Pros On The Forum

[jhoffman]

I used to be a pro, not a bass pro sadly but i made it by "pro standards" in fishing as my income was all fishing based, i did seminars. Honestly, you couldnt give me that job again.

[Teal]

Capt Shane is not a BASS Elite. But he makes a living as a bass guide.... We have a few more successful guides on here that pay the bills by guiding.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

It takes a certain personality type to become a successful professional angler. Even if I had the chops to compete with KVD or whoever, there is no way that I could endure the lifestyle of garnering sponsorships and promoting myself the way that they do. There are many anglers who fish on a professional skill level who simply don't care to play the game or aren't outgoing enough to do it, many post here on BR. To each their own.
 

So I guess I'm a Professional employee.:-\

Pretty much. I'm a professional in my line of work. I was a professional paint bucket stacker at one point in my life.
 

I know some pros. They get a 10% discount on tackle. Lol.

I'd say by "pro" most mean either a working guide or competitive fisherman that derives the majority of their income from either. There's a few well known guides, and and a handful of guys that compete at the top levels on this site.

x2.
 
When I think of professional anglers, I think of anybody who makes a living from their fishing. A good analogy is that not all golf pros play on the PGA tour, many of them teach golf, etc (although most are PGA members.) Pilots are similar as they barely make enough to live off of working for regional airlines, but the experience they gain in flight time is the big payoff. Should I count instagram likes as my payment, and then in turn consider myself a pro angler?
 
By this logic however, many of the pros who fish BASS/FLW tournaments are actually not professionals. Look at their career winnings which are posted on their bio pages, and many have been fishing for years and made a modest amount of money (some as low as a few thousand bucks over their entire careers.) This doesn't take away from their skills/knowledge. Even the losers in these tournaments are incredible anglers.

[buzzed bait]

Doesn't Hank Parker write some articles? 

[Glenn]

Hank Parker and Iaconelli post here and write articles for the site.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/mike-iaconelli-video-11.html

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/hank-parker-bassresource.html

 

Scott Martin regularly posts here, as do many other elite anglers who prefer to remain anonymous.

[pbrussell]

That's right guys. 

I'm an anonymous pro. Now you have to figure out who I am.   

[pbrussell]

But seriously,

You know some of the pros that fish the bend on their circuits are checking out the toledo bend thread.

I know I would be.

[tholmes]

I don't know about pros, but I'd be willing to bet there are a few cons.  

 

You know who you are.

 

Tom

[bighed]

Much respect to the guys who can make a living tournament fishing.  As much effort as I put into it myself the most I expect in a year is to satisfy my need to compete and win a few bucks.  Sometimes it's very few. 

[slonezp]

I'm a legend in my own mind

[J BASS]

I always have wondered if I would have stuck with it and went full time tournament fishing myself....I use to fish 6 days a week do some seminars and was sponsored when I was younger....Also I started the local night club that KVD use to fish every week and his nephew still fishes from time to time...

Yep I would beat KVD every once a while or finish second to him a lot so I have no doubt I could have done it not having any kids and a understanding wife.....One major problem I am not rich and I know and have seen guys go broke trying to make a living fishing...

Also I am sure that there are many folks on this forum that could compete against say the elite guys or the top flw deal...It just takes money and 6 to 7 days a week 10 to 12 hours a day of fishing....Oh I forgot a good click is key....Kevin had it so does Jonathon I would think...you know his uncle.

I have made a lot of money also and am not saying how much but I am sure all my boats trucks and motels baits etc. cost more than I made.....I was luckey because all my tournament fees were paid and my last boat...

I still am not a full time pro fisherman today but who knows I win the lottery and I told myself I would put my money in for a year and give it a try....But what do we have if we do not have our dreams... I still fish 20 hours a weekend as I have this dumb engineering job...Jay

[Snakehead Whisperer]

One major problem I am not rich and I know and have seen guys go broke trying to make a living fishing...

 

I've seen a lot of guys go broke just fishing for the love of it, myself included. 

[Mike D from Lunkerville]

Mike D. From lunkerville is a pro by googles standards. He's every man's pro. He's on here.

this is true....lol... i'm the unexpected fishing pro... woohoo!!!... i fish for a living!!! (ask glenn for tips tho)

[Fish_Whisperer]

this is true....lol... i'm the unexpected fishing pro... woohoo!!!... i fish for a living!!! (ask glenn for tips tho)

 

 

Loved your spincast seminar on one of your episodes... 

[Mike D from Lunkerville]

Loved your spincast seminar on one of your episodes... 

 

yeah, next time you see me giving a seminar at a sports show, wear protective gear and stay alert

[jtharris3]

That's right guys. 

I'm an anonymous pro. Now you have to figure out who I am.   

 

You're not fooling anyone! You're the infamous Peanut Butter Russell!