Ive been fishing scence i could walk ive always loved the sport.I begain fishing in lil tournaments in and around my home town 5 years ago and i love the competition and would like to fish for a living how can i get started?
You can start off by working on your grammar. You will get nowhere if you write/type like that.
After you learn how to talk you might want to try winning tournaments
Read through the threads in this section. Many of our members are sponsored and many are sponsors! There is some great advice offered by a number of guys.
8-)
QuoteYou can start off by working on your grammar. You will get nowhere if you write/type like that.
Expect a can of whoop @$$ to be opened on poor writing, spelling and grammar skills.....and rightly so.
QuoteIve been fishing scence i could walk ive always loved the sport.I begain fishing in lil tournaments in and around my home town 5 years ago and i love the competition and would like to fish for a living how can i get started?
I have been fishing since I could walk. I have always loved the sport. I began fishing in small tournaments in and around my home town five years ago. I love the competition and would like to start fishing for a living. How can I get started?
Spelling and Grammar aside, you have to ask yourself what can I offer a company. Passion for the fishing industry and competition is a must but also everyone that is trying to turn fishing into their well being has that same passion. Only when you can set youself apart from everyone else in the hurd will you be able to start working with companies. It won't happen overnight or all at once. You will more than likely have to start small and earn your keep before the paying sponsors show up.
like everyone says its spelled spoonsirs ;D jk.
you should read some of the articles and go to school
So right now I'm sure you are thinking, "WOW, THESE GUYS ARE JACK @$$'$."
But listen man, these guys on here are all great. They have the info that you want/need. The only thing you need to realize is if you are so lazy not to even type/talk right, then why would they think that if they give you their time, you are going to use it???
SELF IMAGE, SELF RESPECT, AND SELF CONFIDENCE. GET ALL OF THAT.
I got my first sponsor (not sponsere) a week or so ago. I haven'y yet posted who they are as I don't want to rock that boat until they give me the official go ahead. That said, spelling, grammar and the way you carry yourself is key. You would be representing their company! As was said, anyone determined to make a living in this business (that's what it is to potential sponsors and now to you, if you want to travel down this road) has the passion for fishing, you have to offer something else. Marketing yourself is key, nobody is going to do it for you. In talking to a number of area pros, 100% of them say they actually fish less now due to all the other commitments (trade shows, promotions, seminars and the like that they have going on). It's not an easy road to be sure. There is a whole lot more than just going fishing and waiting for a check.
"Ive been fishing scence i could walk ive always loved the sport.I begain fishing in lil tournaments in and around my home town 5 years ago and i love the competition and would like to fish for a living "
I have been fishing since I could hold a pole. Father took me out in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Niagara River (upper and lower). Participated in many smaller tournaments in those lakes. Deep Sea (off Maine, and South Carolina Coast), Fished 60% of all hatchery supported streams in the state of NC in the last 3 years. Also hit Lake Wylie on the NC and SC border. I fish chest deep in streams to 21 ft private fiberglass boats as well as some charter. I LOVE fishing, could go out and catch nothing and still call it a GREAT day.
So to start, answer this question, why would any of the sponsors on this board want you over me, or any of the other thousands of passionate fisherman out there? What is it that sets you apart? Passion is great. Experience is great. Winning tourneys is better (as is shows a record able pattern to success).
Also as other folks here have mentioned, it is a business. So, in your efforts to get a sponsor, be professional, show the proper respect to the folks you contact, and show appreciation for the companies brand. The brand is everything to any company. When I have helped companies on their public websites, you can easily spend a week on aligning pixels for their logo and shifting color codes on to make everything JUST right.. Their brand is everything and when you ask them to sponsor you, you are asking to become part of that brand.
Take your time in communicating and formulate what you write very carefully. Use this board as a proving ground for that. It is tough. I tell you I have had technical white papers and small contributions to books published and the publishers will be EXTREMELY brutal. People do not general walk around putting in professional grammar, but when someone nails it, they appreciate it.
And lastly, constructively take criticism. As with any field you will get plenty of it. If you can learn from it, and refrain from allowing your ego (we all have one), to get in the way, you can learn a lot. These guys here are probably a lot less brutal than a sponsor would be. Plus with these guys you get to hear the criticism, most times it is something uttered behind your back.
Good luck dude! I wish you the best.
Win Win Win Win Win don't try to jump off into the deep end. Start shallow like a local bait shop or ma and pa store. Then slowly "wade" into deeper water. Then a bigger local tackle maker. Than bigger companies. Ya get my point?
LeArN hOw To SpElL
Dude,
Spend a little time looking through this section...It's all here.
:
It's like presenting a lure when you are fishing, if you present it right then the fish will take it. But if you don't they'll ignore it and swim off.
Walk around naked at the BASSmasters Classic.
QuoteWalk around naked at the BASSmasters Classic.
That'll get you noticed to be sure!
QuoteWalk around naked at the BASSmasters Classic.
Where did you come up with that idea? :
Go to school, then more school and when you're done hang up your law or medical degree or start a business, put some cash away then back yourself. No greater motivator than having your own money on the line. If you achieve success you will get noticed.
If in fact you don't make it and a good chance you won't, then you have a career and money to fall back on.
Is this a joke???
Is there a camera around here???
If you want to fish for a living, apply for a job as a "Greenhorn" on "The Deadliest Catch"!!!
