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| I was just wasting some time doing some muskebaying..there's always some kind of goofy item that gets my attention. I came across all kinds of guide trips where most stated "pro musky fishermen". I am not knocking those guys one bit..but I sat there wondering what made someone a pro at musky fishing. What do you guys think? |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | A professional is someone that performs commercially in a field typically reserved for hobbyists or amateurs. |
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| No no no, not definitions...opinions. Personally, I doubt I'll ever reach the professional rank of lungin unless I someday am able to afford it. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Guest - 9/30/2009 11:33 PM
No no no, not definitions...opinions. Personally, I doubt I'll ever reach the professional rank of lungin unless I someday am able to afford it.
What exactly are you seeking an opinion on? A person can legitimately put the professional status behind their name if they do it commercially. No opinions needed. |
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| In simple terms, Pointer is right.
But in this day and age where more guides pop up every day, it is a valid question you ask. I would say someone with an accomplished track record...meaning tournaments won and/or placed in, long periods of time guiding a certain area, writing articles, doing seminars, having your own show...one or several of these factors would fit the qualifications in my opinion
I think the basic question that you are asking is being a guide enough to call yourself a pro? I would say in come cases yes, but certainly not necessarily. |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | You're a pro when you've been guiding over 20 years and you come on a message board and thrash another angler for catching a fish bigger then anything you have ever caught. |
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Posts: 2361
| Trophymuskie - 10/1/2009 7:26 AM
You're a pro when you've been guiding over 20 years and you come on a message board and thrash another angler for catching a fish bigger then anything you have ever caught.
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | In this case a "pro" is whoever says him/her is. Some are posting what their definition is, but for the person that uses the term it may not even come close to whats posted so far.
I got a question for the guest, just what is "muskebaying"??? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | lots of patches on your shirts and plenty of decals on your truck helps too ... and of-course at least a 5 lines of links at the bottom of anything you post on-line. |
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Posts: 719
| Hey Sled how can I get some of those links.................
BT aka "part time pro"
Edited by bturg 10/1/2009 10:41 AM
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Posts: 1270
| To me a musky pro would be someone who makes there living musky fishing, not guiding, but actually fishing. I don't even know if there is anyone that fits that description out there but you asked for my opinion. |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'Pro' can mean more than Pointer's description these days. There are Promotional anglers out there who make a goodly portion of their living promoting the sport and products muskie anglers use. Some fish competitively, some write and guide, some are media types like Steve Heiting, some work for Muskie products companies in the field of marketing and sales, and some defy definition in a single category, like Bob M. A company's 'Pro' team might be primarily/partially made up of promotional folks, hence the term 'Pro Staff'. |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | PRO-fessional
PRO-motor
You could look at in a technical terms, or. . . you could look at it in a way that defines the progress in an anglers experience on the water. Begginer, intermediate, advanced-intermediate, advanced, PROFESSIONAL.
You see "#### Pro-Staff" below someones signature after a post - It means what Steve said, "promoter" of a product/brand and it can be a form of networking. Some do it for attention, others don't. Poke fun all you want, but when you have a question regarding "Monster Lures", you can send Musky_Nut a PM and I'm sure you'll get the answer you're looking for. I get PM's regarding MMT, which is below my signiture and I'm happy to answer. I don't know many who call themselves PRO's. . . In the musky world, in fact, I've never heard someone call themselves that.
Edited by Sam Ubl 10/1/2009 12:41 PM
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Location: Oswego, IL | Think of it like when your at a golf course the "Pro" that runs the shop or works there, no real professional golfer not saying one couldnt be but if they were they wouldnt be working there now would they? When you make a million in your "sport" you dont call yourself a professional, other people do. |
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Posts: 1220
| I remember walking downtown with my dad as a youth and seeing a rather strikingly dressed and overly made up woman. I asked what was up with her and my dad answered, "She's a Pro."
