Pro losers

[OkobojiEagle]

How many of the major bass pros have never won a "pro" tournament?

 

oe

[Michigander]

By "won" do you mean first place or cashing a check? And what qualifies as a "pro" tournament?

[scaleface]

I'm not going to research it but quite a few . Brandon Lester has not won a BASS event

[Finessegenics]

I’d have to guesstimate that a good chunk (over 50% ?) of them haven’t finished first in a pro tournament. Think about it. There are 9 events per year on the elite series trail. Most of the time there are about 90 anglers competing on the trail. So for that year, there is the potential for 9 out of the 90 to win. Even just looking at the angler profiles on bassmaster, most of the guys don’t have a win. However, I’ll admit I didn’t look through every single profile.  I’m not sure what level they are counting though. I believe they are counting the Opens + Elite series when looking at these profiles. 

[12poundbass]

The biggest one that comes to mind is Gerald Swindle. He does have two AOY’s though. 

[Glenn]

How many NASCAR drivers never won a major event? How many PGA pros never won a "pro" event? How many NBA, MLB, NFL, players never won a championship?

 

I'm not sure what's the point of this thread.

[12poundbass]

3 minutes ago, Glenn said:

How many NASCAR drivers never won a major event? How many PGA pros never won a "pro" event? How many NBA, MLB, NFL, players never won a championship?

 

I'm not sure what's the point of this thread.

The Detroit Lions will never win a Super Bowl that’s for dang sure! 

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

The biggest one that comes to mind is Gerald Swindle. He does have two AOY’s though. 

 

FWIW, Swindle is credited with a Southern Open win, but if only counting "Elite/Invitational/Tour" wins, then '0' is the correct answer. I ran through all 88 pros on the Bassmaster circuit, and 39 (44%) are credited with a win (Tour/Open), and 49 (56%) aren't. That obviously doesn't take into account wins on other circuits that might have occurred but don't show up in BASS stats. If you were to only look at multiple time winners, that list dwindles considerably to just a handful or two.

 

If you went with the definition as anything other than first is next 'loser,' and take number of events into account, every pro is a loser in that regard, as that is just the nature of the sport. The best in the sport's history like Vandam, Martin, Nixon and Clunn only hit the 3-5% range in terms of victories.

[12poundbass]

2 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

FWIW, Swindle is credited with a Southern Open win, but if only counting "Elite/Invitational/Tour" wins, then '0' is the correct answer. I ran through all 88 pros on the Bassmaster circuit, and 39 (44%) are credited with a win (Tour/Open), and 49 (56%) aren't. That obviously doesn't take into account wins on other circuits that might have occurred but don't show up in BASS stats. If you were to only look at multiple time winners, that list dwindles considerably to just a handful or two.

Dang your good Brian! 

[TOXIC]

On all of the “pro” tours, winning isn’t the goal.  Consistently is.  The only time winning is the goal is single events like the classic or the cup.  

[Team9nine]

5 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

On all of the “pro” tours, winning isn’t the goal.  Consistently is.  The only time winning is the goal is single events like the classic or the cup.  

 

I think that would depend on which 'pro' you asked. I haven't heard many say, "I'm not here to win. I just want to catch some fish and cash a check." Maybe if you're just starting out or back in the old days. I have heard several pros refer to 2nd place as "first loser" though and be disappointed with that finish.

[TOXIC]

On 11/21/2020 at 2:41 PM, Team9nine said:

 

I think that would depend on which 'pro' you asked. I haven't heard many say, "I'm not here to win. I just want to catch some fish and cash a check." Maybe if you're just starting out or back in the old days. I have heard several pros refer to 2nd place as "first loser" though and be disappointed with that finish.

Meant to say consistency.  Of course they all want to win, they are competitive but it’s much more important to be consistent and cash checks if you want to stay in the game.  Least wise that’s what the pros on the old elite series that I used to talk to would say.  It is like asking which is more important, winning Angler of the Year or the Classic?  

