Elite's on Kentucky Lake

[Tim_T]

My point wasnt even about BASS closing public water. The point I was making was KVD is very very good and he did very well in these tournaments where the field wasnt as big and pressure wasnt as bad. You just assumed I was being anti B.A.S.S. The tournaments I was talking about were called the Majors and after that the memorials. Almost all of the lakes they fished were not closed but I know when they fished days 3 and 4 on Lake Townsend in NC it was closed. And if you wanted to be anti BASS its worth noting that anglers were allowed to fish areas normally closed to the public.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...s.308ff1b.html

B. A.S.S. cannot close any body of water, public officials do that. The city of Greensboro could have easily told B.A.S.S. no! Lake Townsend was already a highly restricted lake anyway. Plus it is small, I assumed you were talking about large public bodies of water. Btw, I am well aware of the former majors and the Memorial. I am also well aware of how good KVD is. I have had a seat in the boat to see it first hand.

[johnking82]

Ya'll are talkin about two different topics.

As for someone runnin on you, it oughta just go both ways...pros shouldn't come in on anyone and neither should an amatuer come in on a pro. Simple. And don't anyone give me the crap about "they're fishin for a livin" or "they're trying to put food on the table"....that doesn't give you the right to be an arrogant dude.

As for following/GPS'ing, the pros have to accept that amatuers want to follow them...that's the price of the fame and the $ they make because of fandom. On marking their spots, just do it by sight or memory and don't encroach so closely just to get a GPS coordinate...they're only accurate to within a few yards anyway. Unless you idle alongside his boat, you can accomplish the same thing by stopping and observing. It should be up to you to get back to that spot on your own and figure out how to catch fish off it.

Lastly, it should just be an unwritten rule that 1 Oz. egg sinker upside the head is the punishment for being a prick on the water...it's not that hard to figure out who is in the wrong in most cases.

Probably the best response I've seen so far.

My .02 for what it's worth. Pro or not, there are the un-written rules of tournament fishing...i.e. not being a total prick and cutting someone off. I don't know how many times I've been fishing a spot in practice and catching fish and leave it to find boats pull in right as I leave. The spot is not mine, I don't own it, nor do I own the water. It's a part of fishing and also a part of respect. I wouldn't go out of my way and say "please don't fish here, I have a tournament tomorrow"...because in reality if I just have one spot that I'm fishing then either my tournament won't be going well or that place will hold enough fish for me and some others.

As the pros go, it is their jobs and lifestyle, but think of other fisherman as other obstacles like weather or changing water levels. You rarely see the pro's takeover each other spots because out of the respect for each other. Pro's will also come and ask if they can fish a spot that someone is fishing. To me, that would be a compliment or honor to have a pro fishing next to me.

As far as GPSing people, there is no need to drive right by and GPS it, use your sight and knowledge...Like Ranger492 said, you're going to be off and anyways...just because they might be there today, doesnt mean they will be there tomorrow.

I guess I am still like a kid at batting practice, for me it's cool to see or fish with the pro's....gotta give the pros the respect they deserve and vice versa because if it wasn't for them, would boaters even be following them around?

[slobslayer]

I guess I should check the BASS rule book before I write this but I seem to recall a BASS rule concerning the illegality of elites contacting a local guide for information within a certain amount of time before a tournament. If anyone knows this for sure please comment.

[Dave Stewart]

I was out there guiding today and had some clients that were just fishing for fun to see how many fish we could catch. I pulled up on my second stop on a ledge and set up to fish. One of the Elite boats came in right after I had set up and set just far enough off from me and it was obvious he had run all the way from Paris to fish that spot (we were on the north end). The pro did not move in on me or attempt to....I realized what was going on and I informed my clients what was happening...asked if they minded if I gave up this spot to the Pro and go somewhere else....they readily agreed to do so.

Now that is the way it is supposed to happen...no one moving in on someone...being a professional as this Pro was. I pulled up my trolling motor and signaled the Pro that he could have the spot...he hollered a big Thank You and we were off to another spot to fish. Not only was the Pro a professional but my clients deserve credit for realizing this man was trying to make a living and he only has a short time to do so and was willing to give up catching fish there to let him have the spot.

[offdtop]

I was out there guiding today and had some clients that were just fishing for fun to see how many fish we could catch. I pulled up on my second stop on a ledge and set up to fish. One of the Elite boats came in right after I had set up and set just far enough off from me and it was obvious he had run all the way from Paris to fish that spot (we were on the north end). The pro did not move in on me or attempt to....I realized what was going on and I informed my clients what was happening...asked if they minded if I gave up this spot to the Pro and go somewhere else....they readily agreed to do so.

