9 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

 

The knowledge is there but physical effects of tournament fishing would do me in.

 

 

 

^^^this^^^ 

Thanks for the recognition...I nominate Glenn May 

Tom

I competed against this guy for more than 10 years. He dominated the local scene. Qualified for the Elites 3 years ago and hasn't done very well. Unless he pulls a rabbit out of his ass, I think this will be his last year.

https://www.bassmaster.com/anglers/chris-groh

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

I approach these conversations the same way I did when I was a bowler...and when I was a golfer.  It is one thing to dominate consistently on your home course, lake, lanes....quote a different thing to dominate at different venue every tournament. 

This is the most impressive part to me too. Going from one body of water that fishes completely different from another one on the other side of the country with only a minimal amount of pre fishing.

 

I routinely fish about 5 or 6 bodies of water but they are all pretty familiar and they are all within reasonable distance from my house.

 

I am pretty sure I would get murdered on a pro tour. In one event I might get lucky and catch a few fish but over the course of a season I know I don’t have what it takes.

 

2 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

Yeah I'm not a fan and think he's a giant cry baby and complainer, but these comments made me wonder. I mean there is merit to the fact that even if I was good enough personally, and I'm not, that I could never afford to even try.

He's not wrong about livescope though. 

16 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

 

The knowledge is there but physical effects of tournament fishing would do me in.

 

 

 

I gave up tournaments when I destroyed my shoulder 10 years ago. I really don't miss it. Traveling, fishing, traveling, fishing, is very tiring. 

2 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

Yeah I'm not a fan and think he's a giant cry baby and complainer, but these comments made me wonder. I mean there is merit to the fact that even if I was good enough personally, and I'm not, that I could never afford to even try.

Bass fishing is very expensive these days. To get into professional tournament fishing these days you need to be wealthy. To have a chance to compete you need to be wealthy. If you can't have 5k worth of electronics on a boat you won't have a chance at all. 

36 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Let's put together a super-team

@Catt

@Bluebasser86

@roadwarrior

@A-Jay

and Captain

@WRB

I pick these guys too, and Glenn!

2 minutes ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

Bass fishing is very expensive these days. To get into professional tournament fishing these days you need to be wealthy. To have a chance to compete you need to be wealthy. If you can't have 5k worth of electronics on a boat you won't have a chance at all. 

I'm pretty sure John Cox doesn't have anything but a thermometer, and trolling motor and a pair of sunglass on his boat.

I don’t know how they handle all that pressure without cracking. It doesn’t even sound fun having everybody eyeballing you all the time . Probably not many people that could perform at that level. 

3 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

I'm not literally asking for an estimated number, but rather seeking a discussion about guys out there that have all the talent in the world and then some, who could destroy pro tournaments. Do you know any? Heard of any? Are you one? 

 

Disclaimer: the only thing I could do in the pros is offer advice on food

I think the name "pro" is because they are in a league of their own,  I'm not saying casual anglers are bad, far far from it, I'm just saying professional anglers have an small edges over some of the best casual anglers from doing years and years of research and study, and those edges create a big lead 

52 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Let's put together a super-team

@Catt

@Bluebasser86

@roadwarrior

@A-Jay

and Captain

@WRB

 

WAIT !

 

THAT WOULD NOT BE FAIR FOR THE PROS, my fellas would do some serious bass whopping.

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

Dominate is a strong word. 

 

Now If the question was if an “average Joe” able to compete with the best, that’s different. 

I'm on board with this.  

 

If I lived in a different part of the country where major tournaments were fished regularly, I would pursue the opportunity to Marshal.  I imagine it would only take a few minutes to get a better grasp on this query.  My assumption is they play on a level that I would struggle to even imagine.  

 

I fished with a guy who was paired with Dean Rojas and the stories alone made me a better frogger ?

I doubt there are many guys out there that can out fitness Cody Meyer and Aaron Martens, out flip Greg Hackney, out shallow power fish Jason Christie, out-adjustJacob wheeler and jordon Lee, out crank KVD, etc. 

 

Navigating a schedule in that spans from florida to texas to the Great Lakes. But I’m sure a handful would do just as good as some of lower level pros. However I’m sure lots of non pros would be as successful if they had the time and experience the same waters yearly

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Let's put together a super-team

@Catt

@Bluebasser86

@roadwarrior

@A-Jay

and Captain

@WRB

That's a deadly combo, if A-Jay gets a hold of some mega smallmouth it's game over for everyone else lol. 

