Hey Natural i dont get the feeling that they have super reels but from the example I gave from the line of work i was in You would think it would be important not to have to swich up or have a reel repaired in the middle of a competion day So what would be unusual or so far fetched if these reels has lets say (spinning) a beefed of bail spring, a special handle on a rod , or on a bait caster amybe a more sturdy frame I dont think it would be a matter of an edge but a matter of durability

I'm sure the pro's have 5 or so baitcasters just laying around on tournament day incase one goes down.  Then they just switch them out.

I know for sure vandam dosen't use that cheap combo with his name on it. I am pretty sure he uses the tour edition pt reels and vandam and normal tour edition pt rods.

Of course he isn't going to use $75 rod/reel combo's.  His name is on those cheap combos for the casual viewer of a fishing event, so they can relate to his name when going to the tackle store and buying rod/reels.  If you knew nothing about fishing and seen KVD on the tv winning a tournament.  Then went to a store and seen his name on a rod/reel combo, I'm willing to bet, those newbs to fishing would buy that cheap combo.   Just because his name is on those combos, doesn't obviously mean he uses that crap.    By the way, who can't get there hands on the Tour Edition and Energy's?  I'm willing to bet, more often than not, KVD would walk into the local BPS and pick up a new Quantum Tour Edition "Burner" reel and use it in the next tournament.  Modifying an already great real doesn't do anything.

I did a seminar series in 2005. Larry Nixon was also doing seminars. I asked him that same question and he told me without a doubt things are modified.

I think they use the same stuff.

I am surprised no one has said anything about the most important modification I bet most pro's do.

DRAG

A good drag that is strong and smooth is probably done to most reels on tour. When fishing for $100,000 you are not relying on every day stuff.

Of course they are modified. Tiger Woods has new clubs made custom for him all the time and they have the Nike emblem on them. When Nike or any other golf club company is designing a new club they always ask their pros for input on the design. I would hope that the professional bass fishermen are pushing the envelope of rod and reel design buy having them modified and taking that knowledge back to the companies they represent to help in the design of the next generation of rods and reels to be places on the shelves. If they weren't doing that we would still be fishing with cane poles and a cork. Like auto racing is the proving grounds for new ideas in automotive parts. Professional bass fishing has to be the proving grounds for new fishing innovations and ideas.

Yes there modified!

To think they are not...  :-?

Every sport, the pros use modified equipment, why would fishing be different?

I don't care if they do it them selve or have someone else do it.

You want that edge, so if your gear can be modified to be alittle bit better than the other guy using the same gear, wouldn't you do it?

How many of you have modified your outboard to run better?

Do you run the stock prop?

How many change hooks from the stock one? yep you just modified it.

How may modifie their lures?

The pros do it all the time.

We get to fish the same stuff, but months or years latter.

How many times have you read, or seen on TV a prop saying

"I was using a lure, rod, reel, or line, that is still in development,or not sold to the public yet, comming out next year?" I hear that all the time

By the time that "modified" gear hits us. the pros have  modified the modified gear. again