Who's better

[Siebert Outdoors]

I was contemplating this last night on the drive home from work after reading the BPS catalog. I saw KVD holding up a fish that looks about 3-4lbs maybe with a huge smile on his face. It got me thinking. Leaving out money and prestige, who is better. Someone that catches fewer fish but they are GINORMOUS or someone on tour that can go out and just catch 5 sometimes that might be 12" or on occasion 5-6lbs, every once in awhile something bigger. I know this is more of a question that is in the eye of the beholder but it got me wondering your answers.

[roadwarrior]

As Fish_Chris has noted, fishing for size and tournament fishing are two different sports. My vote is for big fish, but I don't really care a thing about tournament fishing so I might be a bit bias. :

Case in point, the 2005 Classic. There was nothing "classic" about that for me. In Tennessee the minimum length for a "keeper" is 15" on most lakes and rivers. If that were the case at the Classic, I'm not sure a fish would have been weighed.  

[Shad_Master]

IMO it is the guy/gal who can consistently bring in what the fishery has to offer.  We often have this debate in our local club, especially when a particular lake makes the schedule that has a history of being tough -- my point has alway been "we all fish the same water".  If we are fishing an area where everybody has a stringer of 4-5#ers or better, then it seems like it is a matter of luck that so-and-so managed to stick that really big one.  But if the bite is tough and someone can go out and find 'em and bring 'em in (even if they are small) then that person deserves the acolades for that day.  If he/she does it consistently, then that person is a cut above the others.

[FIN-S-R]

How about multiple big fish consistantly- Thats what Im shooting for!!

[cart7t]

Seems like we just had this conversation.....

Anyway, T anglers are by far, much better overall fisherman than trophy hunters.

A trophy hunter can go out and throw 20" long swimbaits for a month and not get a bite and it's no big deal.  No pressure, no time limit, at your leisure fishing.

A T fisherman has to go out and produce, under pressure and bring in a stringer of fish larger than the competition within a set time frame.  In many cases, after limiting, he must change gears and then begin fishing for larger fish to add some kicker weight to the stringer.

These guys have not only become very adept at filling the well with a limit but they've also become quite good at catching those larger fish when they had too under pressure.

No 2 ways about it, the T fisherman would have an easier time stepping into the trophy fishermans shoes than vice versa.

[FIN-S-R]

Well said cart!!!!

[Craig_Baugher]

Who

[RottManK9]

I think the guy who has the most fun overall is the better man.

[p-funk]

Give me the trophy hunter over the tournament fisherman.  It's all about personal preference but I personally would rather have one 10lb bass over 100 12" - 15" bass.  Just my preference.  

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Whoever gets to pick up a rod and reel and winds up In a boat,by stream,By A river,By a pond,Lake,Resivior,Ocean AND GETS TO FISH for any reason is the best

[gloomis7]

I would have to say, in some ways I agree with everyone that has posted a comment. I too know someone who is an amazing angler but has sworn off tournaments since his youth. And, myself, I'm no pro by any measure, I'm ok most days but when the pressure is on I don't think my mind is conditioned enough to handle the pressure and I don't produce what I know I can. KVD definitly gets my vote, he's amazing.

[RoLo]

It's my opinion that trophy fishing and tournament fishing are two very different ballgames.

As a result, there's really no fair way to compare one to the other.

In years gone by, I frequently considered giving up my job as Toolmaker,

getting my Captain's license and running chartered trips off the Jersey coast.

These same aspirations recurred in freshwater as well, but each time I thought about it, a light would go on!

If I dared to make the enormous transition from recreational angler to professional angler

I may never again experience the intimate euphoria that only a freelance angler can enjoy when playing a fish.

A bass will no longer look like a bass, but will begin to look more-and-more like a $1000 Bill.

