Check this. The top ranked men’s tennis player, Roger Federer, has made close to $50 million in winnings in 10 years, while Rafael Nadal in 9 years has knocked down $28 million and even lowly American Andy Roddick, has squeezed by with $18 million in earnings in 10 years as a pro–all excluding endorsements.
These are among the best in the world, yet what do they employ that the supposed “best bass fishermen in the world” don’t? Personal coaches.
From technical aspects to fitness and mental preparation, each of these athletes (and wouldn’t you know it, also the very elite from the professional golfing ranks) all have somebody else look at every aspect of their game. These personal coaches look at video, analyze decision-making and oftentimes work on specific adjustments to improve performance.
True, some pros go through several coaches as personalities and methodology don’t always mesh, but you regularly hear the highly successful players credit their coaches for making a difference.
But you never hear about that among pro anglers. About the best you can get out of any of them is that “Grampa took me fishing when I was 5 or 8 or whatever.” True, traveling tour anglers will bounce things off each other, and the best of them will pick up tidbits or ideas from a running mate. And a very few, like Gary Klein, will seek out an expert to broaden his range.
But usually, that’s not the same as having somebody going over film and saying frankly: “Look at your rod position,” or ask tactically, “Why did you run there when you knew you’d share every inch of that water?” or strategically, “You need to recognize when they’re on the swimbait.”
Most anglers have never seen themselves on video, except when they’re screaming, “Never give up!” And yet, nearly all could, to some degree, improve fundamentally, lose fewer fish, develop greater confidence and rise in the rankings–if they’d step back and try and get some help.
Of course, there is one little problem. When was the last time you ever heard “the pro” admit he didn’t know everything?
16 Responses to “Bass fishing a sport? Where’s the coaching?”
So George, You wanna be my coach? 
And by the way George, I can’t really afford to pay you anything; how about 1% of my winnings over the course of the time that you coach me. LOL
Actually I see mentoring going on in the early stages, mostly by parents, Kyle Grover, Jimmy Emmett, Jay Yelas, a number of the teams. But you are correct, there does not seem to be coaches to the PROS. Rick Clunn has some sort of mentoring thing, “Angler’s Quest” going on at his ranch home in the summer I think.
Great article! …and you’re hired too. I need to win some money..it’s been too long. Folkestad and Ricci are fired! LOL
Just like many others…mentoring and networking, as I call it, has been extremely beneficial.
Wait a minute Tami. I called dibs on George first. 
Hey, I’m just thinking out loud in this blog. BP has hit on some of the issues that have bearing, but I believe there are lots of competent observers, sports psychologists and technicians that could be employed–but few tournament fishermen will “let go” enough to get the benefit of such coaching.
Was that a cop-out?
Robert Schneider writes:
“Rick Clunn has some sort of mentoring thing, “Angler’s Quest” going on at his ranch home in the summer I think.”
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Any truth that his students sleep in teepees on his property?
If tournament bass fishing is more high stakes gambling than sport, than they don’t need a coach, they need treatment. ESPN’s segment with Bobby Knight coaching Timmy Horton and Boyd Duckett was insightful.
Is it April 1st again ??? My take is this- IF there was any REAL money in this sport, then there would be more ‘coaches’, but as it is the greatest majority of guys don’t make a dang thing, a few have decent sponsors, and a select FEW have made enough money on their own wits that they don’t need, nor do they want a coach. The dollars spent every year on fishing is greater than the sum total of both golf and tennis, and yet VERY LITTLE winds it way back to the pro fishermen. This is the greatest travesty of our sport. KVD and the boyz compete harder, longer, and against far more competitors, than Roddick and Federer, yet they make the bank with someone else’s money while our guys fish just to get their own money back. That said, I could listen to Maria Sharpova grunt all day…..
Maybe don’t need coaches, just sexier outfits.
Alex: Your points are well-taken. I’m sure money (whatever it might be–since you can get professional goal-keeping sessions for $65 an hour)will become an issue to some. But this also begs the question: “So it’s just not important to hone your skills as much as possible?”
I think Alex’s point is percentage wise you have less chance for a solid return on your investment when pursuing pro bass fishing and that’s why the coaching isn’t there. A big positive change I could see would be in scholarship money at Colleges for bass fishing teams. I know college bass fishing teams are starting to pick up, but is that a varsity sport or a club sport? If 2-4 scholarship spots were opened up per university with 2 walk on spots that could provide some incentive right there. You’ve got to think it could get the same coverage water polo does, right? Local example being Kyle Grover not only wins tourney money with his dad, but gets a college scholarship to wherever he wants probably. Pac10 vs Big10 vs big12 vs SEC vs ACC in bass fishing would be awesome.
I bring this topic up and then Tiger Woods’ coach quits. Go figure.
There are coaches to a point you just don’t hear about them or see them. I have coached a number of pro’s on a number of levels .
Bass fishing is one of the funnest fish to catch. My favorite lures to use are jig with a 6″ plastic worm. Darker colors have seem to work good for me. Another great lure to use is the Banjo Minnow. The Banjo Minnow has landed a lot of monster bass for me in the past. Great write up.
Yeah, but who are they going to find that is qualified to coach? I think tennis and golf have a plethora of people dedicated to coaching and the technical aspects of those sports. I just don’t see many people similarly dedicated in fishing, but then again I could be wrong. I don’t know how frequently people make use of guides or network with others. Maybe the coaching that goes on in bass fishing is more informal and based on personal relationships.