to the actual fishing. There is no way the spectators were that close to him.
And finally the reports of people fishing right after the pros make a pass without giving them a chance to make a follow up in the opposite direction is a little alarming. But not surprising, we are talking about Alabama and Earnhardt fans. 
MarksHooked reply :
I'm new to following the tournaments myself, I've been reading their live blog on the website. It seems to me that if they had some sort of live coverage, there MIGHT be less spectators out there? I noticed they've been playing with GoPro cameras on helicopters, (they even crashed one near Tharp yesterday) If it was possible to have those cameras following anglers around, and had a website where you could pay and flip between cameras and watch, or have that streaming at the event, MAYBE less people would be on the water? Then again I'm sure it's a once in a lifetime experience to be on the water with these guys, and people will always want to do that. For all I know they don't offer that because other anglers could use that as some kind of advantage....again I'm new to all this lol. But after reading in the live blog that 4 or 5 boats would roll up and fish a spot after someone would leave, that's gotta be detrimental to an anglers gameplan, and as others have said kind of takes away from an even playing field.
ww2farmer reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 7:57 PM, nascar2428 said:And finally the reports of people fishing right after the pros make a pass without giving them a chance to make a follow up in the opposite direction is a little alarming. But not surprising, we are talking about Alabama and Earnhardt fans.
I was thinking the same thing....LOL
A-Jay reply :
What's going on during this years Classic in regards to anglers fishing the spots before & after the competitors is sad. Agreed it is public water and people can do it, but C'mon man - have a little respect.
I don't know what the best solution for all involved is. But if BASS feels this is detrimental to "the product" some thing will change. Perhaps if a community wants to enjoy the benefits received by hosting this event, they will take steps to improve this situation. If they do not the results could be no show.
I'll add this - I didn't see where there was any problem with spectators during the Major League Fishing Events at all.
A-Jay
jhoffman reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 7:43 PM, 119 said:I almost got to think, why are we surprised at this. There is no such thing as manners in todays American society. I have no love for pros or tournaments, they (not bass but redfish and tarpon) pros have destroyed my local waters. But I will never forget getting to shake the hands of VanDam and Brauer at the Classic Expo in Orlando years ago. Genuinely professional men. Here the locals were smarter. We waited for the tournaments to end as then bombarded the release area 12 hours after the tournament!
You would love PA. Here they announce what day theyre going to take dog food fed trout from the hatchery and dump them in the creek. Some guys walk a bucket full down then immediately rip em back out of the creek, it does wonders for their ego.
Jack Fate reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:49 PM, jbsoonerfan said:I agree, but the US Open is sometimes played on public courses. However, the course isn't open to the public during the tourn.
They aren't public courses they are private courses. Unless they start fishing privately owned lakes nothing can be done or should be done. These guys know to expect this, or at least should know.
gripnrip reply :
I'm interested to see Coots take on today. I think he's out on the water.
K_Mac reply :
This topic always gets strong reaction on either side. There will always be idiots and like A-Jay I don't know the answer. I do know that closing major lakes to others fishing during any tournament would not be something I would favor. Closing a public golf course for a weekend and closing Guntersville, Toledo Bend, Bull Shoals, Lake Erie, etc... to fishing are two very different things. Could some concessions be made? Maybe. Should they be? I don't know. That some can pursue their dream of fishing professionally is a fine thing. It does not obligate me as a sportsman and taxpayer to subsidize that dream in any way if I choose not to.
flyfisher reply :
Bottom line is you should not have exclusive access to a public resource like a lake. What people are doing is out of whack but apparently it isn't hurting people's bags as there are some big numbers being pulled out of the lake.
