Could I Get Sponsored? 2024
bassdisaster reply :
First off I am 19 years old and thinking about soliciting sponsors. I fish locally and regionally with lots of success locally. I have a large network of fisherman in my area, have 3 different social media pages, know tackle shop owners, etc.. I believe hard work reaps great rewards, so I am not just looking to wear a shirt and get free products. I believe I can be a great promotional asset to a company. I am also not looking for a big deal, maybe just some help on baits and stuff of that sort.
Is it possible in my current situation?
Tony L. reply :
I can't say that this is my area of expertise, but I do have a few thoughts---- for what they are worth.
It seems that you'd want to started by fishing (and doing well in) some small area tournaments or joining a bass fishing club. Sponsors tend to support tournament anglers and teams as opposed to recreational fishermen because they aren't supporting your hobby so much as advertising their brand. The better their angler or organization is, the more fame and popularity they have, the more it gets the sponsor's name out to the public---and the more people will want their businesses to be associated with that person or club.
Tournaments and clubs are about as public as the sport can get and therefore the most logical place that businesses would want to spend their advertising dollars. To take that next step, you would need a way to prove to the world that you are a good fisherman and that you or your organization will be a worthy investment that will bring them business. That is done by joining an established club or proving yourself in tournaments.
That would take a LOT of hard work and dedication, but is the route you need to go if you are looking to get a sponsor.
roadwarrior reply :
http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Bagwell/how-to-get-sponsors.html
bassdisaster reply :
I guess when I said regionally and locally you didn't realize I meant in tournaments. Lol why would I want sponsors if I wasn't fishing competitively..? I fish club tourneys too but pretty much dominate, and the bigger locals I'm usually in the top 10. So I'm wanting to move up to BFLs and bass opens possibly. Sorry for the confusion.
bassdisaster reply :
And if anybody happens to see this that would like give me a chance at promoting your company for a few baits here and there or something like that, please feel free to message me. I am a very enthusiastic and knowledgable person, especially when it comes to fishing tackle.
Thanks, Brett
gardnerjigman reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 7:34 PM, roadwarrior said:http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Bagwell/how-to-get-sponsors.html
X1000000000000
Read, think about it, re-read, think about it some more and finally read one last time... come up with a plan, and set it in action. Fish hard, work hard, be a good person, and let them get and interest in you (give them a reason).
Choporoz reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 7:34 PM, roadwarrior said:http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Bagwell/how-to-get-sponsors.html
What a great article! I hadn't seen it before because I've never had any interest in sponsorship, but it should be mandatory reading for anyone before posting a thread about sponsorships.
bassdisaster reply :
I have spent hours reading all the sponsorship articles multiple times. This wasn't a resume or asking for a sponsor. I have a good idea of how to write a sponsor resume and all that good stuff I was just asking if you guys think it can happen given the limited info I have given. From what I've seen all these young kids getting sponsored that don't even have a boat, don't fish tournaments, only fish in ponds, the only tool they have to promote is their tiny youtube channel. Why would a sponsor choose a 13 year old pond hopper with a very small youtube channel, over somebody like me who fishes competitively with success, and is willing to work hard to promote their company in an effective and mature way?
gardnerjigman reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 9:47 PM, bassdisaster said:And if anybody happens to see this that would like give me a chance at promoting your company for a few baits here and there or something like that, please feel free to message me. I am a very enthusiastic and knowledgable person, especially when it comes to fishing tackle.
Thanks, Brett
This can be viewed as an ask... so just be careful how you word things so people don't get confused.
On 3/12/2015 at 10:48 PM, bassdisaster said:From what I've seen all these young kids getting sponsored that don't even have a boat, don't fish tournaments, only fish in ponds, the only tool they have to promote is their tiny youtube channel. Why would a sponsor choose a 13 year old pond hopper with a very small youtube channel, over somebody like me who fishes competitively with success, and is willing to work hard to promote their company in an effective and mature way?
I don't think this is happening...
bassdisaster reply :
Gardnerjigman you are right about that post saying I was asking, sorry about that. I was specifically referring to the first post that was not a resume by any means. And about the 13 year old pond hoppers just go to youtube they are PLENTIFUL, but let's not argue over this. I don't understand all the negativity though, if I want to work hard to promote a company and what I would be receiving would cost the company little to nothing, what is so bad about that? The "sponsorship" section on br is by far the most negative I have ever seen.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 11:09 PM, bassdisaster said:Gardnerjigman you are right about that post saying I was asking, sorry about that. I was specifically referring to the first post that was not a resume by any means. And about the 13 year old pond hoppers just go to youtube they are PLENTIFUL, but let's not argue over this. I don't understand all the negativity though, if I want to work hard to promote a company and what I would be receiving would cost the company little to nothing, what is so bad about that? The "sponsorship" section on br is by far the most negative I have ever seen.
Just because they scroll some adds on their youtube videos doesn't make them sponsored. I have a jersery (from BR) that has about 14 different companies on it, I'm sponsored by none of them.
We aren't being negative, we are trying to give you constructive criticism. Understanding the difference between the two is very important. What we are saying is that (insert name here) company get's hundreds and possibly thousands of sponsorship letters, request, whatever you want to call it a year. You want to go in with your ducks in a row. You are trying to get into something that probably 95% of the other anglers are trying at as well... that's pretty prestigious... so far you aren't showing any more ambition than the kid down the street that works at Mcdonalds.
You may be a great angler, you may be a wiz at marketing, and might even be able to brain wash thousands into buying product, BUT, you aren't showing that.
Put something together, (exactly what you would send a company) outline what you can do for them and have evidence to back it up. Then come back for advice.
Again, this isn't being negative, I truly hope you can make it, and at your age, you have a better shot than most of us by having the opportunity to go to a college with a fishing team and starting there.
bassdisaster reply :
Well seriously thanks for the advice. And about the whole negative thing I'm probably just too sensitive to negativity from being around it constantly in my personal life. Anyways, thanks for the kick in the butt.
gardnerjigman reply :
Good luck to you.
