What makes a Professional Tournament Bass Angler?
February 1, 2011 by Steve Adams
Filed under Bass Tournaments
Disclaimer: I’m a rookie amateur tournament bass fisherman! That’s why I fish a rookie team league and as an AM in Pro/Am’s! …For Now!
I would love to see ALL circuits that have a “Pro” category regulate who fishes as a pro! I can’t go buy a Jersey & a Baseball bat and walk on the professional Baseball field and say; “I’m a Pro”! Or ANY other professional sport for that matter! Neither should a guy be able to do that at a Bass fishing tournament event just because he has a boat and entry fee!!! They should have to QUALIFY!!!
If we REALLY want to change the perception of “Professional” Bass fishing, and the participants being looked upon as “Athletes”, I believe it has to start at the Pro/Am level! Several Pro’s I spoke with that have fished the BASS Elite tour and/or FLW Tour seem to agree. I realize there is not an easy answer or a simple solution, but someone has to start the conversation and in the end I TRULY believe it will help the SPORT of Tournament Bass Fishing as a whole, plus build a field of TRUE Professional Athletes!
At my first Pro/Am event up at Shasta in Jan,2011, I saw & talked with MANY professional Bass fisherman and in the past have been fortunate to fish with a few! But I’ve also fished with and heard about several others that apparently have NO business fishing as “pros” yet. Those same guys could really learn a TON by fishing behind a Pro for a year or two and it would bring up the over-all level of professionalism!
Beside the self-proclaimed “Pro’s” fishing abilities, preparation, etc. (or lack of), what about boat safety? Have they ever even owned a boat before? How long have they had their current boat? Have any experience when the weather gets bad? etc. I’m a father of three, a husband and the primary breadwinner in my home. I wonder if these same self-proclaimed “Pro’s” realize they are taking MY life into their hands. I’m surprised the circuits have put themselves in this vulnerable position of liability.
It really SUCKS sometimes for those of us who fish as amateurs, pay good $$ to enter, travel, multiple practice days, etc. Then get paired with someone who SHOULD NOT be fishing as a Pro!
I hope to fish as a pro some day, but not until my abilities, character are proven and my peers consider me one.
What are your thoughts? Feel free to scroll down a but and leave a comment.
Bass Pundit Wrote: http://basspundit.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-makes-professional-tournament-bass.html
@BP Dave – Thanks for joining the conversation & your blog post.
“but I think he fails to appreciate something that I understand quite clearly about this sport. The ranks of “Professional Tournament Bass Anglers” are largely made up of people that can most accurately be described as Semiprofessional Tournament Bass Anglers.”
No, I do appreciate and understand that quite clearly. You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT in your description of “Semiprofessional” and just made my case even stronger with additional clarification of “the current state of affairs”. That IS the problem! The tournaments I’m larger referring to are “Pro/Am’s”. They are not called “SemiPro/Ams”
and as far as me “dealing” with it; I’m doing my best. This year I’ve signed up with a partner and I’m fishing a Rookie league team circuit. No more luck of the draw. But when it comes to Pro/Ams, signed up for two different circuits. Yes it’s the luck of the draw! But the opportunity to learn from Sooo many different guys some of which ARE Pro’s, is TOTALLY worth it.
Very well said on both sides! I think you both agree, but a small communication break down. I would love to see Pros who are not quite at Pro level called Semi Pros. Its a shame to those who are legit Pros (and you know who they are after 5 minutes on thier boat). Those legit guys deserve instant respect. If the sport was a little more strict as to who qualified as a Pro, the legit guys would have thier respect. This is just my opinion. Its hard right now to distinguish bewteen the weekend warrior who entered the pro division and the guy who is obviously at Pro level. Great and healthy blog post. I just hope it doesn’t ruffle feathers, because that would be a shame. were only trying to bring better light to those Pros who deserve it, while giving us guys on the back deck something to work towards.