No Thank You...I shall remain a recreational stiff, serving as his own guide

Roger

[dizzy5868]

There were alot of good points hit on in the previous posts, I would have to agree with most. However saying "who's the best" is question that cannot be answered. It's like asking who is the best guitar player or best singer of all time. Each person could be the best in a specific area, You can't say Eddie Van halen is better than Roy Clark, Two completely different styles. I don't think we will ever know who is really the best, we can only speculate and choose our favorites. As for myself, I think the guy that can consistantly put a limit in the livewell, no matter what the conditions or where they are is the better angler. Fishing is the most mentally challenging sport in the wolrd. There are no other sports that have as many variables and conditions. My first choice for the most versitle angler would have to be KVD. He just seems to put it together. The angler with the most determination would go to Ike. I met both of them and I have to say the are a credit to bass fisherman everywhere, They held up a seminar just to sit around with us and talk shop, no rushing the discussion or I have to go, The stayed until they answered all of our questions. After saying that, I think that also has play into the decision. Sharing the wealth of knowledge and helping out other anglers, kinda the say way we do here.  Just my 2 cents.

Rob

[Supermat]

There are definetely "trophy hunters" and "tournament fisherman" but you're forgetting the small catergory of guys who do BOTH. Those are the guys to be. There are guys who do great in the tournaments and consistantly weigh giant fish in their bags, quite often double-digits. Who can top a guy who produces giant fish within the set constraints of a tournament? There aren't a lot of them but there are guys who do it.

To me, that is the "best".

[roadwarrior]

Ronnie Dunn.

Oh! I forgot we're talkin' bassin'.

[Cephkiller]

I'm going to take a lot of heat for this, but I think the tournament anglers are better by far than the trophy hunters.  They trophy guys are one trick ponies.  I think the two are similar to long drive golf competitors vs. PGA golfers or maybe a guy who can consistantly shoot basketballs from the half court line vs. an NBA superstar, maybe even an NFL kicker vs. an NFL QB.  I think it would be awesome to possess any of these skills, but I'll choose PGA, NBA and QB respectively.  Not that I wouldn't trade places with either class of angler, but if you are asking who is the better bass fisherman, there is no comparison.  IMO, of course.

[Vyron]

I agree with Supermat

[eastkybass]

In my opinion it is the person who can produce the best the body of water has to offer anywhere you drop them.  It is to different to go and fish for a limit than fish for that one big fish.  You may have all day to work on that one big one once you find it but in a tournament you are going ot have to try to put together what you can on a shorter amount of time.  I am sure the pros would love to try and catch one over 20 lbs but they have to gear themself to what they need to do and those 15-18 inch 2-3 lbs are easier to find than one say 20-22 and 14-15 lbs.  

[roadwarrior]

Vyron & Supermat,

I don't think so.

Very few guys on tour have EVER caught a 10 lb bass, KVD has only caught two (I think). A 10 lb bass in tounament is VERY rare. But to the point, tournament fishermen could probably be trophy hunters and it might not work the other way around. Trophy hunters would be TOTALLY bored with catching the kind of fish tournament fishermen target. It is truely a different sport or certainly, another mind set.

Cephkiller,

I think your post is on mark.

[Guest avid]

"Best" is a subjective term unless you define it.

For example the "fastest" animal on earth is he cheetah. If you define "fastest" as highest top speed.

But if you change the parameters and make the race 2 or 3 miles long, then a thoroughbred horse is the fastest.

So it is with best.

I doubt that the "best" largemouth fisherman in southern improudements would be the "best small mouth fisherman in Nothern rivers, or the "best" big bass fisherman in Cali's crystal clear bottomeless holes.

God help us if fame is ever considered the measure of quality.  

Paris Hilton is on the cover of every tabloid every week.  Yet what is it exactly she is good at?

Oh, I mean EXCEPT that  8-)

[ga_hawghauler]

they are a differnece in tourney anglers and the hawg hunters and each has there own charcteristics. Also there is some that can fish tourneys and catch some trophy fish form time to time. I am tourney angler and My first priorty is catching my limit, then working on a heavier bag and if i catch a trophy then thats all the better. I feel i have to concentrate on catching bass consistently and then working on catching bigger bass.

[Supermat]

Vyron & Supermat,

I don't think so.

Very few guys on tour have EVER caught a 10 lb bass, KVD has only caught two (I think). A 10 lb bass in tounament is VERY rare. But to the point, tournament fishermen could probably be trophy hunters and it might not work the other way around. Trophy hunters would be TOTALLY bored with catching the kind of fish tournament fishermen target. It is truely a different sport or certainly, another mind set.

.

Roadwarrior,

Maybe you should define "tournament angler" for me. Does a guy have to fish BASS to be a "tournament angler", FLW? Stren Series? How far down the line is the cut off for you? Tell me that and then we can discuss this. Is the guy who fishes a Everstart a nobody even though he gets $100,000 for winning? Tell me where the cut off and I'll provide your list of examples.

