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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | O.K. Gang.
After reading the post about RCL amature experiences, I want to poke at the hornets nest just a little. And without airing my personal views on the subject, which might draw some unwanted flac, I'll state it this way. And I'm only fishing for honest viewpoints, while keeping the sympathetic or sarcastic answers to a minumum, If possibe.
Heres the Honest Question.
Is there any other Professional Sport, Contest, Vocation or any Big Money endevor, that simply takes the Support of Big Business, Sponsors or simply having the time and Entry fee money to be dubed a PRO?
Every single BIG MONEY professional sports event I can think of, (even the major BASS fishing events) takes many qualifying events, while slowly working your way up the latter to compete with the very best in that field. Why do you think the professional walleye fishing events have skipped this qualifying effort in most cases?
I can write a check and be qulified as a Pro in virtually every walleye contest scheduled this year. Is this right? Wouldn't the sport be better served if all the events were called amature, until the final events to indeed see who qualified in each circuit to be called the best and Pro?....Fire at will.
Edited by walleye express 1/8/2004 11:32 AM
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Member
Posts: 240
Location: La Crescent, MN | The total number of participants combined with low corporate investment in a growing sport. Both will eventually get there and there will be no choice but to go that direction.
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"I can write a check and be in the Pro ranks for the entire season in virtually every walleye tournament being held this year. Is that right?"
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Not entirely true, at least on the PWT. | |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | You beat me to the punch Zach.
We're a very young group and it takes time to develop. I think that you see this starting to happen with the RCL walleye leagues. They'll become the qualifying events used to supply the "Pro" ranks. I also predict that you'll see many of today’s "Pro's” having to go back and prove themselves at the "league" level after they slip in the rankings at the "Tour" level. Do a little research and you’ll find out that this same scenario developed at the B.A.S.S. level.
You need to look at the racing industry for comparisons also. I hate to say it but in some situations the racing industry can be a rich man’s sport and you can buy your way into it. Notice I didn’t say buy your way into success. At this time our industry and the racing industry has many similarities IMHO.
Dan, you indicate that you do not want to air your personal views on the subject. For the record, a person can read into this thread and others that you have posted and it’s not hard to figure out where you stand on this issue. That’s okay! You and I happen to have a difference of opinion on this issue. I think your major hang up is on the word Pro (Professional). There are different kinds of Pro’s out there in our industry. Charter Captains and Guides are a large part of this professional fraternity.
I hope that everyone reading this thread takes the time to separate themselves from the emotional issues associated with this question. Most people do not realize the 18 hour days associated with tournament fishing; the boat shows and fishing shows that must be attended and worked; the articles that should be written; the reports that should be sent out to sponsors; the appearances that should be made etc. etc. etc. To be a real Pro, there is a lot more to it than just showing up and fishing.
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Originally written by zboudreau on 2004-01-08 12:14 PM
The total number of participants combined with low corporate investment in a growing sport. Both will eventually get there and there will be no choice but to go that direction.
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"I can write a check and be in the Pro ranks for the entire season in virtually every walleye tournament being held this year. Is that right?"
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Not entirely true, at least on the PWT.
I'll give you that Steve.
Weigh this question and hypothesis.. "Once a pro, always a Pro?" True or false? Let me explain where my basic feelings on this matter comes from better. When I got into one of the very first Manufacturer Walleye Council Tournaments back in the mid-1980's, I considered myself just one of the hopeful entrants. Heck, nobody was considered or did consider themselves a pro, even a few of the other entrants that included Kieth Kavojic and Gary Parsons, both in that same tournament and both unknown names at the time. I learned a mega-ton of stuff about walleye fishing since those early days. But does the monicur of walleye pro still apply to me?
I've been guiding and chartering for 20 years and only recently accepted the idea that I'm a profession guide and charter Captain. This may be my own mental hang-up on the subject, who knows?
Edited by walleye express 1/8/2004 12:40 PM
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There is a huge difference in terminology when using a title: Pro, vs Professional. Whether you like it or not, all you need to enter on the "Pro-side" of a fishing tournament, is to have a qualified boat, the entry fee, and the time to participate.
And this is also true of the BASS tournament structure, although you need to qualify through lessor events.
Then to address "Professional". This is simply a description of a person who makes a living off of an endeavor. Certainly all full-time guides & Captains are considered professional, as would those few who make a living through sponsorship when fishing tournaments.
The real problem that some have with this term "Pro", is they assume the title is a label to the best fisherman in the world. This can never be true. There are many who will never fish a tournament that would fish circles around most "pros" entered in fishing tournaments. Heck, alot of today's pros are only in their position because they received help from these studied non-tournament anglers.
