Super User jbsoonerfan Posted September 19, 2021 Super User Posted September 19, 2021 8 minutes ago, Mike L said: 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 This post right here should be very telling as to what it takes to truly make it as a Pro. A person has to not only be able to catch fish, but be driven to attempt to make a living at it. It takes a lot of belief in one's self to put your own money on the line to try to make it. Being wealthy sure would help, but most of the successful Pros have earned their spot. 5
Super User Catt Posted September 19, 2021 Super User Posted September 19, 2021 11 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said: It takes a lot of belief in one's self to put your own money on the line to try to make it. For some of us it wasn't about the money, it was about the sacrifice. We raised 6 kids, I would not ask my wife to do that. Lots of guys are lucky that their family can travel with them. Many guys have second & even third jobs. 5
Super User WRB Posted September 19, 2021 Super User Posted September 19, 2021 The average Joe can choose where, when and what time when to fish. If it’s a rainy windy day or hot blue bird day or a busy weekend etc. if Joe is under the weather no problem he stays home instead of driving for hours and eating junk food and staying hotels with electrical hook ups or with friends. Joe also gets to promote his sponsors to keep them happy. Fishing unfamiliar water today is a lot easier with all the GPS mapping and internet available to net work. Back in the day all we had was the seat of our pants and experience to guide us. Dominating pros who have been doing all this for years is a pipe dream for Joe. Tom 3
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted September 19, 2021 Super User Posted September 19, 2021 1 minute ago, Catt said: For some of us it wasn't about the money, it was about the sacrifice. We raised 6 kids, I would not ask my wife to do that. Lots of guys are lucky that their family can travel with them. Many guys have second & even third jobs. I am a school teacher. I don't make enough to support my wife and four kids without going into credit card debt every month. But they are the most important thing in my life. No way I would take a chance to be a pro and my family suffer the consequences of my decision. 4
Super User Mobasser Posted September 19, 2021 Super User Posted September 19, 2021 This is how it was and is for most guys. I raised four kids on carpenters wages. My wife worked most of the time too. Had I tried to turn pro in fishing, we could have easily gone broke in 1 month. I would have never done it. When you bomb, what do you tell the family? I've heard of guys who slept in they're trucks, ate gas station food, and really had a hard time trying to fish for a living. As much as I love fishing, a steady job always paid the bills, and brought home the bacon. 3
Super User Catt Posted September 19, 2021 Super User Posted September 19, 2021 I tell y'all what! I fished more when I worked! For 12 years I fished 3-4 days a week 14-16 hrs a day. I still fish 3-4 days a week but 3-5 hrs max. 1
Global Moderator Mike L Posted September 19, 2021 Global Moderator Posted September 19, 2021 It’s a lifestyle that you must be prepared to sacrifice for, accept disappointment and live with defeat. You can have all the passion and confidence in your abilities you need but most times than not for most, it may not be enough Mike 2
Super User roadwarrior Posted September 19, 2021 Super User Posted September 19, 2021 Let's stay on topic please. 1
MGF Posted September 19, 2021 Posted September 19, 2021 19 hours ago, WRB said: 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 Yes...I think it's about setting and achieving a goal. Rarely does somebody start at the top. 2
Zcoker Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 We all love that underdog who comes out of nowhere and shocks the world. I certainly think it’s possible for any exceptional angler who fishers for bass regularly to bare a strong showing against anyone, including pros. I’ve watched these pro tournaments and have seen very famous guys catch hardly any fish for a whole day, or sometimes no fish at all. And that’s while standing in a $$ bass boat with 30 rods and 5k worth of electronics! The word skunk knows no boundaries. I’ve also heard that it’s a rich man’s sport and although I agree with that to a certain extent, I think these sponsors may have much more to do with that than most would think. Sometimes, even, I think the sponsors are competing against each other and endlessly dumps money at their pro pawns in order to rival their competitors. To what extent these sponsors may go with their bottomless pockets can certainly appear like an untouchable sport to the average Joe. 2
BassNJake Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 There are levels to the professional bass ranks To fish as a Pro in the BFL series is $200 a tourney, which is affordable if you have a pro dream. How many of these average joe's are winning these events? How many of the average Joe's are winning the AOY in their respective BFL league? Hardly any, because the guys fishing at these levels are just less experienced pros. Many of the guys that fish in the Volunteer Division of the BFL's are higher level pro's, the best sticks on their given lakes, guys that guide everyday and fish every tues and thurs dogfight they can enter. Some have fished this division for 20 years. Not a single one would ever be considered an average joe. For everyone that thinks it's too hard to become a professional fisherman, sign up on the pro side of your local BFL, start cashing checks and start selling your brand to sponsors. After a couple years of success on the BFL trail move on to the Toyota Series in the next step to being a pro. 1
