There is very little in a pros boat that is not in our boats.  We have access to all the same baits, rods, reels, line, electronics and even the boats for that matter.  The difference is they are better at using the stuff than we are.

IMO the ONLY major difference between the pros on various circuits and the rest of us is time spent fishing.  If I could spend the time on the water every year that these guys did, I would be much better at casting, lure presentation, boat control and boat positioning.  I would be much more in tune with what bass would be doing based on weather and water conditions.  These guys do this so much and for so long it is second nature to them.  IMO, that is their edge.

Brad

good point.

agreed.

Bimbelton,

Great thread!  Seriously, this is what the forum is for.  If you don't understand something lay it on the line and the people here will be able to set you straight.  Since you are a newbie, I can understand your confusion.  If I were you, I would buy Kevin VanDam's book, Bass Strategies.  Read it.  Then read it again.  Pick out sections that interest you and read those again.  You will be amazed at the logical sense this guy's ideas contain regarding how to find and catch bass.  This book was published in 1994, early in his career, before Biosonix.  He had already claimed the Angler of the Year Title.  This guy is truly an animal when it comes to catching fish and his ideas will help you catch fish.  There are others as well but since you mentioned KVD I thought I would give you some info that would expose you to some of the fishing knowledge he possesses.

Thanks for the tip, I'll definetely look into that.

Speaking of which -- I already have his 3 disk set where he shows you a whole bunch of stuff!

The guy truly is an awesome fishermen.

Those articles sometimes make you think otherwise though.

Thanks for the reply!

Kevin Van Dam has only used the BIOSONIX for one season. He has been sucessful for about ten years.

Check this out:

    2001, 2005 Classic Champ.

    1992,1996, and 1999 Angler of the year.

    56 Top ten finishes

    99 top 20 finishes

And that dosen't count what he won while fishing in the FLW.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS THE "BIOSONIX".

THE MAN CAN FLAT OUT FISH. Please don't short change my hero. LOL

Just my humble opinion.

Falcon

                                           

KVD is likley one of the top 2 anglers on the planet as far as career goes. I do not buy into the bisonix thing. Just curious, is he sponsored by that company? It does take a lot of skill to be as consistent as he has been. Sometimes I put the word pro in quotes because some of these guys are just guys who fish the tour, there are about 15 to 20 guys who have truly what it takes to be called professional.

Falcon,

Please don't take offense to my article.

I'm in NO WAY trying to degrade KVD.

I was only saying that being a newbie -- picking up and reading those articles in magazines like Bassmaster it makes it seem like the only reason any of those guys are any good is because of their electronics.

90% of the article is blabbing about what kind of on-board gizmos he has and how they work.  The other 10% contains the location they were fishing, month/day/year, and what the result was.

It really MAKES ME MAD when someone says a guy like KVD couldn't catch fish without that sound emitter thingy > > > > > > >

Before that thing came out on the market He WON 3 BASS AOY and a Bassmaster Classic and an FLW AOY and about 15 big time tournaments without it so do't say he isn't a pro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nevermind...

There is no doubt about it.  Most bass pro's and certainly all of the elite series guys are superior fisherman.  

However, let's remeber why these guys are bass pro's.  Yes, they love their work, but this is how they make their living.  Winning tournaments can be lucrative at the higher levels, but it is an unreliable source of income.

Endorsements for major companies at the elite level, is a good paying, reliable source of income.

Ever visit a thread or website pertaining to professional bass fishing?

The first word a bass pro learns is "sponsor"

In addition to being outstanding anglers they are salesman for their sponsors products.  

Nothing is wrong with this, but let's not confuse who they are and why they do it.  

PS.  In case you haven't noticed, ALL magazines make their revenue by selling ads.

It's called "business"

That's a good point Avid. If I'm a pro and somebody wants to pay me to use their product I say what the hey. If the product works great I may catch more fish. If not at least it's helping me earn my living.

He Said New To Fishing.... Is their such a thing?      I here what you are saying but theirs a lot of skill involved theis Guys Fish 24/7 to keep that Extra Edge .

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!!

Bassmaster isn't a sale's pitch it is a very down to earth organization and as a member of a BASS affiliated Junior Bass Club with an adult club above us Juniors it offends me for someone to say it's a sales pitch or some other crap like that so with all due respect please keep that remark and ones like it to ur self. > >

Bassmaster isn't a sale's pitch it is a very down to earth organization and as a member of a BASS affiliated Junior Bass Club with an adult club above us Juniors it offends me for someone to say it's a sales pitch or some other crap like that so with all due respect please keep that remark and ones like it to ur self.  

I think that as a junior, you don't know what BASS was over the past 20+ years... it's not the same as it used to be and criticisms over the last year or two are well founded in many cases.  If you were a little older you might see it differently, or at least see that it was much less commercialized in the past.

No need to let your feather get ruffled.

