I have always wondered what everyone's definition of a pro crappie fisherman is. Is it tournament fishing, guiding, or just making money crappie fishing? Or can it be none of those things?

Interested to hear the responses

A guiding, tournament fisherman. Still gotta pay your bills.

If he makes his living guiding, he’s a pro.

If you're primary income is from fishing, you're a Pro Fisherman. At least that's my opinion.
Everything else is a hobby where you make money fishing....and that ain't bad either.

If you get paid for crappie fishing, guiding or tournament, I believe you are considered a pro. That would make you a pro Anthony.
Not all tournament fishermen finish in the money.

Some people make a living repping products.

Bonehead has 1

Kevin Rogers says Wally Marshall is the only crappie pro out there cause the rest of us have jobs! Heck, he's got his name on rods and baits, if he's not a pro I'm sure not a pro! That said, I'm an insurance agent that loves to tournament fish and guides part time. Pretty happy with it all!

Gods been great!

I appreciate the kind words Ken. I definitely don’t put myself in there. I was just wondering as I see that thrown around so much these days and it seems odd to me

If it's your main source of income, your pro.

If the IRS knows about your fishing, then you are a Pro....

Well I'm all over it then! Got my 1099 from Mr Crappie already. Still waiting on Crappie Masters, American Crappie Trail, CAT, and Crappie USA!!


Uncle Sams gonna get paid!

So what's your definition Anthony?

I can't answer that question for you Anthony. But, I will give you a similar scenario. Take golf for example (something I could type a very long reply about, but will try to keep it short). Some of the info following may have changed over the years but you get the idea. The USGA has always held that if one made money off of giving lessons, played for and accepted cash (over a certain amount), etc. You were considered a professional. However, if you were a sales representative, worked on the grounds crew, rules official, etc. You could still hold your amateur status or. There is a big difference between a professional golfer and a golf professional. PGA Tour players are professional golfers. Members and apprentices of the PGA are golf professionals. However, according to the USGA neither of them have amateur status. I was in the golf business for 20 years and member of the PGA. I basically scraped to get by as an assistant. Played in one PGA Tour event (Ben Hogan Tour) in 1992 and missed the cut. Played in PGA section events and won a little bit of money in events. I haven't been in the business or relied on it for a major source of income since 2012. I actually quit playing all together until Covid hit and needed something just to do when the weather wasn't conducive to fishing. Plus, a golf shaft is just a waste of a good piece of graphite. However, I am still considered a professional by the USGA. Partly because I have never applied to get my amateur status back and I still give a few lessons throughout the year to some old friends to help support my fishing habits. If I wanted to try and play in the USGA Sr. Amateur or TX Sr. Amateur I wouldn't be able to because of the label. There are lots of professionals that can't break 85-90 on a regular basis but still hold the title because they make a living (term used loosley) in the business. I guess what I'm getting at is that if there was a Professional Angler's Association of America, guides, tournament anglers, and the like would be considered professionals.

I knew you were a pro the first time I saw you call a crappie by his first name !