See, I consider myself to be a trophy hunter. I'm definetely not the best, but I'm not the worst. That said, I also fish tournaments and I've learned to combine the two though I don't fish the giant circuits. Let me know what you consider to be the cut-off because there are guys doing it and I'll point them out for you.

Also, somewhere along the lines you guys seem to have got it into your head that trophy guys aren't happy unless they catch a 20 lb bass on every trip. You're flat MISTAKEN. I LOVE double-digits, that said I really enjoy catching 2 lbers too. No where near as much but it can be a real blast to just knock the dinks dead. Heck, I went crappie fishing this weekend instead of swimbaiting and had one of the most enjoyable days in recent memory. Just because to some degree we've learned to pattern bigger than average fish doesn't mean its not a good time to catch "average" fish too.

When I say that I can go 2, 5, 10, 15 trips in a row without so much as a bite that doesn't mean I didn't catch a fish. That means I didn't catch a swimbait fish... somewhere along the way I picked up a jig, crank, worm, blade, etc... and fulfilled my desire for a bite, or 2, or 50.

[KYbass1276]

I guess I'm going to have to go with tourney anglers as far as performing under pressure. I'm sure but not a given that most trophy hunters aren't good under pressure.  But I on the other hand I would have to say that hawg hunters can out perform a tourney angler when it comes to being patient and concentrating on that one bite that will be a trophy as were a tourney fisherman probally isn't going to be as patient.  I would say they are both the best in there own ways.    

[Mattlures]

Wow I still cant believe how uninformed some of you still are Cart is just plain wrong and obviously has no clue what goes on out here in trophy hunting land. Months without a bite? Who? A newbie maybe, but even then he will still get bit if he puts in his time. Craig is almost right except he said Mike Long only does so so? Have you seen his resume? He completely dominates the tournament scene in southern Cal. He consistently wins large tournaments by several pounds over the next place. He has also won many tournaments fishing by himself or his very young son in the larger TEAM tournaments. Mike Long is in my opinion the greatest bass fisherman alive.

Bill Siementel also consistently wins tournaments. He is also a well-known trophy hunter.

If a trophy hunter was to go out and catch one fish a month and only get a couple bites well then he is no where near as good as a top tournament guy but this is not the case with the best trophy hunters. Mike probably averages about 30 bass over 10lbs in a year. With 10 being the minimum. He has caught almost 60 bass over 15lbs! Also while he is out hunting for these giants he catches tons that are small to him, 5-9lbs.

When most people make this comparison they only have their own experience to go by and most fish tournaments. Many have tried to trophy hunt but give up because it is to hard for them to reteach them selves. Also people only consider the top end tournament guys. You are talking about the best there is. There are millions of tournament guys out there.

KVD his largest bass is only 11lbs. He has fished everywhere and is arguably the best tournament guy there is. Besides Mike Long he is probably the second best angler alive but 11lbs? You would think after all his years and overwhelming amount of time on the water he would have caught a few teens by now. This just goes to show you that the tournament guys are the best at catching small fish. There is nothing wrong with that either. If I were on tour I would play the odds and fish for a limit. Wait no I wouldn't! I would get killed. My only chance would be to go for broke.

Cart7 thinks it would be easier for a great tournament guy to adjust to trophy hunting then visa versa.

This shows his knowledge of the subject. Not much! It is extremely difficult for a tournament guy to unlearn everything he knows and change the way he fishes. I don't know of any tournament guys who consistently catch fish over 10lbs but I know a few T hunters that can completely dominate tournaments. Mike Long's partner John Kerr WON HIS VERY FIRST PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT!!! The us open on lake mead fishing against all the big name pros!

Now absolutely by no means am I putting down any tournament fisherman especially the top guys. I have great respect for them and several of them are my friends but I do take a little offence when somebody discredits the top trophy hunters. 99 times out a 100 this is just ignorance.

BTW I am not even close to being as good as them!

[Catt]

I know a few anglers who have caught 100's of trophy bass but no one here has ever hear of them and I also know some anglers who consistently catch bass daily but have no desire to tournament fish. Both groups are totally happy remaining anonymous

There is no best angler, one may be better on a particular day but that does not make them the best.