The Elephant on the Water

TULSA, Okla. — Here at Fishing Tackle Retailer, we focus on fishing tackle. Only natural, right? But since I’m in Tulsa for the Bassmaster Classic today I want to cover something that no one seems willing to talk about publicly. It’s not the elephant in the room; it’s the elephant on the water.

Bass tournaments are unique in the sports world in that they are played out on public property, and anyone with access to a boat can go right out on the “field” with the competitors. No one’s complaining about that.

The problem or issue arises when a spectator — someone who went out on the water with the express goal of watching the competition — decides to take it a step further and to fish alongside the professionals. When these people fail to show the pros the same courtesy they’d show any other angler, they’ve gone too far.

On Friday, two anglers in a Kansas-registered Ranger bass boat, wearing Ranger jackets, were casting so close to the area being fished by one of the Classic competitors that they were in almost constant danger of their lines crossing and their lures becoming entangled. The pro had gotten there first, caught a few and clearly revealed the area he was working before they moved in. When he asked them to give him a little space, they responded by moving to the end of the bank and bridge he was working and fishing back toward him — essentially cutting him off from the area he planned to fish.

That situation is pretty egregious, but similar things happen every competition day all across the country on the major tournament circuits. The usual scenario is that when a top pro leaves an area, a few boats in the flotilla following him will hang behind to fish, waypoint the spot on their GPS units and generally subject it to enough fishing, boating and sonar pressure that the pro can’t realistically return during competition.

That’s pretty standard these days, and every experienced pro expects it. Guys like Kevin VanDam and Michael Iaconelli know they probably can’t revisit spots during the course of a tournament because of it. They know they must expand their pattern over several days in order to succeed. It’s part of what makes KVD, Ike and a few other elite pros so good.

The pros don’t want to talk publicly about this stuff for fear that they’ll be targeted. BASS won’t tell the story because they think it’s bad public relations, especially with the host communities involved, but it happens at a great many tournaments … including the most important tournament of BASS’ season, the Bassmaster Classic.

And Grand Lake ‘O the Cherokees has one of the worst reputations for fan interference. Ask the anglers privately, and most shake their heads in disappointment or disgust. Two other popular tournament venues with bad reputations are Kentucky Lake and Lake Guntersville.

Now, not every angler at every venue has this problem. At the Classic, the locals are often left unmolested.

If you’re a weekend angler like me, I defend your right to fish wherever you want whenever you want as long as you’re properly licensed and obey the law. I also hope you’ll show other anglers some courtesy. I’m not suggesting you defer to another angler just because he’s fishing big tournament; I’m suggesting you show him the same courtesy you would any other angler.

And if you happen to be fishing a tournament of your own at the same time and on the same water as a big national tournament, maybe you need to have a talk with your tournament director. It’s just plain dumb to schedule a club or small circuit event on top of a much bigger tournament. It’s a recipe for a lousy experience.

So before you get all up in arms about your right to fish wherever you want on public water, including the same spot being fished by a Bassmaster Classic angler, know that I agree with you within the limits of the law and common courtesy.

But let me ask you this: Would you set up a cookie stand next to a bunch of girl scouts (Why not give them a little competition?) or try to collect donations next to a Salvation Army Santa Claus (Giving is giving.)? If you would, you’re the elephant on the water.