Bassmasters Open

[denjac]

I think this is a great idea. If every pro expects gas money, then the circut should make it mandatory, and add 40-50 bucks per entry fee. I won't say where i stand on this topic as it would get me into some trouble

That is a good idea, but the nonboater should pay the boater instead of the tournament folks having to mess with it.

[Quillback]

The reason is I say pay the tourney is that you don't have a potential problem with the backseater showing up and saying that "Gee I forget to bring gas money". Pay upfront or you're not in the tourney, saves the frontseater from having to act as a bill collector.

[Sprint21fter]

I only have two comments:

1. This is one of the most interesting discussions we've had on this board in a while

2. Sprint, how the hell did they fish a Texas rigged Senko in 55ft of water!?!?!

Throw it a long ways with a 1 oz tungston weight fish it with flurocarbon and a good tipped rod. That was the facts presented to me. Mr. Campbell could have been in 55th of water and fishing treetops for all I know. I know several fisherman that fish a big texas rigged worm that deep when it is in the dog days of summer pn The Rock.

[Champ188]

You know, I've never been one to ask for gas money. If it's offered, fine. If not, I blow it off. NOT TO ALL, but to those who don't want to offer or don't feel obligated to at least help with some gas money, my question is: What the heck entitles you to ride around in a total stranger's brand new bass rig all day for free? That entry fee you paid is so you can fish for $1,000 or more yourself against other co-anglers. None of it goes to the boater for furnishing you a plush $50,000 ride, taking you to his fishing area, netting your fish, sharing his other equipment (measuring board, etc.).

I'm beginning to understand why some boat owners settle the gas money issue up front. It might play a role in just how many productive casts a co-angler makes over the course of the day.

[Champ188]

Riding in his 50,000 rig for free. What entitles us to that?

#1. A co-angler has no say where we fish. If you make a 75 mile run thats on you. Your the boater....

#2. We pay a smaller entry fee that is more affordable for a reason.

#3. Did you not figure in money for gas when you spent that 50,000 on a boat with a 250?

#4. With out a co-angler, we would be back to the old school redman format, 4 hrs of split control over the boat. Where gas money to the man with the boat would make perfect sense.

#5. If i drive 10 hrs to Alabama, spend 50 bucks three nights in a row on lodging, a 300 dollar entry fee. Gas to and from. 50 dollars each day to your pro. That adds up. If it comes down to A. giving the pro money for his gas, or B.me haveing enough money to make it back home, then sorry option B for me.

#6. Were netting your fish too

And sorry to ruffle feathers but I get the feeling that when some people figure expenses for a tournament they figure that 3/4 of your gas is going to be paid by your co angler. Thats just unreal.

BTW I will never fish the co-angler side of anything again. When i start having to pay someone 50 bucks to make sure i have a good day on the water.... like some kind of bribe. Then screw it pro side for me I'll buy a boat. Maybe i'll be a some kind of path setter. And not except money, and still be nice to the guy in the back of the boat....

All adds up to one thing: Certain co-anglers feel entitled to ride for free. I do have to say on #5 ... I also pay for gas to and from the tournament site (pulling a boat), hotel, meals, entry fee and lots of gas and oil during practice (yes, there's also a little matter of $25 a gallon outboard oil). PLUS boat payment, insurance and maintenance on it. And if it really comes down to helping with gas or not making it home, maybe you should just stay home to start with.

I've had my say. Some front-deckers are jerks. So are some back-deckers. We're not gonna change any of that here.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I think I'll stick with my river fishing. This lake stuff just has way to much ego. Pro or not. Seems $$$ always gets in the way of humbleness and common sense.

If you go river fishing with me, you always get the front seat and always get on the fish first.

Carry on boy's, I am enjoying the read.

[rangerz21]

I was trying to stay out of this as i dont fish alot of pro-am style tournament for this reason. I did draw champ188 wife on truman several years ago. Very nice lady and a great fisherlady. we ran from bucksaw on truman lake to the mid pomme. At the end of the day donna asked me what do i owe you for gas i told her i had an enjoyable day nothing her response was i know what it takes to operate a boat insisted on paying which she did and i was very appreciative for that. Now as many of the pros in the pro ams know what i am about to say will know what i am talking about> I pretty much fish truman only and lake of the ozarks in the river. i have drawn i gur twice once in a central once in a heartland i fished the same ledge with him both times he said he didnt know why i fished there because he had fished it 10 times after i took him their the first time and never had a bite. so why do you go back if you never have a bite maybe you dont know how to fish it. I no longer fish any type of draw because of this so if you want to fish out of the front go buy you a 65000.00 boat pay 1000.00 a year in insurance another 1500.00 a year for oil 3 batteries a year for150.00 each. a tow vehicle big enough to tow it. plus get half the gas mileage pulling the boat to the lake oh yeah 4 new trailer tires for the boat trailer. and you can let your am sit down in the pass seat with a dd22 tied on and watch him bury the trble hooks in the seat and rip then out. sorry bout the rant but i feel better

[gitnby]

Since I don't fish tournaments any more, I don't have a real strong feeling either way on this issue.

I have owned my own bass boat(s) since 1982, and I am fully aware of the costs, hassles of owning and operating one.

To the amateurs:

Going in, you should know that you might draw a guy who is a total AZZ-HOLE. But, you might get to see some serious tournament fishing up-close and maybe learn something? $50-$100 for gas money is not a big price to pay for that. If your goal is to compete with the pros, forget it! Don't complain about not getting a clean shot at the "good spots" and don't criticize the pro's judgement on where and how to fish.

To the pros:

Please don't complain about how much your boat, gas & oil, travel, entry fees, etc. cost you!

The return on your investment should be the pleasure and privelege of fishing, and the possibility of winning some nice $$ or a new rig, not how much gas money you get from co-anglers.

My suggestion would be that these tournaments pay off a prize amount for the top 10 co-anglers based on pounds caught by their pros the day they fished with them, and add that to their own total. And on top of the regular pro pay-out, have a separate pay-out for the top 10 pros whose co-anglers had the highest combined weight? It would add some spice to the tourney, I think, and maybe create a little more cooperative attitude?

[Champ188]

I'd be fine with the combined weight format. It's been done before and not sure how it worked out or why it was dropped.

And for clarity, I'm not complaining about the cost of anything. It is what it is and I can quit fishing altogether if I don't want to pay the price. This entire ruckus started over a CO-ANGLER complaining that Roland Martin asked for a certain amount of gas money.

I don't know how many ways I can say it but my ONLY gripe is with the VERY FEW co-anglers who get in the boat in the mornings with an entitled attitude about how much room they're going to get to cast and by gosh Mr. Pro you aren't gonna screw ME over and yada yada. And then at the end of the day, when they haven't caught anything because they spent the entire day trying to compete with the pro rather than watch where/what he threw and do something different, or because they just can't fish a lick, it somehow turns out to be the pro's fault.

It's not the gas money. It's the principle.

[gotmuddy]

I think I'll stick with my river fishing. This lake stuff just has way to much ego. Pro or not. Seems $$$ always gets in the way of humbleness and common sense.

If you go river fishing with me, you always get the front seat and always get on the fish first.

Carry on boy's, I am enjoying the read.

x eleventy billion.

I live 9 miles from lake norfork and I couldnt give a crap about fishing it. give me moving water any day of the week.