BECOMMING A PRO

[Phil]

IT SEEMS PRO LIFE STARTS YOUNG OR A PERSON BECOMES A PRO AT YOUNG AGE IE EXAMPLE, GARY KLIEN; SKEET REESE; AARON MARTENS; KEVIN VAN DAM SO ON SO ON ETC. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A PRO THAT BECAME A PRO AT OLDER AGE OR STARTED AT A OLDER AGE ?
OR IS FISHING AS A PRO JUST FOR THE YOUNG LIKE DOWNHILL SKING

[BassCatPuma]

Dave Gleibe was not all that young when he became a pro. I do not think Dobyns was all that young either.

Tim Hendricks
www.basscat.com
www.powellco.com
www.purefishing.com
www.nosweatmist.com

[Phil]

OK, OLDER THAN 30 OR 40 ?

[GW]

I think that fishing is somewhat like golf where the more you know the better you are. Experience pays a big part, more time on the water/golf course the better the results.
So to answer your question Phil, I do not think that the young have any advantage over the older guys as far as ability but as far as fitness I am sure there is an advantage to being young..or in shape /more fit if your a bit older.
There are not many sports where you get better as you get older. Look at football/baseball you wear out by what your early to mid 30's if your lucky?

[Colebass]

I think you will see more guys over 30-40 become "Pro" over the next few years as fishing gets bigger. And many are finanicially secure enough and have the support of their families, with the travel and time it takes. The reason I think it has been percieved as young man's game (which I would argue), is becasue of all the coverage all the young guns are generating. But when you look, older guys win more events and that boils down to experience or time on the water.

The other reason, I think lot's of folks over 30-40 have not become "Pro" is because of the responsibility. Married, kids, steady job and the like. If your young and you have some support and means to gamble it, then go for it. But once your running your life (or it's running you), it's difficult to make that jump until you get financially secure.

Dobyns worked his job for 19 years and raised two great kids before he made the jump to do it full time. So there are choices.

[Chris]

Here's a good article I found on the site a while back and remembered it. http://www.westernbass.com/ncalifornia/ ... ml?id=2053

[Jeff Jewell]

Jim Conlow turned Pro at age 70.

[daveerwin]

I'm fishing my rookie year on the FLW Stren Series on the Pro side at age 44. A career in the Air Force, two kids now out of high school, a few years in the current career for stability and a VERY supportive wife (She pre-fishes with me).
This has been a dream of mine forever. I read Jim Conlow's article when it first came out and that's one of the things that inspired me to go for it. Thanks Jim!

Dave

[Phil]

OK; THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU RESPONSE ! NOW I HAVE SOMETHING I CAN TELL FUTURE PRO'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO..

JIGS

[225by5]

Isn't Gary Dobyns 104? He HE J/K

[225by5]

Isn't Gary Dobyns 104? He HE J/K

[Phil]

NO; ACTUALLY HE'S MY OLDEST SON !!!


JIGS