J Francho reply :
Why do you need a sponsorship?
Tony L. reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 8:48 PM, bassdisaster said:I guess when I said regionally and locally you didn't realize I meant in tournaments. Lol why would I want sponsors if I wasn't fishing competitively..? I fish club tourneys too but pretty much dominate, and the bigger locals I'm usually in the top 10. So I'm wanting to move up to BFLs and bass opens possibly. Sorry for the confusion.
Haha.... Well I shoulda known that you were already doing tournaments when you said "locally and regionally". At 19, you're already lightyears ahead of the game and way beyond what I know how to do. Glad that some others here were able to give you some more advanced advice to get things headed in the right direction. Good luck to ya!
Matthew2000 reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 11:32 PM, bassdisaster said:Well seriously thanks for the advice. And about the whole negative thing I'm probably just too sensitive to negativity from being around it constantly in my personal life. Anyways, thanks for the kick in the butt.
No one is going to sponsor you with that attitude.
HardcoreBassin reply :
I have ZERO experience with sponsorship, but I have tons of experience with sales. What is the hardest part about making a sale? Asking for the sale...
What I'm saying is, if you want a sponsor, ask for one. The worst that can happen is that they say no...
- Dale
slonezp reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 11:42 PM, J Francho said:Why do you need a sponsorship?
Didn't you read? He wants free stuff.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 6:01 AM, HardcoreBassin said:I have ZERO experience with sponsorship, but I have tons of experience with sales. What is the hardest part about making a sale? Asking for the sale...
What I'm saying is, if you want a sponsor, ask for one. The worst that can happen is that they say no...
- Dale
I agree with you to an extent, actually, I'll say I agree with you on sales of product. HOWEVER, he is trying to sell himself to these companies, and just asking isn't the answer.
You have an endless supply of customers to push product towards, however, the companies to sponsor anglers are numbered...
J Francho reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 6:50 AM, slonezp said:Didn't you read? He wants free stuff.
I more interested in why he needs it, not what he wants. There's a difference. Everybody wants free stuff. That's what the lotto is for.
corn-on-the-rob reply :
On a side note, Having realistic expectations can really pave the way for a successful career. If a sponsor gives you 10% off their products that is a great start, don't take it as an insult. Some might even start you at 20%, maybe much larger but very few if any at all will give you extreme discounts or free product sufficient enough for supporting tournament fishing. The 13 year old who gets one bag of sample baits because he said he was gonna review them on youtube is hardly what we (you) are trying to accomplish here.
The key here is to establish yourself with these companies and prove you are of value. Heck, if you really like a company and they won't outright sponsor you, ask if you can put their logo on your jersey because you truly like/use their product and maybe in a year they might start something official. After concurrent seasons of success and the proven ability to promote the companies products sufficiently, your sponsor might increase your discounts and may start to offer free product.
Get the resume done, get it reviewed, then get it reviewed again (preferably by someone experience in either writing or the targeted field). Pick out a long list of companies you would like to be sponsored by in order of desire. I would strongly suggest looking at more local places because the big names flat out don't sponsor much except the pros and if they do sponsor you, it would likely be for extremely little return. The local companies are looking for the support and looking to support young/locals.
Now go talk to these places individually in order. If you can't talk to someone in person, call them. If you can't do either THEN email them. Try to make the contact as personal as possible, don't just send out an automated email to every company. This will increase your odds tenfold. Don't be forgettable, but don't be imposing or cocky.
Just like others have mentioned, for some reason getting sponsored is the young angler's crutch, everyone wants them, and honestly all but a few are qualified. Now you have given me enough information such that I feel that you would be successful in acquiring a decent handful of sponsors, but I do stress doing it locally and to expect minimal return initially.
*commenting on the "negativity": Understand that like I mentioned above, there are tons of really young anglers that pop on this website and ask about sponsorship and are generally over their heads and are quite annoying. Some of the members come into this thread with a bit of negativity/condescension because their experience tells them it's just another one of those threads. That being said, though much of the info on here comes off as slightly harsh criticism, it is the most effective way to communicate with you, all with the intention to help you and see you succeed.
*Now some mentioned your negativity, even though it was not extreme, your prose did indicate it. This is important because even if only a glimmer of negativity, some of the guys that read this public thread probably thought to themselves "I wouldn't sponsor this kid" and it is important to note: You came to us regarding professional matters, so in turn, you should do your absolute best to treat this as professionally as possible. It is a skill to turn off the negativity button but it is a must for professionalism. This includes when people do say something stupid or mean, don't engage them if possible and if you have to, pretend everyone you talk to is your boss. Remember, you are representing yourself in public at all times, don't give anyone any reason to doubt you.
corn-on-the-rob reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 10:07 AM, J Francho said:I more interested in why he needs it, not what he wants. There's a difference. Everybody wants free stuff. That's what the lotto is for.
Am I missing something? I re-read and did not see anywhere where he mentions "needing" them. (I may have missed it, if so point it out) 
J Francho reply :
So, this is about getting tackle at a discount? Not worth the effort and your integrity at this stage of the game.
J Francho reply :
It's my question. Why does he need to be sponsored?
corn-on-the-rob reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 10:18 AM, J Francho said:It's my question. Why does he need to be sponsored?
oh okay, you had made the distinction between "want vs need" clear, so I figured he had said it.
Sure he doesn't need to, no one does, but a young person (likely in college) getting even minor financial support to do something he is passionate about is hardly a negative in my book, Let alone a shot to one's integrity.
J Francho reply :
No, there are circumstances when sponsorship is necessary. Did you read JT's article? I'm curious, is he looking to just get cheap baits, or is he interested in seeing this through.
corn-on-the-rob reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 10:28 AM, J Francho said:No, there are circumstances when sponsorship is necessary. Did you read JT's article? I'm curious, is he looking to just get cheap baits, or is he interested in seeing this through.
When are they necessary? (honest question)
I guess we will have to find out, but I'd rather give him the benefit of the doubt and try to help him as much as possible.
