Why do the older legendary pros struggle to compete ? ?

[Choporoz]

Is the OP anecdotal or true?  I'd be curious to see if age as a factor has actually changed over last couple decades.  Not curious enough to research and deep dive into numbers, but a little curious. 

I guess that it'd be important enough to some cross-section of pros as they age....that they might want to see some data.  Has the average age of winners decreased over time?  Average age of those above the cut?  Top ten finishers?  Is it more than age?  Years of experience?   I'm sure technology, stamina and family could all factor to some degree.  I'd be a bit surprised if desire and drive are big factors, but could be, I suppose.  Have tours become more exhaustive?  Longer hours on water?  More events?  Longer seasons?  I can see those factors affecting older anglers more than younger ones. 

[RichF]

I don't even know if we can compare the anglers of "then" to the anglers of "now."  Like every sport, fishing was much different 30 - 40 yrs ago.  

[Team9nine]

Some interesting stats on this whole question from Ken Duke:

 

Https://www.bassmaster.com/news/age-and-pro-angler-part-1

 

Https://www.bassmaster.com/news/age-and-pro-angler-part-2

[WRB]

The go to sonar experts the pros use to learn thier latest units nuances are older experts like Don Iovino at age 78. State of the art electronics may seem to be a younger generation tool and is, this generation will become the experts.

stamina includes both mental and physical conditions.

Tom

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Some interesting stats on this whole question from Ken Duke:

 

Https://www.bassmaster.com/news/age-and-pro-angler-part-1

 

Https://www.bassmaster.com/news/age-and-pro-angler-part-2

 

Those articles give the best insight to this question!

 

It ended with "If history and the numbers teach us anything about age and professional angling, it's that it's not a young man's game … or an old man's game."

[TOXIC]

On 3/3/2018 at 8:43 PM, WRB said:

In a word stamina. Older anglers have the skills, the drive, the knowledge to compete with younger anglers. You could toss in KVD in the older group now, do you think he is over the hill? Pro tournament anglers in thier 50's are at the top of thier game.

Age for some younger people who have never lived long enough to experience getting older think we slow down mentally and some older folks do others don't. Very few older anglers who have spent a life time on the water remain physically fit to travel and fish 3 to 4 tournaments days in a row under all types of weather conditions have the stamina to perform at the top of their game for the year.

Tom

 

X1000

 

The wear and tear these guy put their bodies through is huge.  Most of the "Senior" anglers have had multiple back, shoulder and arm surgeries as well as hands and knees.  Some of the young guns are also having problems with the same things.  Most don't understand the torture the trail puts on your body.  Heck, even as a guide, if I had over 3 days booked for full 8 hours, at the end of the last trip I was literally on fumes.  These guys with the practice, travel and tournament days crush their bodies.  What keeps them in the game is to work smarter not harder.  I have seen the routine an Elite Series angler goes through from practice all the way through a tournament because he stayed with me the entire time.  Have no doubts the grind is real.  

[LadiMopar]

On ‎3‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 10:09 AM, scaleface said:

Most of these guys who were once dominant , seldom make the cut anymore , let alone qualify for year end championships. Guys like Clunn, Grigsby , Yelas ... Do you think because they already made a success of pro fishing that they just are not motivated like they once were or do you think the younger anglers are just that much  better?

 

Rick Clunn is 72 years young this year, and watching him during the Bassmaster Elite on the St John's in 2016 was nothing short of Amazing! At 70 not only could he fish circles around a lot of those younger guys [skill and technique], but I figure there are quite a few he could physically run circles around! Heck, I got tired just watching him, but then he did bring in a whopping 81.15 lbs of bass in four days. And if that's not a full blown workout I don't know what is!

 

That being said, I don't think overall motivation towards our sport is a problem for these guys; [I've yet to see any of these guys not act like a kid when they swing a lunker in the boat] but as we get older I think priorities/responsibilities change.

 

Just an observation....

These guys you mention have all had pretty amazing careers in a sport/industry that is imho incredibly unique. Unlike other pro sports where you are guaranteed a paycheck by contract and sponsorship pays the bills probably to a greater degree post pro career, fishing for a living really seems to require solid sponsorship to have that professional career. So, if I were a sponsor I can only assume that the lions share of dollars would be given to the "up and coming" which could have a bearing on, at the very least, how often these legendary guys compete.

 

But if there was such a thing as "Make a Wish" for bass fishing folks, I'd be hoping every single day to have just one day on the water with Rick Clunn no matter what...even if he never won another tournament, although I'd be thrilled if he did.

[Rpratt]

Ironically on The Bass Pros this week during the Fishing in 5 segment Rick Clunn answered this threads questions and theories. Motivation, age and physical abilities/health, and electronics all play a part in the reasons it's so hard for the older guys to compete at the levels that they do. So everyone is correct ?

[OCdockskipper]

On 3/4/2018 at 3:53 PM, Catt said:

Legend as defined by Advanced Angler

 

A Legend of the sport is someone who has made significant contributions or achieved uncommon accomplishments en route to leaving an indelible mark on the history of the sport. These are individuals who have set new standards, created new trends and driven the bar to new heights.

