When I began my career as a professional angler, I was in my 20s. That was a long time ago, and I’ve witnessed many changes in the sport since then. Some good … some not so good.
Among them were the many faces that have come and gone. But that’s to be expected in a sport where attrition is high.
When you consider the nature of competition, it’s that constant turnover of talent that makes this sport so incredibly competitive. With each generation comes new approaches to finding and catching bass — a constant evolution that makes it a challenge to keep up.
Talkin’ ‘bout my generation
Among the anglers who hit the trail when I did were Randy Blaukat, David Fritts, Joe Thomas, Tommy Biffle and Peter Thliveros. All had game and were full of piss and vinegar, and each left his mark on the sport.
We were aggressive, too. Well, most of us were.
Peter T was more laidback in his approach — willing to take a whipping rather than mix it up in a crowd. And it served him well, as he learned to find fish others missed.
The rest of us learned to bump rails — fighting for fish that most of the field had patterned. And on some occasions, those battles were heated.
I could write a book about the ones I witnessed or was personally involved in. Some felt justifiable; others I’m ashamed of today. But that was part of the learning curve back then. We learned by trial and error, and by example. Turf wars were a common example.
Guys like Hank Parker, George Cochran, Denny Brauer — all nice guys off the water, but total intimidators during battle. And that made me a tougher competitor, as it did for many of my contemporaries.
The new generation
Nowadays, I’m much more laid back. Maybe it’s because of my age, but I’m not so sure. I think, once again, it’s because I’m learning by example.
Observing the newest generation of Elite pros, they’re not like what I witnessed back in the day, or even like the generations between. Maybe it’s because they don’t have to be.
These young guns seem smarter, better equipped, and they know how to find fish on just about any body of water the tour takes us to. They exude confidence … or at least they appear to. If they’re as scared and anxious as I used to be, they’re hiding it well.
I’m talking about guys like Justin Lucas, Josh Bertrand, Adrian Avena, James Elam, Brandon Palaniuk, Mark Daniels and the Lee brothers — all class acts, on and off the water.
I’ve observed each of them many times during competition, and all display good sportsmanship. In fact, on several occasions, I noticed these same anglers fish up to other competitors and, in a show of respect, pull up their trolling motor and leave. And that’s how it should be.
Of course, not all young, aspiring pros display these qualities, but most do. And it’s nice to know the sport of competitive fishing is in such good hands. I’m confident these guys will continue to show good sportsmanship while setting a positive example for future generations to follow.
Keep up with Bernie Schultz through Facebook and his website.