Also the comparison to a golf course is not even close to the same thing, even if it is a "public" course.
buzzed bait reply :
for me the main thing to take away is without spectators these guys are out of a job…. that said, you need to strike a clean balance between them. seems like a marshall/ranger boat to keep spectators at bay wouldn't be too hard to implement/enforce.
all the talk about shutting down the lake for an event is so ridiculous i can't even imagine….. the first day you all went to your local lake to put in and a cop or DNR officer said "sorry buddy closed to a "major" event" you would have a mild heart attack….
spectators shouldn't be the topic at all, but rather those with no class trying to come in and fish behind or on top of these guys we all look up to and for the most part respect….
Brian Needham reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 2:34 AM, Jack Fate said:They aren't public courses they are private courses.
US Opens and PGA Championship have been held at Torry Pines, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Pinehurst, Whistling Straits. Those are just courses off the top of my head........ you can also play the entire British Open rotation....... and don't forget all the TPC courses......all listed courses you can play off the street, granted you have to make a tee time 6 months or year in advance cause they are busy, but normal average Joe's can play them anytime.
just saying
RMcDuffee726 reply :
That is just sad. 
mjseverson24 reply :
The biggest problem in my opinion is the fact that we have to talk about this at all. If you want to show support for your favorite angler go visit the expo hang out and watch the weigh-in. having hundreds if not thousands of boats on a lake is not good for competition. It really is not good for competitive fishing as a whole. Many of the top anglers make milk runs back and forth to multiple of the same spots throughout a day hoping they will be turned on when they get there, and having these spectators sucker fishing off of the pros spots is just a shame an it does effect the outcome of these major events. Now if the pro is fishing a community hole its fair game. I think with a limited field of 56 boats the classic can definitely be held on some less traveled waters other than G-ville.
Mitch
camovan reply :
If the locals are burning spots everywhere then it still seems to me it is a level playing field. Some event locations are going to have weather related challenges, some will have spectator challenges. It makes it harder to fish sure, but it also makes it hard to hit a free throw when people are waving flags in your face trying to distract you. The guy who took the picture seems like he overcame the challenges just fine and the players who didn't are going to be able to place the blame elsewhere if they don't feel like taking the responsibility for their own results. The odds of a public res closing for a elite tournament are pretty much zero, it could happen but it would cost more than BASS has to spend, they are not the PGA.
plumworm reply :
Hold on a minute, I fish and have fished a whole lot of lakes around the US. The very idea that the "Pro's are on a lake and everyone else should kowtow to them is at best absurd. I don't mean that you should try to fish where they are fishing, but the fact that they are fishing for $300K means that I can't fish on the same lake. That's BS. Too many times I have been fishing when guys fishing a club tourney, or Bfl or a"whatever" tourney have invaded my water with the excuse that they are fishing a tourney and their fishing is more important than mine. Just because you have money on the line and I am fishing for fun does not give you the right to invade my water. And to Randy Howell, a big congats.
lmoore reply :
What the spectators are doing is, and always should be, perfectly legal. If we ever get to the point where I need to check a schedule to see if the local waters are "open" on a day I want to go fishing, it will be a very troubling day for everyone. I certaintly don't ever want to schedule a "tee time" for fishing. I also sincerely hope that the few idiots running around don't cause enough of an issue with the pros to ruin certain things for the vast majority of other spectators at events across the country. The unfortunate thing people always seem to forget: just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
hookset on 3 reply :
Has anyone even considered that maybe a local tournament Bass angler has fished against some of these Alabama Elite pros in the past? What if you were in a local tournament,some years back and lost a lot of money to one of these Elite Anglers.
Some guys hole jump because of a past grudge with that particular Pro. I have even heard stories of people wreaking a spot that is being fished by someone other than, their favorite Elite Pro.
That is scary stuff!
Lund Explorer reply :
For 362 days a year, we are bombarded by the fact that these gentlemen are the best bass fisherman in the world. They supposedly have abilities far beyond any of us. They tell us that all of that expensive equipment and tackle they are sponsored to use guarantee that success too. And then we find out that all of that extra skill and all the fancy equipment and tackle is thrown into chaos because they have to put up with what everybody else has to put up with when they get on the water!
