A Sport Or Not?

[Creekcrappie]

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.

You don't fish in the winter?

[Brian Needham]

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

 most say that until you sit at a table for 12+ hours....... it really is hard work. not digging a ditch hard, but it is mentally taxing and somewhat hard on the body.

[Brian Needham]

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

 yeap 14+ hours on the front deck can't be easy.

 

in rough water and a long day of fishing my body knows.

[RNSkeeter]

Not sure why anyone in this thread is saying it's not a sport - none of them gave any reason. By the dictionary definition, it is. Not really much of a debate on that point - especially if you limit the topic to tournament bass fishing.

 

Anyways I always use the term sport to describe it to non-fisherman. For instance "I fish for bass as a sport, it's very active". This helps people to understand it involves intense study, physical practice, mastery of brain-body coordination, reflexes, strategy, and a type of ruleset. It creates an easy to understand picture that differentiates what I do from passive "bobber" fishing, trolling around, sitting on the shore, and so forth.

[WRB]

Bass fishing is a type sportfishing. Are bass anglers athetes, some are, some are not. The top tournament anglers keep in good physical condition and would be considered athletes.

Tom

[SirSnookalot]

I don't believe bass fishing is a sport and no more difficult than many other occupations.  A prime example is Rhino's lobstering, I'm sure a hundred more jobs could easily be listed that people do 5 and 6 days a week.  I duly understand the passion involved but can't bring my self to think of it as a sport.  For me bass fishing is fun, enjoyable and I like it, but it's far from the most difficult kind of fishing I do.  IMO a tournament fisherman, whether it's bass, redfish, kingfish is involved in a competitive event not a sport.

 

Francho is right about being in shape, even an out of shape person is going labor some walking a couple of miles at brisk pace, I'm not talking power walking.  I boat fished 40 years in Lake St. Clair, been fishing the last 10 years about 340 days a year both boat and shore at ocean freshwater as well, I don't get these sore muscles that I read about all the time and I'm 68.  Am I an athlete................haha, not even close.

[J Francho]

You don't fish in the winter?

 

Not for bass.  Lures bounce off the water for a couple months every year for some reason....

[Deleted account]

By definition it is a sport, as in activity or pass time, not athletic competition requiring exertion. None the less, bass fisherman are in excellent shape, of course that shape happens to be round...

[RoachDad]

Here is my rule:  if you can drink beer and smoke WHILE participating, it is not a sport.

 

ha

 

I would add that if you can be morbidly obese and be at the top of your "game", it is not a sport.

 

Just because something is on ESPN does not make it a sport.

 

 

[PABASS]

Competitive Bass fishing is a sport, I won’t say all Anglers are athletes but I know a few  like Aaron Martens who keeps to an Athletes regiment with working out and eating correctly.   I am a big guy not an athlete but this year I am loosing the weight and exercising daily my stamina has gone up, I never sit when I fish tournaments, I don't want a seat in the back of the boat takes up to much of my space, this last tournament I was nowhere near as tired and my fishing improved.  Mind & Body you keep these healthy you can be a better angler; however like any sport raw talent is a key player.  The typical competitive angler that fishes from a boat for 6-7 hours burns more calories than a football player during a game.

[WRB]

Do you consider golf a sport? Golf is similar to fishing, top level tournament touring golfers and bass fisherman perform the sport under all conditions, storms may halt some events, and must practice constantly. A pro golfer must walk the course, about 6 miles each round and most are in good physical condition to remain at the top of the game. Bass pros, and I am using that term to top level bass tournament anglers, are not in as good of physical condition as most of the top level golf pros. However some bass pros are in good condition and work out to keep in good physical condition. Both could drink a beer during their competition if the rules allowed.

On the other hand you can bass fish relaxed sitting on a swivel chair if you choose, fish tournamnets and be in poor physical condition and call yourself a bass pro. You can't call those anglers athletes and that is the general population perception of a red neck bass angler. My hobby is bass fishing, not tournament fishing and I hate the difination of red neck bass angler, can't change what people think or how they perceive bass fishing.

