I think that it is a good idea. I am not a believer in the co-angler theory anyway. You are at the digression of another anglers’ theories, patterns, and methods. It takes away from your strong points, but it could also add to your weakness. I think that in order to be a better angler, you have to start finding out things for yourself. Patterns, lure selection, boat control, etc… these are what separates the co-angler from the one that is running the show up on the trolling motor. Its good for public relations, but it also takes away from the professional by adding a little extra pressure on them by someone that is looking over there shoulder at what they are doing, when they should be wondering what they are doing themselves. I think it should be done away with on all levels of professional fishing, because it is man vs. nature. If someone is throwing a lure next to you it increases your odds due to the vibe from the other lure, which could attract fish in. (This also goes back to my theory awhile back about the BioSonix system.) What should be done through-out the season, is have a tourney with a pro and a co-angler, acting as a team. This would be great for public relations. Just like golf does with its pro-am tourney. Just some ramblings.....
me myself i think they took away a very good thing and that the sport will decrease in popularity.. it has been my dream to be able to fish as a co angler in the elites and now it has been smashed.
I agree with profisher. Fishing as a co you have a chance to learn the water a little better when you are riding with a guy who has fished there a couple times or more and has an idea of what it should consist of.
I think it sucks because I to wanted to be able to do it one day… but on the other hand I completely understand it and it won’t stop me from following the series and going to any event that is close…
I think it sucks only because myself and another friend were planning on fishing next season as co’s...but, on the other hand.....If i was the pro, I think I would prefer to fish alone, and not have worry at all about the person in the back. I will still follow the same as always, as I have never followed with much regard to what the co’s were doing. I do see who is placing where as far as the co’s go...but my main focus is the pros. It sucks that I have to wait at least 2 more years to see if they put the co’s back in....but I doubt they will. I think the opens are gonna have co’s....but its not gonna be the same as far as Im concerned.
I think it sucks only because myself and another friend were planning on fishing next season as co’s...but, on the other hand.....If i was the pro, I think I would prefer to fish alone, and not have worry at all about the person in the back. I will still follow the same as always, as I have never followed with much regard to what the co’s were doing. I do see who is placing where as far as the co’s go...but my main focus is the pros. It sucks that I have to wait at least 2 more years to see if they put the co’s back in....but I doubt they will. I think the opens are gonna have co’s....but its not gonna be the same as far as Im concerned.
Great article Top 10. I can see where the pros are coming from, I guess. It takes a lot of stress off the pros if you don’t have a co. But it sucks for the co’s for being left out on a great chance to fish next to a pro and possibly make some good coin to boot.
I think its a huge mistake by Bass especially when FLW still allows co-anglers. They are eliminating a good thing and whats next are they going to discontinue fans from getting autographs before or after blast off and while waiting for the weigh ins are they going to start charging for autographs just like other pro sports. I just think it really sucks and think it will hurt our sport and could lead to many bad things that will kill it. Sorry for my bad outlook but I really think this is a big step backwards for the fans of BASS.
I guess being a member of BASS isn’t good enough for them to ask the membership how they feel about the co angler being eliminated. The BASS home page has a different poll being taken every week and they couldn’t put this up there to see how the fans felt. As a member it would have been nice if it weren’t just thrown at us and it was discussed in the magazine or on line. I understand where the pros are coming from but i still don’t see the hinderence the co angler is having on the out come. Maybe the pro and the Co angler should be fishing as a team? No I’m not happy about it and I haven’t decided like many others if I want to drop my BASS membership over this. This change tore the grassroots out of BASS. And we still haven’t heard what Ray Scott thinks about this move.
i have already accepted it, im just now starting to wonder why they think people should pay to ride along, it should be a lottery and free since, or better yet, they should pay those of you who actually show up at an even. Most will be locals, with gas prices as they are......if im not fishing, im not driving more than 50 miles to see an event.
I don’t like it but look at it like this… You are a new elite series angler that has probably left a lot behind to get a shot at the top of a sport you love… You have worked hard to get some sponsors, probably owe a lot of money on a boat you have to have to be competitive. Lets be honest, you can’t have a 16 ft boat with a 40 hp motor....you got to have a professional bass boat with at least a 250… $$$$$$$$$$. You have to have a boat full of gear...$$$$$$$, gas to get everywhere...$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (lol). All that said… you get your shot after all these local tournaments and some other higher profile events ... $$$$$$$. So, you are fishing an elite series finally and your co-angler catches a 6 lb fat-boy and you miss the cut because you COULD of had that… that’s a lot of money lost to this guy who has given up everything for a dream for a guy that wants to pay a grand to fish at a chance for $25,000.00 and if he loses… it was still worth it in his eyes… if the pro loses… it may cost him his livelihood.
I just look at it realistically and will still go to an event if it’s close and go out on the lake and watch em weigh-in… you can still do that you know guys…
if you catch a 6 lb fish behind a pro, that means that fish didnt want what he was throwing and the co angler was using the right bait at the right time. if the pro wasnt using a bait the fish wanted the 1st time, odds are he wouldnt have gotten that fish anyway. I have no problem in any tournament fishing behind another boat when i think what im throwing is better than what they are throwing. They saying it was a fish they wouldnt have gotten is a cop out.
There are 2 types of people i guess, competitors and those who are willing to sit on sidelines and watch, i personally get no satisfaction of watching what isnt a spectator sport. I dont follow fishing to watch and be a fan, i follow it to fish and compete. Its the same with lures, i wont use a bait just cause my fav pro uses it, if it dont produce for me on lakes i fish, who uses it means nothing, but if that pro uses it and it works for me, ill use it. Watching weigh ins does nothing to help me be on top of the game.
I just think that BASS made a bad decision and ties to the grass roots of their fans. If its so important to better the sport then why didn’t FLW follow suit after all they are the best of best in their circuit. And if they don’t allow co’s then really what is next are they going to start charging gate fees for spectators like all other professional sports? Are the pros going to start charging for their autograph or picture? Where is the money that was generated from the co-angler entry fee going to come from since some of that money went back to BASS not all of if was paid out?
I heard an interview today with Ricks the general manager of BASS and he stated the decision was to better the sport and make a true professional sport. Was bassfishing not a true pro sport to begin with and what really seperates the true pro from the amateur? HE also said that part of the decision was to level the playing field. I thought the playing field was level since every pro took an am out and the tournament rules applied to everyone participating. They could have just limited the am to 3 fish and once he caught those fish no culling and he had to sit and observe the rest of the day, I think that would have been better then eliminating the co all togther. I could go on for a while but the thought of the decision to eliminate the co’s just pisses me off.
i wrote a letter to FLW to ask what thier future plans are, here is response i got back.
Wade,
We (FLW) feel at the co-anglers are just as important to our organization as the boaters are. We are looking forward to a great year in 2009. That goes for boaters and co-anglers.