 

Like I said let's see where these young guns are in 20 years!

Catt, I think you would have to agree we are seeing a legend in the making with Jordan Lee.  He is young enough to be my son, a completely different generation, yet I won't hesitate that there is something really special about this young man.  He seems to be a combination of Aaron Martens natural ability and Rick Clunn's flair for the big stage.  If he ends up adding KVD or Roland Martin's ability to close, look out.  As an old timer, I am looking forward to the next couple of decades as Jordan knocks heads with the old guard and the new up & comers.

 

Weren't Rick Clunn's first two BASS victories Classics?

[1simplemann]

On 3/4/2018 at 6:01 AM, Catt said:

I don't see any young guns setting themselves apart from the crowd!

 

I see some really good anglers but no legends ?

The kid just took a major step towards setting himself apart from the crowd. I thought JC had it in the bag. Have to give the kid credit! Congrats J Lee!

[Catt]

22 minutes ago, 1simplemann said:

The kid just took a major step towards setting himself apart from the crowd. I thought JC had it in the bag. Have to give the kid credit! Congrats J Lee!

 

Yes he did! ?

[LadiMopar]

14 hours ago, OCdockskipper said:

Weren't Rick Clunn's first two BASS victories Classics?

 

Yup, 1976, 1977, 1984 and 1990....but who's counting? ?

[Columbia Craw]

They don't.

[1simplemann]

10 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

They don't.

??

[Columbia Craw]

They don't struggle to compete. They are competitive. You're looking at the the Bassmaster Elite and FLW Tour pros. That's the upper crust in the entire country. They don't struggle.  They are just as competitive as any other competitor. Some tournaments just don't work out regardless of who you are. The longevity of their ability to be competitive is what made them a "legend."

[icuOklaCity]

There are some valid reason stated in earlier post. But I think the biggest reason is age itself. I'm 51 and in my mind I think I can still do think that I did when I was 20 and be better at it. Then reality steps up and slaps me in the face when the physical part starts. Your knees acke, your fingers don't work as well as they once did, and you eye sight is not as good.

 

So now at age 51 I can't stand on the front of boat running the trolling motor 8 hours straight due to knees hurting. Also balance is starting to become a issue with each pasting year.

 

Small task like retiring your line, changing baits, or even running line though the eyes on a pole are a big deal now, where as when I was young these are things that I did with out even thinking about it.  I could retie a bait and be back fishing in 20-30 seconds. Now it could take me 2 to 3 minutes or longer depending on light conditions. 

 

Eye sight is the biggest issue. Not only does it effect you on how you perpair your equipment, it also effects your fishing. Both your style of fishing and proficiency.

I can no long see my line most of the time. Making fishing plastics and jigs more of a pure feel the bite type . Before I could detect a bite by feel or sight. Now I can't see my line moving off in one direction, or it go limp on the fall. So now I find myself fishing more reaction type baits even when I know I need to slow down and fish a worm/bug because of my eyesight. Never worn glasses before.

[WRB]

2 Elite events this year won by Takahiro age 48 and KVD age 51, both older and in their prime at the top of the game. It was KVD's 25th major tournament win.

At 75 I can only stand and operate my trolling motor and fish for about 6 hours, we always have wind and waves to deal with. My physical condition isn't good but my muscle memory is very good for fishing, not so good for other activities.

Being retired gives us the advantage of picking the days to fish and avioding bad weather and high boating traffic periods. Tournament anglers can't pick the days or avoid bad weather, it's a tough sport in poor conditions for all the competitors regardless of age.

Tom

[Rahlow]

I think its simply a numbers game, more and younger competitors from the bottom up. I think electronics and such has opened competitive fishing up to people who may have not been able to compete if all they had was a "flasher"

[CDMeyer]

I myself have wondered this.  When I first started following the Elite sereis when I was younger names like Clunn, Grigsby and Shultz were studs.  However, all it takes is a look at the Elite AOY standings and scroll to the bottom and many of those guys are there.  As a former Highschool angler myself I wonder if programs for youth, hs and college along with electronics have contributed to it.  

My second theory is a little more controversial.  With all do respect to the guys mentioned before, I wonder if competitive drive is something.  Competing in high school state, regional and national tournaments I have been exposed to solid competition and they have instilled in us a drive and path to make it as a professional someday if we so choose.  As well, the education side has been incredible, each of the high school tourneys I was in was a learning experience in of itself being able to fish across the Midwest... as well as educational opportunities to learn more about the biology of fish and patterns along with how to be more efficient with electronics. 

I do not mean to sound like a punk kid by this, I am just bringing a point to the form that putting young anglers in tourneys like they now offer and giving us the tools to succeed we go into our future tournaments more prepared and confident. 

[Tennessee Boy]

Stacy King is another guy who has been doing well lately at age 69.  However,  I heard him say in the last few weeks, that he was too old to be a "power fisherman".