B.A.S.S. lakeport Weekend

SHAFT · Post by **SHAFT** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:30 am

Just wanted to write a quick note on our experience with the Elite tournament at Lakeport , what a blast , went to the weigh-in on Saturday and Sunday with the Family both my wife and daughter really enjoyed the whole experience and the little one had a ball at the Toyota booth making the wood projects . After the finally on Sunday we were able to meet the pro's and my daughter had her picture taken with all that were still there , I was very impressed with how friendly and how available the were . We also had Ike and Ish staying three houses down from us we were able to meet Ike as he stayed till Sunday and missed Ish he left after the cut , my daughter is a BIG Ike fan so we hopped in the row boat and went down to see him as he was out on the dock , I introduced my self and told him I had with me one of his biggest fans who wanted to meet him " Hi sweetheart come on over here and shake my hand " We went back the next day for autographs and got some fishing advise and chit chat . We also met Mr.. Swindle who couldn't have been friendlier , I'm going to stop making judgments about these guys from what I see on TV because you just can't . For me and my family this will be a weekend to remember !

basstamer · Post by **basstamer** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:37 am

I gotta agree with you on Swindle....with his....shall we say antics as of late I wasnt what you'd call his biggest fan but he really seemed sincere on the stage sunday and seemed to be round about appologizing for it all. His remark something about "starting everyday trying to make myself a better man" kinda made me reconsider at least for the meanwhile! He did change my opinion of him....I still have a problem with the other guy but since your a fan I won't badmouth him

Glad you had fun-wish we coulda met up with ya!
Scott

G-Ko · Post by **G-Ko** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:57 pm

I would agree that from what I saw all the pros were very friendly and fun to be around. I think that most of the times emotions get to the best of these fisherman who are competing at such a high level that they sometimes lose it. I mean if you have a camera on you the whole day I am sure that there is sometime where you wish you could delete the tape.

But tv will edit a whole day of fishing into an hour long, no wonder they can get some good antics. I do agree that all pros are not alike, but I believe that many of them have the right attitude, but slip up sometimes. My own opinions were built around this weekend and I can't think of any negatives.

Greg

BB · Post by BB » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:17 pm

My girlfriend and I were there for the weigh in on Saturday and we had an absolute blast. I was like a little kid posing for pictures and chatting with the likes of Skeet, Swindle, Paul Elias, VanDam, Hite, Monroe, Kurt Dove....the list goes on and on. I am sure that being in the public eye round the clock has to wear on you, but even after a long couple of days of fishing, these Professionals were nothing short of courteous and pleasant to be with and to be around. My girlfriend's day was made when she got to pose and take a pic with Swindle!!
I think we should all step back just a bit, curtail being so judgmental without just cause, and give these guys and gals their due respect.

BB

sTony · Post by **sTony** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:25 pm

It's not really the anglers that folks have been critical about. Ike is the exception to that for his antics and of course lots of folks weren't thrilled with what they saw from Gerald at the Classic but most everyone looks beyond that stuff.

sTony

miklanderson · Post by **miklanderson** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:20 am

I fished the tourney and my girfriend got to meet all of these guys. She got pics with Skeet, Aaron Martens, Ike, Ish, Gerald swindle, Remitz, and KVD. All of these guys seemed pretty cool and made themselves accessible to their fans. They were more than happy to take a pic and sign an autograph for my GF, who is a huge BASS fan.

NaCl · Post by **NaCl** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:29 am

You can have the greatest respect and appreciation for the Elite anglers without respecting the parent organization...B.A.S.S./ESPN.

In recent years, BASS/ESPN has stacked the deck so that it is highly unlikely any new blood will join the Elite series from the west. I resent that on behalf of all western anglers and will continue to be openly critical of that organization until they decide to truly become a "national" organization. In the meantime, I root openly and enthusiastically for the western Elite Series guys on every event.

.....NaCl