Tom

[Jrob78]

Fishing and hunting are the original sports. That's where the term "sport" came from.

[Felix77]

 most say that until you sit at a table for 12+ hours....... it really is hard work. not digging a ditch hard, but it is mentally taxing and somewhat hard on the body.

Very true ... Keeping mentally alert for that amount of time is grueling!

[bigbill]

In fishing the fisherman and the fish are athletes. After all the fish are fighting for there lives. Since fighting is a sport than the fish are athletes too.

 

If you don't think fishing is a sport in the spring I say get up everyday at 3:30am to go fishing in the dark for three months everyday rain, snow or shine no other sport has decaded people like fishing.  I think the pro tournament fisherman are way under paid when we compare them to other sports and there athletes. Maybe that's why some of them won't call it a sport it would cost them more. Let's face it, it's not a job so it has to be a sport. It surely is a big money making industry.

[flyfisher]

In fishing the fisherman and the fish are athletes. After all the fish are fighting for there lives. Since fighting is a sport than the fish are athletes too.

 

If you don't think fishing is a sport in the spring I say get up everyday at 3:30am to go fishing in the dark for three months everyday rain, snow or shine no other sport has decaded people like fishing.  I think the pro tournament fisherman are way under paid when we compare them to other sports and there athletes. Maybe that's why some of them won't call it a sport it would cost them more. Let's face it, it's not a job so it has to be a sport. It surely is a big money making industry.

How many people do you know that go out fishing every day for 3 months in a row?  I was pretty dedicated and never went out three months in row.  I woudl imagien the only people that even come close to that are guides.

And pro athletes are paid what they are worth....Fishing does not bring in big money so they don't get paid the big money like the other real sports.

 

And if you want to know dedication get to know some triathletes....that puts everything in to perspective.

[Catt]

ESPN: 2002 fisrt ever Outdoorman of the year ESPY Award winner Kevin VanDam

ESPN: 2008 Top 10 Plays of the Day, #3 Kevin VanDam winning AOY, singularly the most dominan in non-team sports.

ESPN: Top Salaries in Sports 2012, #20 Kevin VanDam

ESPN thinks so

[roadwarrior]

Here ya go:  http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Olympic+Ribbon+Twirling&qpvt=Olympic+Ribbon+Twirling&FORM=IGRE

[flyfisher]

ESPN: 2002 fisrt ever Outdoorman of the year ESPY Award winner Kevin VanDam

ESPN: 2008 Top 10 Plays of the Day, #3 Kevin VanDam winning AOY, singularly the most dominan in non-team sports.

ESPN: Top Salaries in Sports 2012, #20 Kevin VanDam

ESPN thinks so

KVD is no way in the top 20 in all of sports for salaries. I found an article http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7858863/racing-boxing-highest-paying-sports-espn-magazine

it is from last year but his salary is 700k.  Here are some numbers for average salaries for the major sports:

NBA: $5.15 million (2010-11)

MLB: $3.34 million (2010)

NHL: $2.4 million (2010-11)

NFL: $1.9 million (2010)

 

So if you can assume that 2/3rds are probably below the average and 1/3 are higher with the highest amounts schewing the average more towards the bottom it is safe to say that KVD is probably not even in the top 200 in all of sports.  Just the phillies alone have 10 people making more money.

 

Also notice they don't call him sportsman of the year but outdoorsman of the year.  Not to mention ESPN has a vested interest in growing the "sport" as they show the tournaments and can make more money with additional viewers.

[coryn h. fishowl]

It is a sport with no athletes. ha. However, if you're fighting marlin or huge sturgeon, I'm sure you'd consider it exercise. 

[PABASS]

KVD is no way in the top 20 in all of sports for salaries. I found an article http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7858863/racing-boxing-highest-paying-sports-espn-magazine

it is from last year but his salary is 700k.  Here are some numbers for average salaries for the major sports:

NBA: $5.15 million (2010-11)

MLB: $3.34 million (2010)

NHL: $2.4 million (2010-11)

NFL: $1.9 million (2010)

 

So if you can assume that 2/3rds are probably below the average and 1/3 are higher with the highest amounts schewing the average more towards the bottom it is safe to say that KVD is probably not even in the top 200 in all of sports.  Just the phillies alone have 10 people making more money.

