Who is your favorite touring professional angler?

[blakstr1]

This is a chance to list who your favorite touring professional angler currently is.. Retired guys shouldn't be included as a pick, just the guys out there doing it right now. 

Try to support your answer if you can, and what aspects of his / her fishing you try to emulate if any..  if you don't have time for that then just provide the pick..

My pick is for Kelloggs pro CLARK WENDLANDT, now I know he isn't the best guy out there, but I like the way he has fought through his horrible slump and began winning again.  It must be indredibly hard to fall as far as he did then try focus to elevate your game once again...  He is involved with charity organizations I support and he always has a smile on his face.  He is one of the most approachble anglers to the media as well.  His possitive attitude is pretty impressive and he catches fish...i don't really use any of his angling techniques but him mental preperation is what I like..

(of course KVD is incredibly high on my list too!! )

[225XS4Garza200PXL]

Art Ferguson... probably the best smallmouth fisherman on Tour...

He's not only a touring angler but a great friend of mine and I consider him my "mentor"...

Jose

[5alive]

Larry Nixon, does real well on the these northern smallies, plus one of the greatest texas rigged worm fisherman ever. I got lucky enough to draw him in a BASS Top 150 event, even though neither of us caught a fish, I got to pick his brain, and I think he has forgot more than most of us will ever know.

[joshimoto son]

The "G man" Gerald Swindle,
There isn't anyone who gets me more pumped up to get out there and keep working toward my goal.
I talked to his wife the other day trying to get a hold of him and see if he was going to be fishing the BASS Open down at Santee Cooper, and possibly see if I could set up some practice time with him.
She told me that he wouldn't be fishing that event and that he was not available at the time I called, because he was filming an episode of Bass Tech.
Then she snubbed me by saying that she would surely tell him I called and thanked me for calling and politely said good-bye without even asking for my phone number.

That was too cool!!!!

Yeah... I know I'm an idiot, but what else could I do?

Josh

[Revtro]

I got to fish with Art a few years back and had an awesome time!!!? His smallmouth skills absolutely blew me away.? I'll cherish the pictures I have from that day the rest of my life.? We got no less than 35 smallies in 2 hours.? Sevaral 5 pounders.?

As far as my overall favorite goes, I have two categories for the top guy.

First, I'd have to go with Mike Iaconelli.? I know a lot of guys hate him because of his personality, but I like the fact that "what you see is what you get" with him.? I had the chance to sit down and talk with him once and I was amazed to find that underneath the hype, he's a pretty down-to-earth guy and he took as much time as I wanted to speak with me and answer my questions.? I've met a lot of top tier pros out there and very few will take the time that Ike will take to talk to amateurs.?

His tournament persona may be a bit obnoxious, but I think he's the real deal.? He works hard and has a great research method that I try to emulate as much as possible.

My other favorite would be KVD for pure skill and success. I also had the chance to sit down with him one on one for about 10 minutes and he struggles to make conversation.? He's not the most approachable guy, but man is he a fishing genius.? I'd pay my life savings for a day on the water to learn from him.? Of course, I don't have much in the bank... but you get the idea.? He da man!

[blakstr1]

I talked to his wife the other day trying to get a hold of him and see if he was going to be fishing the BASS Open down at Santee Cooper, and possibly see if I could set up some practice time with him.
Josh

that was an awesome try..you never know what kind of response you might get (stalker)   who knows what might of happened if G answered the phone?? i think he would have been receptive...

[joshimoto son]

I can't really give out any names, but I got his number from a "friend of a friend".
(Even if I told you, I don't know if you would believe me.)

I don't want to bother anybody, but I was assured that if I had the chance to talk to
him that he would at least spend a little time and talk shop for a bit.

Man... I felt like I was back in grade school getting ready to call a girl for the first time.
It took me 15 minutes just to convince myself to call.

Oh well.

