Hey guys -- as I was reading my latest issue of Bassmaster magazine something came to my attention that I wanted to bring up to see if I'm crazy or if other people feel the same way.

I've noticed that everytime a "pro" is giving his/her advice on how to catch more fish etc. it's 10% technique and 90% everything else.

For example -- I was reading something by Kevin VanDam where he talks about having some kind of sonar thingy that emits a sound underwater that to a Bass sounds like a wounded baitfish.  Are you kidding?!  No wonder he's a "pro" and is so good at catching fish -- he's got a freaking transmitter that's bringing the fish to him.  All he has to do is cast and wait for something to bite.

For those of you that are familiar with the Bassmaster magazine, they have a section in there titled "A day on the lake with (insert "pro's" name here).  In this section they take a "pro" to a local lake to show you how they would fish it.  This sound great when it's your lake that they're going to.  You finally get to see how a pro would do it.  Needless to say you become INCREDIBLY discouraged when you start to read the article.  The first 20 paragraphs are doing nothing but describing the electronics this guy has on board his boat.

I'm exagerating of course but you get the point.  These articles make it seem like unless you have 10,000+ dollars of equipment with you, you can forget about catching anything.  I'd like for them to take one of these "pro's" put them on my lake without their electronics, withouth their boat, and without suped-up lures and let's see how well they do.

Now I'm not trying to offend anyone that uses electronics, etc.  I'm just pointing out that sometimes it seems that these guys are going a little overboard.  A football pro is a pro because he has skills.  He can run, throw, catch whatever.  Are you a fishing pro when all you're doing is hitting the water and letting your electronics, etc. do all the work?

The deal is they have the stuff and can use. You might or might not have the stuff but can you use it. Pro's are pro because they take everything as far as they can push it.

Garnet

That's my point.  These fishing "pro's" are not taking and pushing anything.  Like the VanDam example -- what is he pushing?  What skill is he using?  What technique?  His skill goes as far as casting and reeling.  The sonar is doing the rest by attracting the fish to him.

That's my point. These fishing "pro's" are not taking and pushing anything. Like the VanDam example -- what is he pushing? What skill is he using? What technique? His skill goes as far as casting and reeling. The sonar is doing the rest by attracting the fish to him.

are you kidding me   the sonar he started using last year  ..drives the boat, prefishes, learns techniques,studies conditions,wins classics and angler of the year,,  

yeah its the sonar

VanDam is a extraordinarily skilled angler. Period. The man probably knows of more techniques, presentations, and how to properly use them based upon the conditions than most anyone else. You don't reach the $2 million dollar winnings plateau by "just using some fancy electronics". He has had to beat out a huge field of other highly skilled anglers to get where he is...and while using electronics helps measure conditions and point you in the right direction, there is NO electronic that is going to make you a better fisherman technique wise.

I stand corrected.

You're right.

Fishing pro's are fishing pro's because they know how to watch the weather channel and drive a boat.

That's my point.  These fishing "pro's" are not taking and pushing anything.  Like the VanDam example -- what is he pushing?  What skill is he using?  What technique?  His skill goes as far as casting and reeling.  The sonar is doing the rest by attracting the fish to him.

:  Good grief

Kevin Van Dam and the others have been catching LOT's of fish long before they had electronic gizmo's that emit baitfish sounds.  

I stand corrected.

You're right.

Fishing pro's are fishing pro's because they know how to watch the weather channel and drive a boat.

Now you're starting to sound like an envious, bank beating, no fish catching noob that wants to diminish the capabilities of those far better than you to make you feel better about your own inabilities to catch bass.

;D

KVD could catch fish in a mud puddle  All of those top pros are excellent fishermen.  

You give me saracasm I'm gonna give it right back.

I'm not trying to diminish anyones abilities.  Like the post above mine said...these guys are great fishermen.  Far better then I'll ever be.  I'm just saying that when you read these articles you start to wonder if they are really pro's when all they're doing is sitting on the water and letting their equipment bring the fish to them.

i dont wonder or question them when i read their articles cause ive followed them and know what they have done and are capable of doing...you read one magazine and assume you know their history..  

well since kvd uses biosonix..  and you dont maybe people should idolize you     cause you are the real pro

The pros have mad skills! I do however, understand your point. These guys have the best of everything, not to mention their schedules, which put them on some of the best fisheries in the country. I myself used to always think...Yeah, come on down to my local lake and let's just see what you can do. Truth is though, I have a different outlook these days. Professional bass fishing has evolved year after year, and even a non tournament angler like myself benefits from the things these guys are doing. I won't sit here and tell you that I'm a highly skilled fisherman, but I will say that I'm much further along than I would be without all I've learned from the pros. Let me say once more, the pros have MAD skills! Even if I had access to all that they have, no way I could hang with them. Could I possibly cover as much water during the course of a day as Kevin VanDam? Could I dissect a dock as thoroughly as Gerald Swindle? Could I crank a brushpile in 15' of water as effectively as David Fritts? Could I take my jig and saturate a laydown like my man Denny Brauer? My answer to all these questions is no. One thing I can do though is ask myself how each of these pros would tackle a particular situation that I am up against. I ease up on a series of laydowns and I think, OK, how would Denny approach this? I honestly believe that this helps me. My hat's off to the professional bass fisherman.

