Best of the Best......

[S.A.T]

I know this is going to stir up all kinds of stuff. I am sick and tired of people saying that the best of the best don't always fish the tournamets. You know what, they do! THE BEST WALLEYE ANGLERS FISH THE TOURNAMENTS! Because if someone is going to sit and tell you I am not going to fish tournaments because of money, family, etc. Believe me, that person has other issues they are not willing to admit. People take challenges and do things to proove they are good and worthy of the BEST title. I hear people in here say all the time, this guide, that guide, this person, that person is as good as any of those so called pro's. NO THEY ARE NOT! Plain and simple. They have other things holding them back like, certain fishing skills, talking skills, people skills, etc. I could go on and on with examples but why, deep down inside you all know that the best of the best rise to the top for some reason or another. The hard part is admitting it! Enough said.

[Hans]

I've been fishing for over 50 years, but never for money. Haven't yet seen a anyone in a tournment who caught more/bigger fish than I have, and my fish get measured/photo'd/released and don't get sick and die in my livewell. So go be "better", but don't write jeremiads about "competitive" and "other issues" just because we don't share your need to have our ego stroked by those who are exploiting *you* for *their* business reasons.

Hans

--
A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man
contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.

[S.A.T]

Too bad Hans I don't fish tournaments! Talk about sroking ones ego. "I caught bigger fish, photo bigger fish release them blah blah blah." Look in the mirror!

[Ness]

When you refer to the, "Best of the Best," are you referring to walleye anglers or walleye pros???? I think everyone will agree with me when I say that there is a major difference between a good walleye angler and a good walleye pro. A walleye pro won't get very far without the talking skills, and people skills that you mentioned but a good walleye angler needs only his fishing skills. Not every angler has what it takes to turn pro simply because it takes more than fishing skills. You need the personality, the business smarts... It goes on and on. A good walleye angler that for some reason couldn't or wouldn't turn pro
would need a large bank account and that's a fact.
I think when we get into this type of comparision we're attempting to compare two different animals.

[Fuzzy]

Apples and oranges......one is a career and the other is a hobbey or recreational activity.

[reel fun]

the best is a misnomer. the best on any given day will be beat next week more times than not, so the best any fisherman can do is to be the best they can be. then in that tourney if they are talented and lucky enough to take the field, they are the best in that tourney, on that water(next year or week may be different).

furthermore, don't assume all people rationalize the same way as you. there are many people in this world that don't feel the need to prove their talent to the masses. to characterize them as deficient or put it as you do "have other issues" is nothing less than egocentric. this fisherman will never look down on another angler who decides that putting a roof over his families head, or taking a second job to help alleviate the cost of raising a special needs child is more important than getting a eye rig(boat, truck and all the trimmings) and then pray for sponsorship.

the best is:
that S.A.T. gets to fish his tournies and those who just want to fish for the love of it get to fish at their pace. then someday when they cross paths at the launch they can say “hey what’s working for you on this lake” or “the weed bed south east of the island sure has been kind to me, try a # 11 rapala in perch”. both fisherman could leave the lake thinking this day was the best!

good fishing S.A.T.
reel fun

[Hans]

Ness said:

> A good walleye angler that for some reason couldn't
> or wouldn't turn pro would need a large bank account
> and that's a fact.

I don't think that's true at all. I have fished all my life on pretty slim budgets. Only in the past few years have I been able to afford Loomis rods, top-o-line Shimano reels, fancy electronics, and "real" walleye boats. Doesn't seem to make me a better angler. A person can be a very good angler without a large bank account.

This notion that you need to spend tons of money on the most sensitive rods, the fastest boats, and the shiniest tow vehicle, is exactly what is killing the sport for young newcomers.