Sponsors...Endorsements...Free Products...thats how these guys get wealthy. They got to their level on pure skill.

Bimbleton,

No offense was taken, I was just trying to show that these guys could fish long before all these gagets came into play.

I think that all those companies pay the pros to hawk their products. As has been stated, alot of these magazines have made our beloved sport too commercialized.

Personally, the only electronic device I have is the depth finder on my console. But I only fish the lake I have lived on for over thirty years.

Falcon

If a pro did bank fishing on his/her show, i think that it would be better then using all those electronics. Bank fishing is what most people do and begin with.

Bill Dance  use "BIOSONIX also.   KVD is not the only one.

Dr. Loren Hill is behind Biosonix and you would think his son would cleanup with dads invention. KVD is still #1 and Kenyon is not #1.

Garnet

I apolgize.

Really, I'm sorry.

I should have explained myself better at the beginning.

Sorry.

 hu-----  Thow shall not slam KVD. Or thow will be smited this a ugly stick.

 I know what you saying. I would like to see what some of better pros would do on my home lake with

the equitment I have. Just to see I not every one has a fish calling thing or a boat for that matter.

I would kill to spend the day with KVD on my pond just to see how he would fish it. no boat no gismos..    

Bassmaster isn't a sale's pitch it is a very down to earth organization and as a member of a BASS affiliated Junior Bass Club with an adult club above us Juniors it offends me for someone to say it's a sales pitch or some other crap like that so with all due respect please keep that remark and ones like it to ur self.  

I think that as a junior, you don't know what BASS was over the past 20+ years... it's not the same as it used to be and criticisms over the last year or two are well founded in many cases.  If you were a little older you might see it differently, or at least see that it was much less commercialized in the past.

No need to let your feather get ruffled.

Please don't tell me what I know and what I don't know.Because until ESPN bought BASS in 2001 they were under Helen Sevier and Dewey Kendrick and those two were anti-change which made northern and western anglers feel like outsiders and like they couldn't catch fish as well as guys from the south.When those two were in control BASS was terrible.I think Dewey's official title was tournament director but it should have been Napoelean of bass fishing.I may be 11 but I know my stuff so please don't tell me I don't.

IMO the ONLY major difference between the pros on various circuits and the rest of us is time spent fishing.  If I could spend the time on the water every year that these guys did, I would be much better at casting, lure presentation, boat control and boat positioning.  I would be much more in tune with what bass would be doing based on weather and water conditions.  These guys do this so much and for so long it is second nature to them.  IMO, that is their edge.

I strongly disagree.  While it is true that the more time spent on the water will undoubtedly improve anyone's skills, one only has to look at the results to see that some anglers are truly "gifted"  All the elite pros spend huge amounts of time on the water, but KVD, Ike, Aaron Martin, Rick Clunn (in his prime) Roland Martin (in his prime) and a handful of others are consistantly at the top of the pack.  Not at every tournament of course,  but at years end when the scores are tallied these are the guys who year in and year out are at or near the top.

Angling is a skill, yes one improves with practice.  But there are those among us who are blessed with the intellegence, drive, and natural ability to succeed where others who are equally dedicated do not.

It's called "talent" and it's a gift from God.

If a pro did bank fishing on his/her show, i think that it would be better then using all those electronics. Bank fishing is what most people do and begin with.

I've seen pro's bank fish on TV. They approach it with the same zeal and dedication that they use in tournaments.  

I feel that in winning tournements or any other  pro sporting event there is a very fine line in winning.  at a pro level these little devices and tricks are what it takes to beat others in a fine line.

for a recreational angler these gadgets are not going to be a cure all.  its far better to learn and use the fundementals before looking for a cure all answer.  golf is another sport to compare this with.

that $400 driver isnt didly until you got the fundementals down consistently    

Don't beat yourself up about what the pro's do or don't do. They live on another planet--and you are light years away from it. Fishing is about having fun, for you to become concerned about what Kevin Van Dam does or uses on his boat is like getting bent out of shape because you own a computer, but Bill Gates is a billionaire. Like any other professional in any other endeavor, fishing pro's get there by spending most of their waking hours on the water doing something they love. If fishing makes you happy, that is the one lesson that the pro's offer to us all that is self evident--so adhere to it, and not only will you be happier, but become a better fisherman too. Regardless of the number of gadgets you have with you.

I don't know about Biosonix, but as regards sonars go most of their value is to help the angler eliminate those large areas of any body of water where the fish aren't--saving valuable time. Used by skilled anglers, they may help locate better areas to fish than others. I can't tell you, because I haven't got that good yet. At this point, once I find baitfish I turn the thing off and concentrate on fishing. As a matter of fact, I've been using a sonar for a year and a half now, and I can tell you that to my knowledge I have not caught a fish yet that I saw on the sonar first. Putting around on the lake looking for structure to be fished later though has paid dividends--and can be fun in and of itself.