 

Also notice they don't call him sportsman of the year but outdoorsman of the year.  Not to mention ESPN has a vested interest in growing the "sport" as they show the tournaments and can make more money with additional viewers.

Keep in mind that only lists prize money, not endorsements were the real money is at..

 

"excludes endorsements, appearance fees, sponsorships and other income sources unless otherwise noted."

[David P]

Fishing for a full day burns well over 1000 calories... Casting and retrieving constantly uses muscles in your body and making thousands of casts can be physically demanding. Most sporting events last from 1-3 hours, we go for 8+ hours... Most sporting events are for one day, and there are typically rest days following, pro trails require 2-4 day events. Standing, especially in the wind puts stress on your body. I consider myself very physically fit with under 5% total body fat and being quite well built, certainly the majority of that is from the gym, but I also fish 3 days a week and have been sore and exhausted from fishing all day, just as I get from the gym. If it's a competition AND i'm physically exhausted afterwards, I consider it a sport - regardless of definitions.

 

 

 There's a ton of ways that this sport is physically and mentally demanding. I may not consider it a "sport" for weekend fisherman sitting around drinking beer (which is what MOST "fishing ignorant" people think of when they think of fishing), but certainly tournament fishing IS a sport and not sure how anyone can claim it is not.  

[Nice_Bass]

I respect all opinions, and fishing is one of my passions so keep that in mind however it is still not a sport in todays terms.

Nascar, not a sport either, although with some of the ideals perceived here nascar should also be a sport. (cant stand nascar though...)

[flyfisher]

Keep in mind that only lists prize money, not endorsements were the real money is at..

 

"excludes endorsements, appearance fees, sponsorships and other income sources unless otherwise noted."

I totally agree.  If you added in endorsements i would bet he drops even further down the list.  The most recent info i could find was from back in 2006 and KVS was getting 500k a year so even if you tripled that he is still in the 2m a year range which is still below the mean for all sports without including endorsements except the NFL.

[SirSnookalot]

It is a sport with no athletes. ha. However, if you're fighting marlin or huge sturgeon, I'm sure you'd consider it exercise. 

I've caught marlin, amberjack, sailfish and other bigger fish as senior citizen and I top the scale at a hefty 135#, my best physical days are in the past.  Strength and endurance come in handy but technique and knowhow  is what gets the job done.  I'm not even close to being any kind of an athlete.  Landing most fish isn't all that difficult.

 

 

How many people do you know that go out fishing every day for 3 months in a row?

One I know for sure, that's me.  Not always (do that as well) in a boat but I fish on average 4 hours of saltwater and a couple of fresh water better than 340 days a year and I'm no athlete, no weenie either..............lol.

[PABASS]

I totally agree.  If you added in endorsements i would bet he drops even further down the list.  The most recent info i could find was from back in 2006 and KVS was getting 500k a year so even if you tripled that he is still in the 2m a year range which is still below the mean for all sports without including endorsements except the NFL.

I know fishing is a Multi Billion dollar industry, how much of that is strictly from Bass fishing I can’t say, Bass fishing is the most popular freshwater fish, with that being said look at all the products that has KVD on it and its hard for me to think he isn't making little more than 2 million a year to bring it up with the lower spectrum of sporting events.  

Beyond this I don't classify a sport based on yearly salary, I did track specifically shot and you can’t argue this a sport and in my opinion its easier then 8+hours of fishing..  What made me an athlete for shot was my size and strength something you don’t need in fishing but you do need something else, mental attitude, drive, and raw talent which means many things but not everyone has this and that is why not everyone can be a professional angler in the sport of fishing.  I want to add something else from what I see of professional anglers the ones that finish in the top they are smart & logical, you need to be intelligent in this game and again not everyone has this..