The Northwest's Top 20 - Ranking the best bass anglers

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on March 8, 2010 at 5:14pm

I did not include any other tournament statistics because I went with tournaments that had over 75 competitors. The only ones that I did not include that had over this would be the Potholes Open and the ABA championship.
I think that everyone that fishes tournaments in this state, would agree with me is that the NW Bass circuit is the Elite circuit and where the big boys go to compete. To be honest ABA and the Federation draw as many boats as a Hawg Hunters normal club tourney. Probably 25 to 40 and 1/2 on the Sunday tournies.
So is it easier to win or do well in an ABA or Federation Tourney? I say hell yes! If you want to dispute that I am definetely ready.
As far as AOY for the ABA tournies is even easier to win then the NW Bass AOY. With even less guys fishing the whole circuit, there might only be about 10 or less teams that fish the whole circuit, so your chance are very high, and for the guys that don't like to travel and you do, even a smaller group that you have to compete against for AOY Travelers Region. Not many guys are willing to travel across the state in order to maybe win 1k bucks if they win or get big fish.

Permalink Reply by Chad Simon on March 8, 2010 at 5:17pm

I've come to the conclusion, that I would rather see a top 20 beer gut list! Why don't we just settle this next year with a 3 event format. One on the Westside, one on the river, and one on the Eastside. How about Wafish putting this circuit on??? Draw the lakes and dates out of a hat, and hope to get the permits? Of course I would eliminate dates that interfere with NWbass and the FLW in all fairness.

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on March 8, 2010 at 6:21pm

Prom queen more like it!
I agree that NW is the most competive local circuit therefore should have the most impact when ranking anglers. I like the idea about the WaFish fish off..

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on March 8, 2010 at 6:37pm

Ahh, see, I think you missed my point...there is no question that the NWBass circuit is tougher competition because of more competitors; that wasn't my point. Mike and I have won both Angler of the Year for NWBass circuit (2004, my first year) and the Championships (2006) plus we have won Northwest Bass tourneys.

My point was that there are many factors that have to be considered. There is no doubt in my mind that if a team didn't fish 3 circuits total in one year, and instead spent all those days on the same bodies of water year after year, the results would prove how well that team is on those lakes at that time. It would not likely prove much else.

Another way to illustrate my point is that if a certain team had not taken a chance and run out of gas in the Reach, I would contend they would have run away with the AOY last year for the Northwest Bass circuit. So who are the best anglers, the ones that won the title or the one's that could have or should have?

There are no right or wrong answers. There are only ego's, hurt feelings, conjecture, supposition, curiosity, etc., and every day is a different day. Yesterday as far as I know, Mike Matkowski and his 8 1/2 pound smallmouth make him the best in the Pacific Northwest!

ciao,
Marc

Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

I did not include any other tournament statistics because I went with tournaments that had over 75 competitors. The only ones that I did not include that had over this would be the Potholes Open and the ABA championship.
I think that everyone that fishes tournaments in this state, would agree with me is that the NW Bass circuit is the Elite circuit and where the big boys go to compete. To be honest ABA and the Federation draw as many boats as a Hawg Hunters normal club tourney. Probably 25 to 40 and 1/2 on the Sunday tournies.
So is it easier to win or do well in an ABA or Federation Tourney? I say hell yes! If you want to dispute that I am definetely ready.
As far as AOY for the ABA tournies is even easier to win then the NW Bass AOY. With even less guys fishing the whole circuit, there might only be about 10 or less teams that fish the whole circuit, so your chance are very high, and for the guys that don't like to travel and you do, even a smaller group that you have to compete against for AOY Travelers Region. Not many guys are willing to travel across the state in order to maybe win 1k bucks if they win or get big fish.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on March 8, 2010 at 6:39pm

I think that Joel's list will most likely be a popularity contest! I think Marc is campaigning for Prom King! J/J

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on March 8, 2010 at 7:23pm

If you have sponsorship like myself you get an automatic bid.

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on March 8, 2010 at 7:39pm

The rule is in the by laws.

Permalink Reply by Joel on March 8, 2010 at 8:04pm

Ah yes, stir up a debate on a bass site and then run off to Long Beach for a saltwater show. Heh.

Rick, you just volunteered for "board member" status on this debate. Junior, you've been elected Head of Research. Delay, go get your ex-fishing partner Landahl and you two can be heads of security.

All kidding aside, most of you have taken this in the context it was meant: to create a little thoughtful debate, and to maybe dislodge a few ideas/angles that I hadn't thought of. So far, so good. Hogue, Tag, Hobbsy, etc., thanks for throwing in with some great observations.

This won't be compiled and floated out there on a whim, I can tell y'all that much. For sure, I've spent way too much time geeking through tourney results. It's a necessary evil - they do provide some level of quantitative measure (even though, as Marc pointed out, they can be somewhat subjective, too).

Just as valuable, though, is a broader appreciation of "wild card" and "x-factor" info. For instance, when I ask Gary Dobyns or Skeet Reese or Robert Lee which anglers they know and respect in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, it's pertinent information. Hobbs will fare well in that debate.

Finding and appreciating the under-the-radar guys like Gibney (fished with him), Renaud Pelletier, Dana Steiner (5 years ago, EVERYBODY would've had Dana in their top 5), etc. matters, too.

I won't pretend it's an exact science. But, it's a science that does exactly what it's supposed to do: make people think about bass fishing. Keep thinking!

I fly out of here Wednesday for the Delta Elite. Heads up: some exclusive pre-tourney coverage coming to WAFish.

Keep casting, boys.

JS

Permalink Reply by Bill Roberts Sr on March 8, 2010 at 10:27pm

Marc, I think you really opened up a can of worms. The best angler to ever fish in this state was Paul Nixon>>>

BILL

Permalink Reply by Don Hogue on March 9, 2010 at 10:18am

Bill brings up a good point.
There is a class of anglers in the NW that has been at it a long time, and achieved a lot of success. Some of these guys had success 20+ years ago and have still had success in the last 4-5 years. I'm going to overlook a lot of names (that makes my point even better) but guys like Boyer, Pelletier, Marcantonio, Batey, Ratchford, Roberts, Krause, Adkinson, Hall, Johansen, Minderman, Steiner.... and on and on..... what about those not with us like Paul Nixon and John Lawson.... This is a "Hall of Fame" list. Honestly, I would be a little embarassed to make a list in front of these names.


Bill Roberts Sr said:

Marc, I think you really opened up a can of worms. The best angler to ever fish in this state was Paul Nixon>>>

BILL

Permalink Reply by Mike Stahlman on March 9, 2010 at 2:05pm

LMAO

Andy Smith said:

Well said Mark you should believe in yourself.

Mark Maderos said:

Ok I'll take the bait or beating. Any serious tourney angler better believe they are in the top 20 or they are just donating $$$.... So with that said, I say myself. You have to believe in yourself if your going to be sucessful. If you don't believe you can win or consistently finish near the top, to me then your wasting your $$$.
As to my list of guys
Ron Hobbs Jr
David Kromm
Aaron E
Paul Hall
Mike Wolsky
Marc Marcantonio
Mark Maderos
Don Hogue
Chris Lambert
Tag Watson, if he was still fishing tourney's he'd be winning tons of cash
Rob Flowers
Jeff Abbott
Gene Batey
Mitch Ratchford
Lippencott
Gibney
Andy Smith
C Lynch
Jim Garrett
all others

Mark

Permalink Reply by Mike Stahlman on March 9, 2010 at 2:49pm

I would like to add one name to the list of great fisherman. Dave Hendrickson

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• Next ›
• Page