There is something that people aren't considering that I think is worth mentioning. Now first let me get out of the way the obvious: guys like Wheeler, Palaniuk, Clunn,KVD and many others are special. That said if a guy is a very skilled angler and an intelligent but not closed minded individual I think they could at least compete if they could financially swing devoting themselves to doing it as a job. Dominate? Probably not. Only Wheeler can do that now.

I doubt there are any nameless anglers who can simply dominate the pros. Let's face it, if anyone was that good, they could quit their day job and became a pro. It arguably may have already happened when Kevin Van d**n made his way through the ranks.

 

The real question is how many non pros could day in and day out compete with pros? I have no doubt there are non-pro pros out there, but that's an elite group and not the majority. How many non pros have the same level experience of learning a lake the day before the tournament?

26 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

I think the name "pro" is because they are in a league of their own,  I'm not saying casual anglers are bad, far far from it, I'm just saying professional anglers have an small edges over some of the best casual anglers from doing years and years of research and study, and those edges create a big lead 

I would define "Pro" as someone who can make a decent living at what they do, not necessarily being in a league of their own. All superstars are pros but not all pros are superstars.  

I have to agree with the general trend of this thread.  There's a reason local hot-shots seldom win when the pros come to town, even on their home waters.  To be able to read a vast array of types of waters, and adapt to changing conditions is a rare skill set.  I also have to agree that it has become a rich man's game.

Y'all sure putting the Pros on an awfully high pedal!

 

I know quite a few anglers who have the knowledge required to complete on the Pro circuit successfully. To some the sacrifices of home & family is just not acceptable. Others simply don't have the desire to fish Professionally.

 

Back in the early 70s I fish successfully around many top level Pros but sadly my exfather-n-law talked me out of turning pro saying it wasn't a secure way to raise a family...I had to agree.

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

Y'all sure putting the Pros on an awfully high pedal!

 

I know quite a few anglers who have the knowledge required to complete on the Pro circuit successfully. To some the sacrifices of home & family is just not acceptable. Others simply don't have the desire to fish Professionally.

 

Back in the early 70s I fish successfully around many top level Pros but sadly my exfather-n-law talked me out of turning pro saying it wasn't a secure way to raise a family...I had to agree.

A pro ball player plays within a specific set of rules. His/her opponent plays within the same set of rules. A professional fisherman doesn't have that luxury. 

When I was competing, I was happy if I could wash my expenses with my winnings. I competed locally in US Anglers Choice and traveled for the championship tourneys. Nothing compared to what the BASS/FLW/MLF guys do. It's a tough gig. Even tougher if Momma don't like it. 

Let me get back to y'all after today. I'm fishing a tournament today against a couple friends, it's $2 for best 5 and $2 for big fish. It's a 100% payout! That payout will almost cover my gas.? 

I have played with guys that shoot 66-68 on the local municipal course that literally think they could play with the Pro's. I just laugh and shake my head.

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

I would define "Pro" as someone who can make a decent living at what they do, not necessarily being in a league of their own. All superstars are pros but not all pros are superstars.  

I dunno because I have met a few superstars that are not pro's and if you really think I'm sure you have learned revolutionary information from superstars that are not pros as well, I have learned more from you guys, than pros I've spent hours to try to meet, maybe that's because yall are superstars and probably not pros, maybe the pros are superstars that don't share as much detailed information for fear of loosing an edge

13 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I have played with guys that shoot 66-68 on the local municipal course that literally think they could play with the Pro's. I just laugh and shake my head.

I, my dad, and a few friends play league 8 and 9 ball. I'm good but not great and I don't take it seriously because I prefer to fish. My dad and one of my friends regularly go to state, and from there to Nationals in Vegas. My dad and friend have both been top 8 at nationals. Both have regular jobs and, of course, families. I think we're missing out on many talented people in many different sports due to lack of funds and obligations.

2 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I doubt there are any nameless anglers who can simply dominate the pros. Let's face it, if anyone was that good, they could quit their day job and became a pro. It arguably may have already happened when Kevin Van d**n made his way through the ranks.

 

The real question is how many non pros could day in and day out compete with pros? I have no doubt there are non-pro pros out there, but that's an elite group and not the majority. How many non pros have the same level experience of learning a lake the day before the tournament?

I'd agree, but even if I was a superstar in bass fishing, I wouldn't want to deal with the stress of constant travel and strain on family, I want to keep bass fishing about therapeutic stress relief and mental healing, not be causing the stress yknow. Kind of like basketball, there are a few guys that got drafted for the NBA but didn't want to play, I'm sure there are a handful,just not many

I've won a tournament fishing against a local pro on his home lake and placed higher than a another pro fishing a tournament on LOZ, but I don't think I could do it regularly.