Elite Series pros' favorite furballs

<p>Who doesn't love snuggling up with their favorite furball? The pros of the Bassmaster Elite Series get to go home and enjoy their pooches in off-times like this one â that is, if they don't take their critters on the road with them! Also see photos of our <a href=

Who doesn’t love snuggling up with their favorite furball? The pros of the Bassmaster Elite Series get to go home and enjoy their pooches in off-times like this one â that is, if they don’t take their critters on the road with them! Also see photos of our Facebook fans’ best pups.

<p>Scott Ashmore's dogs bring him a lot of joy when he's home from tournaments. He calls Lola, the dog sitting next to him "Big Wheel," because she's so protective. Scout in the forefront is "the man" in the field. "She is a bird-hunting machine that is push-button and never runs out of gas," said Ashmore. "I am like a proud daddy at a football game when I watch her work the field."</p>

Scott Ashmore’s dogs bring him a lot of joy when he’s home from tournaments. He calls Lola, the dog sitting next to him “Big Wheel,” because she’s so protective. Scout in the forefront is “the man” in the field. “She is a bird-hunting machine that is push-button and never runs out of gas,” said Ashmore. “I am like a proud daddy at a football game when I watch her work the field.”

<p>Josh Bertrand's chihuahua, Dakota, loves to play ball, even though the ball barely fits in her mouth. "I took her fishing once," said Bertrand, "and decided she is probably better suited not to fish."</p>

Josh Bertrand’s chihuahua, Dakota, loves to play ball, even though the ball barely fits in her mouth. “I took her fishing once,” said Bertrand, “and decided she is probably better suited not to fish.”

Penny, 5, joins 2012 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brent Chapman for the occasional fishing trip.

<p>John Crews' yellow lab, Sandy (middle name: Beach!), is the greatest dog to have with small kids, said Crews. "As you can see, my daughter, Myah, is sitting on her with her Pocahontas outfit on and Sandy just loves the attention."</p>

John Crews’ yellow lab, Sandy (middle name: Beach!), is the greatest dog to have with small kids, said Crews. “As you can see, my daughter, Myah, is sitting on her with her Pocahontas outfit on and Sandy just loves the attention.”

<p>Ott DeFoe was the grand marshal of the Christmas parade in Dandridge, Tenn., last year, and his dog, Violet, rode on the front of the boat with him. She died earlier this year. "She was a great dog and fished with me a lot, even practicing for some of the Elite Series events."</p>

Ott DeFoe was the grand marshal of the Christmas parade in Dandridge, Tenn., last year, and his dog, Violet, rode on the front of the boat with him. She died earlier this year. “She was a great dog and fished with me a lot, even practicing for some of the Elite Series events.”

<p>"This is Addie in all her glory," said Kenyon Hill. "She's now spending her days with a very close friend. He was diagnosed with cancer. She's great company for him as he goes through the treatments."</p>

“This is Addie in all her glory,” said Kenyon Hill. “She’s now spending her days with a very close friend. He was diagnosed with cancer. She’s great company for him as he goes through the treatments.”

Mark Davis takes his Jack Russell, Trixie, fishing with him. The pair are often joined on the water by Davis’ sons, Fisher and Hunter.

Michael Simonton takes his dog, Brooklyn, fishing with him. “She doesn’t care much for fish I catch,” said Simonton. “She just likes to swim.”

Myrick is a traveling dog, hopping in the truck with Gerald Swindle and his wife, Le Ann, to go to Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments.

Myrick is an energetic pup but is always well-behaved at weigh-ins.

Pete is Dennis Tietje’s hunting buddy.

Dennis Tietje’s other dog, Niko, enjoys watching the activity from the bow of the boat.

<p>Boomer is Kevin Ledoux's 12-year-old shih tzu with a choke collar. "He thinks he's mean. Ha!" said Ledoux's wife, Cara. "He pouts the whole time Kevin is packing and gone for tournaments. He dreams of being a touring dog on the road."</p>

Boomer is Kevin Ledoux’s 12-year-old shih tzu with a choke collar. “He thinks he’s mean. Ha!” said Ledoux’s wife, Cara. “He pouts the whole time Kevin is packing and gone for tournaments. He dreams of being a touring dog on the road.”

Cliff Crochet has two puppies, Jack, a three-month-old golden retriever lab mix, and Hank, a 1 1/2-year-old golden retriever.

Crochet’s dog Hank sometimes likes to take the driver’s seat.

Kurt Dove and his wife, Rhonda, take their doggy, Salsa, to the beach with them.

