A typical Lake Geneva day for Spence Petros. Photo courtesy of Steve Sarley

Who is the toughest athlete that you can think of, past or present?

In football I offer the name of Dick Butkus, legendary Bears linebacker. Baseball had Bo Jackson, who was an iron man who played both pro football and baseball.

Retired baseball player Glenallen Hill looked like the meanest man on Earth and could pound a ball as hard and far as anyone. Basketball star Dennis Rodman was as tough as they come. Sports has a lot of tough guys.

My No. 1 sports tough guy is a fisherman. Whoa, Sarley. You ask if I kid. Many will argue if fishermen are athletes or not, but that is a subject I will table for another day’s discussion.

Hall of Fame angler Spence Petros is as tough as anyone I have ever met. The first ti

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