Mark,

Your post asked about being competitive, not winning the Classic, or Cup. No one ever knows who's gonna win that, it's a krap shoot. Even Howell said, "Who would have thought I would have won the Classic?"

I realize you're not knocking anyone, or being disrespectful to me. But I stand by my post, there are untold numbers of federation anglers, that if given a free ride, with family obligations taken care of, could be competitive in the elites...and move some of the pros (who it seems are just putting in their time) back to the ranks of the opens.

Several years ago I saved up enough $ from my full time job to take a leave of absence during the winter months to fish the FLW circuit. Came down there from up north and fished all new bodies of water I'd never been on, except Rayburn. I finished in the money 4 out of 5, having never fished a professional tournament before. Just chasing a dream, to see if I could compete.

At the time, there were guys in the Federation handing me my azz often enough to make me scratch my head.

There are guys out there, amateurs (from ALL parts of the country), that you've never heard of, and never will, that could change the ranks of the Elites...if given (really given) the opportunity.

People on here keep saying, "Well if given all the time and money I could hang", or "I know so and so, and if money was no object or time on the water blah blah". The thing is, none of the elite series guys were handed anything starting out. They paid their dues and earned there way to the top. Yea, if you give me infinite about of money, no obligations, time on the water, and years I could be competitive one day. That isn't how it works. Everyone starts out at the bottom. If you can't make it from the bottom, you can't make it.

I've known a good number of fisherman over the years that had the ability to be competive with any of flw or elite fisherman and some did but most it wasn't where they could take off from jobs and family to chase that dream.its called keeping your priorities in order. i believe it's a harder dream to realize now than it was in late 60s and into the70s when BASS was just kicking off, the field was wide open and lookin for good fishermen to promote tackle and the sport.my mouth watered to fish it and knew fishermen that were and I already fished against them. maybe I should have rolled those dice but I can't complain retired at50

Some pros come from family money and never worked a day in their life. Some are out there maxing out credit cards. Some guys who just hope for a 10K check to keep the train moving. Some work their way up little by little. Anyway you cut it, it takes a bit of $$$,$$$ to compete "comfortably" for a year. "Price of cotton" is at an all time high. Sad, but true. BUT if you can manage the money, it makes the job of fishing much easier.

You're really living in a dream world. You need to wake up. First of all, you show me which one of the young guys in their 20's can come up with over $55,000 a year in entry fees and expenses without someone else footing the bill. Do I really have to name names?


Go back to page one, the original poster's post, and read it. He states that if the expenses are paid...can you make it? That's why we keep saying, "If expenses were paid, there are lots of new people that would be in it."


blah, blah, blah...

So they went out and got sponsors. They were backed because they were good enough. They don't all have things paid for them. Watch the interviews they give. Several were asked about their financial situations and the most common answer was they scratch and claw to make it every year and that only about 10% of the field are set. That 10% were the ones who had actually done something in their fishing career. Those guys may have been better off financially than some, but guaranteed they couldn't just bust 70k a year without blinking. You are insane if you think there are people on this forum not fishing for a living because of money. People on here are not good enough or they would be. The ego on here is humorous.

Arguing about it on a public forum makes you look like tools. Nobody likes a tool. Carry on.

If I could jump I would be good at basketball... Really good.

Agreed, I plan to fish the Opens, Elite, and FLW but probably 1 to 2 tournaments a year in east Texas and Louisiana. If I win some substantial cash at any point I'll use that to add on to the number of tournaments I fish per year but still keep it local. I don't think I would fish an entire series even if I could afford it. I just don't like to travel that much. My main goal is to make it to the Classic at least once and or the FLW Championship.......

That did not stop Shawn Bradley!!

Uh, most likely no

Hell yeah, I'm the best you ever saw

ha, Brandon vs. Cam, White Men Can't Jump II.

I want to be clear that the point of my post was in no way to call out the guys that think they can hang. If you think you can then more power to you and i hope you get a chance to prove it someday. I will refrain from any of that other talk other than I agree with some of the points made in that if a guy had the skills and really wanted to do it he could find a way. I think saying this guy comes from money or has a ton of family money etc does not apply to near as many out there as we like to think. Guys like Clark, Schuff, Kernan, Romans, Biggs etc do not come from money and do not have anyone writing them a check paying their way. All have jobs and responsibilities as we all do yet they found a way. It also needs to be pointed out that they all are VERY consistent in local/regional events and a couple on that list have BASS wins etc. A guy locally doing OK in 1-2 events with 50 boat fields is gonna have a big time learning curve when you go to 3-4 days events against guys just as talented if not more than they are. There is no way to argue that to me. There is a talent level out there that the guys who are consistent in pro trails have that money can't buy.

I would say no, regardless of the money or whatever they have. Those guys still had to qualify to be there which is not an easy thing to do. Take Jason Christie for example. I don't know him personally but I do know he used to dominate in the tournaments here in Oklahoma. The pros that are really competing just have something most others don't. With that said I'm sure there are several guys on here that could make it if they really wanted to put their time and resources into it. But your average fisherman is not going to go out there and compete by any stretch of the imagination.