A Sport Or Not?

[JT Bagwell]

By definition, tournament Bass fishing is a sport and competitors are athletes.

 

However if you ask most people, fishing is not a sport and fishermen are not athletes.

 

Recently, a person in a senior position at a sports nutrition company gave me the impression

that he didn't think fishermen were real athletes.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Is fishing a sport and are anglers athletes?

 

 

[MCS]

The word "athlete" is a romanization of the Greek: άθλητὴς, athlētēs, one who participates in a contest; from ἂθλος, áthlos, or ἂθλον, áthlon, a contest or feat.

 

I say yes, while it might not be the most physically demanding sport, however it tests mental strength and ability, hand eye coordination. You could also put it into a class of sports/events like the equestrian, archery etc.

[Wayne P.]

ESPN thinks Poker is a sport. Doesn't take much athletic ability to "play" that sport.

[Catt]

Tell that dude to hit the tournament trail for 1 year & then talk you!

[tomustang]

If you're competing with another I would classify that as sporting.You even compete with the fish on who's smarter but I don't consider that another person. So Yes if it's against any person and No if you're not against anyone.

[roadwarrior]

Sometimes...

 

For the guys I usally fish with fishing is strictly recreational which I would not

classify as a "sport".

 

For guys on tour, fishing everywhere under almost any conditions is a whole different story.

How 'bout 5' waves on Lake Erie? On several of the BassResource.com Roadtrips the main

lake on both Kentucky Lake and Guntersville were unfishable for "recreational fishermen".

[Montanaro]

In the context of physical/athletic nutrition fishing is not a sport worth exploring

[Sam]

Yes, fishing is a sport.

 

NASCAR is a sport.

 

Sky diving is a sport.

 

You don't have to have an event featuring a ball to be considered to be a sport.

[Todd2]

I love fishing as much as the next guy, but I don't consider it a sport.

[TrapperJ]

If poker is a sport, fishing is easily a sport.

 

an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

[AK-Jax86]

I would consider it a sport, trying to out smart your opponent is a component in ALL SPORTS and fishing by a land slide is that

[ww2farmer]

<------------------------- Does this guy look like an athlete?

[Felix77]

Technically if you are competing its classified as a sport. Its irrelevant how much (or little) one sweats in the process.

[joeyfishes]

Yes, fishing is a sport. Most people think that it's just casting out a worm under a bobber and letting it sit. We have to practice to be able to get better. Just yesterday, I spent 3 hours practicing skipping out on my pool (and learning how to get backlashes out). We have to spend hours on the water just to learn a section of a lake. 

[Fishing Rhino]

Being out in rough conditions does not make one an athlete.  When I was lobstering, I fished in far worse conditions than any pro bass angler has, for longer periods of time.  In addition, it required lifting and moving fifty pound lobster traps on a pitching and rolling deck, awash with water.  I will say it was nothing compared to the slop that the crabbers you see on deadliest catch experience.  That did not make me an athlete. 

 

Fishing in sloppy weather is more a matter of determination that it is athletic prowess.

 

Competition?  Spelling bees and debates are competitions.  Are the contestants athletes?  Not in my book. 

 

Poker is but one game played with cards.  Blackjack, rummy, bridge, cribbage are a few others.  They are all competitive. 

 

Call it a sport or not.  Call fishermen athletes or not.  Whether competition is involved or not. 

 

Definitions will not cause me to enjoy fishing any more, or any less. 

[J Francho]

Competitive bass fishing is sporting, so I guess it's a sport.  You don't need to be an athlete to fish, but being in shape helps.  And by "in shape" that doesn't necessarily mean the stereotypical gym rat. There's thin people that are woefully out of shape and bubbas that can outpace many.  There definitely are "fishing mucles." Every spring, the first few long days on the water tell me that, because I'm sore, lol.

[Nice_Bass]

Technically if you are competing its classified as a sport. Its irrelevant how much (or little) one sweats in the process.

 

I would disagree although the semantics point to you being 100% correct.

However, "games" are not "sports".  i.e. billards, darts, golf, fusbol, chess, etc.  Fishing, while not a game, is also not a sport imo.

 

 

It is just plain and good "fishing".  and for tourneys, "competitive fishing"  The term should stand on its on for its own unique greatness.

[Andrea Ortolani]

However,the fishing is a sport!!!!!

[Bankbeater]

Having to hike around a lake while carrying a tackle bag.  Climbing over fallen trees, and across gulleys.  I'd call it a sport.

[McAlpine]

JT, I think what the man was saying is that professional fisherman are not marketable to his demographic. He just had a different way of phrasing his point.

If anyone has fished tournaments religiously through an entire season they will know how physically and mentally demanding it can be. I can't even imagine what the pro's go through with their schedules and driving, stress and dedication.

Absolutely a sport.

[NEjitterbugger]

<------------------------- Does this guy look like an athlete?

 

LOL

[NEjitterbugger]

Yes, it is a sport... It is now officially a sport in my state, which is awesome! Here's an article about my team this year and how I got a team started in my school (we did horrible in the championship, I did get a real nice smallie though)... https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sports/high-schools/2013/10/17/milford-junior-helps-launch-nhiaa-bass-fishing-event/

 

I believe bowling and golf for example are also sports because the SCORE IS DEFINITE, apposed to cheer leading and gymnastics where the score is decided by judges. Don't get me wrong cheer leading and gymnastics are very physically demanding but aren't a sport in my book... It's the "DEFINITE Vs. INDEFINITE SCORE" that dictates whether something is a sport or not... Obviously chess is not a sport though...

[Ima Bass Ninja]

Yes it is a sport. Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as such ( also specifically references fishing. ). But I do not believe you have to be an athlete to compete in this sport. Some people are some are not.

[flyfisher]

Not a sport and anglers are not athletes.  

[birdoflight]

I think some people may be over-complicating it a bit.

 

Football jig.

 

Matter settled.