<p>Matt Greenblatt's 10-year-old boxer, William, picked Greenblatt rather than Greenblatt picking him. "When all the other boxer pups were running around wild, William waited for them to pass and calmly laid next to Matt, and they have been together every day since," said Dianna Swanson. "You will find William on the road with Matt at each and every tournament."</p>

Matt Greenblatt’s 10-year-old boxer, William, picked Greenblatt rather than Greenblatt picking him. “When all the other boxer pups were running around wild, William waited for them to pass and calmly laid next to Matt, and they have been together every day since,” said Dianna Swanson. “You will find William on the road with Matt at each and every tournament.”

When Randy Howell spends time with his son, Laker, he includes his pooch. The family dog, Bo, travels with the Howells to tournaments in the camper.

Jared Miller named his dog Kimber after the brand of gun. “I was bass fishing on the front of the boat, and my wife was trying to hold him back and calm him down because he always gets so excited and shakes and looks like he’s going to jump off of the boat every time I make a cast and he sees the lure hit the water,” said Miller.

<p>Miller's dog, Madison, found a hiding spot at the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite. "She decided she was hot at one of the weigh-ins and walked into the grass, which I guess made her cooler," said Miller.</p>

Miller’s dog, Madison, found a hiding spot at the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite. “She decided she was hot at one of the weigh-ins and walked into the grass, which I guess made her cooler,” said Miller.

Marty Robinson’s dog, Fudge, is a Boykin Spaniel, the state dog of Robinson’s home state, South Carolina.

<p>"We can not keep Deuce out of the river behind our house," said David Walker. "He thinks he is a black lab! He also has a love/hate relationship with the UPS and FedEx drivers. If they do not bring him a bone, he will not let them through the gate!"</p>

“We can not keep Deuce out of the river behind our house,” said David Walker. “He thinks he is a black lab! He also has a love/hate relationship with the UPS and FedEx drivers. If they do not bring him a bone, he will not let them through the gate!”

<p>Ranger was at Table Rock for Casey Scanlon's Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open victory in 2009. "Ranger has been with Casey for 8 years, so he was glad Ranger was there for this big win," said Mary Kay Scanlon. "Ranger knows his fishing. He is currently in 219th place in Fantasy Fishing with 5,417 points. He gets computer assistance from a family member."</p>

Ranger was at Table Rock for Casey Scanlon’s Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open victory in 2009. “Ranger has been with Casey for 8 years, so he was glad Ranger was there for this big win,” said Mary Kay Scanlon. “Ranger knows his fishing. He is currently in 219th place in Fantasy Fishing with 5,417 points. He gets computer assistance from a family member.”

Scanlon’s sister’s dog, Nellie, is a big fan. She watches from home as Scanlon weighs in at the Bassmaster Elite Series Ramada Quest on Bull Shoals.

Jeremy Starks plays ball with his English setter, Emma, whenever he’s at home in West Virginia.

<p>Boyd Duckett spends time fishing with his dog, George, at his lakehouse. "George is my best friend and does everything with me!" said Duckett. "He goes to work with me every day and rides everywhere in the truck. The only time George doesn't get to go is to the Elite events because Trip won't let him be a Marshal!"</p>

Boyd Duckett spends time fishing with his dog, George, at his lakehouse. “George is my best friend and does everything with me!” said Duckett. “He goes to work with me every day and rides everywhere in the truck. The only time George doesn’t get to go is to the Elite events because Trip won’t let him be a Marshal!”

Alton Jones has four yellow labs: Sandy, Gracy, Baylor and Rio. “They are all bird hunters!” said Jones.

<p>Moses is Paul Elias' 130-pound Great Pyrenees. "My wife, Kristy, says he is her dog, but he pouts every time I leave because I am the only one who can handle walking him," said Elias. "I have to let Kristy know when I am coming up the drive because he starts jumping around and running in the house. Imagine that."</p>

Moses is Paul Elias’ 130-pound Great Pyrenees. “My wife, Kristy, says he is her dog, but he pouts every time I leave because I am the only one who can handle walking him,” said Elias. “I have to let Kristy know when I am coming up the drive because he starts jumping around and running in the house. Imagine that.”

Mike and Stacy McClelland take Skipper fishing and camping. “He loves to point out squirrels in the campgrounds,” said Alan McGuckin.

Skipper McClelland (kind of) helps Mike reel in a fish.

Cooper loves to spend time on the water with his dad, Keith Combs.

Baby is Keith Combs’ other dog. “Baby and Cooper love to go with me when I’m fishing around the house,” said Combs.

<p>While all the other Elite Series pros bragged about their dogs, Aaron Martens is proud of his kitty, Sarah. As Martens recently said on an episode of <em>The Bassmasters</em>, "pound for pound, cats are gnarlier than dogs." Meow.</p>

While all the other Elite Series pros bragged about their dogs, Aaron Martens is proud of his kitty, Sarah. As Martens recently said on an episode of The Bassmasters, “pound for pound, cats are gnarlier than dogs.” Meow.