How many "Average Joe" bass anglers do you think are out there who could dominate the pros?

[NavyToad]

I doubt there are very many anglers that could go toe to toe with ANY professional and beat them even 2 out of 10 days. Take away the electronics and there are even fewer IMO. 

[ajschn06]

22 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

I'm not literally asking for an estimated number, but rather seeking a discussion about guys out there that have all the talent in the world and then some, who could destroy pro tournaments. Do you know any? Heard of any? Are you one? 

 

Disclaimer: the only thing I could do in the pros is offer advice on food

This is like the pro golf argument.  Guys will be a +1 or +2 handicap, in the top percentile of the worlds golfers, and think they have what it takes to compete on the PGA tour, or beat an LPGA Tour pro.  No chance, I'd venture this argument is the same.... you may think you have it, but you really have no idea how far off you really are....

8 hours ago, Jaderose said:

This.  At the end of the day, they're just bass.  Obviously I realize that Bass Pro's face many many things the average Joe does not but if you dropped me and Dean Rojas and Ish Monroe on the same lake with the same frog set ups and told us we had 8 hours....no tv cameras in our faces...no drones flying around.....I'd like my chances.  Are they better than I am?  Yes.  Are they THAT MUCH better than I am?  Maybe, but as I said...I'd give it a go.

That's a different argument.  Anyone can get lucky for a day or run into a few good ones.... I figured we were talking about competing against them day in and day out and making a living...

[Jaderose]

23 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

 

That's a different argument.  Anyone can get lucky for a day or run into a few good ones.... I figured we were talking about competing against them day in and day out and making a living...

I don't disagree with you.  Could I outfish any pro using a full arsenal?  Nope.  I doubt I could outfish many or even most on here with a full arsenal but I'd go toe-to-toe with anyone with a frog.  If I got my butt kicked (likely) I'd learn something.  It's kind aof a can't lose situation.  Now....if I had a chance to go out froggin with Dean Rojas or Ish would I  challenge them?  Hell no....I'd keep my mouth shut and my eyes open.  

[Junk Fisherman]

Depends on the time and place.  I would bet there are quite a few locals at certain times of the year on their home water that would dominate a tournament against the pros.  But over the course of a season on the variety of waters that the pros fish, I don't think any average Joe would dominate the pros.  

[Bankbeater]

Dominate no, but make the pro work for it, yes.  I think it would depend on the skill and experience of the average joe.

[Big Hands]

Lots of people are talented anglers, but being able to be 'the total package' of a professional angler that could 'dominate' at the upper levels of the sport and would be willing to do what it takes to do so is rare. And it's not easy.

[billmac]

One of the things that separates any pro from amateurs in any endeavor is the ability to deliver under pressure.  With nothing on the line, perhaps some average joes could compete on occasion.  Pros don't have the luxury of heading in when they aren't biting, or it's too hot, or too cold, or too windy, or under a pouring rain.  This is their job.

[leinad]

in 2019 41,000,000 lic sold in US x .01% = 4100. given equal playing field, same boat, tackle, depth finders, same amount of practice prior to a tournament i think you can have at least 410 (.001%) that could compete( no such thing as dominate amongst pros). it's a numbers game , pros can go a whole day with few fish or catch many, same as "avg. joe". if i was a betting man ( and i am) by shear numbers i have to say yes (..001%).

[CrankFate]

On 9/16/2021 at 8:52 PM, gimruis said:

This is the most impressive part to me too. Going from one body of water that fishes completely different from another one on the other side of the country with only a minimal amount of pre fishing.

 

I routinely fish about 5 or 6 bodies of water but they are all pretty familiar and they are all within reasonable distance from my house.

 

I am pretty sure I would get murdered on a pro tour. In one event I might get lucky and catch a few fish but over the course of a season I know I don’t have what it takes.

 

^This

To catch fish, Yes—even I can do it. In new places and with different techniques. Good ones, too. To perform at the highest level, consistently, everywhere you go, always? Way more difficult than it sounds. The bags the pros get are just not realistic. I know, just from how often things people say about what works for them are attacked by other fishermen. Just that fact, that we can now see, because of the internet, tells me, it’s a different world from one place to the next. Few people have the ability to excel under those circumstances. To be able to study, trial and error and then do it? Across the country? That’s a gift and a discipline.

 

21 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

 you have never heard of them for a reason.

There’s a reason for anyone everyone has heard of. It’s not just because they quit their job and risked it all. People do that all the time. We still never heard of them. There is a reason. Survivorship bias makes it seem like it’s easier than it really is.

[jbsoonerfan]

2 hours ago, CrankFate said:

There’s a reason for anyone everyone has heard of. It’s not just because they quit their job and risked it all. People do that all the time. We still never heard of them. There is a reason. Survivorship bias makes it seem like it’s easier than it really is.

I agree, there are hundreds, no, thousands of guys that could have made it in the NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. if they had just had that one opportunity or break to make it. But literally ANYONE can attempt to be be a professional fisherman and earn their way on tour. It's like professional archery, you can pay to shoot the pro class, but can you make any money to be a "pro".

[MGF]

On 9/16/2021 at 8:52 PM, gimruis said:

This is the most impressive part to me too. Going from one body of water that fishes completely different from another one on the other side of the country with only a minimal amount of pre fishing.