J Francho reply :
Do you think most rookie Elite pros just come up with the half million in expenses for a year on the tour? Sponsors handle that. Just curious what the purpose is.
slonezp reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 10:13 AM, corn-on-the-rob said:Am I missing something? I re-read and did not see anywhere where he mentions "needing" them. (I may have missed it, if so point it out)
What's the difference if he wants or needs it. He is asking for it and not working for it. Maybe a better approach would be to "work for free" as you suggested in your second paragraph. As they say the proof is in the pudding.
corn-on-the-rob reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 11:05 AM, J Francho said:Do you think most rookie Elite pros just come up with the half million in expenses for a year on the tour? Sponsors handle that. Just curious what the purpose is.
Gotcha, well I was going along the lines of need meaning fishing competitively in the first place was necessary, but yea it is quite expensive at that level.
J Francho reply :
You don't need sponsors to fish competitively, and you also don't need to fish competitively to get sponsors.
buzzed bait reply :
get out there and "dominate" the BFLs and opens as you say you do locally and the available/wanting sponsors will find you.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 10:30 PM, buzzed bait said:get out there and "dominate" the BFLs and opens as you say you do locally and the available/wanting sponsors will find you.
X2
JT Bagwell reply :
I always enjoy reading these threads in the morning.
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 11:25 PM, gardnerjigman said:Just because they scroll some adds on their youtube videos doesn't make them sponsored. I have a jersery (from BR) that has about 14 different companies on it, I'm sponsored by none of them.
Tackle companies love this.
To the OP, let your results show what you're worth. Getting noticed through your performance is a high compliment, strive for that. Also, IMO, "a few baits here and there" and the word "sponsorship" do not belong in the same sentence.
Keep fishing. Keep getting better. Work on your interpersonal skills. Eat your vitamins and say your prayers. (I grew up with Hulk Hogan LOL)
bassdisaster reply :
Just thought I would reply, I still don't understand the negative comments. If I want to work hard for a company to get a very small amount of baits for free and a discount, what is wrong with that? You say I'm only asking because I want free stuff but the way I see it, when you have a job you get payed right? And when you get paid, you get paid in cash, so are you just in it for the money? Of course you are, you are working for some sort of payment, and that is what I want out of a sponsor. A mutually beneficial partnership.
J Francho reply :
They aren't negative, they're comments meant to deflate your ego. You aren't that good yet, and you aren't that valuable to a company yet. Kids pimping products at shows tends to repel mature customers with money in their wallet. It isn't meant to be negative, it's just a fact of life. You have to earn it, and you haven't yet.
HookdUP reply :
I feel bad for this kid ... Classic young bull old bull scenerio .... He probably did embellish on how he does in tournaments but sheesh .... It's like some of the guys here wanted to take out lost dreams of their own sponsorship on him .... Best thing I did to get any form of a sponsorship was hang around those who did have them or were reps ... I had to shine shoes so to speak in the beginning ... Do all of the things the reps etc didn't wanna do but had to to maintain there sponsorship ... The best thing for me at the time was I could buy some things discounted through those friends and still do ... Get every American shimano for half off that I want a few times a year ... I don't see any reason why you can't get there but be concerned with getting there and everything else will come to you... Kinda how the young guys are focused on getting ***** instead of money not understanding that if you get money you'll have everything else and not have to look for it .... Fish great and don't lose the good ones that bite ... Always doing that will get you everything and you'll never have to worry about it either
Starchalopakis reply :
On 4/1/2015 at 6:15 AM, HookdUP said:Best thing I did to get any form of a sponsorship was hang around those who did have them or were reps .
Although I am not a sponsored fisherman and most likely never will be, this advice is priceless no matter what kind of job or career you are pursuing. Hang around the guys who have already "made it" so to speak in the world of sponsored fishing, and learn everything you can from them.
slonezp reply :
On 4/1/2015 at 6:15 AM, HookdUP said:I feel bad for this kid ... Classic young bull old bull scenerio .... He probably did embellish on how he does in tournaments but sheesh .... It's like some of the guys here wanted to take out lost dreams of their own sponsorship on him .... Best thing I did to get any form of a sponsorship was hang around those who did have them or were reps ... I had to shine shoes so to speak in the beginning ... Do all of the things the reps etc didn't wanna do but had to to maintain there sponsorship ... The best thing for me at the time was I could buy some things discounted through those friends and still do ... Get every American shimano for half off that I want a few times a year ... I don't see any reason why you can't get there but be concerned with getting there and everything else will come to you... Kinda how the young guys are focused on getting ***** instead of money not understanding that if you get money you'll have everything else and not have to look for it .... Fish great and don't lose the good ones that bite ... Always doing that will get you everything and you'll never have to worry about it either
Why do you feel bad for him? Maybe a better approach for him would have been not ask for "free stuff" There is no mention in the OP of seeking sponsorship with local businesses. These types of sponsorships may be more beneficial to him than So and So's bait company. More than likely they have more money to spend on advertising. I'd much rather have some of my entry fees paid for than some jigs at 1/2 price. Invite the business owner to the weigh in. When "Joe business owner" sees his company name on the side of a boat and on the fisherman's jersey and he sees how the fisherman interacts with his peers, he thinks money well spent. I wonder why the young guys get caught up in the bait and tackle sponsors. Who do you think is paying this guys way? You think he's getting paid with Frosted Flakes?
J Francho reply :
I'd fish for frosted flakes. They're great!
HookdUP reply :
I felt bad for him because I remember being young and confident ... Like a baby whos never fell so he will jump from any height ... ... We all do ....
gulfcaptain reply :
If it were me back when I was 19 with the options now, this is what I would do. I would look into a college with a fishing team. I'd start there, represent my school, get a "marketing degree" while fishing my way through college. This will get you to the next steps below.
