BassBlaster

VIDEO: Ish Talks Info

When we asked Ish Monroe about what a performance enhancing drug for fishing would do (watch that video, here), he replied: “There’s already one on the market. It’s called a cell phone.”

It was an intriguing answer, and a pretty bold statement. Some folks have asked if Ish was joking when he said that. He wasn’t.

We followed that question up by asking Ish to expound on his cell phone comment and talk about how he feels about pros attaining information form outside sources before tournaments. Here’s what he had to say.

Sponsors helping with gathering information? Cell phones and computers monitored? Full-field polygraphs? Pretty serious stuff from Ish.

How tour-level pros go about gathering information prior to events is a topic that’s been getting a lot of attention in our sport over the past few years, and especially lately in the wake of Boyd Duckett’s blog-based info grab prior to the Bassmaster Classic (and Kevin Short’s public retort).

Here’s the deal: computers, cell phones and GPS units aren’t going anywhere. It’s never been easier to share information and it’s getting even easier as technology advances. How B.A.S.S., FLW and the pros on both tours handle the issue of information sharing will be interesting to watch. This is just my opinion, but it seems like this issue is coming to a head and sooner or later it’s going to have to be dealt with by either declaring an info free-for-all or cracking down with a stricter policy. Hit me with your thoughts in the comments section.

(A little context for you. Ish brought up Aaron Martens and says he’s one of the guys who doesn’t get help or make phone calls to find fish. We asked Ish this question on the second day of the 2011 Bassmaster Classic when Martens was still leading the event with Scott Rook and Kevin VanDam trailing close behind. – Ed.)

And if you haven’t already heard, Ish is working with Team Bass ADX, a clothing line for bass heads like us. He says the line has something for everybody—whether you’re a guy that likes edgy graffiti artwork or “just a bass and a compass.” Check out the full line at www.TeamBassADX.com.

I'm diggin' this hoodie from Team Bass ADX at BassTackleDepot.com.

 

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. BryanT

    March 3, 2011 at 3:22 pm

    Who cares. I know of quite a few guys that hired Charlie Harralson on Falcon then bombed. Plus you still have to put that rod and reel in your hand and catch them. Fish move a lot in the spring and fall also. I don’t see a problem with information gathering as long as it is within the rules of the governing body.

    • Dave

      March 3, 2011 at 3:54 pm

      I don’t see an issue with information gathering. What I do have an issue with is sponsors, like BPS, gathering that information and then handing it over to only a select few anglers. The requirement should be that ALL information gathered for a certain body of water or tournament MUST be generated by the angler and NOT come from a sponsor who may have multiple people working on it.

  2. Chad Keogh

    March 4, 2011 at 8:07 am

    I think the no information rule is unenforceable, and therefore worthless. They should just let the anglers get information where and how they want to, and focus on rules that are enforceable.

    The top guys always say they don’t like to get any info because it can taint how they approach the water body. Look at Skeet Reese who typically starts out slow in a tournament, but as the days pass, he figures out what the fish want.

    And a guy like KVD said that he fishes differently than everybody else (well Duh…) so getting information would be pointless.

  3. Boar Hog

    March 6, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    I’m not sure any kind of “crackdown” on cell phones or any other kind of information sharing/gathering device is enforceable. Since some of the best sticks in the business don’t seem to do it, why would we need any restrictions?

    If a sponsor is willing to spend the money to gather information on behalf of an angler, how would you ever regulate that? Personally, I don’t believe for a minute that would ever actually happen, anyway.

  4. Otey McCloy

    March 10, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    If you ban info, then the one’s who call that lake home will have an advantage over everyone, like Tommy Biffle.
    I do think a public info board or report has merit. You could gather as much info as you want, then it has to be posted on a public board for the rest of the field to see. Then every contestant could look over the board and use what they thought was good.

  5. NJV

    August 5, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    I believe that the sponsors should not be allowed to supply info to their Pros. It keeps the playing field level for the guys on the tour that don’t have the heavy weight sponsors. Any info gathered should be the responsibility of the angler and only the angler.

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