KVD Wins Again!!

[Stevens]

A lot of folks forget or do not know that these guys are a coorperation with millions of dollars at stake in advertising and endorsements.All the have to do is execute. The fish are already found and patterned. The GPS units are pre-programed and ready to go. All of this is done before they arrive at the launch. They have an entire team of folks taking care of everything,like a NASCAR pit-crew if you will. If any of you guys think that they go into a tourny like you and me then you need to see the light. I am not taking anything away from these fellow fishermen but I really hate the Superstar hype.

I love the superstar hype, it gives attention to fishing and thats a good thing. As far as being pre-programmed and ready to go, weeell yeah they know what the patterns should be but anyone who knows fishing and knows how to find the resources can figure out what the pattern should be. but theyre put on huge lakes with limited practice time and they still put it together every time. You cannot program fish, and thats what makes this sport so great.

[bassfisherman99]

How do you think KVD got where he is? The guy can flat out locate fish. What most people don't realize catching the fish is not the secret. Locating the fish is the secret. Most if not all pro's can catch fish. A lot of the people on this board could catch the fish if you locate them for them. You can't catch fish if your not on them.

[raincheck]

If i knew how too read a my lowrance 1/2 as good as KVD i would win alot more.I think i'll make it a goal this season too learn too do it better.Even if i have too take a class and i'm sure there are some guides or pro's who give them.Terry Adolph

[MarkW]

A lot of folks forget or do not know that these guys are a coorperation with millions of dollars at stake in advertising and endorsements.All the have to do is execute. The fish are already found and patterned. The GPS units are pre-programed and ready to go. All of this is done before they arrive at the launch. They have an entire team of folks taking care of everything,like a NASCAR pit-crew if you will. If any of you guys think that they go into a tourny like you and me then you need to see the light. I am not taking anything away from these fellow fishermen but I really hate the Superstar hype.

I would say about 50% correct. Guides take pros out all of the time and tell them what's going on. Most of the big name pros have a "network" of very good info. I think they still have to find them and catch them and they have to be very good at keeping up their equipment and knowing how to use it----but the DO get alot of help.
KVD is still the man----he is the Tiger Woods,Michael Jordan,Dale Earnhardt, etc. He get plenty of help, but he also knows alot too.

[Dave Stewart]

It all comes down to this: If you are going to be a top professional in any sport, it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of help along the way, some lucky breaks and a desire to succeed that overshadows all other aspects of your life and a ton of talent. Not much different from anyone that makes it to the top in any business when climbing the ladder from the bottom.

[00SKEETER]

You sound jealous to me. If it's so easy then go "sell yourself" to some corporate types and ride the gravy train that KVD is on.

"Gravy Train" are you kidding me. If you think being on the road 200+days a year away from your family, fishing 7 days straight (if you make the cut) from daylight to dark and filling sponsor commitments is riding the gravy train than you must be out of your mind.

[00SKEETER]

It all comes down to this: If you are going to be a top professional in any sport, it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of help along the way, some lucky breaks and a desire to succeed that overshadows all other aspects of your life and a ton of talent. Not much different from anyone that makes it to the top in any business when climbing the ladder from the bottom.

Well said Dave.

[ironhead70]

yeah but come on wouldu rather be sittin in the office all day or one of the other other back breaking jobs or FISHING FOR A LIVING !!!!!!!

[Dave Stewart]

yeah but come on wouldu rather be sittin in the office all day or one of the other other back breaking jobs or FISHING FOR A LIVING !!!!!!!

Obviously I would rather be fishing for a living since that is what I do....but if you think it is easy then you have never done it.

[00SKEETER]

I gurantee you it would be the toughest job you have ever had. If you think you're stressed out at work now try fishing for a living. At least you have a guranteed paycheck every week/month. These guys don't know if they're going to get paid or not.

[GrassRat]

Grassrat,
I will be a marshal at the Ky Lake tournament. Have any suggestions on what to take with me. My goal is to learn a minimum of 5 things per fisherman. My understanding is that I will ride with 2 different fisherman . Thanks! Ed

Fast,

You are apt to have the time of your life but it's mostly up to you. Here are some random thoughts:

Do take a pen and notebook and a map. Do not take a handheld GPS. It will be an offshore tournament for the most part. If you truly want to learn you'll take a map and figure out what they are fishing by looking at the map and not just marking the spots. Spend alot of time watching their back GPS unit (if they leave it on) and focusing on why they are fishing what they are fishing and not just where they are fishing. Forget about the where and you'll learn to find stuff on your own.

Take plenty of water as it will be hot and humid. You might even want to take your own ice and small cooler as last year one pro, who shall remain nameless (but he was the bachelor), wouldn't let me use his cooler or any of his compartments for that matter. He said they were full and he needed access to them all. Do bring a rainsuit. Don't bring a baseball bat as you could be tempted to use it if you draw a guy like that.

Depending on the pro, as some can be very quiet, you might take an ipod. Dean Rojas said four words in eight hours - "I needed that one", was all he said the entire day. I stopped after catching five and watched him the rest of the day. Quite an entertaining day watching him throw that frog and an honor as well. But I learned nothing.

Feel your pro out to see how they are going to be. Some guys are extroverts anyway and you can't shut them up. Some guys are introverts and prefer to focus. Some guys will be talkative for awhile and then you can tell they are getting into a zone. Leave them alone at that point and you might see something special. You don't want to be offputting right off the bat. I think the quieter you are at first the more open they will be later. Blowhard marshalls probably learn nothing. Guys who deal out their "resumes" to the pros probably get tuned out. Humble guys truly wanting to enjoy the day in the boat and learn will find most of these guys extrememly outgoing, thoughtful and great teachers.

Hope you have a great time and learn a ton.

GrassRat
aka Brian

[Stanley_p]

KVD worked his way up like some of you are right now. Some will make it and some will not. The ones that make it to the top will find out that it is harder to stay on top than the drive it took to get there. So to stay on top, you utilitize every sponsor, every dollar to stay there. Just like any other business. This is why we are the United States of Amercia! Where a man can go fishing and make a living out of it. I think KVD is a true professional and an american icon in the fishing world.

I would praise any individual who climbs the ladder of sucess and stays on top of their game.

HELL YEAH,
I'm Amercian,
Stanley