Greatest Angler Debate travesty!!!

[Landis76]

That show is a complete joke. Mark Davis and Larry Nixon out before Bill Dance or even Denny Brauer? ? ? If Dance isn't voted out by next week, I am writing to the show. My top ten goes like this:

1) RICK CLUNN

2) Roland Martin

3) Larry Nixon

4) Kevin Van Dam

5) Mark Davis

6) Gary Klein

7) Denny Brauer

8) Jay Yelas

9) Hank Parker

10) Bill Dance

[Will]

It was actually the public that voted on the rankings. You are not the only one that feels some anglers may be to high or to low. During the countdown show on ESPN 2 the commentators also don't care for the ratings (Skeet Reese).

[Landis76]

I know that the people voted. If the "real" fishermen voted, the list wouldn't look like the way it does.

[Fatdaddy150]

Larry Nixon #6   no way. This guy should have been number 4!!

[Marty]

I haven't been following it, but I thought it was a joke from day 1, starting out with 35 anglers, about 30 of whom had no business being on the list.

Of the ten, I eliminate Parker and Dance because they haven't fished competitively recently. I eliminate Van Dam, Yelas and Davis because they haven't been at it long enough, Klein because he doesn't have enough on his resum é, leaving Clunn, Nixon, Martin and Brauer as the only viable candidates.

[Fatdaddy150]

Easy there Marty what has Brauer done that KVD, Yelas, and Davis hasn't? Infact I think they have done as much if not more, less time. I think that makes their accomplishments that much more impressive.

[Chris]

I think at the end they should have the pro's vote who should be the greatest angler and see if they pick the same people as the public.

[Fatdaddy150]

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA CHRIS!

[Landis76]

Of the ten, I eliminate Parker and Dance because they haven't fished competitively recently. I eliminate Van Dam, Yelas and Davis because they haven't been at it long enough, Klein because he doesn't have enough on his resum é, leaving Clunn, Nixon, Martin and Brauer as the only viable candidates.

Whoa, that is crazy. Those last three are the best of the best but KVD, Yelas and Davis are absolutely incredible.

KVD:

BMC titles: 1

BMCs fished: 14

FLW Championships Fished: 3

BASS Titles: 7

2ND Place BASS Finishes: 5

Top 10 BASS Finishes: 51

FLW Top 10 Finishes: 7

BASS AOY 1992

BASS AOY 1996

BASS AOY 1999

2001 FLW AOY

2002 ESPY Awards winner

2004 BASS Elite 50 Points Champion

Mark Davis: (and this doesn't even include this years E50s)

BASS titles: 4

BMCs fished: 13

BASS Top 10 finishes: 38

FLW Top 10 finishes: 4

BMC titles: 1

1995 BASS AOY

1998 BASS AOY

2001 BASS AOY

Jay Yelas:

1 BMC win

50 BASS top 10 finishes

14 BMCs fished

5 BASS titles

2002 BMC winner

2002 FLW AOY

2003 AOY

2003 ESPY Award

You cannot deny these stats!

[Landis76]

oh I almost forgot.

Gary Klein doesn't have enough on his resume? ?

BMCs fished: 22

FLW Championships fished: 6

BASS Titles: 8

BASS AOY 1989

BASS AOY 1993

I WISH I had a resume like this!!!

[Phishn_Phool]

Like the old story says "On any given day..............."

[5bass]

My list (now).....Nixon should've been 3rd or 4th

1. Clunn....just because of all the Classic titles

2. Martin....dont like him,but cant deny the dudes accomplishments

3. Van Dam....he's catching up quick

4. Dance....what could've been?

5. Brauer....should have been 8th or 9th(just b/c if they aint hittin a jig,he aint catchin much)

I believe that one day KVD will overtake the number 1 spot,he's got alot of fishing left to do.I'm not a big fan but the guy can flat out put bass in the boat.

The younger guys accomplishments are much more impressive just because the competition these days is so much tougher.150+ anglers in every tournament.....

[GobbleDog]

Bill Dance may have been pretty good back in the day, but I think he should lose points for his crappy tv show.

"Look at me! I'm in a private stocked little pond, that nobody else in the world can fish! And my lures are catching fish by the barrel! Amazing!"   :

[BD]

I watched it this weekend too.

I think Larry Nixon should be #1.

Opinions, everyone has one.

[CBedo]

I think you could make a good arguement for Nixon being number one, but on my list I have him three behind Clunn and Martin .  

