Fishing stock ponds for T.V. shows....

[Md]

It's been well documented here what Bill Dance's show's are all about...catching numbers of huge fish on baits he promotes while fishing in places we probably : couldn't get access to. Has anyone else noticed the SK Pro Team Journal show seems to be the same pond/lake for every show, whether it's KVD, Denny Brauer, Hackney, or Mark Menendez? I realize both shows,along with others, are trying to sell a product in as little time as possible. I am in no way trying to be disrespectful of the baits(some are awesome) or the fishermen(best in the world), but I like a show such as Classic Patterns where the guys are fishing lakes that we all have access to, and we can REALLY learn something. Just my two cents.

[Gatorbassman]

You said it.

in as little time as possible

With the schedule that those guys keep it isn't possible to find three or four days to go shoot a "worth while" promotional video. In order to accomplish their goals in as little time as possible they need a lake where they can catch plenty of quality fish very quickly. It would be nice if some of the shows these days had quality instruction in them but they don't.  :-[

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

Thats what I like about Lunkerville, it is real fishing in real areas with various lures.

[dave]

Bill Dance is TEACHING by demonstrating different lures and techniques. If he went out to TEACH and didn't catch fish then, people would have a hard time believing that the lures and techniques work. I have no problem with Bill fishing those ponds. Bill earned his respect back in the infancy of B.A.S.S.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

I would rather they use footage from a tournament (or mock tournament) using real fishing, not some staged private pond with monster fish, that shows a lure actually working in the real world...

[jiggerpole]

They are still just a bass. A friend of mine has a stocked pond that has huge bass in it and some are even trained to eat from the fish feeder. Me and a friend fished it one day and caught 41 bass in about 4 hours with the biggest being 6.5lb. We released all and when we told him what a day we had he was very surprised and said that several people had recently fished it and had only caught a few. That they just wasn't biting good. Most were caught deep on worms in "August". It was cloudy with rain off and on. When the clouds were overhead we used a light green color and when the sun came out we had to go to a dark green. That was all we could catch them on. Oh, and I live on a 45 acre lake that is well managed. When we use the shock barge it is unbelievable the amount of fish we shock up. On some days when fishing it, you would almost swear that there is not a fish in that lake!!!!

[RandySBreth]

I think as far as a fishing show goes, it does make for a kind of uneasy feeling in lots of viewers; yeah, it's not the same as fishing a very pressured body of water.

As far as the second complaint of everyone - the old chestnut about "fishing private water I don't have access to".

I have access to several nice fishing spots in my neck of the woods that "'Ol Bill" doesn't, and you can too if you go and look for them and ask nice, or even do some work for the owner of the pond, ditch, sand pit, lake, creek or whatever, or even (gasp) pony up some cash for access.

One of the best pieces of fishing hardware is in between your ears, you know...

[D4u2s0t]

I fish a stocked, private body of water, and let me tell you, there's plenty of days where it's just as hard to fish as some public high pressured lakes.

The thing I don't like about watching fishing shows, is they're basically nothing other than an advertisement majority of the time.  I was watching I think strike king journal last night where denny had the smokin rooster, and every 10 seconds he was trying to sell you his reel, his boat, and anything else.  I felt like the show had nothing to do with the rooster, it was just a big sales pitch.  Didn't give tips on how to work it, where/when to throw it, just showed him pulling in big fish and then trying to sell his flippin/pitchin reel.

[fishingfourfun]

If it were not for the sponsers our shows wouldn't be on the television.  We should do our homework before buying any product advertised during the show. Let'sbe honest, would you watch a show if they showed techniques and fish were not being caught. 

[D4u2s0t]

If it were not for the sponsers our shows wouldn't be on the television. We should do our homework before buying any product advertised during the show. Let'sbe honest, would you watch a show if they showed techniques and fish were not being caught.

many of the fishing shows are nothing more than an informercial, and I don't enjoy watching too many of them because of that.15 seconds of fishing followed by a sales pitch until the next commercial.  no thanks.

[Grey Wolf]

I quit watching those shows a few years ago , they are not in  touch with reality.

[NBR]

The purpose of these shows is to highlight and bring attention to the sponser's products and if the show continues the sponser had better see some increased sales. Now if you don't want to see the infomercials don't watch and don't buy the products advertised.

