@A-Jay and @Swamp Girl for continuing to grind when most of the population would have retired to a life on the couch.

Lots of different folks that are hardcore for many different reasons. Honored to be mentioned with all the other names on here. I was wondering why I was getting so many notifications yesterday, but my fingers were too numb to want to try to check it on the water 😂 Yesterday was a full finger glove kind of day out there.

I'd give it to anyone who lives up north where the season is shortened several months because of the cold. There is no way I'd survive.

39 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

my fingers were too numb to want to try to check it on the water

Hardcore.

On 2/22/2026 at 8:38 AM, BigAngus752 said:

I want to add one more category to my scoring list. We will call it "legacy". For me, personally, the people on this forum that have most impacted my ability to excel and enjoy in my favorite hobby are @Catt and @WRB-2.0 . Another thank you to my online mentors.

This is spot on! Way to go BigAngus!

FIshingmickey

@A-Jay and @Swamp Girl get my vote. Ajay for his attention to detail, Swamp Girl for her dedication to time on the water. I thought that I spent a ton of time fishing until I started seeing the hours Swamp Girl puts in. I bass fish 4 hours a day most days of the spring/summer/fall, with lots of fall/winter/spring river fishing for other species. But Katie puts me to shame with the hours she puts in.

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Hardcore.

😂One of the other guys in our kayak club made that of me. Apparently that's what he sees when I show up to the ramp on tournament morning.

This is awkward. You’re all so hardcore it’s hard to choose who has the hardest core.

3 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

This is awkward. You’re all so hardcore it’s hard to choose who has the hardest core.

My core has become squishy as of late.

5 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

😂One of the other guys in our kayak club made that of me. Apparently that's what he sees when I show up to the ramp on tournament morning.

That's what Everybody sees !

#fear.

A-Jay

There's so many great fisherman on our forum, there's no way I could pick one or even 5.

I would suppose it would depend on the criteria.

Is it who fishes the most? Who fishes in any (bad) weather? Who is the most successful (and by what standards do you measure that?)? Who fishes in the hardest to get to areas? Who fishes with the most challenges (health, handicap, etc). Who does the most with the least (money, equipment, time, etc). Who does the most for the sport, or to get others involved?

The answer to the original question would be very subjective in my opinion.

Just food for thought......

On 2/22/2026 at 1:11 PM, TnRiver46 said:

@Team9nine and @GreenPig never seem to stop catching fish, therefore they must be trying pretty hard aka hardcore anglers

@bp_fowler and @BrianMDTX taking small boats into public parks/ponds and catching nice fish

But yeah @Zcoker everglades at night???? That’s beyond hardcore

Wow. I would never have expected to see my name in this thread. I’m humbled.

Hey man….. didn’t you swim after your boat to retrieve it? That’s hardcore!

46 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Hey man….. didn’t you swim after your boat to retrieve it? That’s hardcore!

Not my boat. My phone that was headed for the bottom lol.

definitely a kayaker. sitting in a boat seems so lux.

I agree, the guy in the Everglades on a kayak.

The guy who can’t afford all the good stuff but pounds the water every day because he loves it.

On 2/22/2026 at 9:58 AM, Mike L said:

I THINK you mean @geo g

(And you’re exactly right)

Mike

Thank you guys, I appreciate the thought!👍

I appreciate the kind words—thank you. That really means a lot.

I’ve never been big on ranking anglers or comparing myself to others. In my mind, anyone who picks up a rod, keeps learning, and enjoys being on the water has the potential to be “the best” in their own way.

What I do take pride in is helping people catch more fish, understand the why behind what they’re doing, and enjoy the sport a little more each time they go out. If anything I’ve shared over the years has helped someone do that, then I’m grateful to be part of it.

There are a lot of incredibly knowledgeable and passionate anglers here, and that’s what really makes BassResource special.

16 hours ago, Glenn said:

What I do take pride in is helping people catch more fish, understand the why behind what they’re doing, and enjoy the sport a little more each time they go out.

You succeed. I've told you more than once how you go fishing with me every time I launch. What you've taught me plays in my head.

16 hours ago, Glenn said:

I’ve never been big on ranking anglers or comparing myself to others.

I didn't envision this thread as a ranking. It's more about the person who posts than the person they name. Here's why:

On 2/23/2026 at 4:57 PM, Kirtley Howe said:

I would suppose it would depend on the criteria.

Kirtley's right. So, we chose other anglers based upon our criteria. Facing some minor health issues, I'm awed by anglers who power through major health issues. Frightened by cold water, I admire anglers who launch off of snow-covered banks. This doesn't mean that I can't see beyond my ken. For example, I don't fish with gators, but I can still admire those who do, perhaps because I've fished in bear country and bears bite too.

To be fair, it’s hard to be hard core if you work a full time job and have a young family.

A lot of ppl hardly ever post a pic of a catch or any at all but are really dedicated anglers so they don’t get the notoriety.

28 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

A lot of ppl don’t ever post a pic of a catch or any at all but are really dedicated anglers so they don’t get the notoriety.

Since "notoriety" means "the state of being famous or well known for some bad quality or deed," I better quit bass fishing since I don't want to commit bad deeds. ;-)

2 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

Since "notoriety" means "the state of being famous or well known for some bad quality or deed," I better quit bass fishing since I don't want to commit bad deeds. ;-)

I honestly think you know the intent

41 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

To be fair, it’s hard to be hard core if you work a full time job and have a young family.

To be fair, working a full time job and caring for a family matters much more than catching bass. So, if you take a kid fishing, that might not be hardcore, but it's the best. I worry that the Kid I take fishing might be distracted by girls one day and we won't launch together anymore.

2 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

To be fair, working a full time job and caring for a family matters much more than catching bass. So, if you take a kid fishing, that might not hardcore, but it's the best. I worry that the Kid I take fishing might be distracted by girls one day and we won't launch together anymore.

I know exactly what you’re saying. Time off the water last year meant helping mom and dad out last summer. My son - who still likes to fish with dad - was bummed but totally understands. As a matter of fact, dad was taken in ambulance to the hospital this morning at 2:30. I actually need to run back to the hospital.

My daughter also needed my help on the weekends in the month of August. So we were able to sneak in a few fishing outings in September. You live near the coast, being on the ocean can be a bumpy ride once Labor Day comes around.

But if I can’t help family when they need it then I can’t expect it when I get to my parents age.

So I’m hoping to fish more this year. The passion is definitely there, that I know.

Sorry for contributing to a thread that I probably shouldn’t have.

Good day