How Many Elites Are Elites

[buzzfrog]

I had a long discussion with a guy at dicks yesterday about bassmaster elite pros. I mean not sure about him but I keep up with it, but not like everyday 24/7 hardcore. SO how many do you think are elites still. I mean we always here about IKE,, kvd, Gman. Paulanuck(sp?), skeet, duckett, clunn, Evers, Aaron Martens  even sometimes Ish. Now I know I am leaving some out but it seems a good 25 are really elite compared to the others. Chris lane and cliff Pace IMO haven't been big names until classic win.  Timmy Horton, comes to mind when it comes to elites that are a little off. I mean he can out fish me any day but there seems to be so many you never hear of. Just random chat, who do you think are the top weather they win Tournaments or not. who do you think sells themselves in sport the most

[smallieking]

Denny brauer put this subject in great prospective. He was on verge of a elite series win and he said about how hard they are to win. His exact words were when he first started there was probably 25 percent that could win any given tournament. Anyone else would need a lot of luck to win. Now there's 75 percent that could win any given tournament. And about 25 percent that would need some luck to win.

And I'm assuming you don't follow all tournaments. Chris lane proved himself before winning the classic when he won the southern open. There's hundreds of anglers that fish that tournament and he was the one that came out on top and won. Same as hank cherry he's elite. And cliff pace is so consisted. He's always in the top 20 in aoy points. Ike is prob the worst in your list. Ike is good but he lets his emotions beat him self. The only reason you think he's good is because they're are always cameras on him. He fishes the northeast region bass federation, which I fish. I've never seen him win and he's fishing against average joes and I've never heard him scream.... He only does it when cameras are around. Very smart to get sponsorships. He fished with my bass club on the three rivers and he couldn't catch anything. He even gave a poster to our one member, the poster was him and he signed it, hey rich paybacks are a *****.... We all out fished him. I think you need to do a lot of research before starting an argument. I think all them guys are elite. I mean look at how many ppl u gota beat just to get there.

[buzzfrog]

WERE IN MY POST  DID I SAY I WAS STARTING AN ARGUMENT. I wasn't soapboxing the people I like either. I think you just wanted to complain about Ike.  If you read what I said, I said elite in fishing and selling themselves. the fact you saying "the only reason I think he is good"  Did I say he was good.  I am sure there is lots of "no-name" (for lack of a better word) that can probably outfish some of the top pros. as for doing research, I was just posting a friendly thread for us to discuss, maybe you need to go back and research my OP. AGAIN let me repeat myself, how many do you think are elite in fishing vs selling themselves and how many do you think are just great fishermen vs elite status

[Sam]

I parallel the professional bass fishermen with NASCAR.

 

43 of the top drivers in a race. Not the same 43 but the same 40 each race. And one has to be the best to be successful in NASCAR.

 

Same with professional bass fishing. There are at least 30 "Elite" bass fishermen that will do well each year. Not each tournament, but each year.

 

Same as with NASCAR. You don't have to win every race but you do have to do well each year.

 

The professional bass fishermen are under contract to hawk their sponsors' products. Use them or not, the bass pros have to wear their patches; fish out of their boats; pose for advertising photo shoots; write advertisement articles in Bass Times for Berkley; and do what they have to do to keep their sponsors happy and the money and tackle flow continuing.

 

So when VanDam gets on stage he does not say he caught the fish using his Abu this and his Abu that. He says he caught them on his Strike King whatever. Maybe he did and maybe he didn't. Maybe VanDam modified the bait or used a different presentation that he is not sharing with us. Or VanDam used another company's biat or line or rod, etc. but he can't admit it.

 

So who are the "Elites"? All of the guys who fish in the Elite series, both BASS and FLW. And you have to be good to do this on a consistent basis.

 

We could get in an argument about the 31st on down pro bass fisherman and does he belong in the Elite class. But that is a waste of time as like in NASCAR, even Biffle and Stewart win from time to time. But Biffle and Stewart are among the best stock car drivers in the world which put them in the "Elite" status.

 

Interesting post. Will be interesting to read other's take on the query.

[nascar2428]

They are all great anglers, of the current roster, in my opinion Jason Christie is above the rest because not only is he fishing both tours( Elite and FLW) but he is winning in both this year. That makes him truly elite!!

[buzzfrog]

yes I was reading on Christie  that is amazing on his part, he is amazing

[Sam]

So are Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson...Elites in NASCAR!

 

I have an extensive bass fishing video collection and guys like Stacy King, Mike Auten, Woo Daves, Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker and others who are not exactly setting the bass fishing world on fire these days, but each has great information and they share it readily. At one time or another these guys were actively fishing tournaments and doing very well.

 

Anyone who can make it into the Elite Series in FLW and/or BASS are at the top of their game.

 

Just remember, these guys are fishing for a living while we fish for fun and enjoyment.  Big difference.

