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Bass Fishing Image
by Bill Mathis
As I write this article, Barry Bonds is about the break Hank Aaron’s homerun
record, but with controversy surrounding him. The commissioner isn’t committing
to showing up for the tying and record breaking home run. All because of Bonds’
image and what he allegedly has been doing with steroids.
Michael Vick of the NFL has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a number of
counts. The NFL and the Falcons are doing their best with damage control.
An NBA official allegedly was involved in point shaving and betting on games in
which he officiated.
All of these things affect the image of their particular sport they participate
or participated in.
Remember when Mike Iaconelli trashed the American Flag into the lake during the
Classic. It tarnished his image and sponsors withdrew from him. He will always
be known as a guy who screams when he catches a fish but also the guy who blew
his cool when he trashed the flag into the drink.
In Minnesota, we don’t have that kind of media coverage for the events we fish.
But we are under the public camera each time we are on the water. One major
screw up by a tournament angler could tarnish the image of all professional bass
fishermen in Minnesota.
What is your image on the lake? There are some things you can do to make sure
our image isn’t tarnished. The obvious ones are the actions that could result in
some bad media coverage like crashing into a boat, taking out a dock, or having
a knock down drag out argument with a home owner standing on his dock while the
neighbors gather around.
Listed below are some other things that you can do to inspire somebody to think
we are good people.
1. When going through a no wake zone, are you more worried about getting through
the no wake zone and creating more wake than the average person is? Slow down
and make it no wake.
2. When fishing docks, we all understand it is public water, but do you still
fish a dock where people are gathered on the dock having a beverage. No matter
what the law is, the perception by the home owner is that is there property and
you are encroaching on their space. If it’s a dock you want to fish, simply ask
them. I have done this many times and most often they will say yes. I even had
one guy call his kids down to see me try to catch a fish. I was suddenly on
stage and thank goodness I pulled a 13” fish out. That was a positive moment. I
had another guy offer me a beer. I have fished that same dock for a couple of
years now and it’s never a problem. By the way, I didn’t accept the beer, it was
during a tournament.
3. If you get hung up on a dock, do you make every effort to get your lure out
of there or do you simply cut the line and move on. Obviously there are times
you simply are not going to get it out, but make the effort. Extra line might
get caught in the homeowners motor. A homeowner when taking out their dock in
the fall might find jigs attached to his dock and a guy who didn’t mind us
fishing his dock is now one to make a stink about it.
4. When leaving a no wake zone, we all want to get moving and get to our next
spot. It’s more often than not, just a matter of time before we pass the boat in
front of us after leaving the no wake zone. Consider giving them some space and
let them get going before you bury the throttle. It’s also a safety matter. You
might think they are going one direction, but they could change their mind in an
instant and it could be a serious problem if you put the hammer down close
behind them.
5. We have all had the opportunity and probably most have taken it, when a boat
comes so close to you that you could cast into their boat or cast and hit a jet
ski or skier. Maybe next time cast that direction without coming that close to
them just to show them you are fishing there. I don’t have advice if they come
by again and do it. Not sure if they are breaking the law or not, so it’s your
call and your image. If you hit them with something, you now might have broken
the law.
6. Lastly, if you run into somebody who wants to throw rocks at you or even
takes out a gun or is verbally threatening you, call 911 and let them take care
of it. No need to put yourself in harms way.
Image isn’t everything, but it goes a long ways in how the public perceives us,
whether we are in the right or wrong.
Bill Mathis
classicbass.com Field Staff
Team Skeeter Member
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