 

 

 

But you have to enjoy doing that or somehow be driven to do it. I do 98% or my fishing on my local river because that's where my wife and I enjoy fishing. I would have to do things completely different if I were going to make a career out of it. Heck, I'd have to ditch the wife and my river.

On 9/16/2021 at 8:53 PM, slonezp said:

I gave up tournaments when I destroyed my shoulder 10 years ago. I really don't miss it. Traveling, fishing, traveling, fishing, is very tiring. 

I hate to travel.

[scaleface]

I think their are lots of guys with the necessary skillset and know-how that can catch bass and compete at the  highest level . Its a huge commitment to risk it all , a  steady job , away from the family,  ...  for a shot at making a living at fishing . Not many are willing to do that but that doesnt mean they dont have the skill set . Catt claims  know several and I dont doubt him .

 

 Look at Nolan Minor known here as @everythingthatswims .He darn near qualified for the Elites  fhis year through the Northern opens  . His worse finish was 41 . Hes barely old enough to drink a beer .

[billmac]

Look at the St. Lawrence River.  The place is literally crawling with 4 and 5 lb smallmouth.   An 18lb bag is likely to put you in 75th place.  You would think in an environment like that, it would be a crap-shoot as to who would win.  And yet, consistently, it's pretty much the same subset of pros.  There's a reason.

[MGF]

I don't think it makes sense to compare people who fish for fun to those who fish tournaments for a living. It's apples and oranges. The question I would ask is how many could be competitive after spending some amount of time working at it. I think that anybody who has set out to learn a profession or trade and made a success of it would have a good chance. So how many of us could learn/develop into it? Lots of us could.

 

 

[roadwarrior]

I have fished with several of the guys mentioned in this thread, a few pros and some

outstanding guides.  Someone that comes to mind, but not your "average Joe ", is Steve

Parks, our very own Big O.  Much like Rick Clunn, Big O can "smell" fish.  Perhaps one of

the main reasons he never went "pro" is his focus on BIG FISH.

 

[Catt]

37 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Steve

Parks, our very own Big O. 

 

Exactly my next coment ?

 

As I mentioned above there's plenty of guys who are very capable of competing at the Pro level but simply have no desire to do so.

 

As I also mentioned y'all putting the Pros on an awfully high pedestal.

 

[A-Jay]

12 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Exactly my next coment ?

 

As I also mentioned y'all putting the Pros on an awfully high pedestal.

 

Perhaps 

But this thread started out by comparing the average Joe with the Pros.

In my mind there is a big gap between 'a good stick' and an Average Joe.  There may be less in the way of performance and ability on waters across the country between a good stick and the Pro.

Personally,  I am hoping to eclipse average status any day now.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[scaleface]

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

But this thread started out by comparing the average Joe with the Pros.

Yeah, the words average Joe and dominate , the answer is no . There is not an average Joe who can dominate on the pro circuit . I think there are bunch of above average Joes who could hold their own on the top circuits .

[Catt]

@A-Jay & @scaleface

 

Thought the same thing throughout this entire thread. The guys I'm thinking of are far from "average" & no single Pro dominates this sport.

[ironbjorn]

To clarify my choice of words in the title meant 

 

Average Joe = not a pro being paid to fish

 

Dominate = someone who could be a star in professional bass fishing if they had the money and the will to do so

[WRB]

Must of the top pro bass anglers started off as club of local circuit anglers and earned their way up the ladder to fame and making money.

When I was my late teens early twenties thought about bass fishing for a living. Then I calculated what I needed to win to equal a steady pay check as a aerospace engineer. Recreational bass fishing and pursuing my goal to catch giant bass was a good decision in so many ways.

Comfortably retired and caught my share of big bass a win win.

Tom 

[Catt]

@WRB My thoughts exactly Tom!

 

Back in the begining of B.A.S.S first place took it all, no check for second or lower! That didn't change until 76 or 77.

[Mobasser]

I know I could never make it. I'm too used to fishing for fun, and not competing with anyone.                     Plus the whole lifestyle is not always glamorous. Racing from lake to lake, trying to figure it all out, grabbing fast food along the way, and being away from home.                                                 If your really good, you stay in better hotels, eat at better restraunts etc. But it seems like only a hand full live this lifestyle. It all sounds good, but there's a lot that never make it too. I think most would say it's not easy.

[Log Catcher]

I wouldn't want to live the life @Mobasser describes running all over the country and hoping you can stay in a decent hotel. I also wouldn't want to be guy that tells his family I can't be there for a childs graduation or some other important family event.

 

Several years ago I was in our local tackle shop. A fellow came in talking about bad the fishing was. He said he was in a tournament with 18 boats. Only 6 fish got weighed in.

[Mike L]

When I started fishing the SE Pro/Am circuit it was totally different than what I expected. 
Some years I did really well, some not so much. 
I soon realized to do it full time and keep advancing it would take much more than what Mrs Mike and I was willing to give. 
She would travel with me and stay in the motorhome all day by herself which always played on my mind. 
 

I realized also, even tho I could hold my own most times, it wasn’t enough.
And all things considered the overall life just wasn’t worth it to us. 
 

 

 

 

Mike