observations
* winners are seeing the fish they catch
* imo 90% of the field is similar skill
* winners are those with money to gamble, livescope and luck
* what a chitty career path for those dragging their family thru trying to gamble for a living
observations
* winners are seeing the fish they catch
* imo 90% of the field is similar skill
* winners are those with money to gamble, livescope and luck
* what a chitty career path for those dragging their family thru trying to gamble for a living
I know a guy that has fished 3 of the events so far and not made a dime.
But has spend 15000 plus expenses. Not a good business model.....lol
I say good for those that can waste $$ like that.
Ranger 619 * Honda 200* Minn Kota* Humminbird *Garmin
Fenwick *Abu Garcia
Tournament fishing has never been a good business model but I think forward facing sonar has changed the skill set needed to be successful. I will say it has changed the game (notice I stayed away from that dreaded word) more than anything I can think of. I don't have FFS and now find myself saying on each trip, I need FFS to be more productive but it takes a lot of time to be successful with that too and I am sure I would get frustrated with 1 and 2 bass days before I figured it out.
FFS is another tool in the progress of technollogy. I've seen it work and it's amazing to watch and I can see why it can be addicting and why it will get the the point if you don't have it most likely you won't be cashing any checks. I'm watching it happen on my lake. Seen it make novice anglers and put them straight to top contenders. I myself would love to have that set up on my boat but spending $4-6 grand I cannot justify as a weekend angler who doesn't have expendable income. The cost of the boats as it is is hard to afford. But I also knowing that said I will be very soon no longer competing in the sport, because I prefer a fair vantage and not just a contributor. It has forever changed the fishing industry, and in my opinion just like the cell phone not so much to the better. I will be soon looking at starting a club in my area for those who don't have it.
The opens are not money makers for the anglers. If you look at results from last year 10th place pays about 6k. Then it goes downhill fast. They are chasing the top 9 to get to the Elites or a Classic Berth.Originally Posted by RangerTim619
Have said for years I have no idea how somone could write a business plan for Pro Fishing. Like you said they must have disposable money.
I am doing wiring repairs on my trolling motor. While doing this I came to a realization about FFS and similar technology. I am not adept or well schooled at using multi meter tools. I own them and have used them while rebuilding equipment as part of a job I had years ago. Without reading voltage etc.. I peck and scratch till I find my wire problems. FFs has become to tournament fishing what a multi meter is to a technician. You no longer have to guess/ peck and scratch to locate fish. Like a muti meter and set of wire schematics an FFS and good maps app speeds up the locating of structure with and without fish.
Last edited by mattmann7; 04-16-2023 at 05:53 AM.
Agree with the OP's comments. Technology has come a long way and in all facets of our life we take advantage of it. Simple example is I can tell my phone or car who I want it to call. I like that. I have FFS, I'm not a tournament guy but it makes us way more efficient with the limited time we have on the water. I'm in a position to have it . I like it. This technology is only going to get better.. I suspect, sooner rather than later we could see a 3D, 360 view under and around the boat with resolution similar to watching TV
Grinding through these tours (BASS ad BPT) is never going to be your main source of income. It's like chasing a rainbow and every other sport, only a small percentage really "make" it. The real money comes from big sponsors that mitigate the expenses. It's must have to be successful or you are just donating most weekends.
Scott
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Serial # 2B125401 - 250ProXS DFI/TM2
The cat has been out of the bag for years that tournaments are not a business model but a gamble. Tournament participation is a byproduct of someone who already has a successful business model separate from tournaments that allows them to gamble with disposable cash. From the club level up its no longer a secret. My 30 years in the clubs tells me the guys with longevity have adequate income to play. Others are flash in the pans. The lure of the gamble is the attraction. To some with cash its about the lifestyle. Its human nature to want to test your skills against the best competition at any level. Every sport has a set of bodies that will never succeed but participate believing they may get lucky or they just want to scratch that itch and try. Minor league baseball is a classic example. The top athletes need bodies on the team so they can boost their skills to the next level. 99 percent are just average enough to put on a uniform.
FFS is making a lot of anglers forget how to fish. To say you can't win without it is BS. The weights are still the same as they have historically been across the board for the lakes being visited. Now is it allowing the angler that really understands how to use it more successful? Sure it is. But if you were able to bag 20lbs a day on Eufaula or any other lake before FFS, dont tell me you can't still do it without FFS.
I’m going to refrain from making a post besides this complimentary one as JayLaw says everything that I was thinking but couldn’t say it anywhere close to that well.
Would imagine every boat out there had FFS. Like said it works for the ones that know how to use it.
if you a smallmouth angler up in my neck of the woods you will loose to the guy next to you with FFS. I can say 100% it catches me more fish on the same bodies of water I fished without it. I can see and catch fish I would never know were there, that's why it's so deadly. Largemouth on the other hand it's useless for up my way.
I have FFS and enjoy using it but what if without it all of the tournament winning weights would be down right now since they are being won using it. We might be sitting around posting about how we can’t figure out why all of the weights are down in the tournaments. Maybe the fisheries are not as good right now and we are using the FFS to make them appear as good as they were before.
Watching the live coverage at Eufaula, one of the guys just caught a 4+ on a shaky head. FFS found it for him. No way he would've found that fish without FFS.
Thank goodness no one is forcing anyone to do it.
Last edited by Mark Perry; 04-16-2023 at 08:54 AM.
There is a saying, I remember it from back in the 70's from motorcycle racing it cost money to go fast. Usually very few people make money doing the sport that they like to do.
Learn how to spell Eufaula first
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2007 Mercury Pro XS 250
a lot folks that fish professionally would be better served not having the debt of a boat an big truck to pull it an take their money to a casino but that would not be considered chasing a dream.
The smart business model is with the electronics companies, come out with a better version every year or two making the model fisherman just spent thousands on second rate.
A very competitive angler I know told me he had to Get FFS because he was getting killed by guys using it.
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