Drug Tests And Professional Anglers

[airborne_angler]

Some would say that fishing is a sport. In a sport the competitors are called atheletes. In all the other sports I can think of, the competitors havevto go through drug testing...does the same apply to Professional anglers?

[CPBassFishing]

I doubt it because fishing is not very physical.

[J Francho]

I doubt it because fishing is not very physical.

 

You obviously never had to fish competitively 8 hours in 4' chop with 25 mph winds and rain.

[CPBassFishing]

You obviously never had to fish competitively 8 hours in 4' chop with 25 mph winds and rain.

good point, but even that is nowhere near as taxing at a sports game.

[J Francho]

You mean like golf or baseball?  LOL.

My guess is you fish from shore most of the time.

 

If you are in shape, you at an advantage.  If you are taking PEDs, you are at an advantage.  I've heard rumors about doping in the pros, but can't comment, because they are just rumors.

[tomustang]

I understand the balancing act and standing most of the time, but I think stuffing weights and getting local guides to spot you on tournament days are bigger problems to keep eye on

[moguy1973]

http://www.bassmaster.com/sites/default/files/imce/2013EliteRules.pdf

 

They don't drug test per the rules, but it states clearly in section C6 (iv) in the official BASSmaster rules and regulations:

 

(iv) Chemical substance addict

ion or abuse, conviction of a felony or crimes

involving moral turpitude, or other conduct

reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sports

manship, fair competition and compliance with tournament

rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for partici

pation and/or for disqualificat

ion after circumstances are

reviewed by the Tournament Director. Any disqualification

suspension from, or other disci

plinary action regarding any

tournament or fishing organization shall be grounds for reject

ing any application for participation in a BASS tournament

and/or disqualification from a BASS tournament after ci

rcumstances are reviewed by the Tournament Director.

 

Also in section C6 (i):

 

(i)

Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over-the-

counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the official practice or during the tournament will not

be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future

B.A.S.S. tournaments. No alcoholic beverages, other non prescription

stimulants or depressants, shall be allowed in the boats during the official

practice or competition days, or when in the weigh-in area.

[NEjitterbugger]

I use PEDs, boat swinging 15lbs bass like it is nothing!

[airborne_angler]

I think that drug tests should be mandatory...its not just about fishing...its about boat operation too...and we all know intoxication(whether from drugs or alcohol) while operating a vessel is a big no no...

[Felix77]

Sometimes I think Ike is on something.  LOL

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I think that drug tests should be mandatory...its not just about fishing...its about boat operation too...and we all know intoxication(whether from drugs or alcohol) while operating a vessel is a big no no...

 

Won't happen unless there is reasonable suspicion of intoxication.

 

Besides, you'd have to be a complete jackass to get high/drunk on tourney day and expect to actually fish for 8 hours with any kind of edge.

[Rangerphil]

I know of people who use PEDs and I think they would absolutely help in fishing! If you were cranking or throwing a spinnerbait for 8 hours it would help you. However testing for these drugs is very expensive and I would not expect any of the tournament trails to implement this due to the cost.

[aquaholic]

You mean like golf or baseball?  LOL.

My guess is you fish from shore most of the time.

 

If you are in shape, you at an advantage.  If you are taking PEDs, you are at an advantage.  I've heard rumors about doping in the pros, but can't comment, because they are just rumors.

are you trying to say that fishing is more physical than baseball?

[Goose21]

PED's on the elite tour to gain an edge.

I've heard it all now.

[Goose21]

Worst case scenario I could imagine some using stimulants (not sold over the counter) to make it through a day but you'll never convince me anabolics give you am edge out on the lake unless you're with the pals out at party cove soakin' and floatin'.

[paangler13]

How many cast would an elite pro make a day? I am guessing over 10,000. that's a lot of repetition over four days of competition. Roids don't just make you bigger, they also help you heal. I would like to think it's not an issue, but I know one thing:

 

If there is a winner and a loser, there are cheaters.

 

good luck, stay pumped,

 

Jim

[tomustang]

 but I know one thing:

 

If there is a winner and a loser, there are cheaters.

 

 

You telling me when I was younger I cheated to win those pinewood derbys?

[flyfisher]

You telling me when I was younger I cheated to win those pinewood derbys?

Maybe not you but I am sure someone else was and most likely some kid whose dad was living his dreams through them lol

[tomustang]

Maybe not you but I am sure someone else was and most likely some kid whose dad was living his dreams through them lol

If that kids dad wanted to relive being a loser I gave it to him!

[Sam]

CP, want a lesson in bass fishing?

 

Fish a tournament.