Zcoker Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 On 9/17/2021 at 9:24 AM, Captain Phil said: I know some anglers who could catch more fish off the bank than many of the tournament pros. There is much more than fish to fishing tournaments for a living. You know, I have to strongly agree with this because I was laughing at myself for entering a national tournament fishing against guys in $ boats while little 'ol me pounded the local bank lol. I didn't know what the heck I was thinking but I really didn't think much at all and just fished and had fun. That mindset got me the win. I wasn't concerned about who had the best of this or that. I only focused on my world, the fish and the fun, never once looking at the leader board until it was all over. And seeing myself on top with all my giants was truly a pleasant surprise! 2
BassNJake Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 On 9/18/2021 at 9:11 AM, scaleface said: 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 . I would hardly classify Nolan as an average joe, more like a blue chip prospect. The opens game is a tough life where many aspiring pro's end up drowning in debt chasing their dream. Here is the stat line from an opens angler that has been chasing his dream since 2011 and has not qualified for the Elite series yet. Someone I would bet on VS any average joe out there. 1
Super User J Francho Posted September 20, 2021 Super User Posted September 20, 2021 Nolan fits that description of someone that puts their money where their mouth is. He's also just a hoot of a human being. Proud to be acquainted with him through this site. 7
Super User Catt Posted September 20, 2021 Super User Posted September 20, 2021 52 minutes ago, Zcoker said: I didn't know what the heck I was thinking but I really didn't think much at all and just fished and had fun. That mindset got me the win. I wasn't concerned about who had the best of this or that. I only focused on my world, the fish and the fun, never once looking at the leader board until it was all over. Tournament mindset should never be who you're fishing against! It's you against the body of water & the changing conditions. 7
Super User scaleface Posted September 20, 2021 Super User Posted September 20, 2021 40 minutes ago, BassNJake said: I would hardly classify Nolan as an average joe, Me either . Hes a stick that can hold is own . There are a lot more out there . All the top pros were locals that would qualify as an average Joe as defined by this thread . 3
Global Moderator Mike L Posted September 20, 2021 Global Moderator Posted September 20, 2021 33 minutes ago, BassNJake said: There are levels to the professional bass ranks To fish as a Pro in the BFL series is $200 a tourney, which is affordable if you have a pro dream. How many of these average joe's are winning these events? How many of the average Joe's are winning the AOY in their respective BFL league? Hardly any, because the guys fishing at these levels are just less experienced pros. Many of the guys that fish in the Volunteer Division of the BFL's are higher level pro's, the best sticks on their given lakes, guys that guide everyday and fish every tues and thurs dogfight they can enter. Some have fished this division for 20 years. Not a single one would ever be considered an average joe. For everyone that thinks it's too hard to become a professional fisherman, sign up on the pro side of your local BFL, start cashing checks and start selling your brand to sponsors. After a couple years of success on the BFL trail move on to the Toyota Series in the next step to being a pro. Exactly right. It started for me fishing the TBF for a few years, then the BFL for 11 yrs, all as a co angler before I won a Championship and Toyota Series. I wouldn’t call the vast majority of those guys just an Average Joe. They may be your friends or neighbors on the street, but on the water they’re different people. As I said earlier, it’s a lifestyle that takes more than most can or are willing to give. Mike 5
Captain Phil Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Zcoker said: You know, I have to strongly agree with this because I was laughing at myself for entering a national tournament fishing against guys in $ boats while little 'ol me pounded the local bank lol. You may be surprised to find how many bass tournaments are won fishing at or very near the ramp. ? 3
Zcoker Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 22 minutes ago, Captain Phil said: You may be surprised to find how many bass tournaments are won fishing at or very near the ramp. ? I'm not surprised anymore! Some of the most plain or unfished spots have won bass tournaments. Kinda looks funny to be fishing the bank when in the back of my truck sits a nice new fishing Kayak. I actually catch more fish and bigger fish from the bank than in it, oddly enough. So I don't use it much anymore.
Super User J Francho Posted September 20, 2021 Super User Posted September 20, 2021 1 hour ago, Captain Phil said: You may be surprised to find how many bass tournaments are won fishing at or very near the ramp. ? Our club had a rule to prevent this. No fishing 500' from the ramp. Fishing the ramp is bush league. 1 1
Super User Team9nine Posted September 20, 2021 Super User Posted September 20, 2021 1 hour ago, J Francho said: Our club had a rule to prevent this. No fishing 500' from the ramp. Fishing the ramp is bush league. ‘ABC’ bass - “already been caught” - it’s one of the top check cashing patterns in Indiana ? 2
ironbjorn Posted September 20, 2021 Author Posted September 20, 2021 28 minutes ago, J Francho said: It's lame. "Tell me you suck without telling me you suck." ... "I fish the ramp in tournaments." 1
Captain Phil Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Zcoker said: I actually catch more fish and bigger fish from the bank than in it, oddly enough. Some years back I fished a sizable tournament at Toho. It was a team tournament with about 150 plus boats. Two guys in one of the boats broke down at the takeoff. They spent the entire day fishing with only their trolling motor and won the tournament. Fishing at the ramp is prohibited. Fishing in the area is not. Too many tournament competitors spend the whole day running instead of fishing. Another time, I fished a local team Classic out of Loxahatchee. My partner and I never started the big engine. The tournament officials sat in lawn chairs and watched us bale 6 pound bass all morning. ☺️ 4
Recommended Posts