If enough choose this approach in time the fishing show will be replaced with a replay of Gunsmoke, a new version of American Idol, Dancing with the Stars or some other program but not one with even the tiniest bit of fishing information.

I for one have no problem watching Bill Dance on his home pond. He gives a few hints and observations that will be helpful to some and more interesting to me than American Idol.

[firefightn15]

When I go into a fishing show the more they catch the better.  Sometimes it may be a little unrealistic with all the fish catches but that is what I am there to watch.  Who is hosting and a lot of what they are saying is secondary to me.  I'm not sure how many of you are like me, but a lot of what I learn is from watching and then listening; in that order.  The tap, tap, tap rule for example.  Most would know what the third tap is , but learning the first and second tap was easier for me to understand by watching for it and the subsequent hook sets on video.  Same with flipping and pitching, I don't care who is doing it, watching them go through the motion is what I am looking for during the show.  If they offer explanations and advice while they are doing it is always the bonus for me.

I used to laugh at stuff like this as a kid while watching Virgil Ward, but now I just absorb what I can.

For those who are not familiar with the 3 tap rule, when fishing alone the third tap is a very rare occurrence. ;D

[Raul]

For those who are not familiar with the 3 tap rule, when fishing alone the third tap is a very rare occurrence. ;D

Not really, you still got yourself to apply the 3rd tap rule. 

[firefightn15]

For those who are not familiar with the 3 tap rule, when fishing alone the third tap is a very rare occurrence. ;D

Not really, you still got yourself to apply the 3rd tap rule.

I learned it from Fluke via Kelley. 8-)

[D4u2s0t]

let me give an example of last nights show abou the rooster.  I wanted to see if he casts, flips or pitches it, what he does with the bait in the water, when/where/how he uses it, etc.  They showed NONE of that.  I don't think they ever showed him throw the bait once.  All they showed was him bringing in fish, followed by him telling how you have to buy this boat, it's the best boat.  Then they showed him catch a fish followd by you have to use this reel, it's the best one.  They really told you nothing about the bait whatseover, no tips on how to use it, didn't really show anything except a hookset, reel in the fish, then it would either go to a commercial, or he would talk about everything else other than the rooster. 

Don't get me wrong, I love watching some of the shows, and i've learned alot from them, but some of them are just plain rediculous.

[Quinte bass]

let me give an example of last nights show abou the rooster. I wanted to see if he casts, flips or pitches it, what he does with the bait in the water, when/where/how he uses it, etc. They showed NONE of that. I don't think they ever showed him throw the bait once. All they showed was him bringing in fish, followed by him telling how you have to buy this boat, it's the best boat. Then they showed him catch a fish followd by you have to use this reel, it's the best one. They really told you nothing about the bait whatseover, no tips on how to use it, didn't really show anything except a hookset, reel in the fish, then it would either go to a commercial, or he would talk about everything else other than the rooster.

Don't get me wrong, I love watching some of the shows, and i've learned alot from them, but some of them are just plain rediculous.

Well I guess we are all seen as simple fisher folk and many of us are susceptible to being persuaded by lack lustre shows featuring all and sundry tackle, be it good, bad or indifferent! We are a gullible lot to be sure and tackle manufacturers know it! Hence the shortage of REAL quality instructional fishing shows rather that the copious quantity's of what a poster described as info-commercials (perfect description)...and they are disappointing in the extreme. Used to sign up for WFN channel but cancelled a long time ago. Rarely watch fishing shows now...would like that to change. Over to you film makers....give us meaningful footage...not the banal stuff being churned out today!

[Dixon]

I wouldnt say its cheating but its so unrealistic. Anybody can catch fish on a loaded pond especially ones that dont have any pressure on them. 

Are people serious about the nets?

[cart7t]

let me give an example of last nights show abou the rooster. I wanted to see if he casts, flips or pitches it, what he does with the bait in the water, when/where/how he uses it, etc. They showed NONE of that. I don't think they ever showed him throw the bait once. All they showed was him bringing in fish, followed by him telling how you have to buy this boat, it's the best boat. Then they showed him catch a fish followd by you have to use this reel, it's the best one. They really told you nothing about the bait whatseover, no tips on how to use it, didn't really show anything except a hookset, reel in the fish, then it would either go to a commercial, or he would talk about everything else other than the rooster.