But seriously folks, my take on this is that you are a "pro" if that is how you make your living. I am working in my scrap yard all week long and maybe fishing in a tournament twice a month during the summer where there is a chance to win prize money. I'd say that doesn't make me remotely any kind of a fishing pro but I am definitely a professional scrap guy. That's why the handle says "Junkman" instead of "Fisherman." The best part is that when you claim no special status, nobody can really fault you for sounding like a dork most of the time. Marty Forman |
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Location: Oswego, IL | But Marty, I know a lot of people who suck at their job, and now you want me to consider them a Pro because they make money at it? Awe man.... a lot of people have just become "Pro" then  |
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Posts: 1220
| Yea, but I can bleed my skill into useless fishing facts like: How much Chromium is in your stainless steel leader. OR Did you know that the blades on a DCG are made of a metal called nickel silver (also called keystock) because it's the metal most used to make household keys? OR Why the lead from old wheel weights is better for making sinkers and jigs than (let's say) plates from a broken car battery? OR Why tungsten is FAR BETTER than lead for a jig-head or a drop-shot rig. So the answer is....don't get me started!! Marty |
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Posts: 295
Location: Southern Ontario, Detroit River and Lake StClair | Trophymuskie - 10/1/2009 8:26 AM
You're a pro when you've been guiding over 20 years and you come on a message board and thrash another angler for catching a fish bigger then anything you have ever caught.
LOL!!!!!..........................thats good! Your a pro when you can come up with stuff like that.
Tim
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Location: Oswego, IL | Junkman - 10/1/2009 6:40 PM
Yea, but I can bleed my skill into useless fishing facts like: How much Chromium is in your stainless steel leader. OR Did you know that the blades on a DCG are made of a metal called nickel silver (also called keystock) because it's the metal most used to make household keys? OR Why the lead from old wheel weights is better for making sinkers and jigs than (let's say) plates from a broken car battery? OR Why tungsten is FAR BETTER than lead for a jig-head or a drop-shot rig. So the answer is....don't get me started!! Marty
Sounds like your a "Pro" of useless information Thats interesting information though Marty! |
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Posts: 4266
| Wasn't there a benefit auction going on on ebay where lots of guides donated days of fishing to benefit a sick woman? Those are the only guide trips that I've heard about on there. |
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Posts: 392
Location: lake x...where the hell is it? | Beaver - 10/1/2009 7:02 PM
Wasn't there a benefit auction going on on ebay where lots of guides donated days of fishing to benefit a sick woman? Those are the only guide trips that I've heard about on there.
yes there was, i saw it to. |
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Posts: 33
Location: New Berlin WI / Pelican Lake WI | We at the IMTT have what we call the 50" pool in our tournaments and we buy a insurance policy every year for this. One of the rules of it is that a Profesional Fisherman is not eligable to win the $10,000 if they catch a 50" fish. Because we have some anglers that fish our events that IMO would be considered Pro's I asked for clarification and this is what they said.
A Pro Fisherman is someone that gains the main part of his or her income from fishing.
In the Musky world I think we have very few people that would fall into that catagory but some actualy would.
One last thing IMO the term Prostaff dose not mean Profesional Staff it stands for Promotional Staff. Being on someones Prostaff dose not make you a profesional it means that you have the ability to help promote the products.
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | A pro fisherman to me is someone who makes a living from fishing,wheather it be tournys or guiding.But I know alot of guys out there could become a pro,but bills and too much to risk comes into play.Not me,I`m just a moron with some lures and poles trying to catch fish. |
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| I am one of the guides that donated a trip on eBay for my friend's mother that has cancer. All of the local people that donated a trip are excellent fisherman and are trying to do something for a friend in need. Brian Truax, Sammy McSherri, and I are all guides in the area. If it says that we are "pro's" then that can be interpretted however you want to.
Couldn't find it on eBay.
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Posts: 33
Location: New Berlin WI / Pelican Lake WI | Kevin some times being a Pro means acting like one, and donating trips for a good cause is acting like a Pro. It makes no difference if you are a part or full time guide at that point. Many part time guides can be considered Pros even if they have a regular job.
IMO if act in a profesional maner and do things that are good for the industry and others that are in need you are a Pro.
It was a nice thing that you guys did by donoating a trip and if others fell that you should not have the word Pro in front of your and others names they should take a good long look in the mirror before making comments. |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | Quite simply, if you go to work every day, that's your profession. If going to work means hearing the waves kiss the shoreline as you wait out your clients arrival for a big day on the water, then indeed, your profession is fishing. What's the use of this thread? |
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Posts: 100
Location: Bemidji/Cass Lake | Those names and others mentioned by Kevin Cochran may not be as high profile as some, but I promise you they catch MANY large fish year in year out. They fish hard and produce. Should anyone be looking at one of those trips you are guaranteed to be fishing with one of the elite this area has to offer. |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | here is the link to the site for the lady...bill
http://www.suzettebenefit.com/auction.php
but they have no more trips on there
Edited by archerynut36 10/2/2009 8:48 PM
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Posts: 67
| A pro? Someone who gets his business via word of mouth.....