Hans

--
"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone
lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger
than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process."
-Paul O'Neil

[Peluso]

HMM.. I am not sure how I am going to get into this without getting the hornets nest all rattled up. I have read the posts and please, we don't need everyone arguing here. I am sure S.A.T and Hans both have very good points and reasons for the responses above. Ness, I think you are right on track. Best could define a couple of different things. In reading the posts I think S.A.T is refering to the Best Walleye Fisheremen in the world. Now I am not going to say if guys that fish tournaments are the best or not, I think everyone in the sport of walleye fishing should get credit where credit is due. Cetain people are more fortunate and get oppurtunities others don't. Many different reasons can be accounted for in this. I agree to be the best Pro representative you can be, you need all of the reasons above and more. Fishing skills, talking skills, people skills, education, etc. all play a major role in this. I always try to refrain from using the word Pro but it kind of goes hand in hand with promoting fishing and some of the tournaments I fish. Plus, I can't get away from the Pro tag in hockey. It is what it is, some are always going to argue this and really there is no way to around it. Let's just all try to have repsect for everyone who takes to the water. Good fishing and don't forget to shoot the puck. Mike Peluso

[Goldpig]

All of the fancy electronics, fast boats, ect. is what got me into fishing to begin with. How is it possibly killing the sport? I absolutely detested fishing when I was younger. My dad had an old Queen Mary with a Lowrance flasher. Once he bought a fast boat with good electronics it started to become fun. With graphs and underwater camera's it is almost like a video game to young kids. Now all I think about is fishing, and work my butt off so that one day I can afford "the most sensitive rods, the fastest boats, and the shiniest tow vehicle."

[Frank from TBay]

Who cares........I don't. Some of the guys I chum with are among the better local anglers in this area. We have friendly competition a couple of times a year. Once on the opener in May and once in our winter tourney. All of our group have nothing to prove as fisherman to anybody else. This is like comparing a professional trademan to a handyman. Some handyman are very good and are better than a lot of tradesman. But overall the trademan is going to be more efficient and get a lot more work done. But a handyman has a genuine love for what he is doing....it is more than a job. To a lot of tradesman it is just a paycheque. As well to me fishing is only part of the formula. Being outdoors and with my friends and family are the important things.
Good fishing: Frank

[TBO/MN]

Not sure I would agree with your way of thinking Hans, I started fishing the MWC trail, and believe me it isn't cheap. When I figured up what it cost me for the year on the trail, I was really suprised to find that the cost of rooms, board, boat upkeep, entry fees, gas/oil, bait, and misc. items was much more than I ever thought it would be. I had all the equipment so none of those costs were encured during the season.

Someone said once, and it wasn't me, "If you want to end your professional fishing career with a million dollars, you better start with two million."

I "kind of" agree with that statement, although I figure that every cent I spent was worth it. Did it make me a better angler? In some ways I think it did, I know I gained a lot of knowledge by doing it.

Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[leechboy]

It seems safe to say that many of us enjoy fishing for different reasons. To the tournament fishermen, competition is probably a driving factor. S.A.T. sounds very focused on being "the best". Others, myself included, enjoy getting away from the rat race, communing with nature, hanging out with friends, a far different experience from the tourney trail. Now that I think about it, getting far away from self absorbed twits like S.A.T. is my PRIMARY reason for fishing. Just some thoughts to promote brotherhood betwixt us.-lb

[Hans]

> Now that I think about it, getting far away from
> self absorbed twits like S.A.T. is my PRIMARY
> reason for fishing.

#####, I wish I'd said that!

Happy New Year, Fisherman!

Hans

--
"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a
telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with
a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting
licked in the process." -Paul O'Neil

[cisco]

It's settled. My grandkids have already conferred the title "the Best" on me. That's a fact!

[Frank from TBay]

leechboy: You can fish in my boat anytime.
Good fishing: Frank

[Backwater Eddy]

(Pro's built the Titanic, an amateur built the Ark.)

Whistles and bell's won't buy success or happiness, it is a package deal, each angler needs his or her own plan to what that takes.

For some it is a crowd clapping, and to another it is crickets chirping, an for a growing few a combination of the two.

If I could just get the cricket's to clap I would be happy!

