BASSMASTER Pro's fishing alone????

[QUOTE=bigrod;362680]I'm not on here to get in a pissing contest but, there are a lot of pros this week fishing by themselves! It is the first day of tournament. The only time the camera crew is IN the boat with the pros is on the final day. I still don't think there is even a chance that any of these guys would cheat. They are the best of the best and they have gotten to where they are by their fishing talent not by cheating there way on. I have followed the Elites this year as much as anyone on here I guarantee you. I have watched every weighin of every tourn. this year, including the classic and this is not the first time there haven't been an observer in every boat every day it is just this time there are a large number of boats without them. I'll say it again, you pay Dave Stewart roughly $300.00 to go on a day trip. Imagine what it would be like to pay just $100.00 to ride with KVD, Skeet and Ike in three days of full fishing fot 1/3 the price. Come on you can't say it is a great deal. I wish it was free but nothing in life is free and if you haven't learned that by now I'm sorry.[/QUOTE]


There are 81 Marshalls at this tournament. There are at least 12 camera boats if not more, there are also official observers, usually members of the outdoor media, who are also used if there is not a full field. I have been a press observer in several tournaments including four times at the Classic. I have a hard time believing there is anybody fishing by themselves, but I am not there. The pictures you see where someone is fishing alone are taken by B.A.S.S. photographers who are in media boats.

Dude I'm telling you you are 100% wrong on this!!!

100 pros-81 marshals= 19 pros fishing alone!!! There are still pictures all around of pros in their boat with no Marshal. Bass Zone has talked about this all night. There is no way I feel these pros would cheat but I'm just saying they need to find an alternate way to get people in the boats every day of the tournament even if they aren't paid marshals!! Like I said I'm right on this one and I'll bet you whatever you want.

[quote=bigrod;362680]I'm not on here to get in a pissing contest but, there are a lot of pros this week fishing by themselves! It is the first day of tournament. The only time the camera crew is IN the boat with the pros is on the final day. I still don't think there is even a chance that any of these guys would cheat. They are the best of the best and they have gotten to where they are by their fishing talent not by cheating there way on. I have followed the Elites this year as much as anyone on here I guarantee you. I have watched every weighin of every tourn. this year, including the classic and this is not the first time there haven't been an observer in every boat every day it is just this time there are a large number of boats without them. I'll say it again, you pay Dave Stewart roughly $300.00 to go on a day trip. Imagine what it would be like to pay just $100.00 to ride with KVD, Skeet and Ike in three days of full fishing fot 1/3 the price. Come on you can't say it is a great deal. I wish it was free but nothing in life is free and if you haven't learned that by now I'm sorry.[/quote]

I'll let you ride in the back of my boat for 100.00 per day if you sit back there, keep quiet and watch me catch fish...That way I don't have to teach you anything..I get to fish..I don't have to fight the wind to keep the boat in position for you....give you baits to use...tie on your lures...net your fish....get your "professional over runs" out of your reels, take the fish off the hook for you, mark your maps with some good places to fish tomorrow...etc..etc...etc....there is a big difference in going out with a guide and riding around in a tournament pro's boat....that is why you pay the 300.00 to go out with me...just as the guys do that your paying to sit back and watch them fish...not saying it is not a good deal to go out with these guys...but comparing a guided trip with a boat ride is hardly fair to me (since you mentioned my name)...or any other professional guide.

[QUOTE=bigrod;362706]100 pros-81 marshals= 19 pros fishing alone!!! There are still pictures all around of pros in their boat with no Marshal. Bass Zone has talked about this all night. There is no way I feel these pros would cheat but I'm just saying they need to find an alternate way to get people in the boats every day of the tournament even if they aren't paid marshals!! Like I said I'm right on this one and I'll bet you whatever you want.[/QUOTE]

First, I am not really a betting man. Second, calm down, I am not acting like you are crazy. my point is, I have a hard time believing BASED ON SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, that just because nobody is sitting in the boat, doesn't mean there is not a media or BASS boat following them. After all, it only cost BASS gas, since they don't have to supply the boats.

BTW, there are at least 12 camaera boats on the water all four days of the tourney. So the math should be 81 + 12= 93. Seven people could be followed by media boats, which means local BASS Federation anglers who drive members of the media around during the tournament. Like I said, I am not saying you are wrong on this, just trying to explain what has happened over the years.

OH, they cancelled today due to the weather.

My 2cents,If you are a marshall you ride 2days and if you make the cut too 50boats you ride a 3rd day.Its nothing like going out with a guide.I tryed too get on at KY lake and they had me on a waiting list.Got my money back.Some of those guys would have been alot of help with a hand held gps with me not too mention some would talk too you.If anyone on this site every gets too the big time i will pay them too.Just my 2cents Terry Adolph:cool:

To Dave, I only brought your name up because of what I've read about you on this forum as a class act, not trying to say anything else. Tim I won't post on this anymore I see where you are coming from and where I stand it is ok to disagree based on what I know. All is well I am heading down to Barren for the weekend in hopes to get on a few. I do feel BASS needs to come up with something when there are not enough Marshals to fit the need.

Have a good trip at Barren and give us a report when you get back. It's all good.

Am I not mistaken that the boats have cameras rigged on the back pedastal now a days? I've seen a lot of them, most of the time the guy catches a fish and walks back to a camera to show where he hooked a fish. Their little cameras that are radio controlled I think. I know they use them on things like Basstraks, if you pay for a service you can "follow your favorite angle all day" is what is advertised

Have a good trip to Barren..watch out for those storms coming in on Sunday..if they are anything like the past few we have had coming thru here you don't want to be on the water when they come thru.

Point of my post was that comparing the price of going out with a guide to riding along with a tournament anglers is like comparing apples and oranges. We bass guides are the "coaches" of the game and the anglers are the "players". When you go out with a guide..it is all about YOU...when you go out to ride in a tournament pro's boat it is all about THEM. Both of us, guides and tournament pro's work hard at what we do....we just have different roles. You are paying me for my hard work and my personal attention to YOU...you are paying them for the priviledge of riding around with them. Now, I personally believe the price is right for what you are getting if you ride around with a couple of those guys for a couple of days...you get to see how these guys go at their end of the spectrum...even pick up a few tips along the way if you are observant enough.

If I had my druthers, I would personally rather pay $300.00 to ride and fish with Mr. Stewart, from what I have heard you can learn more in a day with Dave than you could a year with anyone else. A guy I work with is going to set up a trip with him, and I am tagging along, so I cant wait. I just cant see riding around watching a pro fish, and not being able to get up and cast, would personally drive me bonkers!

Dave you don't have to justify, the name says it all "GUIDE", to ride along with them is nothing more than an opportunity to meet a hero. You "Guide", they may give up pointers and tell what they are doing but if your not fishing with them they can't tell you if you are doing something wrong like you can when you do what your guiding, ie. too fast, too slow line size, and a whole plethera of other things. I would like to ride along with KVD and/or others but just to do it for the experience of being a part of an elite tourney nothing more.