Bass Fishing For All

Please see below letter to the editor written back in April 2009 in response to an article by Editor James Hall, in Bassmaster Magazine concerning a small local tournament titled “Beat the Elite” which was being held at the same time as the “pros” were going to be competing in Virginia. It may be obvious, once you read it, but I received neither response from the editor nor was the letter printed as rebuttal. Many who subscribe to the magazine will most likely remember Mr. Hall’s statements.

Move over and share the keyboard so we can compare skills. You can use the “B” key I don’t need it to spell arrogant or asinine. While we apportion the keyboard and scrutinize writing technique shall we also consider sharing the waterways? Mr. Editor take this month off to rethink your opinion making paradigm, I’ll write this month’s piece.

As one of many that has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on bass fishing, your opinion of the "Beat the Elite" tournament in the April issue of Bassmaster seems a bit skewed for a “supporter” of the sport. The local tournament title appears to be only a clever advertising strategy to increase participation. Insinuating the waters should be left undisturbed and cleared of the masses because the “elites” are coming is unmerited.

In contrast to other popular sports, football, racing, basketball, baseball, fishing is the only competition specifically and exclusively formatted to promote all its’ sponsors’ products to “fans’ explicitly to be able the partake in the pursuit. While the other sports market team logos or indirectly campaign a sponsors’ products, bass fishing competitions directly promote the purchase of a multitude of products used by the competitors with the emphasis on winning strategies being the merchandise used during the event. A point comically made when Rock Hudson starred in “Man’s Favorite Sport” released in 1964.

I can’t recall ever hearing a racecar driver crediting his win to the detergent that cleaned his jeans or the ball player hawking the beer he drank the night before giving him the stamina to survive the day. I have however seen and read triumphant “Elites” pitch the virtues of the tackle or equipment utilized at precisely the right moment that brought them to tower of victory. Fishing is also singularly a sport where to participate even at the lowest tournament level one must spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars to compete. A new signed baseball glove, $45.00, a used jon boat, $300.00, fishing the game, priceless?

I understand Ish Monroe doesn’t want to work a construction job, what is the old saying about a bad day on the lake? Ish may be interested to know “his office” is our sanctuary. A sanctuary we are willing to share but not abandon just because the “Elites” have blessed us with their presence. The revenues claimed the Elite tournaments bring are not derived from the “Elites” but from us, the lowly. Skeet Reese should be respecting our shores and our people and drop the Godlike attitude. We know the full potential of our fisheries, that’s why the “Elites” come here, if he needs to demonstrate his titan like skills unimpeded go fish in Bass Pro’s fish tank he is sure to catch everything and there won’t be any pressure to worry about. 

What respect do these pros deserve for violating no wake zones and looking down their noses at us. Yes, we’ve seen them do it.  We’ve seen them move in on a honey hole bumping out or fishing overtop of the lowly locals. We’ve seen them roar dangerously close to a jon boat swamping it racing back to weigh-in on time. We have seen them garner our advice in the bar then ignore us at the ramp and curse us on the water.

These are our playing fields and they are even ones, we all float on the surface. If the “Elites” can’t stand a little company stay away. We love when the pros come, but leave the elitist attitude at home. Imagine our surprise that you published such a judgment in a magazine solely devised and devoted to the promotion of bass fishing products whose subscribers and target market is the local fisherman.

The Beat the Elite tournament is really not the issue, multiple tournaments are held on our chain of lakes and probably many others almost ever weekend. Weekends that are too few for you to command we squander. Fishermen of all stature complain that they are not alone on the water, damning every water skier and jet-ski in other than hushed tones, even those of us that don’t participate tournaments but fish for the love of the sport. The issue appears, as presented in your editorial, to be selfishness verses selflessness. You don’t not ask but demand our sacrifice for the “professionals” egotism and self-indulgence. They may believe they are the Gods of Graphite, some of us may agree and eagerly support them, but we will not genuflect.

We are willing to share, but we work too hard for the luxury of participation, a luxury that carries a hefty price tag that greatly contributes to the "Elites” lifestyle. We will not be forced aside for the “Elites” self interest. We know not all of them show their bass, (oops I used your B) but it appears some are. We are all fisherman, we are their friends and fans, treat us as such.

A lengthy search to post a link to Mr Halls' article so that you might read both sides of the argument was performed however the result appears to reveal this article has been taken down by the publisher. Should you search on your own you will find articles mentioning Mr. Hall’s comments and to the validity of my response.