Don't get me wrong, I love watching some of the shows, and i've learned alot from them, but some of them are just plain rediculous.

Uh.. have you tried going to the RT website? They have video's there that actually show how the product is supposed to be used vs. a TV fishing show which is for entertainment purposes first, then if advertised, instrutional purposes.

There is plenty of media out there for instructional purposes. Insisting that every fishing show be some sort of real world day on the lake experience isn't practical nor would it sell. I suspect ratings would tumble if we tuned in and watched fishing shows in real time with cast after cast after cast made with little catching in between and those fish caught often not exceeding 1 1/2 lbs.

[D4u2s0t]

let me give an example of last nights show abou the rooster. I wanted to see if he casts, flips or pitches it, what he does with the bait in the water, when/where/how he uses it, etc. They showed NONE of that. I don't think they ever showed him throw the bait once. All they showed was him bringing in fish, followed by him telling how you have to buy this boat, it's the best boat. Then they showed him catch a fish followd by you have to use this reel, it's the best one. They really told you nothing about the bait whatseover, no tips on how to use it, didn't really show anything except a hookset, reel in the fish, then it would either go to a commercial, or he would talk about everything else other than the rooster.

Don't get me wrong, I love watching some of the shows, and i've learned alot from them, but some of them are just plain rediculous.

Uh.. have you tried going to the RT website? They have video's there that actually show how the product is supposed to be used vs. a TV fishing show which is for entertainment purposes first, then if advertised, instrutional purposes.

There is plenty of media out there for instructional purposes. Insisting that every fishing show be some sort of real world day on the lake experience isn't practical nor would it sell. I suspect ratings would tumble if we tuned in and watched fishing shows in real time with cast after cast after cast made with little catching in between and those fish caught often not exceeding 1 1/2 lbs.

I'm not insisting anything... simply stating why I don't watch those types of shows. If you prefer to watch a show that has zero fishing information, and just talks about what the sponsors sell, that's your choice. I find it to be the equivelent of watching a baseball game, they make one pitch where they hit a home run, and then the rest of the game is them trying to sell you the bat, clothes, and other gear associated with it. It's just not for me.

[kyron4]

I think Mike Iconelli's show "City limits"

is the most real show and he doesn't plug any products during the show. He fails to caught his limit somtimes and gets a lot of little fish and non target fish also. It's a show all fisherman can relate to.

[florida strain]

i agree saw a show the other day fishin in disney, i know you guys did too with martin truex jr, and roland martin..its toatally off limits to the public unless you get a guide ..anybody can catch fish there.. the only thing i learned was martin truex qualifed for the pole for the daytona 500 ..lol.. which was the year before last

[SoFl-native]

Yeah SK pro team journal is a joke. 9 times out of 10 they are fishing the same private tank and getting bit on every cast. You could kill them on any bait in there. Can you say ragetail every other word? They can.

Now the few episodes where they were on public waters i actually watched and enjoyed.

The others get deleted five minutes in on the DVR.

[South FLA]

i agree saw a show the other day fishin in disney, i know you guys did too with martin truex jr, and roland martin..its toatally off limits to the public unless you get a guide ..anybody can catch fish there.. the only thing i learned was martin truex qualifed for the pole for the daytona 500 ..lol.. which was the year before last

Those Disney Lakes are INSANE aren't they and by the way you can fish around hotels and resorts on property and as long as you are a guest you should have no problems, did it for years when I lived there!!!

[shimmy]

Well, the old "Day on the Lake" was an incredible show. Not sure if it is still on, but this was when the pros go fish public access water and you get to see what they used. By far the best show for knowledge. I heard the comment that "a bass is a bass"...anyone that has access to private ponds will disagree. Yeh, you can be skunked even on private ponds, but they are consistently better producing lakes than heavily populated ones. Every lake requires a little different approach. I use to love watching Bill Dance shows until i hit the stage of wanting to become a better fisherman. However, he is not as bad as watching Roland Martin. I can't watch his shows anymore because i feel like he is invading my privacy and is worse than a car salesmen.

Bar none, "A day on the Lake" was the best show. By far the best info.