Now that is the way it is supposed to happen...no one moving in on someone...being a professional as this Pro was. I pulled up my trolling motor and signaled the Pro that he could have the spot...he hollered a big Thank You and we were off to another spot to fish. Not only was the Pro a professional but my clients deserve credit for realizing this man was trying to make a living and he only has a short time to do so and was willing to give up catching fish there to let him have the spot.

Very well said, my feelings exactly

[homie452]

dave be carefull some of the guys on here might say you were hole sitting for a pro rather than being a gentleman that you are
an now for the real question for dave
dave you are "KING" on ky lake could you beat these guys on your home lake or are they that good to just walk in an take over???

[FlyLie]

I was out there guiding today and had some clients that were just fishing for fun to see how many fish we could catch. I pulled up on my second stop on a ledge and set up to fish. One of the Elite boats came in right after I had set up and set just far enough off from me and it was obvious he had run all the way from Paris to fish that spot (we were on the north end). The pro did not move in on me or attempt to....I realized what was going on and I informed my clients what was happening...asked if they minded if I gave up this spot to the Pro and go somewhere else....they readily agreed to do so.

Now that is the way it is supposed to happen...no one moving in on someone...being a professional as this Pro was. I pulled up my trolling motor and signaled the Pro that he could have the spot...he hollered a big Thank You and we were off to another spot to fish. Not only was the Pro a professional but my clients deserve credit for realizing this man was trying to make a living and he only has a short time to do so and was willing to give up catching fish there to let him have the spot.

Dave, you are the pro and and a gentlemen...but still it's open water...pro...tourne, family outing, etc., fishing is fishing is fishing.... Pro or Novice, you don't get in my water..a personal thing, Enought said

Understand you moved off for the pro's...thats to be respected, but was your choice. All too often I have had torune guys speed in beside me at full throttle, stop and fish beside me, once the wake washes off!! Pisses me off big time.

[Dave Stewart]

dave be carefull some of the guys on here might say you were hole sitting for a pro rather than being a gentleman that you are
an now for the real question for dave
dave you are "KING" on ky lake could you beat these guys on your home lake or are they that good to just walk in an take over???

First of all, I am not the "KING" on Ky Lake. It is possible I may be the most widely known full time bass guide on both these lakes but the fact that I am the only full time bass only guide probably has something to do with that.

One thing I learned a long time ago. Just because I am the guide in the boat, doesn't mean I am the best angler in the boat..that applies to professional anglers and recreational anglers.

These guys that fish this series are very good or they would not be there. No doubt some of them like KVD are the best tournament anglers in the world. I would note here I have had some recreational anglers in my boat that have never fished a tournament that have been very impressive in their knowledge and abilities.

As far as me competing against these guys...glad I don't have to do so to make a living.

[Dave Stewart]

Dave, you are the pro and and a gentlemen...but still it's open water...pro...tourne, family outing, etc., fishing is fishing is fishing.... Pro or Novice, you don't get in my water..a personal thing, Enought said

Understand you moved off for the pro's...thats to be respected, but was your choice. All too often I have had torune guys speed in beside me at full throttle, stop and fish beside me, once the wake washes off!! Pisses me off big time.

Well I may be able to look at it a little different than you. I know this lake very well and the spot I was on was not the only spot that I knew I could catch fish on yesterday. With that in mind and the fact that the pro did not try to bully me off that spot I did not mind giving it up to him...now, if he had pulled in on top of me and started throwing lures like I did not exist, he would have had to find another spot to fish....period. I mentioned what happened because it just shows that most of these guys like most folks out there are good folks...it is the small percentage of folks on both sides with the lack of manners that get the publicity.

[Ranger492]

...it is the small percentage of folks on both sides with the lack of manners that get the publicity.

This is true as it relates to this topic and many others in life...well said. As a matter of fact, it is exactly what started this thread...KVD said "SOME of these guys should be embarrasssed" by their behavior. He didn't say that all KY lake fisherman are doing it...just like with all of us, it only takes on guy to be a prick to get us riled up.

[FlyLie]

Well I may be able to look at it a little different than you. I know this lake very well and the spot I was on was not the only spot that I knew I could catch fish on yesterday. With that in mind and the fact that the pro did not try to bully me off that spot I did not mind giving it up to him...now, if he had pulled in on top of me and started throwing lures like I did not exist, he would have had to find another spot to fish....period. I mentioned what happened because it just shows that most of these guys like most folks out there are good folks...it is the small percentage of folks on both sides with the lack of manners that get the publicity.

Dave, guess I should restate. Not taking about the TRUE PROS, but about general public TOURNEY GUYS.......A Pro is a Pro whatever their profession, banker, lawer, etc, ...it all comes to to RESPECT for the each other.

[jcb]

dave be carefull some of the guys on here might say you were hole sitting for a pro rather than being a gentleman that you are

When you have a forum where dudes start calling a guy who posts amazing catch photos a liar, and rag him about supposedly using live bait, I doubt if Dave would lose any sleep if that happened.