Careers In Bass Fishing

[smallmouth man]

Hey guys, I am 22 and I really enjoy Bass fishing. It does not matter if I am Fishing a tournament or just wading for fun. All I want to do is fish. So, what can I do to have a real shot at making a living as a bass fisherman? How do pros starting off get sponsers and how do you invest in a career like this w/o blowing your money? I am for real. I know I can catch fish. I just dont know how to make a living at it.

[lakrat]

find a bass club to start some small tournament expierence, if you like the tourny expierence then try some pro am style tournys as a non boater. Buy a boat and start fishing as a boater, If you can win some tournys and make some championships, you will be well on your way. Getting sponsors used to be all about winning or consistently placing high it the tournaments. That still helps alot, but you need to be a great communicator and professional when you get on stage. good luck

[MOFishwater]

bassmaster.com

So You Want a Sponsor?

Part 1 of 3

By Ed Harp

(Archive)

Updated: May 13, 2008, 10:37 AM ET

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A strong sponsorship candidate should give an intelligent and articulate interview, being able to answer the same question over and over as if it's the first time it's ever been asked.

Every pro angler, or aspiring pro, needs sponsors. But not every sponsor is created equal. Some are top shelf, others bargain basement; some offer product only, others pay cash. Those are the ones worth pursuing.

In this 3-part series we'll look at how the top companies select their paid pro staff positions. Part 1 will detail a lure company, Part 2 will detail a boat company, and Part 3 will do the same with a nonendemic company. Each featured company is a top shelf mainstay of our industry.

Part 1: Strike King Lure Company

"I want the next angler who'll give Kevin VanDam a run for his money — on and off the water," summarizes Strike King Marketing Manager Chris Brown.

"Out first consideration is fishing ability," says Strike King Marketing Manager Chris Brown. "If you aren't fishing after the last cut, and catching fish on a consistent basis, no one will be interviewing you. We want our paid pro staffers out front, in the media. Catching fish is the only way they can do that over the long-run."

He continues to say, however, that catching bass is only the first step in the process. The second step is marketing ability.

Brown describes that as being an intelligent and articulate interview, being able to answer the same question over and over as if it's the first time it's ever been asked and being cheerful after a tough, disappointing loss. It's also about manners, courtesy, personal grooming and appropriate attire.

"Our anglers are expected to be professional. That means using correct grammar, using clean language and answering questions honestly and accurately while promoting our products whenever possible. And, we expect them to look the part. That means being well groomed and wearing clean clothes. They should be ready for media photos whenever possible.

"And, anglers should know that marketing ability will go a long way toward making up for lesser fishing skills, a bad tournament or a bad season. Marketing ability is very important."

Third, Brown wants anglers with character. Character means being professional and moral in private as well as in public. He selects anglers who are trustworthy, reliable, honest and carry solid reputations in the community. Others need not apply.

Fourth, he looks for anglers who understand the business — and know that this is a business.

"I want anglers who know about our products, what they'll do and what they won't do. I also want them to know about our competition. If there's a better product out there we want to know why and how to make ours better. We want reliable, business savvy feedback from our pros.

Finally, he looks for anglers who fit with the team.

"We ask just about everyone about an angler before we talk to them about possibly joining our national pro staff. I want to know what the other anglers think about them, what writers and fishing communicators think about them, and what retailers think about them.

"And, we want to know that they want to fish with, and for, Strike King. I'm not looking for someone who wants a paycheck. I can find that angler anywhere. I want someone who truly believes in our products and wants to improve himself or herself and Strike King. Then we'll talk about a paycheck."

To fully appreciate what the Strike King Lure Company looks for when selecting a national pro staffer consider how he summarizes his own standards. "I want the next angler who'll give Kevin VanDam a run for his money — on and off the water."

[Trav]

How many times is this subject going to be brought up?

I think there are at least 4 threads discussing this within the last 6 months.

Try reading some back threads. You will find the info your looking for.