Once in college and on the fishing team in the pursuit of your fishing career, look for businesses to sponsor your team. This will get you in the door. Good team results would lend to possibly helping you in some other events as an individual. Build those relationships and partnerships with those companies. If you're successful in the college tour, this could get you in the door to the Forest Wood Cup and national attention on a big stage to show your stuff. You finish in the top 10 there, then the bigger guys are going to find you. And then not only will you have the fishing skills but also the college degree and marketing skills those bigger companies will be looking for.
One more bit of advice, be HUMBLE....confidence is great, cocky is not. At 19 it's though to tell the difference at that age. I learned the hard way in the charter fishing business. Being young and knowing what was going on didn't always translate to the passengers. I had to learn how to be more of a people person and do it in a teaching way. Guys that are in their 40's and 50's who have been fishing longer then I had been alive didn't want to hear a cocky 19 yr old kid tell them what to do. I had to humble myself down and approach it differently which then helped me become more professional and successful. Good luck on your path. I hope you hit the goal you are wanting. But you have A LOT of hard work in front of you first.
JT Bagwell reply :
On 4/1/2015 at 8:49 AM, J Francho said:I'd fish for frosted flakes. They're great!
I am seriously eating Frosted Flakes while reading this. lol
gulfcaptain reply :
On 4/1/2015 at 5:46 PM, JT Bagwell said:I am seriously eating Frosted Flakes while reading this. lol
I'm having Captain Crunch Berries. But Frosted Flakes are good too.
Rented Mule reply :
Here's some more advice. As far as looking into a college that has a fishing team, personally, I think that's silly. College is a huge step as far as financial & time considerations, pick a college based on what will carry you through life , not fishing. If the college has a fishing team , great, but it would be the last criteria on my list as far as choosing a school.
And as far as a " marketing degree", try googling the ten worst college degrees, and I'm sure marketing will be ranked right up there with Art History, Communications, Journalism, and religious studies or " sports medicine". You'll be fishing after college all right, but probably because you'll have a lot of spare time on your hands, & it'll probably be from the bank in a pair of leaky waders in the evenings, ' cause during the day, you'll be working at McDonalds.
If your going to go to college, go for petro / chem engineering, mathematics, electrical engineering/ bio-medical, software engineering or something along those lines where you can command close to 6 figures when graduating.
Then you can buy a big shiny boat and all the baits you want. You won't need any sponsors
I'm more than familiar with kids graduating with worthless degrees. I've got a family full of them.
etommy28 reply :
why are you telling some one what to study? I have a Degree in Communications, a minor in marketing and a masters in public admin. I also have a full time job i like very much...... doing none of the three.
J Francho reply :
I'm a software engineer. My schooling background was in fish farming, lol.
gulfcaptain reply :
On 4/2/2015 at 6:43 PM, Rented Mule said:Here's some more advice. As far as looking into a college that has a fishing team, personally, I think that's silly. College is a huge step as far as financial & time considerations, pick a college based on what will carry you through life , not fishing. If the college has a fishing team , great, but it would be the last criteria on my list as far as choosing a school.
And as far as a " marketing degree", try googling the ten worst college degrees, and I'm sure marketing will be ranked right up there with Art History, Communications, Journalism, and religious studies or " sports medicine". You'll be fishing after college all right, but probably because you'll have a lot of spare time on your hands, & it'll probably be from the bank in a pair of leaky waders in the evenings, ' cause during the day, you'll be working at McDonalds.
If your going to go to college, go for petro / chem engineering, mathematics, electrical engineering/ bio-medical, software engineering or something along those lines where you can command close to 6 figures when graduating.
Then you can buy a big shiny boat and all the baits you want. You won't need any sponsors
I'm more than familiar with kids graduating with worthless degrees. I've got a family full of them.
My advice was for the OP who wants to pursue a career in fishing. Sorry if I was 19 I would go to a college I could afford #1 without going into debt and yes get on a fishing team (yep I'd look into this if I wanted to become a professional bass angler) and work my a$$ off though school to cover what my fishing scholarship couldn't cover. If I'm going to market myself I think having a marketing background would be useful but so would Marine Biology honestly. My goal wouldn't be to work a 9-5 job hoping I make 6 figures....it would be to make 6 figures fishing professionally working my a$$ off for my sponsors marketing their products or doing whatever is asked of me while doing what I worked so hard to achieve. Would it be a pipe dream? Probably, but if someone who is 19 has the drive and motivation to acomplish such a dream, I say go for it. But yes, I would have a back up plan incase my pipe dream didn't work out. But I would never shoot my childrens dreams down and never tell them they gratuated with a worthless degree. If they have a worthless degree then I as a Father failed them by not instiling the common sense needed to be productive in the real world.
buzzed bait reply :
I took his advice and googled it and just for the record, marketing not in the top 10 worst degrees.... in fact, it says it's the best value in 2015 according to Huffington Post Business....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/10/college-degrees-best-value_n_3414643.html
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/10/11/the-10-worst-college-majors/
J Francho reply :
Just pick a program you'll finish.
Logan S reply :
SirSnookalot reply :
If I had a child in college the last thing I'd want is for him/her to focus on fishing, college IMO is for an education. What ever degree or career is chosen, you get out of it what you put into it. Not everyone is college material or has aspirations of attending, the same rules apply to life, it's up to the individual.
flyfisher reply :
Marketing is great degree to have, especially with the boom of online marketing. I would also venture a guess that many don't even know what marketing entails as there are many facets of the business.
Another potential avenue of study that is applicable to pretty much every single business is that of process engineering aka Six Sigma. It can be used in industries from banks to factories and everything in between which gives you tons of options for a job later on down the road.
RanndomUndead reply :
On 4/2/2015 at 6:43 PM, Rented Mule said:Here's some more advice. As far as looking into a college that has a fishing team, personally, I think that's silly. College is a huge step as far as financial & time considerations, pick a college based on what will carry you through life , not fishing. If the college has a fishing team , great, but it would be the last criteria on my list as far as choosing a school.