;)

BE.........><,,>

[Gabby_SD]

Here's my 31/2 cents worth. The best Pro-fisherman aren't the Best fisherman. They are the best at what they do,"Tournament fishing" catching the highest pounds of fish in a time period, following a set of rules. As for the best fisherman, that title goes to anyone under a different set of rules (not set ,but understood by all)I have met alot of the "Best Fisherman" on the lakes and rivers I have fished. The guy that gives you a tip on where they had luck or a lure that worked that day. Even the guy that gave me a hand with a cranky old Mercury.To some people a enviromentalist or conservationist could be construed as a best fisherman. To me the Best is a term that each and every one of us can bestow on another fisherman as a title of appreciation

[Joe]

Take the top ten pro's and go to a lake that I or they have never fished before, no teams, no networks 3 days of prefishing and lets just see who comes out on top. Bring'em on.

[john mannerino]

Last year was my first year tourny fishing,I learned more about walleye fishing the Miss. river in one year with these guys than in 15 years buy myself.yes it is costly,but it`s what I want to do.I raised 5 kids and now it`s my turn to enjoy life.Yes I do have umteen thousands worth of boat/equiptment,and didn`t cash a check last year,But I cant wait untill march to start over again. last year 2 guys in a 16' 20hp tiller took a tourny on the river when ALL the locals got SKUNKED!! I don`t want to make a carear out of fishing ,I already have one,I just enjoy the compition of tourny fishing. Yes it`s one thing to be a "pro" but you have to remember they worked and sacrifced to get there,nobody hands it to you on a silver platter.Sorry for being long winded.John Mannerino

[What's Up Dock]

For me, to be the best means to learn something everytime on the water, share that knowledge with my children, other fisherman, etc., to truly appreciate that I have the opportunity to chase eyes. The best for me is the look on my son's face with his first eye, perch, smallie, crappie. i may not catch the most or biggest, but I have a very spiritual experience with my children away from telephones, televisions, radios etc. That's the best!

[New Series]

I think this would be a great TV show.........Throw in some wrestlers, scantilly dressed "pro fishers", fast boats, answer some very easy questions for big bucks ,Regis would like this..................now for a name........how about......Walleye PRO-AM The Challenge

[Ness]

As usual, well said, my friend :-)

[River_eye]

I'd have to aggree with Gabby on this one. There is really no way to determine who is a better fisherperson. A lot of really good anglers choose not to fish tournaments because they already have a job, and they want to keep fishing as just a hobby.


River eye

[Backwater Eddy]

I can see it now...............

GOOD EVENING FOLKS AND WELCOME TO THE FIRST WWWWF 18 BAZILLION DOLLER DEATH MATCH!

FIRST COMPETITOR TO REACH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE ALIVE & WITH THE MOST SCANTILY CLAD WEMON IN HIS BOAT WIN'S!

NOW THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT FOLKS!!

:)

God Help us!!

BE.....><,>

[River_eye]

SAT, this is a pretty useless topic. If it really bothers you that much that some regular fishermen are as good as pros, but choose not to fish tournaments, then you have some personal issues that you need to resolve.

The truth is, the only fishermen that really care who's better are the tournament anglers. It's stupid to bring amateur fishermen into a discussion like this, because they all fish for a different reason, and are better at certain things than others.

Who is the better angler? The person who can put the heaviest fish into a basket in a given amount of time, or the Grandpa who takes his grand-daughter out and helps her catch her first fish.

Is it worthwhile or even possible to try to answer this question? I don't think so.

River eye

[Marken]

BE, got some clapping crickets I'd be willing to sell. Took me years to train, but I'm willing to share. Just don't feed them to those piggy's!

[EYEGUY]

Would have liked to have been a fly on the wall of the bait shop that SAT was in when he confronted with this topic. It is impossible to say who is best in fishing. The fish isn't going to bite on your lure because your the best. You just happened to be their, sure you decided to go their, or use that. I've sat next to someone using the same stuff and either I or he caught all the fish we've all heard those stories. Wouldn't you think that the better angler would have been the one to catch the fish!
-I would like a piece of the pro vs am deal. I've fished a few pro-ams and bit my cheek a few times wondering why the pro did that, or asking how did this person get to be a pro. Enough of me rambling. Lets Get It On.

