There is a show on ESPN called “Loudmouth Bass” They are trying to get one of those “In Your Face” type shows going I guess? They are knocking Fly Fishermen as being wimps that kiss there fish before letting them go? If you were to ask me that show should have the B taken off of Bass and you would have the right name for it.
Now If I am not mistaking there is a Yellowheaded guy from Oklahoma that Bass fishes (Has his own show) and kisses every bass he catches? I have also watched guys in those Bass tournaments kiss fish that they catch. Now I do not know about you but in all the years I have fished and guided for trout I have seen just one trout kissed and that was by a lady and her husband told her she had to do it as it was her first one.
I do not understand why these guys have to come down on fly fishermen unless they just have to have something to poke fun at?
It kind of amazes me that Bass fishermen would come down on anyone? They spend 50 grand for a boat, motor and trailer. Another 40 grand for a truck to haul it and another 10 to 15 for the rods, reels and lures that they use. All so they can run around at 70 miles an hour and catch a 2 pound Bass on 80 pound spiderwire?
If you ask me they are the ones that are missing the real reason that a person fishes. Becuase it is fun and should be taken at an easy pace. I know a few Guides out here that would love to take those two Bass guys out fishing. Course they may come back with a few bumps and bruses on them? Ron
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 16 February 2005).]
Ron,
I caught that loudmouth bass segment the other day, it was part of the “Bass Center” show. As if bass fishing needs it’s own version of Sports center…
I was none to pleased when the one guy mentioned that he was going to “explore his feminine side” and go fly fishing.
Ron,
I haven’t seen the show, but I have seen the shows where, as you said, they simply drag small bass across the surface with a “winch”! If that is sport, it’s news to me. I saw the “yellowhaired guy” mocking flyfishers by imitating “flycasting” with a spinning rod while fishing a river. I say “To each their own” & if you are not “into” a particular type fishing, just leave it alone.
We all know how great flyfishing is, don’t we?
Mike
I tried to find a way to express my opinion to them on this subject but could not do so on there web-site? Maybe I missed something? I could find no place to send an e-mail there way? But I sure would like a word or two with them on this subject. Ron
I will agree with almost everything you said about Bass anglers (they have a womans division) except what they spend on equipment. Sorry but someone has mislead you on that. If you are one of the good guys, someone that wins, you pay nadda nothing. I never paid for my boat, trailer, motor, rods, reels, lures, or anything else. My sponsors did. I did not get to keep the boat, it was replaced every year, I did keep all the reels, lures, rods, and other stuff. I did buy my own SUV. But for the other stuff, no, I did win a few, but what was better was that I was able to sell myself. And someone else paid the bills.
Now granted this was way back in the 70’s but I am sure it has not changed since.
So you are paying for his boat, motor, trailer, truck, and his fishing equipment everytime you purchase something from one of the sponsors.
Sorry, but just thought you should know the rest of the story.
i was very disappointed to see espn has more or less dropped all of its fly fishing programming. it is understandable…bass fishing = big $$$ and espn must follow the revenue stream. that i get.
what i don’t get is espn’s show ‘loudmouth bass’. there is no need for bass fisherman to denigrate fly fisherman. really, there is no need for any fisherman to denigrate another fisherman, period (assuming all are within the law in their practices and are using teh resource with respect). in a time when our natural resources are threatened and need our proactive protection, i am pretty disenheartened to see espn airing a show that promotes and encourages in-fighting and derision amongst the ranks of fisherman. in a time where we should be circling the wagons and banding together to fight to protect a resource we all enjoy using, ‘loudmouth bass’ does nothing but increase the divide between “different” types of fisherman.
i was disappointed but understood espn’s previous decisions to drop fly fishing programs for bass programs. that comes down to economics (sort of like why a sports netwrok carries poker 24/7…gotta chase revenue!). however, espn’s decision to air a program such as ‘loudmouth bass’ has me seriously re-evaluating my ‘favorite network’.
something needs to be done, or you will be losing another viewer…
Thanks for providing that link to ESPN Tim.I would like to see a few of these bass fishers drop there 20lb line and try catching a 5lb trout on a 3lb leader.All ESPN is doing with this kind of programing is causing a split between sportsmen and that is just what those who want to stop our sports want to see.I belive ESPN has gone to chasing the good old American dollar and could care less if they lose a few viewers.I have sent them my view on this matter.
I don’t know how you guys can sit and watch fishing shows. An hour show is probably 45 minutes of direct and indirect advertisements, 5 minutes of self or mutual congratulations and the rest fishing. What little I’ve seen of these shows: bass; salt; fly fishing; or other; it’s like watching a bad movie or paint dry. Obviously there are other opinions of the shows, otherwise they wouldn’t have the sponsors, but I’m glad that I don’t get it.
Allen- I have a TV right were I tie and it keeps me compnay. That is how I was watching it. It was 3 in the morning and I was tying. Nothing else on so I was just listening to it.
HH- According to that program and another on there unless you are in the top 20 or so anglers it costs you a lot to fish in those tournaments. They said that it costs around $150.000.00 a year to just be out there not including all the gear like your boat and so on if you are not one of the top guy’s They also stated that lure and rod and reel companys will give the anglers lower down that equipment but the bigger items they have to buy until they win and get there names out there.
