When to consider yourself a Pro?

[smlbass]

When do you start to refer to yourself as a Bass Fishing Pro?

I have won several local team tournaments and sitting pretty well as a Co-Angler on the BFL Regional circuit.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want my income to come from fishing.  I am just trying to figure how to identify myself in relation to fishing.  My day job affords me the opportunity to fish on a higher level than local tournaments.

[5bass]

PM sent

[Grey Wolf]

When do you start to refer to yourself as a Bass Fishing Pro?

I have won several local team tournaments and sitting pretty well as a Co-Angler on the BFL Regional circuit.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want my income to come from fishing. I am just trying to figure how to identify myself in relation to fishing. My day job affords me the opportunity to fish on a higher level than local tournaments.

When the wife or girl friend pays you to leave the house to go fishing.

[Willzx225]

I would have to say when either a larger percentage of your income is from fishing, or when you qualify for and fish either the Elite Series or the FLW Tour/ Series.  

[roadwarrior]

Seems to me if a significant portion of your annual income

comes from fishing, you're a pro.

8-)

[smlbass]

Thanks for the replies to correlate percentage income to fishing. The problem I have with that philosophy is I have a high paying day job and for fishing to contribute the majority, I would have to make close to 6 figures fishing...bummer...

I guess I will keep considering myself an amateur and enjoy what my day job provides to me, the opportunity to do in my pursuit of cornering billy bucketmouth.

[JT Bagwell]

I have argued that same philosophy before too.

Let's say my buddy the brain surgeon makes $50,000

a year fishing tournaments. This is better than a lot of

Pros, but he really isn't a Pro because he makes 10 times

that as a surgeon.

I have heard this argued several times over the years.

JT Bagwell

[-HAWK-]

Seems to me if a significant portion of your annual income

comes from fishing, you're a pro.

8-)

So if you don't have a job and borrow money from your parents, you go out and win a few local tournaments. Are you considered a Pro? At that point 100% of your income would be from the few local tournaments you have won. ;D ;D

I'm messing around.

To me a pro is someone that fishes year round, in national level tournaments. Making all of there money from tournament wins and sponsorships/endorsements. If you have a full time job and compete in local club tournaments I wouldn't consider you a PRO.

[Tin]

Wow, must be some super low weights down there if you are winning with fish under 3 pounds... ;D

[smlbass]

Wow, must be some super low weights down there if you are winning with fish under 3 pounds... ;D

To be honest, I don't really keep up with the fish weights in my signature.  I plan on doing it every spring....but it falls by the wayside.  ;D

I guess I should change it to something better...~THINKING~

[Willzx225]

Why do you want to call yourself a pro anyways?  Just curious.

I've always been told that you are only considered a good fisherman when other people call you a good fisherman.  It doesn't matter what you say you are.  If that makes any sense.

[J P]

Your pro when you can pay your bills with fishing / people pay you to fish.

[frogtog]

40 years fishing experience and other people who respect you and ask you for advice. I would say this puts you in the pro category

[smlbass]

Why do you want to call yourself a pro anyways? Just curious.

I've always been told that you are only considered a good fisherman when other people call you a good fisherman. It doesn't matter what you say you are. If that makes any sense.

I was just curious when most people consider themselves to be professional bass anglers.  What you say you have been told does make perfect sense to me.  

[Ellesar]

If I asked you what is your job, what would you say? If the answer doesn't involve fishing, then I don't think you are a pro.

[Ellesar]

Thanks for the replies to correlate percentage income to fishing. The problem I have with that philosophy is I have a high paying day job and for fishing to contribute the majority, I would have to make close to 6 figures fishing...bummer...

I guess I will keep considering myself an amateur and enjoy what my day job provides to me, the opportunity to do in my pursuit of cornering billy bucketmouth.

I think the fact that you still have a high paying day job pretty much answers the question. If you were a pro, fishing and dealing with sponsors and such would be your day job.

[FD.]

I've always been told that you are only considered a good fisherman when other people call you a good fisherman. It doesn't matter what you say you are. If that makes any sense.

This is my goal in my fishing life.  There are several locals who dominate all year long regardless of the conditions.  I would call these guys the local pros.

[WBFishing]

This is one of those topics that is never going to to have an answer. The way I have always looked at it is anyone who wants to call himself a pro, can be a pro;in just about anything. I can call myself a professional carpenter because I can build something with a hammer and nails, but am I a legitimate professional carpenter--NO. Would I stand in a room of professional carpenters and say I was a professional carpenter and let my creditials speak for me?--NO.

I think it is the same with fishing. If you put up the money and fish against the pros, then call yourself a pro. Are you a legit pro though? Would you be willing to stand in a room of fishermen, announce yourself as a pro, and let your creditials do the talking against others that say they are pro? When you can answer "Yes", then you are a pro.

[-HAWK-]

This is one of those topics that is never going to to have an answer. The way I have always looked at it is anyone who wants to call himself a pro, can be a pro;in just about anything. I can call myself a professional carpenter because I can build something with a hammer and nails, but am I a legitimate professional carpenter--NO. Would I stand in a room of professional carpenters and say I was a professional carpenter and let my creditials speak for me?--NO.

I think it is the same with fishing. If you put up the money and fish against the pros, then call yourself a pro. Are you a legit pro though? Would you be willing to stand in a room of fishermen, announce yourself as a pro, and let your creditials do the talking against others that say they are pro? When you can answer "Yes", then you are a pro.

Good point. Let your achievements do the talking.

[slider head]

I've always been told that you are only considered a good fisherman when other people call you a good fisherman. It doesn't matter what you say you are. If that makes any sense.

X2

If you fish SML consistently you know who these guys are. I know most of them. The heavy hitters. They are the guys when you pull up for a tournament and see them floating around out there or backing down the ramp you say hmmmmm. Gotta have the A game today with no mistakes or I just donated. They are not invincible.....but they are always consistently on fish and usually in the money. This group can also pull these same results off on any lake in the region.

Then in my mind there is a subset of these guys. They are not quite as consistently on fish but seem to really excel during certain times. Pre Spawn..spawn etc.

It is funny. I think of SML as my home lake just down the road. SML and every other lake in this region has a bunch of SUPER talented fisherman on them every weekend.

[SportMN]

Like others have said.. Does it really matter?.. It shouldnt.

If I were you and you needed a "title".. I would say if you are making money and have sponsors.. you can be a Semi-pro.. its what I tell people when they ask.

[fishizzle]

Pro stand for professional which means fishing for bass is your profession (job).  If you still have another job fishing is a hobby.  Of course I guess one could have 2 professions.

Money from tourneys and sponsors should exceed your expenses too.  A pro also promotes products at expos too.

just my opinion

I guess  a Pro is self proclaimed in a way.

[The_Natural]

I think it's pretty simple.

Either you fish the Elite Series, the FLW Series, or you are a full time guide.  Even if I made a complete living winning every local jackpot tournament around, and also fished a lot of BFL....I wouldn't dream of referring to myself as a pro.  Pro's are the best of the best.  

[Elite Image Fishing]

A profession is defined as: a : a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation b : a principal calling, vocation, or employment.

So to be a PROfessional by definition:

1 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b : engaged in one of the learned professions c (1) : characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession.

So by definition... everyone is somewhat right, but even if I fished the Elite Series, FLW, BFL, or won a classic, angler of the year etc. I would never consider my self a total professional... I feel we all continuously evolve as anglers. We are always learning something new. So I am shooting for semi-pro.  ;D

[dale]

Maybe this will help... I get 1099's every year from fishing and need to file tax forms from fishing, yet I still am not close to being a pro!