[T.G.]

I bet I can out fish most of you spoiled little tourney boys without stepping foot in a boat. Does that make me the best fisherman? Who cares!

[Bob G2]

I agree, Cisco is the best, as told to him by those who matter most to him. No further discussion needed. Go Cisco!

[JJ]

I enjoy fishing a few local small dollar tourneys and on occassion have seen a "Pro" fish in these events, either as a favor to a friend or thinking he could make some quick travel money from the locals. Sometimes it works out for them sometimes it don't. But if the best of the best theory worked out all the time, they would come and fleece us more often than they do.Best of the best is for that given day on that body of water. Little luck doesn't hurt once in awhile either.
LOVE THESE SEMI-CONTROVERSIAL POSTS

[Scott]

I happen to know a couple of guys who walked away from the full time because it was killing their marraige or busines/job or both. I think it takes more balls to walk away and not do it , than it does to stay in it and flounder for several years. The guys who stay in it and then lose their home, their wife, kids whatever... seem to have deeper problems to me than being the best. I think egos get in the way of good judgement in a lot of tournament fishing. While I'm no full time pro, I do manage to fish around 6-10 large tournaments a year and on big water. I've won my fair share too. But I don't pretend that I'm on the verge of hitting the road full time. I have more respect for the guys who know when to fold them and do the right thing than to max out credit cards, roll up big debt only to some day wake up and find that it is then they have to go and get a real job.Meanwhile the guy who sat out is retired and enjoying his fishing, his family, his paid for home and maybe even tinkering in a few tournaments. Don't think it's happening....I can introduce you to enough former "pro" bass tournament fishermen that it would fill a factory.

Certainly it is for each to decide his own path, but to say reckless abandon makes you among the best is foolhardy.

[Kevin/CO]

Besides peopel having different interests in fishing, (and goals) what about different definitions of "best"? Could it be that to some people to be the best they have to go out there and have fun whether they catch 30 lunkers, a minnow, or nothing at all? Could a person's definition of the best just simply being enjoyment? I don't know what everybodies definition of the best is but I fail to see why catching the most lunkers everyday no matter what happens whether or what makes a fishermen the best, it just makes them more skilled. The difference between the Professional and the Amatuer isn't really skill although it might be. The difference is the Professional is skilled, competitive, and driven, the amatuer can be skilled, competitive, and driven but more likely then not participates for souly the experience. I am not saying Pro's are greedy, this is in no way a "slam" on anyone, I mearly want to point out that everyperson is different and comparing them using pre concieved notions is not fair.


I appologize if I am repeating anything thats been said or appearing trite and sentimental but I have said what I said with good intent and thought.

[ddt]

There is no doubt that I must be a pro,my 10 yr old son used to tell every one my dad can catch walleye's in a mudhole.That was all I needed to here.ddt

[Weyes1]

S.A.T.
I have to agree with some of the things you state, but I have to disagree with parts of it also. From your post I think you are a Pro. I have to disagree with your terms of excuses. I have to say that if you ever had a child born with medical problems and had a full time job. You would have to set your priorities. I beleive that Family is first and everything else comes last. If everything is going well (kids health and finances), I fish my tournaments, if not I don't. As for being the best. I am not the best, and I beleive that no person on this planet can claim to be the best. Pro's pay to fish and hope to collect a paycheck in the tournaments they enter. Pro's are paid to represent their sponsors and are basically salesmen. Pro's do not fish the best strategy to win the tournaments they enter. If they did you would have one Pro consistently winning all of the tournaments (I beleive this is due to the companies that sponsor them).
I am not saying that all Pro's are not good fishermen, they are or else they wouldn't be earning money from the sport they love. I am saying that, they are not the best, and unless one person can consistantly win every tournament the title "the best" can not apply to anyone.
Just my thoughts and values!
Weyes1

