So You Want To Be A Bass Pro? Part 1 - What is a pro?

More of this Feature • Part 1: What is a pro? • Part 2: What you need • Part 3 - More equipment • Part 4 - Fishing School • Part 5 - Success Stories  Join the Discussion "Have you ever considered becoming a bass fishing pro?  What stopped you if you are not one?  Why did you not try it?" Ronnie  Related Resources • Bassfan.com Pro Rankings • Understanding Bass • Bass Tournament Shortcuts • Fishing Products That Work  Past "Fishtales" • One Year Ago - 3/4/02 - Monday Morning Quarterback Two Years Ago - 3/5/01 - Gone Fishing With Dad Three Years Ago - 3/6/00 - Fishing Spoons Four Years Ago - 03/08/99 - Living Proof It Works  Five Years Ago - 03/09/98 - Fishing the Buffalo

By "The Bass Coach" 
Roger Lee Brown
rlbrown@capital.net

For the past several months I have received many emails from potential bass anglers from all over the world asking me what kind of steps are needed to take in becoming a professional bass angler. The average age that sends me these emails normally ranges anywhere from 17 years old to around 50 years young with even some of them being younger than 17 and older than 50. Just what really is considered as being a Bass Pro? 

If you were to look into the Webster's Dictionary a "pro" is described as 1. engaged in, or worthy of the standards of, a profession 2. or, engaging in some sport or in a specified occupation for pay, a professional.

A professional bass angler can mean different things to different people depending on the level of the profession the person wishes to achieve. I wouldn't consider an angler that may watch the pro bass tour on television, getting the idea in his or her head that he or she can compete with the best, joins the "pro" association to get his or her pro patch or card and puts it on their shirt or in their wallet thinking that now he or she's a pro, a true one, would you? 

There are many different "pro" categories one can strive for in the field of bass angling such as tournament fishing, charters (guides), teaching, lecturing, seminar instructions, product promotions, and much more.

Now, I'm sure that most of the emails I receive from the potential anglers with the questions on how to become a bass pro are primarily meant in terms of what it really takes to become a bass pro such as Shaw Grisby Jr., Bill Dance, David Dudley, etc. just to name a few. Pros like these guys have more than proven themselves and have earned their right for the title of the pro status that they hold (these fellows mentioned are a rare breed, and a greater bunch of guys you'll never find.) But I can say that these fellows have all set goals and worked to get where they are today.

Next page > Part 2: What you need > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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