[Savage]

I gotta go with Hackney, he is just so laid back.  I bumped into him outside weigh-in after day one at the Classic.  He had just zeroed for the day, but was kind enough to allow pictures and to talk strategy for the next day.  Then he started walking down the street with us and chatting about bass fishing, on the way to his hotel.  The guy WALKED the 1/2 mile back to his hotel for crying out loud!  It was awesome out at the Classic, the guys are just EVERYWHERE and will gladly talk to you (with a few exceptions)  Edwin Evers was really cool, as was Clunn.  If you get the chance, try to make a Classic at least once!

[Savage]

Okay, I'll quit name dropping right after this, but if you get the chance to see Evers over at D&R, GO!

[MBell]

Vandam and Nixon would be near the top of my list, also like Hack and Mark Davis.  I like the guys that can do well under different conditions.  Theres more reasons than just personality to not like Ike, a lot of on the water incidents involve him. 
-Matt 

[Potter]

I will have to jump on the bandwagon and go with Hackney on this one.  Very steady, very professional.

[Hooksetter]

Tim Horton is one of my favorites. In 2001 I had the good fortune of being chosen to fish as a co-angler in the Top 150 on St. Clair. The first day I was paired with Danny White. We were heading back to Metro for weigh-in when we saw two guys standing up waving their arms. We pulled up tp find Tim Horton and his co broke down. We put Tim's fish in the livewell and headed back with all four guys at breakneck speed. We made check-in with minutes to spare.

On day two I was paired with Tim Horton. He told me his rig was fixed and that we would be headed upriver to the Fawn Island area.

We got about half way between the Algonac ramp and Fawn Island when the motor quit again. It would not fire again so he called Tripp Weldon on his cell and he sent a replacement boat to meet us at the Algonac ramp.

We were finally able to fish at about 10:30 and discovered that the boat they brought us would not get up on plane unless I was laying on the front deck.

Tim ended catching 4 keepers that and I had 2 [Including a 5 llber, sweet].

Needless to say, that is not how you want your day to go. Through it all Tim never complained, never swore, never asked why me. He was as professional as you could be. All he said was " All you can do is the best you can do with what you have to work with on any given day."

His frame of mind or his outlook never wavered. He had the same positive attitude at the end of the day as he had that morning at the ramp.

Anytime that I have problems on the water, or in my life for that matter, I always try to remember what he said.

[djkimmel]

That's the kind of story I like to hear.

I don't have a STRONG favorite, but I like Kevin's mental process and his striving for technical perfection. Plus I like the 'local boy makes it big' angle for us Michigan guys.

I've met several of the pro's who seemed personable and friendly - Jay Yelas and Mark Menendez come to mind.

[Bronzeback5LBER]

I think my favorite is Mike Iaconelli just like Revtro said I think what you see is what you get,I just like his personality.KVD is a close second because of what he has accomplished in such a short time.

[DennisB.]

Never met him but Woo Daves seems like he is a stand up guy. Also Like Nixon and Clunn.

[blakstr1]

My wife's votes are for JT Kinney and Chad Grigsby...I caught her watching them when I wasn't around....pretty boys..    Maybe she can get them to take me fishing?? 

[Skulley]

I like Larry Nixon and Kevin Van Dam.? They just impress me more than any of the other pros.? Just two real class individuals, however I could name many others that are class individuals such as O.T. Fears, Ken Cook, Peter T., Gary Klein, Rick Clunn, and the list goes on.  But Nixon and Van Dam are standouts.

BD       

[Bronzeback5LBER]

DennisB,
      You are right,Woo Daves is a class act,he is very approachable and will go out of his way to help you.

[Skulley]

Bronzeback, you are right.  Woo Daves is a class act.  How could I forget him.  Add him to my list.

BD     

[Savage]

Ol' Woo has faded from the spotlight lately, that's for sure.

How do you get a name like Woo?

Is it short for "Woo-hoo"?  He kinda does look a bit like Homer......