I would have to agree with some of the others, who have credited time on the water. I would also add...making mistakes on the water. Be it, spending time fishing areas that are not productive, running into areas and finding it difficult to get it/out, or even hitting something in the water (stumps, sand bars, rocks, etc). Of course none of these things are much fun, but they are experiences that may help you the next time you fish that particular body of water.

wish I could get more TOW!

pink slips?

Nothing better!

Quite a few on the Elite or FLW going broke who thought the same thing.

You put the best guys in the business on a very healthy lake, at the perfect time, and that's what we get to see!

I think they did the same thing if not more on Bull Shoals in 2012.

I disagree. I work 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. When I'm off aside from the occasional golf game I'm on the water. No it's not 300 but I still spend around 150 days on the water a year and every check I've ever cashed has been a grind from start to finish. Some guys have it, some guys work at it, and some guys (me) just get lucky once in a while.

On the flip side, there were "elite" anglers that only caught 6 keepers in 2 days. Mark Davis is on fire this yr. I hope he sees it through to AOY. He's a legend and still going!

I'm pretty sure fishing tournaments is the only job Davis has ever known. But even before he started fishing with BASS 30 years ago he already just had it. He was fishing circles around guys from day 1.

There are a lot of guys that put in the time on the water and while they are much more knowledgable fishermen, doesnt necessarily make them better championship fishermen. I like the quote from Harry Vardon who is a golf legend as i believe it applies to all competitive sports "There�s only two kinds of players � those who hold on to their nerves and go on to win championships, and those who don�t."

If we knew the answers we would be out there doing it instead of talking about it. I doubt any of us really have any idea on how they do it.

If you don't think the pro's don't get information from guides and others they talk to. What ever!!!

I know for a fact that not all do. I think we let our egos get bruised because its hard to accept some of these guys roll up on lakes we fish all the time but are seeing for the first time and load the boat. just from watching them up close it seems supreme confidence and efficiency on the water is one of the biggest advantages they have.

What's your point? I have a couple very good friends who wake them up and put them to bed at Fork every day. They give me info but I seldom duplicate their success. And as for anyone being able to compete with TOW and $$$, some could, most could not. Go read Joe Balog's article on Bassfan about two tour pros. Those 14 guys go from tournament to tournament. Practice starts the day after the previous tournament ends. Momentum and mindset is what brings continued success. The TOW argument is correct in that regard. Look who has won the Opens and FLW next level this year. ELite or FLW pros who show up with little to no info. And they beat the snot out of locals who have more info and more TOW on the fisheries than the "jackpotting" pros. That right there flames the "anyone with TOW and $$$" argument.

You can get all the info on where to fish and how to catch them. Sometimes that information helps. A lot of times if you don't know how to adapt and listen the fish each day you'll crash and burn. I think it's a combination of getting local knowledge and being able to execute on your own. A four day tournament definetely tests an anglers ability. How can a rookie possibly compete at the proper level consistently with only 3 days of practice on these lakes. The vets have a clear advantage. I think some anglers live on other peoples information and then there are some guys that don't pay attention and do their own thing. To each his own. We all get information in lots of different ways all the time. Talking to fellow anglers, reading info on forums, guide fishing reports, etc. It is what it is.

This whole argument that guys make that a LOT of local guys can compete at those levels if they had the resources is almost funny. A very small handful could but realistically most of us ain't beating the Mike Kernan's, The Trevor Roman's, the Todd Castledine's and the Brian Clark's on lakes we know much less gonna run out and beat KVD on some lakes we have never seen. I am all for dreaming but the whole resources to compete stuff needs some reality. If you ain't getting a check in 75% or more of what you fish locally or winning a few here and there you will not have success out there.

You are correct. Most just don't have the fiber to make it happen no matter what resources they have. The guys you mentioned not only have "it" but they also combine that with insane time on the water. Takes both to compete at high levels and be consistent. The interesting thing about fishing is a blind hog does occasionally stumble upon an acorn. On any given Sunday the planets can align and Joe Shmo can tear it up. So many guys even competiting at the highest levels with the resources holding on that hope that the planets will line up for them again.