Are bass anglers the most skilled?

I will be the first to admit I am not much of a bass angler but I do watch a lot of bass fishing TV programs.  Having fished for everything from crappie to marlin, it never ceases to amaze me how much tackle, tactics and fishing skills are used for freshwater bass fishing. I admit I think Kevin Van Dam is pretty amazing. So let's hear it...

Are bass anglers the most skilled anglers? If yes why?

Scott

Scott, are you trying to stir the pot!? 

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! 

LOL, seriously though, I do think that the serious bass anglers are pretty skilled due to the myriad of different presentations and situations that those guys practice and learn. I would definitely admit that most of those guys are a better fisherman than me.

But, it's also situational. Although the bass guys are pretty good at all around techniques, their skill lies mainly with just one fish. They may be good at the techniques, but you gotta know your fish that you're targeting. That said, I bet I could catch a halibut better than most bass fisherman that never/rarely fish for them.

Skilled at what ? Catching Bass I guess so but since bass are one of the easiest fish to catch I would have to say no.
Don't believe everything you see on TV. 

Considering the amount of info out there I would argue that many bass guys just follow the last guy. I would argue that big game saltwater guys have the biggest challenge. Like Marlin and Tuna guys. The ocean is endless and once the fish is hooked you got one hell of a battle on your hands. But what do I know.

I admire trout flyfishermen myself...that takes a lot of skill and knowledge.  Ever watch those Britich carp conests?  Those guys have skill too.  Big salt water game anglers have their own set of skills to admire.  Catfishermen too: I know I can't noodle up a fish outa some underwater mudhole.  Bass anglers aren't any better than anyone else.

This is kinda like the "are basketball players the best athletes" type of question.

IMO, the most skilled are those anglers who can demonstrate a consistent catch rate across a variety of species.  (Like our AOTY contenders)

Determination has something to do with it I think.

And my favorite, LUCK plays a part as well.

"First you gotta do everything right, then you need to get lucky"

So, if we closely define these anglers as "bass anglers," a self-limiting label, then I'd say no, they aren't the most skilled.

If I were a bass angler, I'd probably have a different opinion.


Allen

The increasingly large number and variety of bass-specific tackle isn't an accurate reflection on the skill level it requires to catch bass.
Bass fishing, itself, is challenging if you choose to make it so (by using artificial lures, etc). But you can also catch bass quite easily with good bait, if you choose to go that route.
IMO the skill level required for bass fishing is easier to attain than a few other types of fishing, like river steelhead for example.
It's difficult, but not The Most difficult. Therefore, bass anglers can't possibly be the most skilled.
Simple mathematics haha...    

Angling skill, as we see it in the world of bass fishing, is somewhat akin to perfecting a video game - you learn the spots, the tackle, the rod and reel skills, and handling the fish is just a very basic part of the transaction in that you're rarely dealing with an animal of more than 10 pounds.  I like to think that the best anglers would be judged more for their ability to catch, handle and possibly release a big fish - it's a self-serving point of view for sure!     Really though, I think that fishing is way too focused on the meat, so for me the best anglers are those who show such reverence for the resources that others follow suit and teach that respect.  My Dad was an expert flyfisherman and also one of the best anglers in the way I've described.  I will keep trying to be that too.  The most skilled anglers are those who can use fishing to make more than just their own life better.   

Bass Fishing was my Main Quarry for most of my Life, Tournaments starting my Senior year and a few years after that,  trout and salmon here and there, but mostly, always trying to better my Game at LMB, my partners in Crime are still at it, Decked out in Polester and Billboards for Bassboats....

 Then a Hiatus with Career, Family etc etc and then Finally, the Heaven of KayakFishing....

 Having to change tactics, gear, knowhow etc etc to chase a variety of species from a kayak....

 Now that is the Anglers who are most Skilled....

 I don't feel my Bass Fishing Experince has helped me in adapting to other species, except for knowing the feel of a fish when it hits...

 I have to laugh at myself when I get home from one chase, to start throwing everything in one pile to change over to next quarry,  lots of " Organized " piles on my Bench...

 With one disclaimer,  I do admire the Fly Fisher with all their style and Grace...

 Kool Thread....

Is this skill???

 AS much as I hate this guy,,

 Adapt, Improvise and Overcome....

 Well Done....

 

I'm thinking those guys that can pull trout on stupidly small midges i can't even thread the hook on, in those crystal clear waters where the fish ONLY eat the exact hatch, and then only with exactly perfect mends are my top heros for mastering a single skill.

IMO the fisherman who can consistently catch a variety of species on artificials in challenging conditions- both fresh and salt, those are "the most skilled" anglers

Is this skill???

 AS much as I hate this guy,,

 Adapt, Improvise and Overcome....

 Well Done....

 

that's nothin' look at this!

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/07/man_jumps_from_helicopter_catc.php

Allen

The question at hand is weather Bass fisherman are the most skilled.
The answer is "D" none of the above.
I deal with fisherman all day and every day for a living and I can say that all aspects of fishing require the same level of skill in order to remain consistant. The Bass angler has to know were and how to present his offering same as the Fly Fisherman. Each requires an accurate but gentle cast and presentation. The long range angler has to cast a small anchovy on 40+ line to a Tuna that may not come within 50ft. of the boat. Than again the Walleye angler will have to get a minnow or Crawler to his quarry on a rock pile 35ft deep with only a 3/16oz head. I have learned to do many of these techniques over the years and can say from experience that none of these presentations were any easier to learn than the other. There are also many other skills needed to become proficient with many species such as migratory movement and feeding habits to name a few. With that said I would have to agree that the angler who learns to master the multitude of species from fresh to salt would get my vote as the most skilled angler. The problem we have in this industry is that many believe that a competition can determin a person as a better angler. Not to discredit the accomplishments of many competitors  but other factors can interfear with this process as in our own AOTY competition many may be limited by travel expenses or work/family obligations moral dilemmas (Salmon) etc.
I guess the real question is How do we judge the true skill level of any angler?

I'm still very much a rookie to this whole thing but IMO if we are talking kayak fishing, (and of course we are)...

Seems to me steelhead and salmon fishing takes the most skill...  Where and when to find fish?  Landing such powerful fish in narrow, shallow water... 

Even rigging up a kayak to get out there running rivers takes considerable skill.

And imo bassin is tougher than trolling for trout simply because bassin is about fishing in and around cover.

it never ceases to amaze me how much tackle, tactics and fishing skills are used for freshwater bass fishing.

Call me a cynic, but I think the amount of tackle "tactics" and "skills" used in bass fishing are 95% marketing bs. Bass fishing is big, big business. Because it's C+R it's sustainable and because bass live everywhere and are pretty easy to catch, there's a big market for it. Most of the bass fishing shows I've seen are basically just adverts for gear. There isn't the same market for most other types of fishing because there just isn't the fishery.