s54 |
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Posts: 7092
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | seeking 54 - 10/2/2009 10:09 PM
A pro? Someone who gets his business via word of mouth.....
s54
Just gotta ask: why does this make someone a pro? Interested in your take on that. |
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Posts: 67
| Slamr,
To me, a Pro whose business thrives via word of mouth possess these qualities: someone who's reached the pinnacle of success on his own. Someone who is wholehearted, who doesn't seek validation or recognition for his achievements, who contributes facts and not theories, and doesn't biasly endorse products.
Just my opinion, but as far as i'm concerned, they're few and far between.......
s54 |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Endorsing products one believes in and represents in public is part and parcel of operating a business as a professional angler.
Please allow me to illustrate with several videos from the FLW Walleye Tour Championship underway in Bismarck, ND today. The final ten are fishing for up to $100,000.00 today in winnings and contingencies from the FLW and their Sponsors in a no-entry-fee championship filmed by Lindner Media and broadcast on Versus by FLW Walleye. Al and Ron are both here supporting the sport.
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=1980
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=1984
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=1985
Here's some true National Professional Anglers Association Pros who didn't make the cut to the final ten working for the future of the sport with kids and families last night at the local Wal Mart:
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=1981
Sure, Muskie angling has a ways to go to get to this level, but these guys and the Pros fishing the AIM circuit are the folks you see on TV, in the magazines, and at the shows representing the industry. SOme are full time guides as well, and carry through the entire package making a living in the business. Some are TV personalities, writers, and offer their services to sport shows and fishing clubs. Some own or work for lure companies, etc. Not any different from Muskies really, just a larger segment of the overall freshwater fishing business. All are truly dedicated to the sport, or they wouldn't be here. |
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Posts: 67
| After viewing those videos, it's evident that those anglers are a breed apart.
Thanks for sharing!
s54 |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I honestly believe the main difference between the AIM and FLW Walleye Pros and competitive muskie anglers is opportunity. Here's the finals; a $105,000 check was handed out. Second place was $39,000.00.
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=1989
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=1990
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Posts: 265
Location: McGuire AFB, NJ | It took me a while of reading this post before I finally got the context of the original question asked.
A pro IMO is someone who dedicates their god given talents to a particular trade/sport/business. Words that would describe a pro would be educated, hard-working, talent, experience, and integrity.
If were talking musky fishing I could list a slew of names of people that I belive are pro's, but would you question great angelrs that don't attach the "pro" to their names. I can't say I have ever seen Doug Johnson or Dick Pearson ever attach the word "pro" to their name. They don't claim to be, they let their results and experience speak for itself.
There is a local angler in my area that tiresly self promotes himself and his line of lures. Sure he puts fish in the boat, but I have always questioned his motives. Anytime I see an article/post/interview he caught all his fish on none other than his very own lure. Day or night, summer or winter. It drives me nuts, but of course there's the polar opposite as well. There is another well established fisherman in my area that has his own line of lures as well, but if he is putting fish in the boat using something other than his stuff he says it no questions asked. For me that is the perfect def of a pro.
As for the original question asked, I'm keen on what you were hinting at. In a case like that by allllll means put "greatest musky fisherman ever" in front of every name. Its going to a #*^@ good cause! Thats why I choose to bid on one of the trips.
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Chiropracters refer to themselves as "Doctor" even though they didn't get a PHD or go to Med School, any yahoo on the East Coast that owns a boat refers to himself as "Captain" even though they never earned that rank in the Armed Forces, and anyone who's ever made a buck muskie fishing can refer to himself as a pro. There's only a handfull of muskie pro's out there and we know who they are. |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If a boat operator has a Captain's license that operator is a Captain, and as far as I know, anyone who is on fed water guiding or operating commercially has to have that license so a number of the folks you refer to might actually BE Captains by license. I'd make one other cautionary statement...it isn't necessarily any single persons 'personal opinion' that makes one a Pro or for that matter how, what, or when they promote themselves or the products they represent. There's Pros who are exemplary in their conduct and overall stature, and then there's Pros who are...not so much so. |
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Posts: 2361
| Overall the opinions on this matter are so important, that I have become interested in when happy hour really starts. Anyone care to give an opinion on that? |
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Interested in hearing opinions on this