This goes on every year at the classic, and even if they could block the public from the tournament's waters during those days, it wouldn't be long before one or more of these superior fishermen would complain that some crappie fisherman caught his giant bass the day, the week, or the month before he could get there. Maybe its about time that they take off the fancy jerseys, swap out the fiberglass rocket for a tin boat, and spend the day fishing a nearby lake during some else's tournament. Learn to use those superior skills in way less than perfect conditions.
It's either that, or petition B.A.S.S. to hold these tournaments on secret lakes, with no announcements to public or media, and no fancy weigh-in show that might attract a crowd. I'll bet the sponsors, who are the only real reason for all of this, would be happy!
basscatcher8 reply :
Someone had a video of them changinTharpe's lower unit at the ramp and when he got done and took off again it was a freakin fleet behind him following him to his spot. I know roumbanis got his spot where he caught that big one on day 1 poached he left it and a guy moved in started fishing immediatly and fred came back to him fishing on it he just drove down around him and started fishing didnt say anything. Its all legal its just not right though. Guys dont wanna do the work to find their own spots and patterns so they would rather go on the bent pole pattern. But from what I've heard Guntersville is known as a bent pole pattern lake.
Pa Angler reply :
I'm going to step on some toes here.
Once you keep people off the the water for one event every event that comes to town will want to close the water I can't agree to closing the water no matter who's in town but one should give some space to other anglers on the water just as you should in a non tournament day, The idea of a tournament having priority over me and my vacation time is ridiculous we the people have just as much right to the water as they do as matter of fact even more so because a state water is paid for by the tax payers of that state.
Tight Lines
Pa Angler
black94gt50 reply :
On 3/3/2014 at 9:57 AM, Pa Angler said:I'm going to step on some toes here.
Once you keep people off the the water for one event every event that comes to town will want to close the water I can't agree to colosing the water no matter who's in town but one should give some space to other anglers on the water just as you should in a non tournament day, The idea of a tournament having priority over me and my vacation time is ridiculous we the people have just as much right to the water as they do as matter of fact even more so because a state water is paid for by the tax payers of that state.
Tight Lines
Pa Angler
I totally agree with you, I also agree that people should respect other anglers.
I always respect other anglers, if they are fishing a tournament or not. People should have the common sense to stay back from the pro anglers, if they are spectating, just as tournament anglers shouldn't run in on you if you are setup at a spot fishing.
The biggest problem I have, is the local tournament fishers that get the "local pro" ego and are just rude and disrespectful.
Pa Angler reply :
On 3/3/2014 at 3:44 PM, black94gt50 said:I totally agree with you, I also agree that people should respect other anglers.
I always respect other anglers, if they are fishing a tournament or not. People should have the common sense to stay back from the pro anglers, if they are spectating, just as tournament anglers shouldn't run in on you if you are setup at a spot fishing.
The biggest problem I have, is the local tournament fishers that get the "local pro" ego and are just rude and disrespectful.
Yes, i agree the local tournament guys not all but some look at themselves as Gods and you need to get out of thier way were ever and whenever they want you to.
Tight Lines
Pa Angler
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
Here's another thought....it's not like anyone of the pros is being singled out by a group and having their spot burned. There is potential for any single one of them to have guys fishing their spots they found. While I don't agree with it during the tournament, the playing field is still "fair" for all those involved.
While it may suck, I don't think it diminishes the competition or gives one competitor a distinct advantage over another.
Zach Dunham reply :
On 2/26/2014 at 8:55 PM, Lund Explorer said:because they have to put up with what everybody else has to put up with when they get on the water!
Sorry, but the average angler does not have to put up with being surrounded by and followed by a flotilla of 100 boats that are all trying to see what you are doing.
tomustang reply :
On 2/26/2014 at 8:55 PM, Lund Explorer said:For 362 days a year, we are bombarded by the fact that these gentlemen are the best bass fisherman in the world. They supposedly have abilities far beyond any of us.