The fact that the public voted him so low probably doesn't bode well for Rick Clunn.  He's not flashy and hasn't been in the public eye the last couple of years.

On the flip side of that, that's probably good for Roland Martin and KVD.

My two cents (probably not worth even one cent).

[Landis76]

Bill Dance may have been pretty good back in the day, but I think he should lose points for his crappy tv show.

"Look at me! I'm in a private stocked little pond, that nobody else in the world can fish! And my lures are catching fish by the barrel! Amazing!" :

AMEN. And everyone says, "What could have been?" But these anglers are being measured on accomplishments, not what could have been.

[Muddpuppy]

If Denny Brauer can fish competitivley with a bad back he has got to be a true fisherman.  So I give him points for that.  Jay Yelas just bought out all the really good colored Horney Toads at a small shop that I go to, so I will have to deduct a few point from him.  But since he still patronises these smaller places, I guess I will have to give them back plus some.

[Raul]

I 'm very much with Marty 's choices and also with the way his process of elimination works. Personally I think that Clunn is the most consistent of them all, look at the stats and here 's always in the list and that has been for a long time.

[Landis76]

I eliminate Van Dam, Yelas and Davis because they haven't been at it long enough,

Jay Yelas has been fishing professionally for 18 years and Mark Davis has been fishing professionally for 23 years!! These guys are not the new kids on the block. Denny Brauer has only fished 2 years longer than Davis so why would he be in and not the other guys? Sorry to rant.

[Muddpuppy]

I haven't seen the show, so is the concept based on who has caught the most fish professionaly or who has made the bigest impact on professional fishing? Some of the people named that are getting culled out really helped in makeing pro bass fishing and bass fishing in general what it is today. Fishing 23 years ago was a little different than fishing today.

[ball_coach_1]

If they would have clarified what makes for the 'greatest angler', that would have made it less complicated. Of course, that is probably why they didn't clarifiy.

I grew up a big Larry Nixon fan, so my heart is with him, but I would probably rank him third.  And I believe if they did this debate 10 years from now it would be Kevin Van Dam hands down.

BUT...it has to be either Rick Clunn or Roland Martin.

How can you argue with those two guys' career statistics?  Clunn with that many wins and Classic championships, and Martin winning angler of the year 9 times....come on, these others don't touch that.    My top four, if I HAD to choose:

1.  Roland Martin (that is hard to type)

2. Rick Clunn

3.  Larry Nixon

4.  Kevin Van Dam

[abelfisher]

Hey, I have to admit, Bill Dance is my sentimental favorite.  Whether he is the best or not is debatable.  I don't know much about the statistics of these finalists and such so I can't argue with most of you on this subject.  The only thing I can argue with is the logic used in a few instances regaridng who should and who shouldn't be on the list.  First, the contest is for "the greatest angler of all time"  The fact that some may have not fished competitively recently so they should not be on the list is flawed logic.  That would be like saying a Larry Bird or Michael Jordan shouldn't be considered  for basketball because they have not played rfecently, just doesn't make good logic.  Hope this makes sense.

[D.Taylor]

I wouldnt put Roland Martin in my top 5. FOr the simple reason it is well known the entorague he used to have prefish for him. I'm sure the others had it as well. When my mom fished a Bassn'Gal tourney in the 80's or early 90's she herd he would have 200 guys at the ready to prefish a given lake.

Since the no info rule has came in you kinda hear some remarks about the real fishermen will come out in reference to the Pro's that always had all the help.

JMO

[Marty]

I have Brauer ranked high because of his career earnings; I know he was first at one time, don't know if he still is.

Klein may have a good resum é, but he lacks a Classic. Whether it's fair or not, competitors in individual sports, such as golf and tennis, are judged disproportionately on their "majors."

[Landis76]

I wouldnt put Roland Martin in my top 5. FOr the simple reason it is well known the entorague he used to have prefish for him. I'm sure the others had it as well. When my mom fished a Bassn'Gal tourney in the 80's or early 90's she herd he would have 200 guys at the ready to prefish a given lake.

I had heard about Martin having people prefishing for him. I had not heard it was 200 though. That seems to be blown out of proportion. My questions are, how could he find that many people at each tourny, how could afford to pay these people for their time and how could he have time before the tournament to narrow down the pattern out of the two hundred fishermen? Also I really don't think he would be considered in this debate if he was so notorious for this practice.