35 replies to this topic

[logan9209]

George is my fishing buddy who, through a too complicated story to tell, doesn't get to fish much. Where I generally fish 60% of the daylight almost 7 days a week, he maybe is allowed an hour 3 days a week (imagine a 56 year old being told what to do). Completely irrelevant except to add a brief background to my topic.

George and I have a list of pro bass anglers that we would love to have fish our lake without boats or floating craft. My best day I caught 9 bass, but my average somewhere around 2-3. My average weigh is 1lb. I've gotten a few 2lbers, 1 3lb, and 1 8lb. But most are 2lb or less.

So our top 3 pick of pro anglers that should fish our lake would be Kevin Van Dam, Jimmy Houston, and Roland Martin. Not that the others aren't just as good, but I thoroughly enjoy watching Kevin and Jimmy and George likes watching Roland. Because they would have to walk the lake rather than boat it, I'll give them 2 days to practice and 1 day from 9am - 5pm for the actual challenge.

While most people would be either trying to get their john hancock or asking them a million questions, George and I will be standing back taking notes on what type of lure they used and what technique they used. Not what brand it is. I've learned that in most cases (there are exception to the rules) one brand's lure will work just as well as another brand's lure (GY Senko and NetBait Salt Lick for example).

I'm no pro by any means, but if I'm fishing 5-7hrs a day and only get 1-3 bass each day, then I need to reevaluate everything. I am just curious as to how much better pros or more experienced anglers would fair. There's only a small handful of people who fish for bass on my lake. George and I fish the most and the others I see once or twice a month. Everyone else fish for bream, crappie, or catfish. So I don't have a real way of solidly gauging my success. Have I hit a major learning rut or is this as good as it gets?

Before anyone says anything, I do realize that there's a very good chance that my feelings or pride would be badly hurt if the pros were to come here. By the same token though, at least I would be able to see how it's done at my lake and have a standard or goal I can strive for.

[BamaBassChaser]

I'm not Kevin, Jimmy or Roland, but I would love to come see what I could catch in three days at your lake

[Bassn Blvd]

They are pros for a reason and that's because they're PROS. You are asking for three three people to fish your lake for one day so you can gauge your success based on their results. You should compete against yourself and see if you can improve on your own totals. If you caught 3 yesterday and only 1 today, then you flat out suck today. But if you caught more than 3 today then your the BOMB!

[roadwarrior]

The premise is pretty silly, but I'll play along...

Let's start by funding the party. You are going to need a few $100K plus expenses
for each of your pros, guaranteed. At least another $500K in prize money if it's
"Winner Takes All".

Next...
The Big Boys are going to fish whatever is the best equipment their sponsors offer,
plus the baits and lures they know. These will most likely be "brand names" verses
your knock-offs and bargin bin junk.

Now the pros don't necessarily target "big fish", but then again your 2-3 pounders
don't really qualify anyhow. I call that size "tournament fish". Still, each of them will
have five keepers in the first hour while you are still looking for a bite. Then they
will start culling what would be your PB, from what I gather from your post.

Your only chance of winning would be in a "Big Fish" format where you might just
"get lucky". Otherwise, your chance of winning is ZERO.

[A-Rob]

I used to have a friend when I was little that had a pool. I did not.
I would invite him to play in the sprinkler on my front lawn.
He came once then started offering to go in his pool instead.
Mission accomplished.

Something about this reminded me of my old tactics haha

[backpain...]

The premise is pretty silly, but I'll play along...

Let's start by funding the party. You are going to need a few $100K plus expenses
for each of your pros, guaranteed. At least another $500K in prize money if it's
"Winner Takes All".

Next...
The Big Boys are going to fish whatever is the best equipment their sponsors offer,
plus the baits and lures they know. These will most likely be "brand names" verses
your knock-offs and bargin bin junk.

Now the pros don't necessarily target "big fish", but then again your 2-3 pounders
don't really qualify anyhow. I call that size "tournament fish". Still, each of them will
have five keepers in the first hour while you are still looking for a bite. Then they
will start culling what would be your PB, from what I gather from your post.

Your only chance of winning would be in a "Big Fish" format where you might just
"get lucky". Otherwise, your chance of winning is ZERO.

I don't know about that, lets play along further... This is a bank fishing tournament which means they are going to be limited in a way that they are not used to sponsors, gear and everything else isn't going to make as much difference when you have to walk the banks. Being shore bound take a TON out of any professional anglers whole mindset. Locations, electronics, 30 different rods rigged are all out the window. Remember this is a shore bound angler wanting a shore bound tournament. Depending on time of year, and lake physics even the best fisherman might struggle to catch more than a few here and there.