If they are better than everyone else then that would mean it wouldn't matter if they had to fish through other people or not 
Brian Needham reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 2:58 AM, SPEEDBEAD. said:Here's another thought....it's not like anyone of the pros is being singled out by a group and having their spot burned. There is potential for any single one of them to have guys fishing their spots they found. While I don't agree with it during the tournament, the playing field is still "fair" for all those involved.
While it may suck, I don't think it diminishes the competition or gives one competitor a distinct advantage over another.
I go one step further: the higher you are on the leader board the more likely to be poached...... Boom boom probably wasnt going to get poached, but he caught that 9# then here come the spot burners like sharks smelling blood.
Trek reply :
I love to travel and fish new places. I love Guntersville but there is no place worse for that right there then Guntersville. When the bite is on it is like a zoo all day long. I love the lake but I hate it too. And I have fished other lakes around there and they're not bad. It's just Guntersville. It is the way it is. The pros had to know it going in.
lmoore reply :
^ Interesting point. I have noticed even along the river there are some spots that are much worse for people using you as a fish finder than others. Some places you catch fish after fish and people respect your area, some places you put one in the boat and can't make another cast because you're surrounded.
Lund Explorer reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 3:42 AM, imanidiot777 said:Sorry, but the average angler does not have to put up with being surrounded by and followed by a flotilla of 100 boats that are all trying to see what you are doing.
The average fisherman also isn't putting themselves out as being the best fisherman the world has ever known, and they aren't spending a couple of days on the lake for a guaranteed paycheck just for showing up. It's all relative. Big name pros draw big time crowds, and weekend warriors or crappie fishermen only draw tournament snobs and jet skis. And while we are speaking of the average angler, go back and look at the picture. Did you see any tin boats in that crowd? Bucket fishermen? All I saw was a crowd of fiberglass rockets. The same kind so many average fishermen complain about when they are cut off by.
Maybe we've discovered that some of these pros are just like the rest of us. Maybe when things don't go exactly the way they want it to, that they can't perform at the level they're competing at.
I can only repeat the same thing I've said before. These pros have been held up as having the knowledge, skills, and equipment that we don't have, but need to learn or more importantly buy (from their sponsors), so that we can be just like them. And then we find out that they also need to have a lake devoid of all others to succeed. Big time bass fishing will wither and die when the fans they are trying to attract are told to stay away. The tournament directors know it, the sponsors know it, and I guess it's about time that the anglers know it.
Lund Explorer reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 4:02 AM, tomustang said:If they are better than everyone else then that would mean it wouldn't matter if they had to fish through other people or not
Exactly!
bass1980 reply :
Here's my thoughts.......
- Whatever happened to common courtesy? There is an unwritten rule about respect even if it's not a tournament. Why would you feel to break it during such a prestige event?
- It could effect the outcome of a tournament with rude spectator boats. The more popular the pro is, the more fleet of boats he will attract.
- I'm not in favor of closing the lake off to the public, but I believe it could be done if they really wanted to. When a major sports team wins a championship, they close off public streets for parades. The team is not public or state owned, but the streets are state owned. I believe the Classic wants spectators but the pros don't but as long as people have common courtesy then there shouldn't be a problem. If this ever happens in the future only the classic should be allowed to, not just any pro tournament otherwise you're going to open a big can of worms.
- Crowding is one thing, but wacking an area right when a pro leaves is unethical because they may come right back, and fishing right next to a pro is classless.
