Bass Fishing: An Olympic Sport?

[basspro48]

Well, we all no what would happen if Bass fishing became an olymipc sport.....KVD would win every gold medal for the next 20 years But hey, it could be an alternative to fishing tournament trails. If you don't have the money to fish tournaments but still want to compete then shoot for the olympics.

Oh, and there is a world bass fishing tournament kinda like an olympic event. It was aired on TV a couple years ago, KVD, Tim Horton, Denny Brauer, and one other guy made up the US team while Takahiro Omori and a bunch of other guys made up the International team.

[KenDammit28]

I dunno, fishing is more readily an event than it is a "sport".  Its hard to work in concrete all day in 90 degree heat, but does that make it a sport or me an athlete?  There are lots of things in life that are strenuous, stressful, tiresome, hard, what have you...that aren't sports.  It takes a great mind with lots of mental stamina to be really great at chess, but is it a sport? are chess players athletes?  We all love to fish but just because we love it, that doesn't make it a sport.  There is the whole tournament side of things, but what does that really change?  Whats the difference in fishing a tournament and fishing by myself?  I could time myself to fish and see how much I catch,  doesn't change what I'm doing..still just fishing.  Tough argument, though.

[Kana]

wow KU way to get things going. im on the wall on whether its a sport or not. by defintion it is, but i have a little hesitation on supporting it full heartedly (and no i will never quit fishing).  but while were on the topic, should it be included in the summer olimpics or winter?

[chitwnbass]

Webster Definition of sport.

1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.

A particular form of this activity.

2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

3. An active pastime; recreation.

So by definition Fishing is a sport. Just because its not as physically demanding as other sports doesn't exclude it.  Baseball is not a 1/10th as physical as Hockey but no one would argue it isnt a sport.  Fishing at a competive level takes a very elevated skill set and and understanding while it may not require you to be in peak physical condition. Fishing definitly could be considered for an olympic sport. Atleast in fishing there could be a clear winner unlike that crap sport figure skating.  Imagine being in the classic and outweighing your opponets by #20's but the judges give the win to them because thier artistic casting was better.

[KenDammit28]

horseshoes a sport?  Lawn Darts?  Poker? they all require physical activity, have rules, and are competitive.  What about competitive eating, is that a sport?  

Point is, a definition in regards to sport can't be looked at rigidly when referring to the classical idea of "sport"; a lot of things fall under that category.

I love fishing and who cares if its a "sport" or not, it sure is fun, ain't it?!

[slappy]

luck, luck, luck my girlfriend out fished me the first time she ever went. Yes, it helps to be knowledgeable but luck comes into play more in fishing than any sport this is what seperates it. I boxed for 15 years thats a sport.

            sorry its no sport

[sinker48]

Next you guys will be trying to tell me auto racing is not a sport. Sport or not it gives a lot of people exercise that they would not be getting setting home. Not to many docks , boat launches (you drop boat park and walk back to), or fishing holes that are where you can drive a vehicle to.

                                   Good Luck !

                                         Sinker 48

[squid]

Look, fishing is the only excersize I get anymore...lol. Fishing is a sport for those who fish....bowling is a sport for those who bowl.....golfing is a sport for those who golf....curling is a sport for those who like life size shuffle board....lol. If they can put POKER on ESPN...and FOX SPORTS...which is not a sport by the way.....Then they can call anything they want as a sport, as long as there is some kind of compitition to it.... So the real question is...are we athletes? What is an ATHLETE? Athletes are what make a sport a sport! :

[squid]

I need a real dictionary...lol.  Here is what I found:

athlete >noun  1 a person who is good at sports. :

[Captain Cali]

Tell my body fishing isn't a sport. After a long day of fishing there is always some part of my body which is sore. Then again I walk the bank and float tube so I do use more energy and muscles.  

Olympic sport?? That would work but the bass boats would have to go. Otherwise NASCAR and F1 should be in the Olymics. Even then the home country would have a huge advantage. More so than in any other sport IMO.

[Matt Fly]

To say KVD would win every gold medal is out there, he doesn't win every event he fishes as it is.  

As a sport in the Olympics?   Not gonna happen, it would open a can of worms.    If it was allowed, then when does crappie, catfish, carp, and other fresh water fishermen get there chance with their species.

 Seems more like saltwater would be easier to accomodate olympics venues than fresh water bassing around the Globe.

If it was an Olympic sport, combined skills challenges would be the way to go.  

Boat handling course combining speed and accuracy.    Points for accuracy in pitching, flipping, roll casting, and distance casting.   Catching fish, weight is total points, twenty pounds is 20points.

