So your telling me I shouldn't fish the lake I live on on the weekends and it belongs to the pro's?

That's what they're sayin.

appears thats what some imply

80-90% probably

I don't know Mr. Jeff L Stevens but if I ever meet him I am going to buy him the biggest steak on the menu.

He gets it.

Sure was a lot of condescending tone in here

I'll buy the drinks.

I will slide up close to you guys....and when y'all leave, I'll have what y'all had.

Tom said you were okay in his book Steez. Your are welcome anytime.

I don't recall Takahiro Omori making my Boat Payment or asking me when I was planning to go fishing. And who said I like Takahiro flying by me doing 80mph in a 21 footer with a 300 hp . Also, should I not get a chicken fry at the local greasy spoon because Takahiro needs to eat. You can armchair fish while elites or FLW are fishing but you'll probably get a reel lite bite. Tight lines

The reason I prefer bass fishing over deer hunting is that you have to buy a nice deer nowadays. They put up the high fence and lock the deer in and lock the people out because it's all about the money. I have had a couple of tense situations with a particular guide on fork back in the day. He would push up close and declare this was his spot because " he made a living" on the lake.

My opinion is that the lake belongs to the taxpayers. I bet that guide never paid taxs on the cash he was paid. This leads me to the topic at hand. I personally would not slide in on the spot after the pro left but, it the right of any tax payer to fish where he wants on OUR lake. I'm sure some of the guys who "make a living" on OUR lake would be dragging floating high fences and putting them over the prime spots and charging to enter if they had the option.

We all have the same odds in this sport, we can fish in front of or behind anybody and it may or may not affect the other guy. That's part of the fishing competition, dealing with human beings not just bass.

i don't mean to offend the guide community. I respect them, and the service they provide, but the pros and the guides are using public property to make a living. The good ones can still perform even after others have fished it because they are pros. Just making the point that greed will always be a factor, until I get my fence around lake fork and keep it all to my self!

Best post of the lot.

I believe if you are folllowing the big boys to learn or spectate, then leave it alone. But, if it were because tournaments were going on, then a weekend angler could never fish Rayburn again. Lol.
Yes, the Elites and media hurt Toledo. Because 70% heads get cut on Toledo vs. 30% on Rayburn according to Driscoll. For 2-3 years everyday of week in months of February to April and see average 500 boats, with that 70% factored is devestating. Now when a body of water is struggling, Opens and Costas do more for local economy.