- Lastly, if I was a pro I would ask for a volunteer from the fleet of boats following me. Ask them to help herd the boats when they are too close. Right when I stop at a spot I can yell at my helper and tell him I'm going to fish this area and work my way around that direction. Hopefully the helper can troll around and tell the fleet my strategy so they know how to position their boats. I know it will never be that easy though.
bass1980 reply :
Also while watching Randy Howells gopro clips I just couldn't believe that Randy was fishing that area for hours already and these guys decided to fish literally 8 feet away from him. I have no idea why any of his supporters didn't tell those two guys to back off. There was actually two boats under the bridge. Here he is telling them to stay back in there and not come out as he was on fish and been working back and forth along the bridge. A-holes !!!
bass1980 reply :
Here's the clip right in the beginning.
http://www.bassmaster.com/video/randy-howells-day-3-afternoon-charge
etommy28 reply :
I fished the southern open with an Elite series angler from Alabama who fished the classic. he said he that as an angler and one from Alabama he was embarrassed by how people where acting during that tournament. that people were literally pulling up on spots before you could get out of sight and it was worse than any pictures could show, he had people literally pull in front of him and start fishing 30 yards in front of him on day 2.
jhoffman reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 4:34 AM, etommy28 said:he had people literally pull in front of him and start fishing 30 yards in front of him on day 2.
Sounds like a normal day where I fish, sad but true.
coots reply :
Being from here, I have heard both sides to everything and have drawn my own conclusions. I've heard of a local "guide" and I put guides in quotations for a reason. One of them was a camera boat driver and from what I heard, said he *ahem* fell asleep while waiting and that's the one that e2 ripped on ESPN playback that they showed for getting to close.
As a local fisherman with this lake literally 5 minutes in my backyard, I am disappointed in the way some people acted. Yes, it's my water as much as it is theirs, but that's not the point.
A short story, there's a creek that is a popular one to fish called Roseberry. It branches out to the main river and goes back into an area called ski cove (where Randall Tharp hooked that big one that got off because it got caught up in the water around something) toward city & county park. Anyway, dad and I were fishing late one evening.. it was summertime and blistering hot. T-rigging a black worm, hooked into the largest fish that either of us have ever had on our line. How do I know this, because we both seen it, as well as my wife who was in the boat. He fought it for the longest time, getting it within about 2 feet from the net I had slipped in the water to watch the line snap... actually it broke off at his knot, but anyway.
We go back the next morning to find a guy sitting about 10 yards from where he hooked it, so what do you do you know? Nothing is what you do.. we start fishing on a bank that's close to the creek edge and drop off and he started talking to us about fishing and all that, dad ended up telling him what happened the afternoon before... guy moves off the spot and lets him fish it. We weren't over bearing on his water, we both were fishing the area with a mutual respect for each boat. There's plenty of water to fish on this Lake in all of the good spots.
I think this is directly tied to a problem we are having as a society as a whole, a lack of respect for other people. It's all about the individual and not about anything community or being respectful anymore.
So how does that coincide with the Classic and the stories I've heard? If you give respect, 9 out of 10 times, respect will be given back to you, more so than what you gave. If I know that KVD was fishing down river and I was following him, when he stopped give him his space and let him come back and re-fish that space. I'm not even talking about the next day.. there were so many boats trailing him down his spots, he couldn't even TURN THE BOAT AROUND TO FISH IT AGAIN.. after ONE pass. There were so many stories of these guys getting to make single passes down their spots because literally 50 boats would be tailing him and running over their spots. Not only running them over, but fishing them.
And here's the thing about "locking" or "shutting" the lake down... and this is coming from me who lives here and I know I am one voice on the matter and I think it comes down to just plain respect. I get to fish arguably one of the greatest lakes in the country anytime I want. The same spots these pros fish, aren't any secrets around here. You think nobody knows that Spring Creek, where the tournament was won holds fish? Snake Island on the road bed and humps? That Seibold Creek isn't one of the most populated places in that area that holds fish? A local spot right by Goosepond that us locals call "The Egg Pond" where one of the huge sacks was caught doesn't hold fish? North Sauty... all the rip-rap that we always fish.... yes, yes we do. The pros don't fish anywhere different than anyone who lives here fishes, they're just better at it than we are. That's the bottom line. So I think it boils down to some of these guides and other weekend warriors ego's and lack of respect.