[WRB]

When 1st started fishing bass tournaments at the club level my mind set was win 1st place every time out. This was a carry over from drag racing and boat racing where you win or put it on the trailer and go home. Coming in 2nd didn’t earn you anything.

Knowone can always win but for a competitor it’s always the goal.

Bass fishing pro’s didn’t get to top level by losing, they won at the secondary levels to earn the right to compete at the top level. Bass fishing awards points for finishing high enough to earn a check and earn enough points you qualify for AOY. Earning a pay check is extremely important in any pro sport, winning is the top prize. 

Tom

 

[Shimano_1]

I'm sure they all are playing to win every event or they wouldn't be doing it. Anyone who is competitive...and I assume any professional fisherman is...wants to win always. Having said that...im sure being consistent and cashing checks is considered a success. Id guess guys like ike and kvd don't need to cash checks with all their sponsors. The young guys likely need to cash checks to support themselves and their families. Some of them have had very successful careers and have never won, while others have won and had very short careers. 

[scaleface]

The pros  repeatedly say "You cant win it on the first day but you can lose it" .  That is more true when they visit lakes during peak periods but the tournament held this fall , the fishing was a lot tougher . Those are the tourneys I like  to watch. Its boring to some but to me it is more intriguing . I speculate there are some anglers who benefit from the shootouts while other anglers would find the grind outs more to their liking . I'm all for seeing some tougher tournaments scheduled .

[DitchPanda]

On 12/9/2020 at 7:07 AM, scaleface said:

The pros  repeatedly say "You cant win it on the first day but you can lose it" .  That is more true when they visit lakes during peak periods but the tournament held this fall , the fishing was a lot tougher . Those are the tourneys I like  to watch. Its boring to some but to me it is more intriguing . I speculate there are some anglers who benefit from the shootouts while other anglers would find the grind outs more to their liking . I'm all for seeing some tougher tournaments scheduled .

This!!! I love the grinder tournaments. West point lake from 13...the three rivers classic...anytime they go to the Sabine. Those tourneys are always more interesting...one fish can make a huge difference for somebody...guys grinding for a bite. Seems more like real life to me than catching a 40lb bag.

[roadwarrior]

7 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

...the three rivers classic...

That was the last tournament I watched. 

 

[DitchPanda]

10 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

That was the last tournament I watched. 

 

Ha..well I guess we all like different things. I get tired of watching guys crank a ledge or dropshotting small mouth. That's Barf for me.

[billmac]

I don't think Jimmy Houston ever won a tournament.

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, billmac said:

I don't think Jimmy Houston ever won a tournament.

 

He won two Bassmaster Invitationals about 10 years apart (‘76, ‘85).

[scaleface]

I think Jimmy Houston won a Bassmaster event on one of the great lakes . The water was extremely rough and he made the statement that he was going to make the run and win the tourney  or sink his boat trying . Anyway , thats how I remember the article .

 

 

He won on the St Lawrence , that might be the event I vaguely recall .

 

[billmac]

12 hours ago, Team9nine said:

He won two Bassmaster Invitationals about 10 years apart (‘76, ‘85).

Nice.  Jimmy would be a riot to fish with.

[NoShoes]

Bunch of top 5’s and 10’s pay better than 1 first. 

[billmac]

16 hours ago, scaleface said:

He won on the St Lawrence , that might be the event I vaguely recall .

Yeah, imagine that one slipping past me, it's right in my own backyard and I was still following BASS at that time.  Evidently my man Roland came in fourth in that one.

[Johnbt]

"Bunch of top 5’s and 10’s pay better than 1 first."

 

How about finishing in the money in 50% of all the tournaments he entered?

 

"In 1976 he won his first B.A.S.S. “Angler-of-the-Year” title, and followed it up with another B.A.S.S. “Angler-of-the-Year” title in 1986. Along the waterways of America, he has acquireded two national B.A.S.S. tournament victories, he’s placed in the money an astounding 50% of the time he’s competed and has won over $400,000 dollars along the B.A.S.S. and Wal*Mart FLW Tours."

 

www.bassfishinghof.com/inductee/jimmy-houston