Most hated Pro athletes.....

[BassBest]

I want to say something as far as getting the youth involved into fishing. I have heard many topics on this as we all have. It seems like we are trying to MAKE kids like fishing. "TAKE A KID FISHING, TAKE A KID FISHING, ETC"

Sure let's take a kid fishing IF he wants to go. If he has never fished, teach him, of course bluegill and crappie are the best way I believe, but most kids I know are not interested in fishing, they may go, they may try to learn for a minute or two and maybe catch one, but then they like to swing the fish around while on the hook, or throw rocks in the water, or fishing line, or other trash. There are some I have seen that really enjoy fishing, but fishing is not a 30 minute session, and if a kid loses interest after 30 minutes, and he is catching fish, he doesnt like fishing. In my mind. This is what I call teaching a kid to fish. Every year my club takes a 50 kid "special population"(special olympic group) on a fishing tournament. All fish are counted, these people fish for 8 hours in the hot August sun a love the heck out of it. I mean they jump for joy over a .11 lb bluegill, and the only thing you want is for them to catch another one. Every member in my club had teary eyes watching the kids recieve their plaques, rod-n-reels, certificates, tackle boxes, lures, and whatever else, I've got picture to proove the watery eyes in case a member denied it, though I can barely see them due to my watery eyes. That is what I call taking a kid fishing. I know, lots of people have kids who love the sport, but you should't have to spend 2 hrs getting ready, and leave after 30 minutes when the kid lost interest, (they say don't make them fish if they don't want to, it will make them dislike the sport)., they don't like it anyway, they probably like the outdoors, the sun, the water, but not the fishing. Heck it's just my opinion, but I think some articles (to me) are suggesting we try and make them into fishermen, no no no. We might do the sport a bad favor.

[scaly1]

That's an awesome thing that your club does. My hats off to you--what a great way to bring a little joy into those kids lives. I agree that some kids take well to fishing and some don't. Both of my sons love actually catching fish but neither has a lot of patience when the bite is tough. The nice thing about it is that they enjoy just cruising around the lake when we are checking out new spots. I honestly get a bigger charge out of teaching and helping them catch fish than catching them myself. I hope they never grow out of wanting to hit the water with their old man. For now they get really excited when we plan a trip to the lake but I worry about the rapidly approaching teen-age years ahead. It will be a sad, sad day if they are ever "too cool" for it.

[sparkie_212]

LOL, how did a fisherman fishing out of a boat get on the Pro ATHLETE list to begin with?

How many on this board consider a fisherman that fishes out of a boat an Athlete?

[BassBest]

LOL, you have a good point. I am still laughing to the fact that I am definately not in an athletic category (as far as what people THINK is an athlete) I gained 55 lbs the last year. (From 160 to 216) and I grunt every time I bend over. But I have a physical job now, but I'm not losing weight. I had to look up the definition of an athlete. This is what it says:

Athlete - one who contends for a prize.
Athletics - exercises requiring physical skill, strength, and endurance.

Now let me explain why ALL fishermen are athletes. If you have ever fished a tournament that you wanted to win, first you are contending for a prize. A tournament requires physical skill to cast 1000 to 2000 times in 8 hrs with the same arm, strength to keep casting and to haul in fish all day (or sometimes only one fish), and endurance to keep focus physically and mentally all day long. Especially during July and August. I'm here to tell ya, I go home and take a long nap after a tourney because it would be equivilant to working my construction job for 16 straight hours.

I'm not trying to say your wrong at all, because if someone asked me if I was an athlete and all I did was fish. I would say no at first. But I now know the Webster's definition for the word, and I realize us humans think of weightlifting, basketball, football, and baseball an athletic sport, but so is Nascar even though they sit down all day. But I couldn't go in circles for 3 hrs at 200 mph avery weekend.
On another note. "BEING Athletic" refders to vigorous, active, sturdy, and muscular. "PLPLPLPLPL" not me. LOL, so we are athletic, and we are athletes, but maybe on the lower end of the term considering football. Again, good point. But it's ok to call yourself an athlete.
Take Care

[90skeeter]

its a sport and athletes play sports there for fisherman are athletes,they might not be in athletic shape or age but they do play a sport

[BassBest]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-06 AT 11:45AM (EST)[/font][p]The first time I saw Ike fishing, I was a little worried about the screaming and such, but the more I watched him, the more I like him. The guy won a classic and kicked, screamed, danced (whatever you call that rolly polly thing he does, I like it), the whole way. He probably did the other anglers a favor by WAKING THEM UP. Most other fishermen whisper in the tourneys. We don't want fish to get used to silence, let them get use to noise, evidently it didn't hurt!! I can't remember Danny's post but was it Denny Bruar who said to think of our sport as golf? Denny Denny Denny, you should be ashamed. I don't think he has won a Bassmaster classic but I could be wrong. Look at the group that hates him, mostly non-classic winners who have tried the last 20 years. I don't hear Rick Clunn or Kevin Van Dam or Mark Davis slammin him. As long as the guy truly fishes fair and honest, let's have more of him. Go Ike!!!

