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Steve Kennedy Photo: B.A.S.S. James Overstreet
T
he world of tournament bass fishing is
dominated by alpha-personalities with strong
opinions and a penchant for individualism. While it pays to have friends and contacts, you can’t succeed as a
top-level angler without a strong will. You have to have an
opinion about everything,
and you have to be
convinced you’re right. No
second-guessing.
Unfortunately, that
Drew Cook
emphasis on individuality,
Photo: B.A.S.S.
when left unchecked,
can become a complete
pit of negativity. No one
complains louder than a
tournament angler who is
aggrieved…except perhaps
an aggrieved angler who
stunk up his last derby.
It infects every level
of the sport. If you’ve
been to a pre-tournament
meeting, a bass club
get-together, or on any
form of social media, you
know what I’m talking
about. Even the winners
often have something to
complain about, whether
it’s the size of their prize or
the one that got away.
We’ve heard
plenty of griping about
Livescope lately. Does
it change the nature of
the sport? Absolutely.
Should it be banned, or
its use restricted? I’m not
educated or impacted
enough to make that
call (if it’s any indication,
though, I did order it on my
new boat)
Gas prices preventing
you from competing or
making a long run? Most
of us feel the pain at the
pump, but no one can
say we’re surprised by
them. We’ve been there
before, the fluctuations
are cyclical, and if that’s
what’s preventing you from
excelling, then you need to
go into a cheaper sport –
one without travel or the
need for an $80,000 boat.
Cost of tow vehicles
too high? Steve Kennedy is
still driving his 2006 dually
and seems to be doing ok.
I’m not going to make some blanket statement about Millennials thinking they’re entitled to everything, mostly because I don’t hear these complaints from the young guns on tour. The best among them – guys like Drew Cook and
Summer 2022
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