When are you concidered a pro

[Nitrofreak]

OK so we learned about what 10 mistakes a amateur makes so at what stage are you considered a pro... disregarding any sponsorships...for example (not that this would happen but) If a amateur who let's say only has one year or less in the field and can catch fish on a consistent basis and win tournaments on a consistent basis... How do you establish a pro?

[5bass]

There's been several discussions about this before but the easiest way to understand it is when over half of your yearly IRS reported income is earned by bass fishing.

If you make $80,000 a year and at least $40,001 of it was made from tournament winnings, sponsorship retainers, etc...

You could go thru the pages in the Tournament Talk section and probably find the last thread about it. That's also where you'll find this thread in just a few minutes. 

[frogtog]

When you show up at a local tournament and they won't let you fish. ;D

[Nitrofreak]

When you show up at a local tournament and they won't let you fish. ;D

Funny!! ;D

I guess what I am asking is can you be considered a pro and not fish tournaments or are you considered an avid fisherman?

[Grey Wolf]

When you show up at a local tournament and they won't let you fish. ;D

Funny!! ;D

I guess what I am asking is can you be considered a pro and not fish tournaments or are you considered an avid fisherman?

To keep it simple , the answer is no.

[stratos 375]

to keep it complicated, the answer is yes. Guides by definition are professional, and some of them don't fish tourneys

[J Francho]

When you can spell considered correctly. And yes, guides are pros, and some don't fish tournaments, and certainly not to derive their primary income.

[Nitrofreak]

When you can spell considered correctly. And yes, guides are pros, and some don't fish tournaments, and certainly not to derive their primary income.

OK so I misspelled a word BIG DEAL and thank you for answering my question and I shall try harder to make sure my grammar is not in question when I have a question to ask.

[J Francho]

Forgot the jokey smile, my mistake.  Enjoy: 

[Nitrofreak]

No problem

Be safe and have fun.

[backpain...]

These boards are so friendly lately.

[Nitrofreak]

I think it's due to the spring like weather...everyone would rather be on the water rather than read post's from beginners like me. lol

I can't say that I blame them either.

[Matt Fly]

I don't think money plays into bass fishing.

   Anyone can be sponsored and don't have to be a touring pro.

  What makes you a professional in other sports?   when an amatuer no longer competes purely for the cometition of it and steps to the next level to compete for money.

    I'd have to say that becoming a pro is fishing against the same level of competion.

    I could be a professional guide, but that don't make me even close to a professional bass fishermen.

   Your not a Pro at the college level.

Amatuer events in our area don't ask if you fished against so and so, its based on the cost of entry fee to determine if your PRO or not.

      Example:  If you have fished more than 3 events with an entry fee of more than 2500.oo, you are considered a pro and can't fish our amatuer trails.

Just how many bass trails do you know of with entries over a couple thousand dollars?   

   

   

         

[basser223]

you can only be considered a pro if you can catch 50 percent less then what chuck norris can. On average he catches 500 bass a minute

[fishfordollars]

Well lets see:

An elite angler borrows 80,000.00 to fish for a year.

Entry fees and expenses amount to 70,000.00.

Interest on loan 6.50% (Maybe, but his credit score will suck after year one)so that is around 5,208.00 give or take.

If he is lucky he might win 30,000.00.

With the 30,000.00 he repays his loan with interest and that amounts to about 13,500.00 interest and principle.

This leaves 17,500.00.

He has a boat deal and the new boat is ready. He gets a new boat each year, but he cannot fish it until he sells the other. Notes due on older boat so he makes another loan to pay off the boat. 35,000.00.

Sells older boat for 33,000.000.

Puts 180,000 miles on new truck the first year, it breaks, he pays off(10,000.00) and makes a loan for another new truck and stacks the amount he is upside down into the second note.

He now has 55,000.00 note on a 40,000.00 truck.

He has yet to pay any personal expenses for his household.

With this scenario over half of the elite field would not be considered pros as they did not derive 50% of their income from fishing. They are living (If you want to call it that) off of loans.

I know this sounds silly, but I can name several guys that went for it the first year(On borrowed money) and lost their rear ends. They never won a dime.

Not all do it this way. I also know two great fishermen that qualified for the elites this year, but chose to not fish as they could not put together enough sponsor dollars to make it work.

[Nitrofreak]

Fishfordollars,

Would you consider those two people pros That is exactly my question.

If you can fish with the best and not for money or sponsorship deals...That to me is along with a great attitude and helping others is what I consider a pro.

What's your thoughts?

[fishfordollars]

Fishfordollars,

Would you consider those two people pros That is exactly my question.

If you can fish with the best and not for money or sponsorship deals...That to me is along with a great attitude and helping others is what I consider a pro.

What's your thoughts?

Heck yes I consider both to be pros. There is a lot more than catching fish to it; however, both have won untold dollars fishing the circuits in this area.

They fish, work, and represent in a way that would be a credit to any company out there. Both have families and their lifestyles are unquestioned. I wish the best for them and hope they make it one day.

I guarantee most of you would recognize their names, but without their approval I would never post it here.

[Nitrofreak]

Cool, I hope they both make it as well if that is what they really want.

Thanks for the reply Fishfordollars.

[Catt]

I can probably guess who Fishfordollars is talking about and can add another dozen names that while they only have tackle sponsorships they win addition money by driving certain name brand boats. The Texas state median income for a family of four is $59,808, half of that rounded to 60k is 30k; win a Bass Champs and you've up to 22k.

So are these guys "touring" Pros? No, but Pros none the less

[Nitrofreak]

So are these guys "touring" Pros? No, but Pros none the less

Great comment !!

[etommy28]

see I disagree with a few of the post. because i fish here in florida where I enter tournaments all the time along with people witht he names of Terry Scroggins, Brian Hugdens and, Preston Clark, and other guys have have fished the elites and FLW tour. but they are allowed to fish and are clearly Pros, so where do you draw the line?

[fishfordollars]

What makes you think we don't have to fish against the Tommy Martins, Todd Faircloths, etc, crews on our weekend tournaments here in Texas and louisiana? It's all the same. the touring pros fish these circuits whenever they have the chance. They have to go out and compete just like the rest. They have their good days and their bad days, just not as many bad as the rest of us, but they can and do get beat. You can't draw a line. They should be allowed to fish. If you're not happy fishing against the best you should pick another lesser circuit. JMO.

[etommy28]

fishfordollars what are you talking about, im agreeing with you. I was responding to what Matt Fly said. I agree completely with what you said and it is the best way to look at it.

Matt Fly said

"I don't think money plays into bass fishing.

   Anyone can be sponsored and don't have to be a touring pro.

  What makes you a professional in other sports?   when an amatuer no longer competes purely for the cometition of it and steps to the next level to compete for money.

    I'd have to say that becoming a pro is fishing against the same level of competion.

    I could be a professional guide, but that don't make me even close to a professional bass fishermen.

   Your not a Pro at the college level.

Amatuer events in our area don't ask if you fished against so and so, its based on the cost of entry fee to determine if your PRO or not.

      Example:  If you have fished more than 3 events with an entry fee of more than 2500.oo, you are considered a pro and can't fish our amatuer trails.

Just how many bass trails do you know of with entries over a couple thousand dollars?"   

   

[Catt]

I could be a professional guide, but that don't make me even close to a professional bass fishermen.

Do you know how many "Pros" are guides?

One does not have to fish the top FLW or Bassmaster events to be a "professional".

[Shane Procell]

I could be a professional guide, but that don't make me even close to a professional bass fishermen.

I would agree with this 100%.