Ok I reread the post it was Schultz who said think of fishing like golf. hahahaha Schultz, another non-classic winner. Wasn't it Bernie who pulled Mike in the middle of the lake in the UMF series? Although it was totally tourney legal because the rules tell them to do whatever it takes to beat the other guy and do it any chance they get. I sure wish they would have left that part out of the compitition, make that another series like "Ultimate Slamfishin" or something.

[Viper201]

Denny Brauer won the bassmasters classic in 1998 and fininshed in second place in 1999.Denny is an old school guy and is very well respected by his peers on tour.He has made numerous comments about "ike's" antics over the last couple of years and if a veteran like denny has a problem with this guy then i'd have to believe that what he says is legitimate.We all know ike does his screaming and dancing to attract attention and if thats what he has to do then let him do it but i prefer the guys who let their fishing draw attention to themselves.I fished against ike on okeechobee back in 2000 and he didn't carry on then the way that he does now.Like someone else said,the more attention he gets the more sponsorship money he's gonna get,thats why he does it plain and simple.

[HoosierDon]

Viper & Stonewall

WELL SAID..........

[Danny]

BB,

I did not think Denny was slammin' Ike. I thought his comments were taken out of a comment on Ike, and so the term out of context might apply.

I think it was Schultz that said that about the golf, but I did not go back and check, so I too could be wrong.

WOW, how hard would it have been for me to go check??

I just and went and checked, yes it was schultz.

I do know that on one of the E50's, the cameras caught Ike blowing by Larry Nixon while he was fishing, and Larry even commented on the fact that Ike had ruined the water.

Guys, I give it to you, HE CAN CATCH FISH!! No question. I also agree, we have had testimonials on here about how great he is with the fans. That said, think about all the posts WE all make about the lack of respect anglers show... blowing by us while we are fishing, cutting us off, etc.....

I don't know of any of us that have fished against Ike in a tournament, I know I haven't, so I can only base my thoughts on what they show on TV, and I know ESPN is out to sensationalize the sport to get folks watching. It seemed to me that Schultz was really the one slamming Ike the most in that article. Other than ultimate match fishing, I'm not sure I've really ever seen Schultz do well, and in UMF, it was the wildcard that got him to the semi-finals, wasn't it?


My opinion of Ike really doesn't matter to anyone other than me. However, the only thing I really don't like is the hollering he does, and the fact that he has gotten to where he looks for an audiance before he hollers. Now other than that, what can I criticize him for? Don't all of us set the hook and say "it's a big 'un!!!" and then often we pull in a dink. We say wow, it felt a lot bigger, or he sure thought he was bigger than he really is. Also, everytime we lose a fish, or break one off, or miss a bite, it was always a "Really Good One." I have fished with a lot of guys, and undoubtedly, they miss a bite and say that was a 5 lber, I could tell by the bite! What???

I take that article for what it was. That was the first time I have ever read or heard anyone claim Ike has cut them off. Let me read it from other anglers, several of them, and I think we can then say there is a trend that "may" represent the truth.

I still wish I could catch fish like Ike!!

I'm still glad I am not screaming at the top of my lungs. I guess I feel a little like Jeff Fisher.... "Act like you have been here before." Let me win a big pot... and see if I can contain myself...LOL

Danny

[BassBest]

Apologies to Denny, whatever happen to his show, I liked that one. I too have been with people who break off 6+lbers on the hookset, but they sure do real good on those 2lbers. I also know of people who get a "bite" then set the hook on nothing, and say "ohhh he spit it out" My opinion is rocks can't spit anything out. lol, it's a fun sport with endless opportunities.

[zx150]

You either love him or hate him. Tennis had John Mcenrow (sorry for the miss spelling) golf had John Daly basketball has Ron Artest football has Terrell Owens. I personally don't care for the guy or any of the above, but they add an interesting aspect to the sport.

[LINCOLN]

Charlie Moore who could like that loud mouth