In conclusion, until the fishing industry sees profit in sponsoring enough anglers to fill up these major tournaments with "Professionals", expect those with enough courage to risk their own time, money, and reputation, to fill in the ranks. They deserve the title "Pro-Fisherman".
Edited by Rick Larson 1/8/2004 12:47 PM
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Member
Posts: 526
Location: blue mounds,wisc | big question!! we can argue all day and night about the difference between a pro walleye fisherman and an avid tournament angler. what is the difference? outside of the true meaning pro = a person that makes a living at his chosen field. avid tournament angler = a person that puts his money up and fishs along side everyone else. i know that there alot of avid anglers that dont have alot of finance`s ,that they can buy there way into a major circut , but can indeed out fish alot of self called pro`s.
this is my perspective and opinion on this
....BIG QUESTION.... | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Originally written by Rick Larson on 2004-01-08 1:41 PM
There is a huge difference in terminology when using a title: Pro, vs Professional. Whether you like it or not, all you need to enter on the "Pro-side" of a fishing tournament, is to have a qualified boat, the entry fee, and the time to participate.
And this is also true of the BASS tournament structure, although you need to qualify through lessor events.
Then to address "Professional". This is simply a description of a person who makes a living off of an endeavor. Certainly all full-time guides & Captains are considered professional, as would those few who make a living through sponsorship when fishing tournaments.
The real problem that some have with this term "Pro", is they assume the title is a label to the best fisherman in the world. This can never be true. There are many who will never fish a tournament that would fish circles around most "pros" entered in fishing tournaments. Heck, alot of today's pros are only in their position because they received help from these studied non-tournament anglers.
In conclusion, until the fishing industry sees profit in sponsoring enough anglers to fill up these major tournaments with "Professionals", expect those with enough courage to risk their own time, money, and reputation, to fill in the ranks. They deserve the title "Pro-Fisherman".
Rick.
Your absolutley right. At least in my own case. I deffinetly equate the word PRO with the BEST in that field. And when the best only win 1 tournament a year and often none, I find it hard to digest their status symbal that seems to never wear off, even years after their last tourney or event win. Like calling Governor Dean Governor simply because he once was a Governor of a state.
It's a tough one for sure. I will however, always respect a man I see that takes the time to figure things out and strive to be the best in anything he takes on in his life.
Edited by walleye express 1/8/2004 1:34 PM
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Yes, thats right. If one stops entering tournaments as a pro, then hereinafter thay can only be considered as "former" pros.
You on the other hand, are a for real, bonafide, Professional. From seminars to guiding (on so many type of waters to boot), and all that is between, I can't imagine anyone being better than one in your position! | |
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Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Originally written by Rick Larson on 2004-01-08 2:41 PM
Yes, thats right. If one stops entering tournaments as a pro, then hereinafter thay can only be considered as "former" pros.
You on the other hand, are a for real, bonafide, Professional. From seminars to guiding (on so many type of waters to boot), and all that is between, I can't imagine anyone being better than one in your position!
Rick.
Thank you very much for the compliment. I'm glad you said it and I'll tell you why. And before people start thinking we should start dating, let me explain.
It reinforced in myself what I've been trying to say about how I truly feel on this subject. When I read your praises, I had a weird sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Why?
I can physically/verbally state that I am a Professional fishing guide and charter Captain without getting that weird (I'm telling a lie) feeling in the pit of my gut. Yet, I know that it's only because of the passion, hours and years spent doing what I love, that makes me any better and knowledgable at what I do than Joe Blow.
And like you said, on any given day Joe Blow will be where the big ones are and outfish me. He'll win the trophy, get to hold the 6 foot check, kiss the Potato queen on stage and be pronounced the winning Pro. This for me, is where the true meaning of the word Pro gets lost in the fishing world.
Edited by walleye express 1/8/2004 2:07 PM
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Oh yeah...Can understand those sentiments.
Something akin to a Man, working hard every day, to provide for his family. Then he sits down on his day off and has to consider that the sport's entertainment of today is being played out by millionaire cry-baby 20 somethings, who have no concept of what earning a living really is.
Yep, it really sucks... | |
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Member
Posts: 84
Location: townsend,wi | someone hit it right on the head,and that is if you make a living at it.that's the answer of being a pro. I know of about 12 pro walleye fisherman and they spent alot of there money in the early years,but now they have money sponsors,not free products like some wanna be pro's. so who mentioned that a pro is a person that makes a living at it is 100% corect and the rest of us are amatures,does everyone now understand? | |
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The Big Question.