[Chief Grey Bear]

".....Brown describes that as being an intelligent and articulate interview, being able to answer the same question over and over as if it's the first time it's ever been asked and being cheerful after a tough, disappointing loss. It's also about manners, courtesy, personal grooming and appropriate attire."

I think you may have missed this part.

[Trav]

I think that if it is a necessary task it could just as easily be "copy" and "pasted".

Just a snippet from the same Topic , Placed by the Same Member, On the Same day in a different OAF Forumn.

As a "been-there", I can say that it has alot to do with whom your associated with, and whom you know, than as it does with talent. It is a popularity thing ultimateley. You cant manage a living without sponsors and you cant get sponsors unless you can sell thier product. Wich requires name recognition for the most part. That requires social buzz through your fellow competitors. Wich as Dutch says, selling yourself, to accomplish a good standing amongst your peers.

Talent is a very small part of it. I have talent and almost a decade of experiance doing guide work. I even have tourney Admin experiance and competed/participated in hundreds of tourneys with a 70 percent top 3 finish ratio. But when I went pro I lost the farm. Nobody offered me any sponsorship so when my well went dry, I was done. My failure was totally based on the fact that I am an isolationist and dont socialize. Nor do I "brown nose" to crawl a pedistal of exceptance. My personality is there but not on the surface. And I naively assumed that actions spoke louder than words.

Search out some of the previous threads that are here on OAF about working in the industry. There is quite abit said on this topic.

Not trying to discourage anyone, just laying down some of the sad hard realities of business.

Its very clichish and nepitism is rampant. Its a dog eat dog business and if you arent in bed with a pack, then your wearing the pork chop earings.

DonWOW this one hits home for me... I spent many years fishing the local and club events, did ok made some money, but nothing like I really needed to make it. Spent way to much time away from my wife and girls! So I decided to take this to another level and try guiding for a living. It has been hard and still is, but I love it, and my wife loves to see me happy so she puts up with it also. I did some things that most people did not understand for the first three years of guiding, had to stay behind in the shadows of other people and try to learn the in's and outs of guiding, but the stubborn side of me wanted to make it on my own, Well this is my first year on my own, I'm working and paying the bills, well almost if you talk to my wife of 24 years. These things I did I knew would pay off for me in the long run, I just had to deal with it and put in my time. I had to give up fishing tournaments and save my money to make this work. I did and I do miss it alot, but I know will get back into it here really soon.

Finding real sponsorships was the challenge, I knew that someone was not just going to handout anything, I had to bust my rear end to get it. So I did, I spent the last 4 years working every sport show I could during the winter, I was gone about 2 months straight every year, and alot of this was for free. But I learned one thing, it's not how good you can fish it's how good you can sell and promote their products and the fishing well that was just icing on the cake.

By attending all of these sport shows I was able to meet some really great people in the business to help me fine tune my presentation and skills and believe me I'm still learning to this day. I was lucky and was able to meet a great gentlemen by the name of James Grandt he owns a company called Grandt Rods, a multi million dollar rod company in Chi-town IL. Mr. Grandt taught me alot of the skills I have today. He taught me how to talk with possible sponsors and how to show them you can make a impact on there bottom line and when a Multi-Millionaire takes the time to talk with you man you listen to every word, and that was my lucky break.

I was able to work hard and obtain my first really good sponsorship with Grandt Rods and then after some really even harder work I was able to meet with G3 Boats in Lebanon Missouri. Months went by working with the Marketing Director of G3 Boats trying to sell them on the ideal that a guide could help promote and sell there product all over the US. My Business plan and marketing plan was based on the ideal that a guide could place their product in front of 1000's of prospective buyers every year here in Branson Missouri and all over the US.

Well after alot of long sleepless nights and many days thinking it was not going to work, it finally fell together I had a really big sponsorship, a real boat deal with a major boat manufacture. I was in the position to start my own company. I've had to teach myself how to market myself and my company via web site presents, had to teach myself how to do that also, because I could not afford to have one built for me. There is alot of beating on doors and taking alot of "NO" we are not interested! But I stuck with it and kept moving forward, believe me I have made alot of mistakes and have learned from everyone of them and I know I'm not out of the woods yet. But I know I'm on the right path now and the phone is ringing everyday.