I know it takes alot of physical efforts to fight 4ft swells for 3 days straight with no timeouts and 9 hours continuous, even without a single cast.    It brakes you down.  How would you like to be the camera man without a windshield? ever!!!   Without any timeouts on holding the camera up all day in rough weather.     This guy isn't called and athelete.   He sure earns his pay.

[Guest avid]

10 years ago the idea of bass fishing as an olympic event would be so ludicrous I wouldn't even respond to this post.  But today bass fishing has gotten so huge and the difinition of olympic "sport" so broad that who knows, It's not impossible to consider.

I think that the USA would be natural favorites, but it all depends on where the competition would be held.   The Japanese have proved themselves extroidinary at creating baits and techniques that will produce under the most demanding situation.

[Peter E.]

One would say that fishing is not a sport although i would like to say that it is, not only due to Mr. Webstr's wordy book but, also i look at the amount of physical strain that can come from standing in place for up to eight hours. The body is not made to do so. Also I would point out the amount of intense mental concentration that come from making multiple presentations, feeling for the suttle differences between a branch and a bass softly taking a bait. Also on member put it that with the bass boats he with the best boat has the biggest advantage. Well do you think that the equiptment of the Olympic athletes is equal? The answer is an obvious no. There is millions of dollars spent on making the equiptment our athletes use a cut above the rest, all nations that can afford to do so do so. The only real problem I can see to the idea of making bass fishing an Olympic sport is the fact that; although where ever Americans seem to go we bring bass and bass fishing with us is that it does not always catch on with the local population. I would love to see Bass fishing as an Olympic sport but I do not think we will see such a thing in our life time, but who knows. By the way RoLo that is a great Blue fish on your avatar, love catching them myself on light tackle.

Peter  

[preach4bass]

Ok, Ok, Ok, who cares if bass fishing is or isn't a sport.  I know I opened up that can of worms when I started the post (and thanks KU for expounding opening it up a little wider) but what I really wanted to know is who you think would be the United State's biggest competition.  I know it isn't going to happen, but hypothetically (if that's how you spell it) who would win?  And who would be our biggest competition?

I think we'd definately win with our own version of the Dream Team, but I think Japan would be our closest competition (hopefully in a distant second).

[KU_Bassmaster.]

OK, OK, OK, OK, OK. If we could call it something like ........................ The World Bass Championship ......... or maybe a tour that would visit a bunch of different countries over a year period ........... The World Bass Tour........... something similar to the Ryder Cup in golf or Wold Cup in soccer ...... I'd be for that. But IMO, Bass fishing needs to stay out of the Olympics. It would be an insult to many of the "real" athletes there in my opinion. Think about the athletes there that put hours and hours of blood and sweat in the weight room or on a treadmill practicing to make themselves better for their sport. I am sure their preparation is a lot more physically demanding than the practicing a bass competitor would have to go through. I mean can you really compare a day on the lake to a day in the weight room. They wake up at the crack of dawn every morning and go to the weight room or to train. Bass competitors wake up at the crack of dawn every morning to head to the lake and fish .......... oooooo that's tough ;D .

As far as competition ......... ;D ................. Japan for sure and I think (correct me if I'm wrong) bass fishing is popular in South Africa.

[Peter E.]

You gentlemen are exactly right. Personally I think that the Japanesse would give us stiff competition, maybe even beat us. IMO they as a nation are the best finnesse fisherman in the world and their waters have the highest pressure. We may have invented the SPORT, but they can and do seem to be able to teach us a thing or two.

Peter

[Basspastor]

So ...... are professional anglers athletes? Can you and I really call ourselves athletes because we FISH?

Just because you "fish" no.  Because you "fish" it in a competitive, win or lose environment yes.  Tournament Fishing does fit the bill for an athletic environment

[paulheelsc]

OK, fishing is a sport, but you do not have to be an Athlete to participate.   Bass fishing does not require strength like Fball or wrestling, nor does it require the endurance of Soccer or CrossCountry.  It does require patience and body endurance (standing all day is tough while trying not to fall out the boat).  Fishing is a sport just like Golf, or Shooting or archery.  But it does not involve a great deal of athleticism, you can be over weight, can't run  100 yds w/o passing out and still fish.  

As for Fishing being in the Olympics, I hope I am never alive to see it.  I might sounds  a little mena here but, HELL NO!!!  There is no need to get a million people crazed over it.  Then there will be more nuts out on the water.  I wish ESPN did not pump fishing up like it does.  Keep it on the buddy level.  You take a kid fishing and he falls in love with it, you take a buddy fishing and he is hung for life.  I would much rather have fishing on a small level, take away all the BIG money stuff.  Seems like every year Bass fishing is losing its roots, just like NASCAR, its all about the money, not the fishing!

this opinion does not reflect the opinion of my family, friends, school, home, cats dogs, country, town or fishing club; they are solely the views of me.