College is already a debt scam as it is. I can only imagine how much debt youd amass doing full time college and fishing....Agree, school be a no-go
etommy28 reply :
On 4/4/2015 at 3:12 PM, SirSnookalot said:If I had a child in college the last thing I'd want is for him/her to focus on fishing, college IMO is for an education. What ever degree or career is chosen, you get out of it what you put into it. Not everyone is college material or has aspirations of attending, the same rules apply to life, it's up to the individual.
So you would what prefer that your child do what other students do every night, go out drink do drugs..... so on. I was extremely focused on fishing in college, traveling a lot fishing a lot. I can assure you fishing and fishing only kept me from doing a lot of dumb stuff i otherwise would have and made me do all my work so my grades were good enough to be able to tournament fish.
ClearCreek reply :
On 4/3/2015 at 12:51 PM, gulfcaptain said:If I'm going to market myself I think having a marketing background would be useful but so would Marine Biology honestly.
Marine Biology would not do you any good if you were hoping to be freshwater bass fisherman. Try some Fish Management, Ichthyology, and Limnology courses while in college if you are interested in freshwater angling.
ClearCreek
gulfcaptain reply :
On 4/5/2015 at 5:05 AM, Sean W said:College is already a debt scam as it is. I can only imagine how much debt youd amass doing full time college and fishing....Agree, school be a no-go
Yep it is expensive. But now they offer scholarships for fishing teams at certain schools. You fish for your school as a team, do the right things to get some local businesses to help with expenses by sponoring and donating to the team then makes it a bit more manageable.
On 4/5/2015 at 12:57 PM, ClearCreek said:Marine Biology would not do you any good if you were hoping to be freshwater bass fisherman. Try some Fish Management, Ichthyology, and Limnology courses while in college if you are interested in freshwater angling.
ClearCreek
Sorry correction, freshwater biology. But say if you wanted to work for any of the state fisheries that have saltwater fishing as well then it wouldn't hurt to have some marine biology background as well. Gotta think back up plan incase the Pro Angler pipe dream didn't pan out.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 4/5/2015 at 12:45 PM, etommy28 said:So you would what prefer that your child do what other students do every night, go out drink do drugs..... so on. I was extremely focused on fishing in college, traveling a lot fishing a lot. I can assure you fishing and fishing only kept me from doing a lot of dumb stuff i otherwise would have and made me do all my work so my grades were good enough to be able to tournament fish.
Pretty narrow minded opinion of non fishing students, they don't all walk around mindless and buzzed all the time. Kids are kids and will experiment, a college fisherman never took a drink or did drugs? Dumb people do dumb things. In today's world job competition is fierce, just getting by with grades good enough isn't good enough. You need the best college resume to get the best jobs.
Not a thing wrong with being a pro fisherman, I don't see that much need for college in the first place. Fishing for a living is like any other business, start at the bottom and try and work your way up. Just about all businesses require an investment (usually means some debt) and the need to generate revenue starts from day 1, few people start at the top. I did not persue my college career, if making 6 figures from 1975 on was good I guess I did ok. That ok put me on the bottom rung of the ladder of many of my contemporaries. There isn't a day that goes by that I think my "good enough" was the best I could have done. I wish I would have taken my schooling more serious. It's more that income, it's about being the best you can be, I fell short.
etommy28 reply :
On 4/5/2015 at 4:34 PM, SirSnookalot said:Pretty narrow minded opinion of non fishing students, they don't all walk around mindless and buzzed all the time. Kids are kids and will experiment, a college fisherman never took a drink or did drugs? Dumb people do dumb things. In today's world job competition is fierce, just getting by with grades good enough isn't good enough. You need the best college resume to get the best jobs.
Not a thing wrong with being a pro fisherman, I don't see that much need for college in the first place. Fishing for a living is like any other business, start at the bottom and try and work your way up. Just about all businesses require an investment (usually means some debt) and the need to generate revenue starts from day 1, few people start at the top. I did not persue my college career, if making 6 figures from 1975 on was good I guess I did ok. That ok put me on the bottom rung of the ladder of many of my contemporaries. There isn't a day that goes by that I think my "good enough" was the best I could have done. I wish I would have taken my schooling more serious. It's more that income, it's about being the best you can be, I fell short.
I think you missed my point, i did a lot of dumb stuff in college, but at the end of the day what drove me to make sure i had everything done that i had to have done was the ability to go fish. If i did not have that motivating me i would have never gotten through college much less graduate school.
flyfisher reply :
On 4/5/2015 at 5:05 AM, Sean W said:College is already a debt scam as it is. I can only imagine how much debt youd amass doing full time college and fishing....Agree, school be a no-go
Not sure it is a debt scam when on average those with a college degree amass about 1M more in salary over the course of their career. I would say even at a 75k investment that a 14x return on your money is a pretty good deal.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 4/7/2015 at 10:29 AM, etommy28 said:I think you missed my point, i did a lot of dumb stuff in college, but at the end of the day what drove me to make sure i had everything done that i had to have done was the ability to go fish. If i did not have that motivating me i would have never gotten through college much less graduate school.
You may want to read what you wrote. You said fishing kept you from doing a lot of dumb stuff, now you say you did do a lot of dumb stuff. You said grades were good enough which may gave the impression of just getting by, now you say you went thru graduate school.
I don't believe I missed anything based on what was originally posted. There seemed to be a blanket condemnation of non fishing students, like many aren't as motivated as you were. I had children in college that were very motivated, did they do dumb things, of course they were kids.
J Francho reply :
I don't think debating the semantics of what was posted is gonna help this kid get sponsored.
RanndomUndead reply :
On 4/7/2015 at 10:37 AM, flyfisher said:Not sure it is a debt scam when on average those with a college degree amass about 1M more in salary over the course of their career. I would say even at a 75k investment that a 14x return on your money is a pretty good deal.
I could say the same thing about taking life savings to Vegas.
J Francho reply :
Pretty sure Vegas isn't handing out student loans and financial aid, lol.
flyfisher reply :
On 4/8/2015 at 11:57 PM, Sean W said:I could say the same thing about taking life savings to Vegas.
sure you could say that or anything else you wanted to but that doesn't mean it is the same thing. If you can take the averages of all the people who visit vegas and it turns out that the customer makes 1M over the course of their life then you are right. I would say that the casinos aren't in the business of losing, and as can be seen by the opulence present on the strip, they aren't.