So what's my point, my point is.... put your dang rods away during a tournament like that. If you want to come down and fish while they are here and you're out of town, then you should either come and watch and stay after the tournament and whack 'em with the rest of us, or come early and whack 'em, but give them their respect when they are pre-fishing. There's so many places on this lake to catch fish.
Just like this Saturday while I was fishing the rip-rap and I snagged that 4 pounder on my third cast... a boat starts heading right down the rip-rap with us, it's his water too, but when he got close enough to where it was almost at that "line", he swished out behind us and let us keep fishing it... and didn't come back to the rip-rap until he was on down a piece, allowing us to turn around and fish it again... it's just respect but knowing it's his water as well as it is mine.
Sorry for the long post.
coots reply :
And I will also like to make another point to go along with the idea that these pros are just better at it than us. Yes, they are better and more consistent than us, that's why they qualified to fish for 300K, however, it's not like people around here can't catch fish.. and catch those type bags. We just had a local Rescue Squad tournament, it's has a $10,000 1st place prize, the top two sacks both were over 30 pounds. One of them was 32, or maybe both of them. There's plenty of fish in that water, but when the pros are out there doing their thing, give them the respect that's due to them, just like you would want anyone to give it to you if you were fishing in that $10,000 local tournament.... or any other time of the year.
It's a fine balance of understanding that it's anyone else's water as much as it is yours, but having enough decency as a person to know that at some point, you just got to give respect when respect is due and do what you know is right.
flippin and pitchin reply :
If you have an expectation of respectful and courteous behavior from all or even most fans, at any sporting event, your beating your head against a brick wall. You are talking about PEOPLE. Being cynical isn't as bad as you think.
Brian Needham reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 5:54 PM, flippin and pitchin said:If you have an expectation of respectful and courteous behavior from all or even most fans, at any sporting event, your beating your head against a brick wall. You are talking about PEOPLE. Being cynical isn't as bad as you think.
cynics unite!!!!!!! I totally agree, but I still hold a thin shred of hope.
flippin and pitchin reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 8:28 PM, Brian Needham said:cynics unite!!!!!!! I totally agree, but I still hold a thin shred of hope.
My man !!!
AaronSchneider reply :
I followed Palaniuk last year. Everyone kept their distances well enough, but as mentioned earlier... that helicopter... lol
Hound_dog reply :
http://www.***.com/evers-clarifies-classic/
Edwin Evers take on this same topic. This interview happened after this years classic.
basscatcher8 reply :
I know what the wrapped boats are for but seems like they kill themselves with the wrapped boats. They can be spotted from a distance and followed easy. If you read Ike's book he talks about day 2 of the 03 classic he walked around wearing a bright yellow hoodie before launch so everybody saw him and knew the spectators would be looking for his bright yellow hoodie. Soon as he launched and was out of site he pulled it off and put his dark hoodie on so that people waiting for him couldnt spot him and he got back to his spot with no spectators. And I know he didnt have a wrapped boat then they were still new
David D. reply :
On 2/23/2014 at 12:49 PM, jbsoonerfan said:I agree, but the US Open is sometimes played on public courses. However, the course isn't open to the public during the tourn.
The course is actually open to the public, to spectate. However, there are designated areas where spectators can be. If you mean that the public is not allowed to play at the same time as the pros, then you'd be correct. However, that is because the course is not large enough to allow for that. A large lake is plenty big to allow both professional anglers and others to fish at the same time; boundaries just need to be set.
Did you know that golf courses that are hosting PGA tournaments are actually closed to the public beginning about a month before the tournament? Should that also be done on lakes prior to big tournaments?
My point is just that comparing a golf tournament to a fishing tournament is apples to oranges.
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