Who's the best pro angler right now?

[Hawkeye21]

This debate started up on Facebook group page and it's been interesting.  It's not about the greatest ever but who is the best at this moment, based on the last few years.  another site world rankings has Jordan Lee first, Edwin Evers second and Bryan Thrift in third right now.  I think that's pretty fair to say at the moment.  The one person is arguing that Thrift is the greatest angler in the world right now.  What are your thoughts?

[Tennessee Boy]

By what standard?

 

I probably harp on this too much but I think the BPT is a different sport than the rest of the  tournament world.  The BPT test an angler’s ability to catch large numbers of bass around the spawn.  The anglers that can do that will rise to the top on that tour but it’s a very different type of fishing compared to what they had to do to get there.  Time will tell but I would go with Jordan Lee on the BPT.

[WRB]

The pro that wins the tournament. KVD has won 25 to date.

Tom

[Hawkeye21]

2 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

By what standard?

 

I probably harp on this too much but I think the BPT is a different sport than the rest of the  tournament world.  The BPT test an angler’s ability to catch large numbers of bass around the spawn.  The anglers that can do that will rise to the top on that tour but it’s a very different type of fishing compared to what they had to do to get there.  Time will tell but I would go with Jordan Lee on the BPT.

Based on performances against the level of competition they're in.  I think Lee deserves to be at the top right now with back to back Classic wins and how well he's been competing against the best in the BPT.

 

Overall I don't think it matters too much since they are not all competing in the same events against each other.

[Team9nine]

Wheeler, Thrift, J Lee ... more or less in that order, though there’s wiggle room there

[rowyourboat]

Jason Christie & Edwin Evers would be my top 2

[NHBull]

It's hard to argue against Lee, but I would never bet against KVD and for that reason the later

[Daniel Abram]

I like mike iaconelli. But a up coming guy to watch is mark Daniel's jr 

[newriverfisherman1953]

Nobody is THE best angler. You can name a dozen or so guys who are at the top but there are times that they all struggle and get beat. The top guys are there because they can flat out fish. We all have our favorites. I say they are all tied as the best. Way too hard to narrow it down to one single guy. 

[Catt]

Consistency!

 

Hack Attack is pretty consistent ?

[Jleebesaw]

8 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

By what standard?

 

I probably harp on this too much but I think the BPT is a different sport than the rest of the  tournament world.  The BPT test an angler’s ability to catch large numbers of bass around the spawn.  The anglers that can do that will rise to the top on that tour but it’s a very different type of fishing compared to what they had to do to get there.  Time will tell but I would go with Jordan Lee on the BPT.

You realize the spawn doesnt last through the entire tour, right?

[Glaucus]

I feel like ranking pro bass fishermen is a lot harder and not the same as ranking NFL QBs or something.

 

I really like Brian Latimer but he isn't the best.

[jbsoonerfan]

Impossible to answer. This isn't as simple as saying Tom Brady is the best QB in the NFL. 

[Glaucus]

11 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Impossible to answer. This isn't as simple as saying Tom Brady is the best QB in the NFL. 

Well he's not

[J.Vincent]

Currently Jacob Wheeler or Mark Daniels Jr have both been fishing well.....but my answer is Ott Defoe 

[jbsoonerfan]

3 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

Well he's not

Yea, okay. I won't argue with you though and make this go off topic.

[Dwbassin]

You see lee consistently finishing up there or winning and Evers. Lee is the next KVD. Evers is putting his name up with the all time greats though

[CroakHunter]

Wheeler. 

[Spankey]

I like Ike and Greg Hackney but will not rate them the best, hard to ever bet against KVD. 

 

As some one already posted it's tough to rate like a quarterback ratings in the NFL. 

[Brad Reid]

No, to anyone but KVD, now or in the past.

 

I saw some startling current statistics on how very much he dominates over a very wide statistical array. We sometimes focus too much on the Classic, even there of course he has dominated along with Clunn, but Van Dam is way, way ahead of the next angler even over the past 7 years through much of 2018.

 

Read this article from just 9 months ago or so. If anyone is sitting on the fence, not certain, if this doesn't change your mind, nothing will.

 

Brad

 

GOAT

Does that link not work to KVD stats?

 

http://www.another site.com/news_article/9287/stats-support-vandamÂ’s-mlf-prowess#.XJYasyhKg2w

[Tennessee Boy]

11 hours ago, Jleebesaw said:

You realize the spawn doesnt last through the entire tour, right?

I said “around the spawn”.  The schedule on their website runs from February 12th in Texas through June 5th in Oklahoma.  Tell me what I’m missing.

[JT Bagwell]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I said “around the spawn”.  The schedule on their website runs from February 12th in Texas through June 5th in Oklahoma.  Tell me what I’m missing.

I am following what you are saying based on the information that you have. They just haven't released the rest of the tournament dates/locations. For some reason they are just releasing them one at a time, which I find a little odd.

[Brew City Bass]

13 hours ago, Glaucus said:

I feel like ranking pro bass fishermen is a lot harder and not the same as ranking NFL QBs or something.

 

I really like Brian Latimer but he isn't the best.

I agree. The only way you could actually rank them is by counting tourney wins and money made.

Fishing has so many variables it allows people to be amazing at different things, and trash at others. Some pros do amazing at some lakes, and others fall apart at the same lake. It's just not a stats sport, so it's hard to even name anyone who isn't actually #1 in career wins. 

6 hours ago, Spankey said:

I like Ike and Greg Hackney but will not rate them the best, hard to ever bet against KVD. 

 

As some one already posted it's tough to rate like a quarterback ratings in the NFL. 

Legit question here. What do you like about Ike? I liked him when I was 16 and I thought his childish antics were a hoot, but now I'm a bit older and just find his breakdowns and cussing 'n swearing at events pretty white trash. 

Don't get me wrong, I love his enthusiasm for the sport and he's definitely helped grow it. I respect what he's done, but at the same time, I feel he's probably offended or pushed away a few people for being the a-hole he can be. 

[Spankey]

I agree with what you are saying. I like him just for being different. I do enjoy watching him fish and enjoy it more when he's fishing well. His Ike Live Show is pretty funny. He is who he is.

 

I don't idolize any athletes or bass pros but that's not to say there are ones out there that I don't like in their fields.

 

I'm not getting sucked in on an Ike argument. I don't care that much to do that. Or truly judge people I have my own faults and quirks.

 

Though Ike and Greg Hackney may be on different ends of the spectrum they are probably the only ones touring I would really want to fish with. Put Mark Zona right in there also but he's not touring. 

[jbsoonerfan]

4 hours ago, JT Bagwell said:

I am following what you are saying based on the information that you have. They just haven't released the rest of the tournament dates/locations. For some reason they are just releasing them one at a time, which I find a little odd.

Here's the full schedule for dates, but not locations.