Here We Go Again!

[Guest csfishinfool]

Excellent points made by all. We as humans are very imperfect, and we as locals, have no more right to the water than the touring pro's of any circuit.

Zipstick's point of just so many additional anglers on the water is a very well thought out analogy of what is for sure happening. Take that fact and then put the majority of those boats along with the locals in a 5 mile stretch of water and OOPS! you got problems.

This about the FLW, and then no more for me. I have a dear friend, that has not only fished the BassMaster top 150's,when it was going, and now Elite Series and the then Ever Start and FlW series in I believe he told me over 100 events on the Co. Angler Side. He is fishing this weekend and will be at my house in a few minutes.

As he tells me on the Bassmaster Elite circuit and before on the Old Circuit, you pretty much were in the boat with a Pro, that had a plan and an idea of what he was going to do. He was and is prepaired. You knew his name and how he fished. He said he has never had an Elite Angler ask him where he should fish.

Not so much with the FLW. As the CoAngler, you are pretty much in prayer mode as he tells me as to your draw. He has had on numerious times had FLW Pro's ask him where he fished yesterday or what he would do, or what he thinks they should do. They just didn't know. Maybe here is where the problem is. He has also fished with some of the top fishermen in the World on the FLW Circuit, and you pretty much know that as soon as you get in the boat. As Dave puts it, the Top half and the bottom half of the FLW are two different worlds.

It reminds me of the guy just wanting to kill that deer so badly that he mistakes the noise he hears for a deer and shoots a human. He really thought he saw the deer, but it was not.

Money,Fame, Coveting Glory, and the unbriddled Competitive nature to win can push very fine people to make hasty decisions, whether they be locals or strangers.

I wish everyone on the water this weekend Pro's and Joe's, Local's and Yokels a fantastic weekend and only the best.

Good Luck

I do agree that in FLW you pay to play. And the quality of fisherman vs. the Elite series is no match. I've fished a couple stren events on the co-angler side and have had good and bad experiance. The thing I hate the most on the co-angler side are those dreaded words of uncertainty. Wether it be BFL or The Series its not much fun to have to help the boater or "PRO" get through the day. Then take them to water you found, have them catch fish, and not give you a fair shake at your fish. Then to top it all off expect gas money from you...(but that arguement is for another day)

[chub minnow]

Dang, I forgot that was this week. I guess I'll spend my day at Roaring River. I pretty much won't go on the water during a tournament since the "incident". I don't know what tournament it was, but it was several years ago and they were leaving out of Viola. My little sister had asked me to take her skiing early in the morning before the water got rough (she just learned to slalom) so we headed to Green Shores at daybreak. She was in the water, wearing a screaming pink life vest and a day-glo ski. I had thrown the rope to her and was making my way back to the captains chair when I heard them all coming. Most of the guys avoided us and slowed down, but many buzzed right by. Then, this jerk came flying (60-70 mph) between the boat and my sister. His prop cut the rope and jerked the handle out of her hands. He couldn't have been more than 20' from either of us. There is NO contest worth killing somebody. I honestly believe that the proliferation of high horsepower outboards draws these aggro types to the sport and is a bad thing for pro fishing and it's image. Everyone I know now refers to these types (present company excluded) as Bas*&oles due to their rude and inconsiderate behavior. 90% of these folks are great, but the Bas*&oles are ruining it for everyone else. There should be some sort of weight penalty or disqualification for Pros that are witnessed conducting themselves in this manner.

[Guest csfishinfool]

Dang, I forgot that was this week. I guess I'll spend my day at Roaring River. I pretty much won't go on the water during a tournament since the "incident". I don't know what tournament it was, but it was several years ago and they were leaving out of Viola. My little sister had asked me to take her skiing early in the morning before the water got rough (she just learned to slalom) so we headed to Green Shores at daybreak. She was in the water, wearing a screaming pink life vest and a day-glo ski. I had thrown the rope to her and was making my way back to the captains chair when I heard them all coming. Most of the guys avoided us and slowed down, but many buzzed right by. Then, this jerk came flying (60-70 mph) between the boat and my sister. His prop cut the rope and jerked the handle out of her hands. He couldn't have been more than 20' from either of us. There is NO contest worth killing somebody. I honestly believe that the proliferation of high horsepower outboards draws these aggro types to the sport and is a bad thing for pro fishing and it's image. Everyone I know now refers to these types (present company excluded) as Bassholes due to their rude and inconsiderate behavior. 90% of these folks are great, but the Bassholes are ruining it for everyone else. There should be some sort of weight penalty or disqualification for Pros that are witnessed conducting themselves in this manner.

Unreal, there is a disqualification penalty for breaking any laws while in a tournament, someone just has to report it to the director. But that guy should loose his right to drive a boat at all.

[fozzype]

Thinking of joining Bill and Bill and running to the upper bull myself. I want to take out my boy for the first real trip of the year and like &$%$ am I going to take him around guys that will act that way. Hope a lot of the FLW boys read this, but Im sure it wouldnt help if they did.

Jason,

There is FLW college series tournament out of K dock on Saturday and Sunday. Talked to some of them down there last Saturday. Really nice guys from Kentucky and we actually swapped out a few W-Warts. Anyway, they said there would be 50 boats and they are limited to an area from 76 to Bear Creek. Ill probably try Beaver Creek or Tucker Hollow ramps.

[Jason Essary]

Chub, Thats great....Bassholes... Ill have to remember that one..

Thanks Foz, I will keep that in mind then. I dont mind the big boys to much, like most I have storys myself, but just that I dont want issues with kiddos in the boat with me.

[Gavin]

Pay to play, sometimes you've got to do that Bill. Looks like the entry fee is $4,000 and they pay $10,000 down to 50th place....If I had your knowledge, I'd like those odds. Cheers.

[Bill Babler]

Usually fish the Water Patrol tournament, the Homer Sloan, and another Buddy derby or so. Never have been a competitive person, or anyone that wanted loosing 1 fish in 4 days to ruin my life.

If you are fishing with me, I would always rather see you catch the biggest and most fish, weather I'm guiding or just fishing for fun.

You know, some of my best days on the water, I don't even catch one fish.

Pretty happy enjoying the Ozarks and helping folks catch fish, and seeing smiles.

Why ruin it.

[Gavin]

Nothing wrong with that....I'd rather see a friend catch a fish and smile myself.

[mosouthpaw]

Sometimes its better to use something like a tournament to fish a different body of water... I woulndt even bother to fish with the b@$$holes (love the term BTW) Greed brings out the @$$es in a lot of people, locals and non-locals alike....

[techo]

Wow! That is kind of bad news. I was just approved to have Thursday and Friday off. Thought I would fish. How far to Pomme then?