Bassmaster Open report

[Macsimus]

I've been tournament fishing for 16 years now and I think it's mostly about the competition. It's a real kick being the guy that figured 'em out on a given day better than everyone else. That said, I vastly prefer team tournament over draw formats although I have made some great friends that way as well. The last 8 years, I've team-fished with my youngest son and it has been the highlight of my adult life (other than grandchildren). The way we click and complement each other during a fishing day is very special to me. The wins and Team of the Year wins I've enjoyed with him have been some of the highest highs I've ever experienced. 

That said, as I get older and lose energy, more and more I enjoy just a relaxing day on the water with family and friends. 

[vernon]

25 minutes ago, Macsimus said:

I've been tournament fishing for 16 years now and I think it's mostly about the competition. It's a real kick being the guy that figured 'em out on a given day better than everyone else. That said, I vastly prefer team tournament over draw formats although I have made some great friends that way as well. The last 8 years, I've team-fished with my youngest son and it has been the highlight of my adult life (other than grandchildren). The way we click and complement each other during a fishing day is very special to me. The wins and Team of the Year wins I've enjoyed with him have been some of the highest highs I've ever experienced. 

That said, as I get older and lose energy, more and more I enjoy just a relaxing day on the water with family and friends. 

Now again, in MY opinion, you've got the right idea.  I can totally relate to what you're up to here.  I guess it's just the guys that take the "professional" thing a little too far and think that it makes them more important than everybody else.  I can think of at least a dozen times that I've been cut off by one of these guys that have actually said something to the effect of, "Sorry pal but I'm in a tournament."  Like I care?  I honestly would prefer that you just cut me off and spare me the self indulgence of justifying it by acting all important.  Tournament my posterior.

I used to play in a lot of "professional" golf tournaments back in the day.  They were professional because they paid cash money and a guy could win up to maybe $5000 for finishing first.  The most I ever won was $3200 and I admit it was a heck of a rush.  But what finally drove me out of it was all of the guys who behaved exactly like so many tournament fisherman - they thought they were somehow more important than everyone else.  Like many of you guys, I met mostly great guys and made many wonderful friends and actually became a better player as a result.  But the Tiger Wood's wannabe's ruined the deal for me.  I just finally came to the conclusion that in spite of the fact that I loved to compete and making a few bucks (on occasion) was terrific, it just wasn't worth the aggravation anymore.  In fact, it became downright embarrassing being associated with some of these clowns as most of the regular folks at the courses that hosted the events hated them/us.  Sound familiar?

As for the money aspect of it, in reality I probably could have made more going to the casino and I'm a terrible gambler.  I get that the money makes it more fun but it sure didn't make me anything more than I really was which was just a mediocre player who enjoyed the thrill of pretending I was one of the Big Boys every now and then.  The problem is all the guys that don't realize that they're just pretending and act like their actual livelihood depends on making a putt or catching a couple of fish regardless of what they have to do to do it.  I just find the parallels to be obvious and I don't like either one of em' anymore.

And, I'm serious - GET OFF MY LAWN!  Dang, it must be winter again.

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

8 minutes ago, vernon said:

GET OFF MY GREEN!

I fixed it for you.

[vernon]

Just now, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I fixed it for you.

You, sir, are relentless!

[snagged in outlet 3]

I prefer persistent.

[Macsimus]

11 minutes ago, vernon said:

Now again, in MY opinion, you've got the right idea.  I can totally relate to what you're up to here.  I guess it's just the guys that take the "professional" thing a little too far and think that it makes them more important than everybody else.  I can think of at least a dozen times that I've been cut off by one of these guys that have actually said something to the effect of, "Sorry pal but I'm in a tournament."  Like I care?  I honestly would prefer that you just cut me off and spare me the self indulgence of justifying it by acting all important.  Tournament my posterior.

I used to play in a lot of "professional" golf tournaments back in the day.  They were professional because they paid cash money and a guy could win up to maybe $5000 for finishing first.  The most I ever won was $3200 and I admit it was a heck of a rush.  But what finally drove me out of it was all of the guys who behaved exactly like so many tournament fisherman - they thought they were somehow more important than everyone else.  Like many of you guys, I met mostly great guys and made many wonderful friends and actually became a better player as a result.  But the Tiger Wood's wannabe's ruined the deal for me.  I just finally came to the conclusion that in spite of the fact that I loved to compete and making a few bucks (on occasion) was terrific, it just wasn't worth the aggravation anymore.  In fact, it became downright embarrassing being associated with some of these clowns as most of the regular folks at the courses that hosted the events hated them/us.  Sound familiar?

As for the money aspect of it, in reality I probably could have made more going to the casino and I'm a terrible gambler.  I get that the money makes it more fun but it sure didn't make me anything more than I really was which was just a mediocre player who enjoyed the thrill of pretending I was one of the Big Boys every now and then.  The problem is all the guys that don't realize that they're just pretending and act like their actual livelihood depends on making a putt or catching a couple of fish regardless of what they have to do to do it.  I just find the parallels to be obvious and I don't like either one of em' anymore.

And, I'm serious - GET OFF MY LAWN!  Dang, it must be winter again.

 

Very well stated and I agree totally. What I failed to mention previously is how completely satisfying it is for me to take the winner's check standing there in my Dickie's grey pocket T right next to the 30 percenter in the jersey with the stickered-up truck.  

On a different note, your lawn "issue" is giving me regular laughs. I grew up in a middle-income suburb of Cleveland with manicured, postage-stamp-sized yards (well, except for ours) and I wish I had a dollar for every time I fetched a ball from the neighbor's front yard only to look up at him glaring at me from his picture window.