Maybe a college business or statistics class would help lol
buzzed bait reply :
On 4/9/2015 at 12:34 AM, J Francho said:Pretty sure Vegas isn't handing out student loans and financial aid, lol.
but are they handing out sponsorships?????
SirSnookalot reply :
If an education can earn a million or more over a working career, there isn't an investment that will earn 14% each year for 30 years. IMO an education is the best investment.
The average person may make a score now and then in Vegas, over time most of it will be given back.
gardnerjigman reply :
Not sure how this thread turned into a debate over education, but I'll give my 2 cents.
Education is simply what you make of it, just like everything else in life. If you put your heart and soul into it (or anything for that matter) you will be successful. Do you have to have a college education to be successful in life??? Depends on your definition of successful. I don't have a college degree (I do have a technical cert, but I don't use it) but have busted my buns in the same industry for 7 years now. Worked while my wife went to school to get her degree. Now 7 years later, she has been in the work force for 2 years and is smoking my salary like there is no tomorrow.
Do I regret not having a college degree? Not at all. I make a good living and if something happened to my wife's career tomorrow, I could support her and our 2 children.
Would it have been easier with a college degree? Hands down yes. But I have a great sense of accomplishment for getting where I am today.
You live and you learn. College may be for you, and it may not be. If it's not, then understand you are going to have to work harder, longer and better than the guys to your left and right, because chances are, they do have a degree. If you can deal with that, and go into everything you do like that, you will be fine.
Good luck.
Matthew2000 reply :
So, by popular vote I believe we don't think you could get sponsored. Here is my reasoning.
- The way you presented the idea of "soliciting" sponsors, you made it seem like you were entitled to them.
- You have provide no real proof of you're tournament "domination" in the BFL's and such. You could be another guy who claims to do great in all these tournament online but has no written proof.
- You had a little bit of an attitude about our opinions, if you want to get sponsored you have to be able to take some hate and backup what you are saying or presenting. You can't just say thanks for ruining my fanbase on this product.
- If you really did so well in tournys why don't you have sponsors already. You didn't even list some connections that you had.
I don't want to discourage you, but it's construsitve critisism. It might help you in the long run.
Have a good day!
Jar11591 reply :
I think everybody is confused about what the word "free" means. Sponsors don't give out free stuff to ANYBODY. Sponsorships are
give-and-take. If you promote a company, and in return you receive product from the company you are promoting, then what is free about that? You paid with your time and effort, just like any job in the world. Let's say for the sake of this argument that my boss pays me in apples, not cash. So after a long day of work my boss pays me my apples. Now, since I didn't personally go buy those apples, were they free? No! I worked for those apples. I paid for them with my time and effort. Sponsorship is no different. Saying this kid wants sponsorships just for free stuff is the same as saying you only go to your job for the free cash. Now how many of you would work your jobs if you didn't get paid?
slonezp reply :
On 4/26/2015 at 5:09 PM, Jar11591 said:I think everybody is confused about what the word "free" means. Sponsors don't give out free stuff to ANYBODY. Sponsorships are
give-and-take. If you promote a company, and in return you receive product from the company you are promoting, then what is free about that? You paid with your time and effort, just like any job in the world. Let's say for the sake of this argument that my boss pays me in apples, not cash. So after a long day of work my boss pays me my apples. Now, since I didn't personally go buy those apples, were they free? No! I worked for those apples. I paid for them with my time and effort. Sponsorship is no different. Saying this kid wants sponsorships just for free stuff is the same as saying you only go to your job for the free cash. Now how many of you would work your jobs if you didn't get paid?
In his original post, he is asking for "help on baits and stuff" If he was KVD he could more than likely go to any bait company and dictate his salary just as an accomplished(fill in the blank) can negotiate a salary on a job interview. He is no KVD and, without a proven track record, is not in the position to be dictating his wants. Just as an entry level employee needs to prove himself before getting a raise. Whether his intentions were to get free stuff or to be the best d**n sponsee he can be has yet to be determined. The way the original post reads makes him look like he is asking for free stuff.
gardnerjigman reply :
I love this section of the forum! The real SHARK TANK!
bradc36 reply :
I'll sponsor you. I'll give you a $100 TW gift card to be used for whichever baits you want, if you wear a sublimated fishing jersey in all of your tournaments with my face on it.
.....all kidding aside. I have experience dealing with sponsorships in the hunting industry, and the best advice I can give is to be different than the thousands of other people who are fighting for the same thing. Use social media, YouTube, Vimeo, get involved with the community, working with the next generation and teaching the sport, etc.....
gulfcaptain reply :
On 4/9/2015 at 4:21 AM, gardnerjigman said:Not sure how this thread turned into a debate over education, but I'll give my 2 cents.
Think it started with mine about going to college and getting on a fishing team if his goal was to pursue a career in pro-fishing and something about I'd get a marketing degree to market myself. Then it just went all down hill. I'm still looking for the answers to Francho's question.
J Francho reply :
Which one? It might have been rhetorical.
gulfcaptain reply :
On 3/12/2015 at 11:42 PM, J Francho said:Why do you need a sponsorship?
This one.
J Francho reply :
Rhetorical, something to think about. There's a bit of semantics in the exact words as well, meant to trigger thought. Probably way more into than most teens can handle, but it has a purpose.
gulfcaptain reply :
Very true. What happen to working hard and letting your own actions and performance get you the results you are looking for? Hard work seems to be in the past as it seems easier t just ask and hope someone gives it to you instead of working hard to attain it.
J Francho reply :
I disagree, I see hard work all around. Laziness does have quite a bit more exposure now with technology. Maybe that's not so bad, means people might respect hard work more, if they notice it.
gulfcaptain reply :
Glad to hear. I know I'm raising my son with the same ethic I had. He asks for a phone, I respond by what are you going to do to earn it? But this did end up being a great thread to read. Very good discussion.
