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.

[Phil Lilley]

Thanks for posting.

Good question. I'd say first you need to get to know fishy people in-the-know and they need to get to know you. Look for a job in the fishing industry- may be Bass Pro. Work hard and make a good impression. Look at getting a OUPV lisc and start guiding part time. Fish some of the local tournaments, get involved in a local bass club.

I'm sure others have ideas too. This is out of my area of expertise.

[Dutch]

First and foremost you have to be a good salesman. You have to be able to sell yourself as well as your sponsor's product. If you can win some tournaments and get some local recognition, then you have the beginnings of a resume. Until someone can say, "Yes, I remember that you won such and such" you won't have much of a chance getting sponsors. Most major companies have hundreds of resumes daily. If yours isn't professionally done it will be trashed.

[Project Healing Waters]

Phil gave you good advice. Every full-time pro I know or have read about was a good amateur first. You will have to work hard toward your goal in your spare time and on your own dime before anyone takes you seriously. Also, remember that the $$$ in bass fishing is in TV and videos. LOOK NEAT AND CLEAN. Stay fit. Speak well. Have good manners and be friendly, enthusiastic, and respectful. Frankly, there are scads of folks who can catch fish. What the folks with the money and gear are looking for are the ones they can be proud to sponsor and will represent their products well.

Investing? A good used boat, a reliable truck with a camper or SUV, and CASH for travel/entry fees/incidentals. You'll have to establish a podium record at tournaments over time. You can't do that unless you fish a LOT. And DON'T GET MARRIED!

[fly2fish]

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.

You and a million other guys would like to be making a living fishing, but take a look at the guys in the top 40 of all the major tournys and it is like NASCAR the same ones week after week. Also fishing for a living may not be so fun anymore if the pressure to win becomes to much, you might end up having to catch something just to eat. Good luck, just my 2 cents worth. That was my dream when I was 22 also.

[MOFishwater]

You and a million other guys would like to be making a living fishing, but take a look at the guys in the top 40 of all the major tournys and it is like NASCAR the same ones week after week. Also fishing for a living may not be so fun anymore if the pressure to win becomes to much, you might end up having to catch something just to eat. Good luck, just my 2 cents worth. That was my dream when I was 22 also.

Agreed. I'd say try fishing some smaller local tournies to see just how much competition there REALLY is before you are even dealing w/ the big dogs. I've read a lot of books and articles from the pros, its really a struggle even for some of the big names. Non stop travel and very little free time for family and "regular" day to day life. The more I see the more I think it would not be as fun as it appears to be on the surface. Like he said above, having that much pressure on you could very easily take the fun and enjoyment out of something you enjoy as a hobby and passtime. WHen it becomes a job, its a whole new ballgame. Kind of like being a fishing guide.

[Trav]

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.

[Larry Richards]

Here are a few places to begin

http://www.fishforfree.com/

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-f...php?board=238.0

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-f...php?board=274.0

[Don House]

WOW 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

[smallmouth man]

Hey guys, Thanks so much for all this advise so quickly. I am in to local bass clubs and I study fishing as often as I can. I am finishing up a business and marketing degree. I hope that these things will all help me become a pro! If anyone out there needs to hire any help as a guide or needs help running a tackle shop, or what ever, let me know.