The equipment has been around for generations - sonar is a quite old technology.

No amount of equipment is going to bring the fish to the boat, the boat to the fish, or get fish to bite. Only the tackle in the right hands can do that.

you're right.  I think you're starting to understand what I'm saying.  I'm a newbie.  Until last year I never heard of Kevin VanDam.  So, when I picked up the magazines and started reading I noticed that 90% of the article was talking about electronics etc... and not technique.

I should have explained my initial post better -- to someone who is new to fishing can they really see these guys as pro's when all they're hearing is what kind of new electronic is being used?

It makes it seem like these guys don't know who to fish.  That all they're doing is turning on their equipment and waiting.

Thank you Craw.

You give me saracasm I'm gonna give it right back.

I'm not trying to diminish anyones abilities.  Like the post above mine said...these guys are great fishermen.  Far better then I'll ever be.  I'm just saying that when you read these articles you start to wonder if they are really pro's when all they're doing is sitting on the water and letting their equipment bring the fish to them.

So if I buy a $2000 color LCD graph, oxygen meter, underwater TV camera,  KVD signature series fish calling electronic device, throw a couple temp gauges on the dash and maybe a color C lector thrown in for good measure I can merely launch my boat, turn all that crap on and start casting right off the end of the boat ramp and start hauling in tournament winning stringers?

That sounds too easy.

If KVD was the only one that used those gadgets and gizmos then yes I would say it was an unfair advantage. But he isn't the only one. Dozens of tournament pro have them and use them and still only one person can win. I am all for the gadgets. They help drive the industry of fishing and if there was no industry we wouldn't be fishing.

That's what I'm trying to say!

When you're a newbie to fishing and you pick up one of these articles and all you're reading about is what electronics they're using it makes it sound like all you have to do is launch the boat, turn the stuff on, and wait.

That's it.  I'm not saying these guys suck.  I know they're good.  They're the best.

But you wouldn't know that by reading the articles.  That's all I'm saying.  I'm not putting down the fishermen -- I'm putting down the articles.

I apolgize.

Really, I'm sorry.

I should have explained myself better at the beginning.

Sorry.

Pardon my ignorance on this but are they any stimpultaions or rules to using the electronic call (so to speak) in BASS or FLW tournament competition? These guys are excellent anglers with or without all the fancy electronic gizmos. When ever going to a new body of water most of them is already working on a game plan well before getting to the ramp. they study topo maps, time of year, ect. Then once one the water they are great drivers and well as skillful anglers.

Pardon my ignorance on this but are they any stimpultaions or rules to using the electronic call (so to speak) in BASS or FLW tournament competition? These guys are excellent anglers with or without all the fancy electronic gizmos. When ever going to a new body of water most of them is already working on a game plan well before getting to the ramp. they study topo maps, time of year, ect. Then once one the water they are great drivers and well as skillful anglers.

IF, it actually works. I would have the most problem with the fish calling device.  Obviously, BASS doesn't.

I am in no way trying to deagrade you Bimbleton so please don't take it that way. I am speaking about newbies in general. I'm a newbie myself.

Sometimes newbies need to remember they are NEWBIES. It's easy to forget that these guys have put there time in to get where they are. Most of these guys started out just like everybody else that starts fishing. Sure they may have had more access to things and been able to spend more time on the water than some but Kudos to them. They're lucky. Having all the electronics in the world will definately help you catch fish but being on the water day in day out learning about weather effects, techniques, bait etc is what makes these guys pros. I'm sure they're are plenty of people out there that have most of if not all the same electronics that the pros have that have a lot less money and caught a lot less fish than the pros.

I understand what you're saying and I agree.

They are pro's because they have much more knoweldge and the skills to use it.  Well put.

Like I said before, being a newbie you wouldn't think these guys pro when all you're reading about is what kind of gizmo's they're using.

Thanks for the reply!

Bimbleton, you've discovered why many people on this forum, myself included, dislike Bassmaster.

Put simply, it's a sales pitch. Sure these high tech gadgets provide some edge, but it's all about promotion and sales.

If you want a truly educational magazine, my suggestion is subscribe to BASSIN. You can get a one year subscription for $4.88. Can't beat that!!

Absolutely.

I'll definetely look into that.

Thanks!