So if you are really interested in making this a real job, here is what to keep in mind.

1) Start small, work your way up, don't try to hit that home run right off the bat.

2) Ask questions and Ask for help from anyone that will help you.

3) Don't be afraid to knock on doors. Meet as many people as you can.

4) Understand Business if you don't then read everything you can find!

5) A good Resume and Business plan goes a long way.

6) Don't do stupid things, think before you act, and if you do make a mistake fix it and learn from it. "Phil Lilley knows what I'm talking about on that one, that was one of my not to forget mistakes!"

7) If you fall get back up and try again " Never say Never"

8) Make this a fun job, and if it get to the point were it is no fun then remember where you came from and what you used to do!

9) And last but not least work hard then work even harder! I spend more time now working then I ever had before, is it worth it Hell YES.

Hope this helps some, sorry if I rambled on but it really hit home with me and everything I have been through to get were I'm at today.

Good Fishing Everyone

Capt. Don House

Trav

Capt Don

Number 8 is exactly why I dont do the tourney thing anymore. And after almost a decade of being a guide and catering to others I had almost lost all drive for the fun of the sport. I finally had to just get selfish and start thinking of what I wanted instead of servicing or competing. It is very important not to lose grip of the fact that it is a pleasure sport and not get wrapped up with treating it like an industry.

Doesnt matter what you do for a living. When your zeal becomes your job, it can quickly turn into a grind. If you dont keep open your perspective as to why you jumped into it from the start, and hang on to that, your favorite hobby can quickly be something you "have" to do other than what you "want" to do.

[Phish Phoster]

If you want to make a living actually fishing, that's one thing; but if you are interested in making a living in the fishing community, there are many less risky ways to do that than tournament fishing. Work on getting a job with BASS or FLW. Get a degree in fish and wildlife or biology and work with the DNR. You can get an advanced degree with what it costs in entry fees alone at the BASS Elite level. Add in travel expenses and you could get two. My point is that there are many ways to work in the industry without having to starve, and unless you can consistently win tournaments at the local level, or place in the top 5 at the big tourneys...well.... If you're good, you're a dime a dozen. You have to be outstanding to phenomenal to make a living as a pro fisherman. MOST of the guys on the Elite Series break even or lose money.

[Stoneroller]

go to college and get a degree in fisheries biology, zoology specializing in ichthyology, or general biology.

[fishinwrench]

Your biggest expense is obviously gonna be your boat.

If you just bought a fresh rig, insured it to the hilt, and are stressing over shelling out 300.00 every 4 months for fresh batterys, or replacing a 700.00 trolling motor once or twice a year is gonna worry you..... just forget it.

The expenses even if you get lucky and don't blow a powerhead in your first couple of years are outlandish.

You are going to wear out lots of equipment WAY SOONER than you can even imagine, and there will be no sponsors to help with any of that for quite some time. Having your boat/motor covered under warranty just means that your down time will be longer when a component fails.

In this day and age you are gonna need good credit, a new boat, a fresh truck, a rich daddy, and friends in all the right places. Otherwise you'll be worrying too much and won't be able to concentrate on your fishing like you need to.

[Justin Spencer]

go to college and get a degree in fisheries biology, zoology specializing in ichthyology, or general biology.

Good advice, probably will spend the same amount of money on college as you would trying to tournament fish, and have something to show for it in the end. This is what I did and worked for a decade or so in fisheries before becoming a canoe hauler for a living. Once you have a "real job" for a while, get some credit built up then you can pursue your dreams. Most of us on this forum probably wish we could fish for a living, but I think the luster would wear off after a few years of struggling. I have no first hand knowlegde of successful tournament fishermen, but I bet most of their money comes from the sponsorships they get from being good speakers, putting on workshops, and selling product. Sure, they have to be good at catching fish, but thousands of people can do that, not everyone is a good salesman.

Now I'm going to take my sore body out and lift a few more canoes. Be careful what you wish for!