[buzzfrog]

I wonder if the elites that always seem to fall short, how do they make a living, I was told, I haven't  looked it up, but only the top 10 make money. I need to find a pay chart. I think it would be cool. Wonder if sponsors will keep paying after there anglers keep showing up in the back. I mean you don't want so&so talking about a product that always falls in the back.

[iabass8]

top 50 get paid in elite series events. it's a very gradual incline in money won until you get to first place. That is why there is so much pressure on winning as first place pays out usually around 72k(give or take a few thousand) more than second place while others only get 5k(again, give or take a few depending on fishing place) for jumping up the ladder.  

 

I believe all of the angles are "elites". They are good enough to be there and have clearly earned a spot to compete. obviously some pros stick out more than others and make more final day cuts than most but to think somebody on the 100 list of entrants isn't "elite" is foolish. 

 

Finishing well in tournaments is obviously a great way to get notoriety with sponsors. Having a personality(like ike who is one heck of a fisherman  who has proven himself and to say otherwise is ignorant) and voice that people actually enjoy listening to will get you a lot further than you think as well.

[buzzfrog]

top 50 get paid in elite series events. it's a very gradual incline in money won until you get to first place. That is why there is so much pressure on winning as first place pays out usually around 72k(give or take a few thousand) more than second place while others only get 5k(again, give or take a few depending on fishing place) for jumping up the ladder.  

 

I believe all of the angles are "elites". They are good enough to be there and have clearly earned a spot to compete. obviously some pros stick out more than others and make more final day cuts than most but to think somebody on the 100 list of entrants isn't "elite" is foolish. 

 

Finishing well in tournaments is obviously a great way to get notoriety with sponsors. Having a personality(like ike who is one heck of a fisherman  who has proven himself and to say otherwise is ignorant) and voice that people actually enjoy listening to will get you a lot further than you think as well.

great read, this is what I was talking about when I made the thread

[iabass8]

I forgot to add that I believe that minimum payout for elite series events (50th place up to somewhere around 40) is 10k.  it gradually goes up in small increments from there.  Not too long ago it was 5k so it seems like these tournaments are doing something right.

[Brian Needham]

everyone has a niche.

 

take clark rheem as example....... I heard him say one time that he really doesn't consider himself as a fisherman per say, but as a promoter.

there are several ways to make money out there, some do better than others it seems.

[buzzfrog]

I forgot to add that I believe that minimum payout for elite series events (50th place up to somewhere around 40) is 10k.  it gradually goes up in small increments from there.  Not too long ago it was 5k so it seems like these tournaments are doing something right.

oh wow

[Brian Needham]

http://youtu.be/hONJTxDhgjo

 

 

 

 

there are a lot of good videos in this whole series on this topic, very insightful, IMO

[iabass8]

i've never seen those. good videos thanks.

[Jrob78]

I follow the Elite Series pretty closely and keep up with FLW, BASS Opens and the PAA.  I think there are definitely some anglers that are the very top of the class.  I don't know how many I would put in that list but it's probably less than half.  Those would be the KVD's, Edwin Evers, Jason Christie, Skeet Reese, Brent Ehrler, Todd Faircloth, Brian Thrift......guys like that.  The guys who are a danger to win every tournament they fish and always finish in the money and always make the end of the season championship.  

 

Below them, I don't think the caliber of fishermen drops off too terribly much in most cases.  You have to remember these guys travel all over the country and fish these lakes on two and half days practice.  It's one thing to go to a lake in your state or region and do well, it's another to fish Lake Falcon in south TX and then St. Clair for smallmouths, all in the same season.  You have to be able to find fish and catch them, with very little practice time, in conditions and locations that you've never seen before and you have to do it for 4 days in a row.  Add to that the travel and the pressure of fishing for your livelihood with cameras watching your every move.  I think all these guys are "Elite" even if some are better than others.  

[flyfisher]

Anyone who is on the tour is elite. Just like any professional sport if you make it to the highest level you are in the upper echelon of your sport. There will always be those who excel there but if you think about how many people fish and how many are able to compete professionally an make a career I would bet it is even lower odds than the other professional sports.

[paul25]

yes I was reading on Christie  that is amazing on his part, he is amazing

 

They are all great anglers, of the current roster, in my opinion Jason Christie is above the rest because not only is he fishing both tours( Elite and FLW) but he is winning in both this year. That makes him truly elite!!

x2 christie is fishing out of his mind.

[buzzfrog]

thanks for videos

[Brian Needham]

thanks for videos

 

i've never seen those. good videos thanks.

 

 

You bet!

I was surpised on how open they spoke about it, yet you could tell they were a little stand offish on some topics.

really good series of vids.

[Zach Dunham]

There is definitely an upper level of guys within the FLW tour and the Bassmaster Elites. That said, they are all at another level when compared with an average Joe. There are definitely a few guys who are able to maintain their position because they are amazing at selling product for their sponsors. There are guys who have been on the Elite series since its *** who have not won an elite event or who have never done exceptionally well. They do enough to maintain their Elite position and they sell their sponsors' product like maniacs. They are still light years better than your average Joe-fisherman though.