When did fishing become so competitive?

[Springmillvol]

I began fishing as a child due to many things but mainly stories from my elders and the love of the outdoors. I fished a lot in South Fl and then only occasionally for probably 15 yrs. got back into in a year ago with the purchase of my first boat. The main goal was to find some quality downtime doing something I thoroughly enjoy. Boy have things changed LOL. I enjoy an occasional tourney as much as the other guy but it seems many more anglers are focused almost entirely on tournaments to the point where common manners and courtesies can be challenged. How long has the Chick been like this? Since I’ve been out of it for so long I am curious as to when tournament fishing became the main focus for most anglers? Don’t get me wrong, I am still enjoying getting back out there but things sure are different.

 

[lmk25]

Fishing became competitive when money came into the picture. 1st place looks cool on the book face too.

 

[swamp]

Somewhere around 1969

 

[elwestb]

I'm sixty six years old now and as far back as I can remember fishing has been very competitive regardless of prize money or not. I remember my Father, Uncle, Aunt and others that they fished with always were about who had the most fish or the largest fish. And it didn't matter what species they were fishing for at the time either and they fished for everything! In most cases there was usually some type of side bet. Just like in golf, it's not always about the size or amout of the bet necessarily, it's about the winning and the bragging rights. The prize money in today's Tx.'s has just ramped up the competition a bit more I think.

 

[FishingwithRusty]

i guess it depends on the person, bass fishing is my passion; has been my whole life. i thrive on the challenge of figuring out how to catch them. the tournaments up that intensity a bit Charlie and i won the thursday evening deal last week and he said something about the $......and i said "its not about the money, its about the win!" on that evening we did better than all the other guys out there and thats what the local tournaments are about to me. if youre fishing local derbies solely for the money youre going to end up in the red. and as you mentioned its sad to see guys compromise their respect for others and themselves chasing the win or the little bit of $. i hope that guys will take a step back and look at the littel bit of money that they stand to win and ask themselves if its worth their reputation. we all make mistakes or bonehead moves sometimes but if your motivation/justification for doing so is "trying to win" then i would argue that your perspective is off.

 

[Springmillvol]

FishingwithRusty - 6/14/2018 9:38 AM

i guess it depends on the person, bass fishing is my passion; has been my whole life. i thrive on the challenge of figuring out how to catch them. the tournaments up that intensity a bit Charlie and i won the thursday evening deal last week and he said something about the $......and i said "its not about the money, its about the win!" on that evening we did better than all the other guys out there and thats what the local tournaments are about to me. if youre fishing local derbies solely for the money youre going to end up in the red. and as you mentioned its sad to see guys compromise their respect for others and themselves chasing the win or the little bit of $. i hope that guys will take a step back and look at the littel bit of money that they stand to win and ask themselves if its worth their reputation. we all make mistakes or bonehead moves sometimes but if your motivation/justification for doing so is "trying to win" then i would argue that your perspective is off.

Well said and I agree.

 

[WaterChap]

Character’s more important than fish. Tho it’s easy for the low talenters (such as me) to take the moral high ground. I’m not going to be in a position where compromise might win me a tourney. But as the Master said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the world and lose his soul?”

 

[31airborne]

WaterChap - 6/14/2018 10:43 AM

Character’s more important than fish. Tho it’s easy for the low talenters (such as me) to take the moral high ground. I’m not going to be in a position where compromise might win me a tourney. But as the Master said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the world and lose his soul?”

amen

 

[derek81]

I'll echo what Rusty said, it's not about the money, it's about the competition to me. I have worked my butt off over the last twenty years to try and build a company to take care of the financial aspect of life so I really don't care about any money that is won fishing, while it is nice to put some back in my pocket I just enjoy occasionally beating some of the best fisherman around. It's also about the time I get to spend with my son doing something we both love to do, now he likes the money though! lol

I also enjoy the camaraderie of tournament fishing, I have made a lot of friends over the years fishing and some I consider lifelong friends.

 

[rusty50576]

I fish only for fun and food

 

[Nauticman]

Ray Scott created a monster!!!

 

[Blazer09]

Social Media is the monster

 

[finbully]

When did fishing become so competitive?

When the second spear was wittled.

 

[fish4thepeck]

When they come out with the Banjo Minner