Reading the live blog for the elites on table rock, a question came to mind. They say Mark Davis has had a slower day today, with only about 50 fish. Thursday and Friday he had around 100 fish, each day. Granted, they were not all keepers or fish that would help his bag.. But my goodness that's a ton of fish! Imagine just going for a day of fun fishing.. 50 would be pretty dang awesome!

Obviously, the elites are a cut above the rest. Hence the title, I'd say. Combine that with the quality of fisheries they compete on, and I suppose there's my answer..

Still boggles the mind.. How do they do it!? Having had the opportunity to fish with some guides, and other exceptional anglers, I find myself asking the same of them. Are they (y'all) just born with some 6th sense about knowing when you get bit? How do YOU do it?

The elite guys are simply awesome. Not sure I could imagine catching 300-400 fish in 4 days.

TOW creates confidence and more fish.

word.

Its their profession, Its what they do. Many professionals on here that have impressed me with their skills and abilities, they just do it in other areas. Guys that spend decades on the lakes across the country fine tuning their craft is comparable in time, skill and effort to the guy who got his post grad degree in a technical school and honed his skills in electrical engineering, architecture or structural analysis.

I had the chance to share the boat with Alton Jones two years ago on a private lake during March. It is a really cool thing to watch someone that is so good at their craft. It amazes me how big the gap is between weekend warriors like myself and an elite pro.

If most of the guys here could spend 300 days a year on the water and have someone pay them to do it.....I'd bet just about everyone could at least compete with the "Elite" guys....as with anything...baseball, basketball, football....basketweaving...it takes tons of dedication, studying and most of all...PRACTICE...

I caught seven LMB today in six hours of fishing. By far my most productive day. You're right; 100 fish a day, no matter how big they are, is staggering. Although, if I dedicated my life to fishing and was paid to do so, I wouldn't be quite so happy with the seven I caught today.

Still, I'd be amazed, I'm sure, at the number of fish a guide would get me on in one day.

I'm not saying I have those days happen for me often, but there are days where you just go catchin... On those days they are either keyed in on what you are throwing, or they are super aggressive and will hit nearly anything.

Nothing like finding a spot and catching fish cast after cast after cast...

I too am amazed at their skill level and determination. But, don't think that they do that at every lake, every tournament.

I'm not so sure about that. No matter how much I practice, I'll never be an "elite" football, baseball or basketball player. For that matter, I doubt I'd ever become much more than a very competent basketweaver.

Some people just have a talent for certain things. If not, then the pros who fall short on the tour would just have to spend more TOW and one day they'll get their championship.

That is probably the biggest factor.

a practice day for them is 7am to 6pm. They have been most of these lakes for years on the circuit. They talk to guides. If Mark Davis calls me and ask for a little help with the lake, what are you going to say, get lost. I don't think so. We get a jig hung in a tree that might have fish on it, I'm getting my jig back. Greg Hackney probably has 100's of jigs in his boat, he just breaks them off. I just suck at being a fisherman, I couldn't catch one in a fish tank at a fishing show that has starved for a week.

Power poles...without them you will catch 80% fewer bass.

I'm curious...why would you feel obligated to tell Mark Davis (or anyone for that matter) where you're catching fish on a particular lake if he called you?

Those guys put their pants on one leg at a time just like you and I do.

I'm even amazed at Bill Wilcox on Honey Hole. Granted Bill fishes a lot, but if you watched yesterday's Part 2 on Lake Conroe, he was catching them every cast with a chatterbait off of a bridge that had an underwater hump. Bill said he had never fished Conroe in his life, but yet he went out and located a spot that he knew had potential and worked it over and over and he kept catching fish. I think he wound up getting paid in 3 different hours during this Big Bass tournament.

Bill always seems to be able to catch fish regardless of the body of water or the conditions.

Hats off to you Mr. Wilcox!

Jim