Fishing Rhino reply :
On 4/1/2015 at 5:46 PM, JT Bagwell said:I am seriously eating Frosted Flakes while reading this. lol
On 4/1/2015 at 9:57 PM, gulfcaptain said:I'm having Captain Crunch Berries. But Frosted Flakes are good too.
Real fishermen eat grits. Not the instant or quick kind either.
Big C reply :
On 4/27/2015 at 10:48 PM, gardnerjigman said:I love this section of the forum! The real SHARK TANK!
It's the BASS TANK.
HoosierHawgs reply :
This, my friends, is the best advice in this thread. Kids are so entitled these days, and everyone is just expecting to go to a 4 year school, and then get right out and get a full time job.. And when they don't, instead of fixing it they throw a fit because they are immature and entitled. This is why kids right out of college end up in the gutter. Not because they graduate with worthless degrees.On 4/4/2015 at 3:12 PM, SirSnookalot said:If I had a child in college the last thing I'd want is for him/her to focus on fishing, college IMO is for an education. What ever degree or career is chosen, you get out of it what you put into it. Not everyone is college material or has aspirations of attending, the same rules apply to life, it's up to the individual.
Choporoz reply :
On 5/5/2015 at 7:58 PM, Fishing Rhino said:Real fishermen eat grits. Not the instant or quick kind either.
No self-respectin' Southerner uses instant grits. I take pride in my grits
J Francho reply :
Grits are no good cold.
Matthew2000 reply :
On 5/21/2015 at 10:10 PM, J Francho said:Grits are no good cold.
They are good with sausage and cheese though.
Big C reply :
Grits? Are you guys talking about Girls Raised In The South?
Scorchx1245 reply :
Little bit of info, is getting you're name out there. Social media is a great way to start it. Also success is part of it. Another note I've seen is get used to rejection, I've sent tons of emails, made appearences and even helped in tents during expos for free to try to promote a product I believe in. Still only picked up a partial. And it's for a pizza company. I'm even looking at one from an umbrella from a sock company. But I like franchos question about why you need a sponsor. The reason I think I need one is help pick up expenses from gas and entry fees which are most expensive expenses, and help promote a product I believe in. And trust me I love pizza!
J Francho reply :
I'm liking the pizza angle. That's creative.
Big C reply :
On 5/24/2015 at 1:39 PM, Scorchx1245 said:Little bit of info, is getting you're name out there. Social media is a great way to start it. Also success is part of it. Another note I've seen is get used to rejection, I've sent tons of emails, made appearences and even helped in tents during expos for free to try to promote a product I believe in. Still only picked up a partial. And it's for a pizza company. I'm even looking at one from an umbrella from a sock company. But I like franchos question about why you need a sponsor. The reason I think I need one is help pick up expenses from gas and entry fees which are most expensive expenses, and help promote a product I believe in. And trust me I love pizza!
What pizza company? Give us the sales pitch.
Canyon explorer reply :
Sponsors are looking for exposure and performance. Fish as many tournaments as you can.
Small club tournaments are a good place to start especially if they are affiliated with BASS or FLW. Central Pro Am is one step up from that.
Keep an entry log by date, by location and achievement; and some pics.
Join a local Bass club and run for officeand or become appointed as their delegate to Federation and attend their meetings. Maximize your visability and your fishing network. When ready work up a Resume.
Good Luck,
C~Y
Miller's Ferry 8 reply :
Man fish on a college team and you'll get the discounts as well as nice opportunities to prove yourself on a national scale. Hope to see you out there next year!
BassAddict'18 reply :
On 6/19/2015 at 4:00 AM, Miller said:Man fish on a college team and you'll get the discounts as well as nice opportunities to prove yourself on a national scale. Hope to see you out there next year!
I Second that suggestion. College fishing is the best thing you can get into if you are looking for a start in fishing. I already have one of my own small personal sponsors, along with enjoying the benefits of fishing team sponsors. It isnt that hard to achieve certain deals with different companies and people if you are respectful and work hard and keep at it. You just have to start on the small scale and then work your way up from there. There are plenty of small fishing and lure companies trying to get the ball rolling with their business in many small towns. I know there are several in mine.
Start meeting and talking to different people and networking. If you fish as many tournaments as you say you do this shouldnt be too hard. Heck, I'm sure that there are a lot of people you probably have met who would be good aids in knowing where to start. The fishing industry is packed with knowledgeable people who would be happy to help you.
Also, this is the internet, and people have a tendency to say certain things that may offend you if you are sensitive. Knowing this as well is a good step in moving forward. If you take absolutely everything literally and to heart, well, you will be in for a bad time....
Hope this helped
Ryan
Sam reply :
Bassdisaster and all others reading this post:
There are way too many pros; transpros; amateurs; club guys; and what ever else bass fishes for the fishing industry to handle.
Just too many pros and others looking for free stuff or discounts on various products to have everyone sponsored.
You will not be sponsored unless;
1. Your family business sponsors you, like Big Bob's Bail Bonds, etc.
2. You have a rich uncle who will sponsor you as he loves you and wants to get you out of his hair.
3. You win lots of club and pro/am tournaments and work your way up the ladder into the Elite series. Easier said than done.
4. You can talk, walk, chew, scratch and look nice without tattoos showing like the NASCAR drivers after you make it into the Elite series. A good education is a must if you are to attract supporters. Learn to talk and write and win to have a strong following.
5. You are willing to put 100% into bass fishing and not get married for the first years you start your bass fishing career.
6. Again, you need a good education. A college degree can be helpful so you will have something to fall back on after you bomb at professional bass fishing.
7. You have to have the financial support, i.e., a strong bank account, to fish as many tournaments as you can. And the entry fees are not cheap plus the fuel, lodging, food, insurance, clothing, etc. that you will have to do while traveling around your local area, your state and the country fishing tournaments.
8. And you have to be able to show the company why supporting you is good for them and how it will increase their market share in your geographical area.