You have to understand to that I was talking about the “Normal” Bass fishermen that just fish and listen to all of that stuff. Then go out an buy it all. Makes a person wonder how many of them go into debt just to have that stuff?
Tim-S Thinks for the link I will be sure and use it. I just wish more people would. Just to let the people at ESPN know that they are wrong and that some people take offence at what is going on there. Ron
I kinda like it–fly fishing show are kind of boring to me, they just don’t reflect the whole experience very well. They’re mostly just a nonstop advertisment. If you don;t like it, change the channel.
You are right, I did not mean that all the Bass anglers get their meal ticket for free, but the top 20 is not near low enough.
I was not even in the top 100 and I got most of my stuff “sponsored” Boat manafactures are not the only ones that give out boats, some of the bigger boat dealers also do it for the advertizing.
But by and large I would agree that unless you get in the money regular you will have to foot the bill.
ESPN has just given me another reason to build rods and tie flies.
I hate fishing shows as well, and heartily agree that they are nothing but big long advertisements.
I do, however, love to catch bass and love bassboats. They add to the fun. Peace and quiet and solitude are a lot harder to find when bass fishing on big water, largely because of the recreational boaters, however.
ESPN’s ownership/involvement with BASS and tournament fishing has aggravated a lot of people. I hate bass tournaments. I am not particualrly fond of a lot of the rednecks that I have encountered through bass fishing, but then again, I’m not fond of a lot of the elitists that I have encountered in fly fishing either.
In either sport, it isn’t arguing before the Supreme Court, saving lives, starting the next Microsoft, or inventing the light bulb. It’s only fishing. It’s a lot of fun if people allow it to be.
ever noticed how fishermen seem to resemble their prefered prey?The large mouth bass, I’m sorry to say,just isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed and those who spend gazillions on them alone…well enough said.At least flyfisherman use their noggins to catch them.I wonder what a bassman would say to a 60lb dogtooth tuna on fly…or a sailfish…or a marlin…ETC ETC ETC ETC
Adam
It seems that you made a very collective assumption on bass anglers in general. You are stereotyping them the same as they stereotyped us. 99% of all bass anglers i know dont own a 50,000 boat 15,000 worth of equipment or anything of that nature. In fact flyfisher persons spend more on equipment. Most people have a few baitcastors and only a few 100 bucks in tackle. Whats the big deal about two guys on ESPN bad mouthing fly fishing. Unless someone is holding a gun to your head you can always change the channel.
The way to a flyfisherman’s heart is through his fly
The 2 year-old lost the remote, so once I get her settled on a channel and get sittin in m’ lazy boy with a 6-pack, couple o bags of chips and the dawg, I cain’t get er changed. I tried a long stick, but my aim wasn’t so good and I kept knockin that there TeeVee off’n the milk crates, which caused a loss of reeception. Due to that I ahd ter listen to them fellers bad mouthin me and my friends. Maybe we’uns could find us’s a lawyer and try fer one of them there class action deallies.
So less see? It is OK for them to slam Fly Fishermen but not OK for us to say anything about it? Yep I can change the channel but others won’t and they are making fly fishermen look like Arse’s in front of those other people who make take it that we are all the same. Why do “THEY” Need to be saying anything about any other fishermen.No matter how they fish? Just to fill up there time on air?? I think they are wrong and I said something about it. That is my right just as it is your’s here. Ron
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 22 February 2005).]
Hope I didn’t make ya mad. I agree wholeheartedly with ya. While I have never been insulted within my hearing by a bass fisherman, I have gotten some interesting looks and been chuckled at since I began WW fishing a few years ago. I was trying to keep it lighthearted.
Please let me know fi I offended you, as that was in no way my intent.
Thats not what i meant at all. Yah they are uninformed dumb"arses". But they are only two people by which some of you have been judging the rest. Bad mouth them all you want i could really care less. They are only expressing a opinion as are all of us. They are a bunch of guys trying to fill air time. I watched their show once and it just looked like two overpaid jerks yelling about fishing and getting paid for it. I dont care what those two say because i know that it isnt true. I wasnt able to type all that i wanted to earlier so it was sort of uncomplete. I was sitting in my 4th period class. I didnt mean to insult anyone or start anything. Also you didnt offend me in the least drolfson
-Zac
The way to a flyfisherman’s heart is through his fly
[This message has been edited by Bass_Angler_04 (edited 22 February 2005).]
Iteresting that this thread started when someone cast stones at another type of fishing. Then those who were offended simply do the same and cast stones of their own . . .
The whole point of that show segment is to get a rise out of folks. There is room on the water for everyone. If you don’t like bass fishing, that’s OK, but tearing them down makes you no better than those who make fun of fly-fishing.
Jeff - AKA Dr. Fish
If it has fins and swims than I must chase it!
i never heard back from ESPN, by the way…that will get them another letter
hope i didn’t come off as ‘throwing stones’; my take is fisherman need to come together to protect the resources, period, regardless of their methods (as long as they are ethical & legal)…i love to bass fish, but i do it from a kayak with an old glass rod & deer hair poppers in a quiet backwater…
Ron