What do you think?
Is bass fishing a sport?
Are bass fisherman athletes?
Where do they rank with golfers, race car drivers ect.?

What do you think?
Is bass fishing a sport?
Are bass fisherman athletes?
Where do they rank with golfers, race car drivers ect.?


Bass fishing is definitely a sport. I've always thought of an athlete as someone who competes against others in competition. If you look at the definition of an athlete, tournament fishermen clearly qualifies as an athlete.

"a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina"

I used to be a guide for the San Diego Padres. I took almost every one of the players out and half of them were worn out by noon casting. They said it was like playing catch for 8 hours. It definatly is a sport!!!!!

Definetly a sport...no doubt. As far a ranking, I think it is a matter of personal opinion. I have fished, golfed, and driven race cars both for fun and in compitition. I believe as far as the physicality of each, fishing would rank well below the race car driving and above golf.

I think it's an excellent question, and one I always end up in arguments over with my wife. Endurance and strength are not good indicators alone of whether it's a sport or not. Professional dart players have honed precision skills for many years, but most of them couldn't compete in pure physical competitions. (I said MOST, not all. Calm down all you buff dart players!)

In my book, if precision skills, cunning, and competition are required in the activity, then it's a true athletic competition. Certainly then, pro bass anglers would qualify. It takes years to hone their skills and knowledge of fish behavior. And, they do have to "outsmart" their competition - both in the form of the fish, and the rest of the field of anglers.

But the "sports" that always tick me off are ones that are judged by 3rd parties. In baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and yes - darts and bass fishing, there is no judgment or "style points" required to win. It's simple, score more points than your opponent at the end of the competition, and you win. But activities like gymnastics, platform diving, figure skating, etc... are not determined by black and white scorekeeping. Therefore, and here's where my wife's arguments start, I see them as highly skilled athletes, but they compete in exhibitions, not "sports".

My 2 cents.

Lemee tell you somthing...if you think gymnastics or even figure skating arn't sports and darts (DARTS??? give me a break) are you better go back to stand up comedy carrot top. Bass fishing is way down the list of presumed sports compared to both. Maybe bass fishing and darts are close bu my god....gymnastics????? I think it takes more skill to do most forms of gymnastics than any of the big 3 sports.Darts takes years of fine tuning yet so does needlepoint and sewing...Ive been fishing all my life in fresh and saltwater (im over 50) and I dont think this is a sport. I love it but I see guys at tourneies winning that the heaviest thing they have lifted in the past few years is a 16 oz. of Bud.....your wife is right.

What? are you speaking from personal expierience CAPTAIN?? you must have lifted a few Bud's before you responded to this! Let's see Michelle kwan reel in a blue Marlin, or cast a DD22 all day. I'm sorry but I dont agree with you...

In 100 degree weather with 100% humidity and for 8 hours straight. The DD22 is killer anyway but throw in some of mother natures factors and anyone who thinks fishing is not "sport" has lost it.

You got me wrong Capt. I didn't say gymnasts are not incredible athletes. They clearly are. But their "sport" isn't decided by black and white parameters, like runs scored, or goals, or # pounds of fish caught. Their "sport" is left to the interpretation of judges, which is always subjective and often not impartial. (Watched any Olympic games?) So I say they are athletes, but they compete in an exhibition sport that takes many subjective elements into account. What the heck is a "style point" anyway. Do I get any points if I make a picture perfect cast? NO. I get points only if I catch big fish. You follow my logic?

Being that I lived over a third of my life reeling in 50lb pike and 65lb salmon
in the great Canadian waters and then come down hear to catch 10lb bass is it a sport (i agree with the capt) I am in great shape and look good but looking at the other anglers they are all 100% body fat and look like back woods cavemen , If it wasnt for the fact that they are easy money , I wouldnt even be on the same water as dem ! But lets get back to the sport part ? with my deadly and precise casting and perfect lure presentation and my superior knowledge
of were the big fish are , It take a minimum effort by me to catch a huge fat sack and win thus
instead of 5000 cast ,I only make 50 pin point accurate cast to get a big sack and cash a check.
like I said I look good for the cameras because I work out at Golds Gym not drinking beer and
eating hog all day.it's not a sport its a part time job for me earning a extra easy 25k a year .


T.R.

How do these idiots keep finding this site?

I don't know. And here I thought we almost had a semi-intelligent discussion going on.

Apparently you just look at certain people, because I am 5'11, 160lbs., and very well built. I was a football player, wrestler, and baseball player for many years, and I'm here to tell you that if you guys don't think that fishing is as much of a sport as gymnastics, your wrong. The mental and physical preperation for these events is very tough. I don't mean to offend anyone, but not to consider fishing as a sport is a very wrong assumetion.

You have to be kidding. Fishing isn't a sport. While I love fishing, to consider it a sport like b-ball, etc. is nonsense. If the criteria is the ability to cast a heavy lure for 8 hours then anyone who does physical work for a living must be an athlete.

You guys are too much! LOL
As per Dictionary.com =
SPORT : 1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.
Wake up people! You must believe Crist is going to lower your insurance and taxes. Please educate yourselves before opening your mouth or voting. LOL

There's no wrong or right here guys. It's just a good discussion, with pros and cons, to a question posed by "I am an Athlete". No need to hurl insults at anyone. This is what forums are for.

Correction....it was originally posed by Bassman.

There is wrong and right! This world would be a whole lot better if people now a-days would realize this instead of the ole "what-ever" attitude.
Facts are facts! B.S. is B.S.!

O.K. maybe you all should go back to the top and read the post again,
I ashed; Is bass fishing a sport? Of course its a sport, sport fishing and hunting has been on "Wide wold of sports" since i was a kid.
Are bass fisherman ahtletes: Well like the captain said above I see people wining tounaments that are a heart attack waiting to happen,
Where does it rank with other sports? Bass fishing is very popular and i personally love it, but like i told my friend, when the Greeks were conceiving the oly[ic games the only fishe to survive.
When you mix athletics and sports in the same conversation bass fishing is at the bottom of the
totum pole.
P.S. I posted this in hopes of getting alot of response. Look how many i got. Does that make computer fishing a sport??