Now, with that said, what is your target audience?: Age group? Education? Geographic area? Fishing levels? And what company products/manufacturers or retail establishments in your neck of the woods is willing to give you money to expand their advertising base?
Everyone knows the major bass industry companies so asking them for support is not going to work unless you are an up and coming professional. So forget them. Any local guys who manufacturer their baits? Any guys making rods? Any new bass fishing products out there? (Lots of new baits and materials are known to the industry but they have not been developed to date.)
Once again, way too many guys and gals out there that come and go in and out of bass fishing that can be successfully sponsored by the bass fishing industry. So what makes you unique? How do you separate yourself from the hundreds of "wanna bees?"
This is why Ike said many years ago that the pros need to expand their base outside of the fishing industry and Ike went out and got Toyota Trucks as one of his major sponsors.
We need more "non bass fishing" industries to support bass fishing and they will do this if the companies believe they can increase sales.
Take what I have just penned and add to it that FLW and B.A.S.S. need young guys in the sport. The pros are getting older and we need young guys like Bradley Roy, John Crews, and others to start a strong fan base and product support for a few sponsors.
So go outside of the fishing industry for sponsors. Have a one sheet introduction ready to hand out with who you are and what sponsoring you can bring to their company.
And be ready to "Annie up" to have their logos and names printed on your fishing shirts, caps and boats.
Good luck to all who want to be sponsored. It is easier said than done.
aqualkinbush reply :
I skimmed the replies to the topic so forgive me if this has already been said but, Something I don't see alot of people mentioning on this forum to people interested in getting sponsored is youtube. Make regular and high quality videos and post them to youtube. It should be mix of entertaining fishing footage and knowledgeable advice and information. If you can do this it could really help you in getting sponsored. Especially if you are already a successful local and regional tournament fisherman. Companies sponsor anglers for the marketing value. Popular youtube videos can market products better than any trade show or tournament ever could. It's nearly permanent marketing presence to have their products featured in a popular online video. On top of that you can and should have your own website where you can keep all your content in one centralized place as well as a proper facebook page (not your personal one) and an active and engaged twitter account if you can manage it.
J Francho reply :
In my experience, video, photo, and short tips or reports are part of a quota detailed in your contract. It's not a "nice to have," but a requirement.
vmabuck reply :
I don't see the issue with tattoos?
Many high end Fly Fishers have many tattoos and get killer sponsors to fund their epic adventures. That sounds more like a personal issue that you have.
I think any sponsor understands the younger demographic and the need to attract them. I understand some old schoolers might have issues with that but it is something that really does not matter in todays day and age. Discriminating against tattoos is not something that will aid in the growth of any sport nowadays.
That should not be something that hinders anyone from succeding in this sport.
Just sayin...
J Francho reply :
Probably want to avoid a swastika tat on you forehead. I hear some companies draw the line there.
I've never heard of any company avoiding someone because they have tattoos.
HoosierHawgs reply :
Its all about the brand image you want to portray. I don't think Chick-Fil-A wants to sponsor anybody with Tatoos, because that is not the brand image that they want.On 7/3/2015 at 12:48 AM, J Francho said:Probably want to avoid a swastika tat on you forehead. I hear some companies draw the line there.
I've never heard of any company avoiding someone because they have tattoos.
PitchinJigz reply :
On 7/3/2015 at 6:20 AM, jakob1010 said:Its all about the brand image you want to portray. I don't think Chick-Fil-A wants to sponsor anybody with Tatoos, because that is not the brand image that they want.
What do tattoos have to do with brand image? If I have a tribal on my arm am I a dirty monster?
flyfisher reply :
On 7/6/2015 at 1:39 PM, PitchinJigz said:What do tattoos have to do with brand image? If I have a tribal on my arm am I a dirty monster?
No, it just means you are stuck with a bad tattoo from the 90's....
PitchinJigz reply :
Luckily I don't....it was just an example.On 7/6/2015 at 7:27 PM, flyfisher said:No, it just means you are stuck with a bad tattoo from the 90's....
J Francho reply :
Lol, I wouldn't want Chik Fill a associated with my image.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 7/7/2015 at 5:00 AM, J Francho said:Lol, I wouldn't want Chik Fill a associated with my image.
Same here.. Just food for thought.
Big C reply :
On 7/7/2015 at 5:00 AM, J Francho said:Lol, I wouldn't want Chik Fill a associated with my image.
If I got free Chick Fil A for life I could deal with it. 
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 7/13/2015 at 2:08 AM, Big C said:If I got free Chick Fil A for life I could deal with it.
But the OP wants free baits
Big C reply :
On 7/13/2015 at 3:29 AM, jakob1010 said:But the OP wants free baits
What's the point of free lures when you're starving?
J Francho reply :
There's no chick fillets up here. I think there's a law against dog food factories, lol.
HoosierHawgs reply :
Wow, you really don't like them lolOn 7/14/2015 at 4:57 AM, J Francho said:There's no chick fillets up here. I think there's a law against dog food factories, lol.
J Francho reply :
Now Five Guys or Chipotle calls, I'll fish with Zebco on their say so!
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 7/14/2015 at 5:05 AM, J Francho said:Now Five Guys or Chipotle calls, I'll fish with Zebco on their say so!
Haha, I do like burgers and burritos!
Big C reply :
Honestly, if I could choose a sponsor it would be Barrbaritos.
Non-food/Non-fishing would be Under Armor.
Fishing related Carrot Stix/Abu Garcia.
That's just me, but apparently for J Franco it doesn't get better than Zebco/Chick-Fil-A...Wait did I misread his last few posts?
J Francho reply :
Whomever brings the $$$$!!!
The reality is that my only sponsor is a company I would be using and paying retail for anyway. They are easy to recommend that way.
HoosierHawgs reply :
Probably the most logical thing to come out of this thread. Good thought.On 7/17/2015 at 10:45 PM, J Francho said:Whomever brings the $$$$!!!
The reality is that my only sponsor is a company I would be using and paying retail for anyway. They are easy to recommend that way.
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