Question: why is it that some anglers look down on pan fishermen

[Spoonminnow]

On another forum, a few clowns made fun of the fact that I catch bunches of fish using mostly small soft plastics on light jig heads. They target large bass, pike, walleye and other large species going over 5 lbs. in tournaments. My thing is catching fish regardless of size, is the challenge we all share and in my case, catching fish on lures I make or modify (many illustrated on crappie.com).

I did the tournament thing going after bass for 6 years, but got tired of it and the money wasted. Even sold the bass boat.

They claim that only large lures catch big fish, which I've disproven time and again: a 15 lb. carp, 7.5 lb catfish, bass close to 5 lbs, a 4 lb white sucker, and pickerel longer than my arm. Other than that, light tackle and braid are a big challenge when fighting big fish of any species.

Where do they get off?!

[DockShootinJack]

I say fish for what ever makes ya happy

[flymoron]

that's what I say, Largemouth are way down on the list of fish that I like to go for. My grandfather was almost 102 when he passed, his favorite fish to go after, were buffalo.

I say fish for what ever makes ya happy

[Jamesdean]

Not to worry spoonminnow, They are just full of themselves and are ignorant of the facts of life. One day they'll grow up and realize how wrong they've been...Maybe...Just my .02 cents anyway. I totally understand where your coming from.

[Spoonminnow]

They are just full of themselves

I hope I never come across like that! If so, I apologize.

[Bigtrout]

Well, Bass fishing, and specifically tournament bass fishing exploded back in the 70's and well, it just got better marketing you might say! I'd say the last 45 or so years of promoting bass fishing, B.A.S.S., glitzy bass boats, high dollar tournaments, sponsors and rigs with more sponsor decals than a Nascar. Numerous fishing shows and magazines with the likes of Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Hank Parker, and back in the day, Ray Scott, Tom Mann, and other high profile famous celebrity fishermen who catch monsters...always, and mostly got famous catching bass. Bass got elevated as some type of "holy grail" of freshwater fishing. Loved all those guys, and grew up watching them and reading about them in the magazines.
Now people sink $60k in a high power boat and another $60+ in a tow vehicle and that's not even the pros! I guess in their mind they can't justify chasing Bluegills in a rig like that.
Go figure. As I said, Bass just got better marketing. Anyway, that's my theory FWIW.

The older I get, the less I care what anyone thinks of what I'm doing...and the less interest I have of what anyone else is doing. Do what makes you happy, fish for what you want with a happy heart, and thank God for every hour on the water. Life is short.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

The older I get, the less I care what anyone thinks of what I'm doing...and the less interest I have of what anyone else is doing. Do what makes you happy, fish for what you want with a happy heart, and thank God for every hour on the water. Life is short.[/QUOTE]

Very well put. I only have to please my wife on earth and my father in heaven.

[Jamesdean]

I hope I never come across like that! If so, I apologize.

No Spoon, You didn't as far as I'm concerned anyway. It can get hair pullin' aggravating the way some folks talk and behave these days...

[fredo]

I hope I never come across like that!

You always come across like that. LOL

[DockShootinJack]

Well said