Ive been involved in a rather heated debate for the last few days on a local forum about whether or not fishing should be an olympic sport. I cant really decide whether or not it should be, alot of factors to consider and Im not sure it would really work. One particular viewpoint was brought up that there was too much "luck" involved for it to be considered for an olympic sport. This is complete B.S. and there are multitudes of facts to support my claims.
The biggest problem, however, is that its very difficult convincing someone that has never fished in tournaments how difficult it can be and how good someone like Kevin Van Damm really is. Luck plays a tiny part in the grand scheme but never the less, it does play a part but not in ways you think. It plays about as much of a part as it does in any other competition or athletic event. A few years ago, the Steelers won the Superbowl (god help me!) was they lucky? I think so, if Kurt Warner doesnt throw that dreadful pass at the end of the first half, then the Cardinals win that game. Does that make them lucky? Definetely, however, they put themselves in a position to make the play by actually making it to the Superbowl. Does that mean football is not a true sport or a true competition because the best team or person doesnt always win and luck can dictate winning or losing? If you have that opinion, please dont come to my blog any more because you are a MORON!
No matter what the conditions are, no matter how severe the cold front, no matter how cold it got, no matter how high the water got, SOMEBODY ALWAYS FIGURES OUT HOW TO CATCH THE FISH. If Joe Yonderfisher goes to a lake, by himself, and gets skunked, then Joe Yonderfisher, in his own little world, thinks that NOBODY could have caught fish that day since he didnt. See Joe Yonderfisher has never fished in a tournament so he has never had the opportunity to get schooled. If he had been in a tournament that day, the second he got back to the ramp all those excuses about the weather and bad luck are extinguished in a heartbeat when he notices Ronnie James Bigbagofish waddling down to the scales with 14lbs of smallies. Was Ronnie lucky? Maybe if you consider that 4lber that culled out a 2lber was barely hooked but that doesnt explain how Joe was unlucky. Luck doesnt make the difference between 14lbs and 0lbs. Luck makes the difference in 14lbs to 12lbs.
What Im saying is, experience goes a long way when your talking about tournament fishing. You can fish your entire life, have 1000s and 1000s of dollars in gear, a wicked boat and lots of experience catching fish when its convenient for you but when its time to catch fish when its convenient for them, thats when it becomes a new ballgame. Do you need to get lucky once in a while to pull out a win? Definetely but luck is not the difference between Joe Yonderfisher and Aaron Martens.
The only thing that prepairs you for tournament fishing is tournament fishing. Theres no prep courses, theres no shortcuts. If you think you can be good at it, you wont be untill you start doing it and if you are relying on luck to get you through, well, good luck...
Check this link out!!!!!!!!!!! These things are hard to do even IF (notice how bid the IF is) you had ideal conditions every time you went out and we all know that tournament fishing doesnt wait for fair weather like Joe Yonderfishin does. Saying luck has anything to do with this would be like saying a roulette wheel is going to land on black 57 times in a row.
http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/streaks-peaks-and-freaks-good-kind
MAN UP AND PAY YOUR ENTREE FEE IF YOU ARE THAT GOOD!
S.T.P.
Two things that drive me nuts and always seem to be no-win conversations when it comes to tournament bass fishing - 1.) Writing tournament fishing success off to luck. All you have to do is trend out results over time and you will quickly see that it isn't supported. Some guys have been out there beating around for 20 years and have never won a dime. Others are routinely successful. Consistent success has nothing to do with luck and is all about putting yourself in a position to catch winning fish, and then executing in a way that increases your odds of actually putting them in the boat. 2.) Any argument that tournament fishing is not physically or mentally demanding. Some people just have an inaccurate perception based on their own experiences but are open to insight on it, and that makes sense and is fine. Others seem to just want to argue for the sake of arguing. The reality is if you're doing it right, it is extremely physically AND mentally demanding. Just my two cents...
ReplyDeleteNice work with the blog. I'll be looking for that 50% off Power Pole deal in the spring.
AMEN BROTHER!
ReplyDeleteSP, Are you and Fletcher going to make it down to practice The Red?
ReplyDeleteI remember you talking about it but wasn't sure if you guys made it. I just read an article on Bassmaster about using Glass or Tin on the Red River this year. Thats a big consideration when you think of whats at stake.
Good Luck with the boat.
Fletcher got down two times and spent about a total of 13 days on the Red. He called me yesterday, said he was coming home today and things were going good. I was going to try to go with him this past time but my schedule wouldnt allow it, not to mention a last minute airline ticket would have cost a nice chunk(he left his rig down there the first time he was there) Im pretty convinced he is going to do well, its going to be really exciting come february!
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