 

8, 9 or 10 hours in the sun, heat, wind, waves, wakes, bugs and rain trying to find the bass and the pattern with your stomach turning as each second ticks off the clock and you have very few or no fish in the live well and there is a nice check for first place hanging in the balance.

 

Tournament bass fishing on TV only show the guys catching bass. The shows do not show the other 8 hours and 10 minutes of nothing in a 9 hour tournament.

 

Fishing from the shore is fun. Fishing from a boat is a challenge.

 

When in a boat you have to hunt to find the bass and the pattern for that hour.

 

You are limited to a specific number of rods and baits depending on the boat size and if you don't have the bait the bass want you are up a creek without a paddle. This happens to all of us who fish tournaments so research and a planning are critical to tournament success even before you hit the water. One friend in a big Virginia BASS tournament watched his boater nail bass after bass while he could not get a nibble.

 

Another friend fished with a guy who makes his own jigs. All this guy wants is five bites. That's all. He got his five bites in an 8 hour tournament and won it walking away. If you have the patience and confidence in one bait and want to invest 8 hours fishing then you can be a bass tournament fisherman. You may get skunked, but that was your plan and you stuck to it.

 

Check out the Ike video, Ike's Rules, Taking the Luck out of the Equation or the one on his website that covers the same material and you will have an idea of what it is like getting ready for a tournament.

 

So please consider joining a bass club or joining BASS or FLW to fish their state regional tournaments as a nonboater so you can have the enjoyment of meeting others who share our passion and tournament fishing. You will learn a lot if you treat tournament fishing as an educational experience.

 

And whatever you do, don't fall out of the boat!

[aquaholic]

 

8, 9 or 10 hours in the sun, heat, wind, waves, wakes, bugs and rain trying to find the bass and the pattern with your stomach turning as each second ticks off the clock and you have very few or no fish in the live well and there is a nice check for first place hanging in the balance.

 

 Sounds like a bad day at the beach, as far as having your stomach turn as seconds tick off the clock, try coming up to bat with 2 outs in the 9th with your team down and the bases loaded and all eyes are on you to come through.

 

Fishing from the shore is fun. Fishing from a boat is a challenge.

 

When in a boat you have to hunt to find the bass and the pattern for that hour.

 

You are limited to a specific number of rods and baits depending on the boat size and if you don't have the bait the bass want you are up a creek without a paddle. This happens to all of us who fish tournaments so research and a planning are critical to tournament success even before you hit the water. One friend in a big Virginia BASS tournament watched his boater nail bass after bass while he could not get a nibble.

 

 

I disagree. All fishing is fun, if its not you shouldn't be doing it. When your on shore you stay on shore, you dont have the option to move around like boaters have. On shore you are limited to what you can carry not your boat size.

[Zach Dunham]

Don't let this turn into a battle of how hard tournament fishing is versus fun fishing. All fishing is fun. I love to fish tournaments. I've been out on the water from dawn til dusk at the peak of daylight more times than I can count, with only water and barely any food because I didn't want to stop fishing to eat. That is all without any PEDs or stimulants. Not even a Red Bull. If people can do that without any PEDs, then PEDs aren't going to give any advantage. As long as you keep yourself in decent shape (and by that I mean not overweight and maybe run sometimes) fishing is more mentally challenging than physical.

 

Comparing to baseball is absurd. Baseball players aren't taking PEDs to increase their stamina. It is a baseball game. It isn't that taxing. They are taking PEDs to throw harder (pitchers) and jack more home runs (batters). Golfers may take PEDs to be able to hit the ball further and shorten to the course, or to be able to have more drive through thick rough. There is no direct comparison to fishing. Casting distance? Much more about proper motion and rod/line matched for the bait. I'm not that strong and I can cast a mile. And even the heaviest bass you may have to fight aren't going to put much physical strain on a person considering the equipment available. It isn't like you're fighting a d**n tuna.

 

PEDs would not have a big effect if any effect at all in fishing. The ONLY thing I could see the argument for here as far as helping goes is a stimulant after a bunch of long days in a row. As far as steroids? That's a joke.

[Rangerphil]

I will agree to disagree so not to start an argument, but taking steroids or certain PEDs absolutely will help and benefit a professional fisherman! Just my opinion!!

[Jrob78]

I will agree to disagree so not to start an argument, but taking steroids or certain PEDs absolutely will help and benefit a professional fisherman! Just my opinion!!

Agree completely.  PED's are not all about just gaining size and strength, there's a lot more to it than that.  

[AK-Jax86]

Kevin Van Dam just got busted in the Alex Rodriguez steroid scandal.