[newriverfisherman1953]

Almost sounds like fishing is not fun anymore. I'd sit back and enjoy each and every one I caught, and leave the other three guys to their own deal. They are at (or have been) the top of their game for a reason. Try and outfish your self each day. Keep a record of how many you catch, on what, what time of day, weather conditions, water conditions. If you are fishing as much as you say, you should be able to see a pattern developing.

[logan9209]

Haha. The idea or premise is to see how they'd do without boats and, of course, to get a chance to be right there as they are catching them while I take notes. We all have dreams and outside of actually being on the boat with them, I think it's a pretty darn good dream. I'm not sure if I will ever lose the passion for catching bass. Sure I have days when I think about throwing in the towl. Then, like a junkie, I start getting that feeling where I need a fix.

I do keep record of how many I catch each day. I have it written down on the calendar. I don't, however, keep record of what I catch them on. Unless it's on a lure I haven't been having success with. January 10, February 14, March 21, April 44, and May 34. The reason I don't record what I catch them on is because 8 out of 10 times I'm using a trick worm and most of those are the black trick worm.

As I said in my first post, I realize that my feelings would be badly hurt along with my pride. But c'mon guys, you can't tell me that you never wished that your favorite pro was there just to take notes from them. Or to have them trying to talk to you only to be interrupted by a bass every other mid-sentence. Meh, fantasy. That's all it is and it never was meant to be realistic. On the flip side, I refuse to let go of my dream to become a pro in my own right and I will continue to strive for it. <-- Notice the word "strive". I know it won't be easy and it could take me the rest of my life. Until then, I will and always have enjoyed every bass that I catch. Even on days where I pull in zero, I still enjoy those days cause I am outside and I'm alive.

[logan9209]

BamaBassChaser, you're more than welcome here. Ever heard of Rome, Ga. or Armuchee?

[SirSnookalot]

But c'mon guys, you can't tell me that you never wished that your favorite pro was there just to take notes from

I can honestly answer that and say no........... I would't be dreaming about a 5# fish even if Moses was with me.
If I'm going to dream, which I don't, I'd be dreaming about catching a 150# tarpon on fly rod. A totally mute point as I don't have the talent nor the strength to do it at my age.

[Bassn Blvd]

I don't know about that, lets play along further... This is a bank fishing tournament which means they are going to be limited in a way that they are not used to sponsors, gear and everything else isn't going to make as much difference when you have to walk the banks. Being shore bound take a TON out of any professional anglers whole mindset. Locations, electronics, 30 different rods rigged are all out the window. Remember this is a shore bound angler wanting a shore bound tournament. Depending on time of year, and lake physics even the best fisherman might struggle to catch more than a few here and there.

IMO, i think your wrong. The pros he selected weren't born with sponsors or a boat tied to their cribs. They started out bank fishjing also. Do you think you would be just as good as them if you had their boat, electronics, gear and sponsors? Probably not.

RW pretty much nailed it on the head with his post. Shore fishing or from a boat, it would be a slaughter.

[BamaBassChaser]

BamaBassChaser, you're more than welcome here. Ever heard of Rome, Ga. or Armuchee?

Thank you kind sir. I have heard of Rome but I've never been there. The only places I've visited in GA are Brunswick and Atlanta.

[Addicted to Smallies]

The lower-rent option would be to try to get on Lunkerville. I LOVE that show, and the bank fishing ones are some of my favorites.

[backpain...]

You are missing an important part of my point. What I am saying is that the OP might not be doing too badly catching only a few a day depending upon the conditions he is fishing. Who knows if a pro would slay them or not. I know a lot of the lakes I fish you aren't going to catch a whole lot from shore after the weather warms up. There just isn't access to where the fish are. If there are no fish where you are fishing it doesn't matter what you have or how good you are with it.

But I wouldn't mind having a shot at them with their boat, electronics, gear, and sponsors. I mean come one... who wouldn't!

[Nitrofreak]

You are missing an important part of my point. What I am saying is that the OP might not be doing too badly catching only a few a day depending upon the conditions he is fishing. Who knows if a pro would slay them or not. I know a lot of the lakes I fish you aren't going to catch a whole lot from shore after the weather warms up. There just isn't access to where the fish are. If there are no fish where you are fishing it doesn't matter what you have or how good you are with it.

But I wouldn't mind having a shot at them with their boat, electronics, gear, and sponsors. I mean come one... who wouldn't!

OK so if you did have a shot, IN THEIR BOAT, and everything that goes with it, who's can would you wanna kick around?

Me, it would have to be, Ike, our personality is too much alike, the fishing would be an added bonus, not to mention the highlight reels would be really fun...come on Ike you know you want it LMAO !!!