[Eyez]

I'm being blunt, but I think this topic is crap. SAT is trolling, trying to get people riled up. But, I'm a sucker for an arguement, so I'll share my opinion anyway :) We all know that "the best" depends on the day and the location. I know that I would never separate one fisherman from the rest of us by calling him/her "the best". That is a label that I would never want. It's just a title, and it means nothing. We all know that a title doesn't make the man or woman. Good fisherman are good fisherman, for any one of a million different reasons. Maybe it's because they catch the most fish, maybe it's because they don't catch any fish at all, but they still go out there because they love it. We're all in it to be the best that we want to be. For some of us, that means fishing the PWT or some other major circuit. For others, it's as simple as impressing their kids. I know that as far as my son is concerned, I'm the best fisherman in the world. In that sense, I think we're all the best, because we promote the sport by sharing our love for it with others. That's worth more than any one guy catching a bunch of fish in a tournament. I want to be a successful tournament fisherman someday, and I love the competition, but if I decide someday that I don't want to fish tournaments, does that make me a worse fisherman? I hope not.



Sorry for the rant and good fishing to all.

Dusty

[bass rube]

Bring it on, It's easy to talk, but alot harder to do!

[ddt]

S.A.T You WIN.You are the pro=== You went fishing for fun & YOU HOOKED US===

[Joel B.]

Brilliant River eye, brilliant! What a perfect response.

Good fishing,

Joel B.

[Tiger Woods]

This golfing is getting boring. It is way too easy. I dominated the sport like no other person ever has. I'm the man. I don't see anyone like me in your sport. I think I'll take up Walleye fishing and dominate your sport. Shouldn't be too hard. A fish is just a dumb animal. I think SAT is on steroids. He is just a little too agressive. He should learn to relax. Maybe take up golfing. I'll send him my video and waive the $100.00 fee.

[Dan]

The subject "who is the best" has no place in the world of sportfishing, but I will comment. I took my dad fishing last year during a great crank bait bite. We had not fished together for too many years. I ran the boat set the rods and had him pull in all the fish. During this trip I did not reel in one fish and he at 71 years of age caught several 7's & 8's and one that went 13 lbs., which I might add, was released. To this point he had not caught a walleye larger than 4lbs. For a moment I felt that I was the best and I didn't catch a fish. SAT, sad to say, your missing it!

[sib]

Dan, at that moment you were the best...no trophy or title could ever have as great of significance in ones life as that day.

"go outside and play"
sib

[EAGLE EYES]

You will never hear a real professional say he or she is the best. I know who I feel is the best, and that's all that really matters to me!

[Zach]

John,

Let me know when you are going to be in Genoa this spring and we can get together again.

Zach

[Ali]

You forget too easily, I am the greatest!

[Spinner]

What's Up Dock:

Well stated!

Showing our children, or kids in general, how to fish makes you "The Best of the Best" in their eyes. Think about what they learn while fishing: patience, nature, etc.

[wally tap]

Soooooo what, it doesn't really matter!

[EAGLE EYES]

Once again, "You will never hear a REAL Professional say he or she is the best." That includes draft dodging cowards.

[ufda]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-03-01 AT 02:50PM (CST)[p]Here's where I revert to the stuffy old f__t. You made our point for us. There should be something of nature, the elements, being out-of-doors to fishing. If you think that by purchasing all the electronic goodies it makes it like a video game, then sell your "stuff", buy play station 2 and leave the lake to me and my kind, thank you.
ufda

[Goldpig]

I think that we will agree that the objective is to get young kids involved and promote the sport. Personally, if I can introduce a cousin or other young kid to fishing because he thinks it is like a video game, great. The appreciation for the outdoors and nature will come with time. If you don't like electronics, than don't use them. I happen to like using any equipment that will help me catch more fish. Apparently "your kind" is the kind of people who don't want to get young kids involved!

[s-bone]

well put Leechboy, I think S.A.T. was one day late for his therapy session!