who is the best pro bass fisherman in the US?

[TheHammer84]

I love watching Mike Iaconelli he is a blast to watch

UUUUUUUGGGGGGG!!!!!!

He didn't just write that?

I don't see what the big deal is.

[basser89]

Doesn't *** have a points system for ranking that covers all the pros? And yes, KVD is "on the top of the food chain" there.   :D

[5bass]

I have to say Al Lindner. In my opinion KVD would have his hands full if Lindner fished the Elite Tour.....no disrespect to KVD of course, he's a true bass fishing machine.

[bigtimfish]

The best, KVD    My favorites, Ike and Jeff Kreit

[broncoboxer]

I love watching Mike Iaconelli he is a blast to watch

UUUUUUUGGGGGGG!!!!!!

He didn't just write that?

Yeah, he did.  And I agree with him.

[dave]

Not going to jump into this winless race...kvd

[dave]

Although I do agree with the post about the insufferable Mr. Roland Martin. Nine angler of the year trophies don't lie.

[DINK WHISPERER]

K V D

[Dan:]

What is Al Lindner's story? I just realized that even though I watch his show all the time, I know pretty much nothing about him.

[Mattlures]

Mike Long

He has many lake records.

He has caught more documented bass over 15 lbs then anybody. I think is up around 60

He dominates the So Cal Tournament scene and he ofter wins team tournaments fishing by himself.

After Mike would be KVD, Skeet , Ike and Aaron followed by the first generation of big pros Clunn ,Roland and Dance.

[5bass]

What is Al Lindner's story?

Here's the story. Al Lindner rules. The End.  

[dmac14]

You guys forgot Ish Monroe. Easily the most informative angler available on the elite series. But in all seriousness Bill Dance is really high in my book, the way he still teaches. And when he was in Bassmaster for 'A day on the lake' he did pretty good. Roland Marten lost all credibility with his pocket rocket fisherman. I think KVD shines so much now because of the media and the increase in fan base. You can show as many stats as you would like about people, stats are just that; stats. They show how well an angler did against the significantly greater than the past.

Its all just going to remain a mystery as to whose the best.

[Dan:]

What is Al Lindner's story?

Here's the story. Al Lindner rules. The End.

LMAO  ;D Gotcha

[Dan:]

You can show as many stats as you would like about people, stats are just that; stats. They show how well an angler did against the significantly greater than the past.

????

And stats are the measurements of success, they show a lot. Sure, there are intangibles, but when it comes to who is the best tourney fisherman, stats about wins HAVE to matter.

[dmac14]

To a point.

If we are just looking at stats to find the best than it wouldnt be to hard, KVD. Best percentage to be in the top ten, 37.4% of tournaments he will place in the top ten. Rick Clunn is only at 28.7%. Wins just show how you did amongst that group of competitors. I could go out and win all my club tournaments and my stats would be the best, for that club. But if I join another club and fish the same lakes but finish in last all the time then it shows my stats were just based on the competitors.

[Dan:]

To a point.

If we are just looking at stats to find the best than it wouldnt be to hard, KVD. Best percentage to be in the top ten, 37.4% of tournaments he will place in the top ten. Rick Clunn is only at 28.7%. Wins just show how you did amongst that group of competitors. I could go out and win all my club tournaments and my stats would be the best, for that club. But if I join another club and fish the same lakes but finish in last all the time then it shows my stats were just based on the competitors.

But these guys are both fishing the Elite Series. Rick Clunn has fished it longer but I would think if anything the competition is better now that it was before KVD started.

[Tin]

KVD finishes in the money by..

A. Cranking/Jerking

B. Shakey Head fishing

C. Spinnerbaiting

Ike finishes in the money by junk fishing and using anything necessary to catch fish. I have seen that guy catch fish on swimbaits, using football jigs, tubes, drop-shottting, cranking, worming, flipping and pitching.

I think Ike is the better fisherman because he can catch fish on any bait at any time. Where as KVD has just mastered a certain 3 (Kind of like Clunn) bait to catch them.

[Hammer 4]

Stats alone aren't always a measure of a person's sucess..

[cart7t]

Fishing in 69 tournaments, Martin's BASSMASTER career includes the following achievements - 19 tournaments won, 9 B.A.S.S. Angler-of-the-Year titles, nearly 100 Top Ten finishes, and 25 appearances in bass fishing's world championship event, the BASS Masters Classic. Also a record, he has twenty 2nd place BASS finishes. His career tournament winnings exceeded one million dollars in 2004.

During his dominating years, Roland finished in either 1st or second in over 50% of the tournaments he fished!

That's domination that no other angler has even come close to including KVD.

Bazooka fishing rod aside.

[Muddy]

To a point.

If we are just looking at stats to find the best than it wouldnt be to hard, KVD. Best percentage to be in the top ten, 37.4% of tournaments he will place in the top ten. Rick Clunn is only at 28.7%. Wins just show how you did amongst that group of competitors. I could go out and win all my club tournaments and my stats would be the best, for that club. But if I join another club and fish the same lakes but finish in last all the time then it shows my stats were just based on the competitors.

On a professional level of any sport it's all about Stats:Money ( Total earnings) , Halls of Fame and rankings;

If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?

Vince Lombardi

[tnhiker44]

who is the best pro bass fisherman in the US?

Probably some two year old kid that tags along with Dad (see Tiger Woods). If the many years I have lived have taught me anything, it is... if you think you have seen everything, just wait, you ain't seen nothing yet (BTO).

It really depends on how you define best. If you define 'best' by the ability to catch fish on all kinds of water in all different kinds of conditions then I would guess that guy would come from the second tier of pro bass fishermen. Some one who has not quite broke on to the scene yet. The best pro is a hungry pro. Because of this hunger factor, I would pick an older fisherman, like Clunn, Nixon, Martin and the like.

But if you define 'best' with records and stats, well, the stats are out there for interpretation.

Some people define best by the size of the fan base. KVD draws more attention from a 14th place finish than any other pro finishing second.

[alwayslooking]

I think you have to figure in all the rule changes from past to present. It has been said that Dance and Martin used to hire all the guides on a lake for info before tournys. Each generation of anglers has their own set of rules, such as size limit and creel limits. By todays standard, it's KVD

[Muddy]

PROFESSIONAL SPROTS=STATS

there only can be one Most of

There can only be one all time money winner

there can only be one winner

the reporters and the fans talk the :"intangibles" the sponsors, Halls of Fame, Agents and owners all talk stats , because pure stats don't lie there only can be one best of

Vince Lombardi had it right: Reporters asking about wining and loosing, all that "it's how you play the game horse %!#*!

he looked at em and said

If it doesn't matter who wins or looses, then why do we keep score

so much for intangible  

[SirSnookalot]

Muddy, as in any sport it's the number of wins against top competition, not money won.  Year by year prize funds keep increasing, if Jack Nicklaus had won his tournaments today a good bet his total earnings would surpass Tiger Woods.  As it stands he is way down on the money list, but maybe the best ever to play.

[looking4structure]

I would have to say KVD or Bill Dance.My favorites though are Hank Parker and Mr. Roland Martin.