Holy Cow!!! I weep for the future!!!
ajr
Getting Started as Professional Bass Fisherman
1. Get a BS from a university.
2. Do not get married or have a girlfriend.
3. Get known as a top notch bass fishing guide.
4. Join FLW and B.A.S.S. and fish their Region tournaments.
5. Win the Region tournaments.
6. Give seminars and presentations at BPS, Gander Mountain, Cabela's, with your stated fish and game departments.
7. Be seen; speak well; dress well; act like a nice guy when not fishing (like Tony Stewart and Kyle Bush do in NASCAR).
8. Promote any sponsor's products.
9. Send letters to sponsors asking for sponsorships.
10. Speak with other bass pros on how they got their sponsorships.
11. Approach others outside of the fishing industry for support.
12. And the last suggestion: Forget #2 above and marry a very, very , very, very, very, very, very RICH girl, even if she is butt ugly as you will need the money to survive. ;D ;D ;D
Yeah I'm going for #12 for me.
Honestly to get any money from a fishing related sponsor you would have to really..really be able to sell the products in huge volumes. KVD sold like 10,000 sexy shad crankbaits at one opening of a Bass Pro and that is why he gets paid so much by sponsors. It is a long and hard road to that point. Companies in the industry receive tons of requests each day for sponsorship, many around 1,000 a day. If you are offered a discount or any type of product I would start at that point, although it is very hard to even get there. Don't forget to tell a potential sponsor what you will do to promote their lures and increase sales, it really does not matter how well you do in tournaments because someone could win 1,000 tournaments but do nothing to sell products. Finally, if you do get a sponsor do not jump ship to a competitor, stick it out and show them you are in it for the long run because the industry is very connected. Hope what little I have told you in a quick summary helps.
QuoteGetting Started as Professional Bass Fisherman12. And the last suggestion: Forget #2 above and marry a very, very , very, very, very, very, very RICH girl, even if she is butt ugly as you will need the money to survive. ;D ;D ;D
Well that takes me out of the game.
QuoteGo to school, then more school and when you're done hang up your law or medical degree or start a business, put some cash away then back yourself. No greater motivator than having your own money on the line. If you achieve success you will get noticed.If in fact you don't make it and a good chance you won't, then you have a career and money to fall back on.
That's my goal. I'm planning on going to med school and becoming a doctor so that I can save up enough money to support myself.
I doubt this post was serious. I certainly hope it was a joke.
If not, you need to either go back to school or hire a tutor. Until then, just forget it.
I didn't start this post but i want to say thank you to everyone for their information...I have learned alot...Thanks again...
I,m a newby myself.With that said, these fish don,t care about word spelling, or mathmatic.Although it seems to play a factor in society.What happend to hart and desirure.Presentation and deadication to the profeshion.Bassmasters has the OPEN for those who have a 25.00 dollar membership, can enter.300.00 dollars put you in the hot seat as a amiture. :
QuoteI,m a newby myself.With that said, these fish don,t care about word spelling, or mathmatic.Although it seems to play a factor in society.What happend to hart and desirure.Presentation and deadication to the profeshion.Bassmasters has the OPEN for those who have a 25.00 dollar membership, can enter.300.00 dollars put you in the hot seat as a amiture. :![]()
Good Lord, please tell me you are kidding with this? If the above statement is meant as a poke, then it's hilarious.
If not, I genuinely feel bad for you.
QuoteGood Lord, please tell me you are kidding with this? If the above statement is meant as a poke, then it's hilarious.
If not, I genuinely feel bad for you.
That's a goodun!
I usually don't visit this section of the forum much but I'm glad I read this...I needed a good laugh.
;D anyone who is trying to get sponsers dont need them....win tornaments and they will come to you...you need sponsers to find you not you finding them....unless you are swindle
Quote;D anyone who is trying to get sponsers dont need them....win tornaments and they will come to you...you need sponsers to find you not you finding them....unless you are swindle
Classic thread that won't go away. Your misspelling of sponsors and tournaments is what keeps this thread great.
x2
... wow. That's all I can say. :-?
Check out some of Mr. Bagwell's info/articles about sponsors. You should probably worry more about the fish. If you catch the fish the sponsors will come. Kinda like field of dreams.
Also, I don't want to jump on the grammar train, but you would be the face of the company to the bass scene and it would be hard to get someone to buy your product if you can't spell the name of the product or the company. Try to not be lazy and thoroughly check the forum before you post, odds are it has already been asked.
Wow. There's a bunch of English spelling "rocket doctors," to this post. The funny thing about some of these posts is there's a SPELLING CHECK to the top right of the message board.
Good lucks to you in catching the "BIG KAHUNA."
If you want somebody to pay you to go fishing, work on a charter boat or be a guide.
If you think that if you win a bunch of tournaments, sponsors will be banging on your door, you're setting yourself up for some major disappointment.
If you REALLY want to "go pro" and be "sponsored", then let go of everything you "think" you know about sponsorships and read these articles.
Want Sponsors?
The Allure of Fishing
So You Want To Fish For A Living?
Getting Started in Tournaments
Moving Up The Ladder
Choosing Tournaments
So You Want To Turn Pro?
Chasing That Dream Career
You Gotta Love It
Fishing Economics 101
So You Want To Be A Bass Pro?
From Federation to the Pros
Welcome to the REAL world.
Dude, there are Fifty States, and if I'm not mistaken all Fifty have Lottories. Play them and go from there, because your chances of actually making money fishing are about the same. I know many exceptional fishermen who will never be paid to fish. Why? Because unless you are a part of a very fortunate few you will never get rich fishing. As a guide, maybe make a few bucks, and if you're a good guide then you will make more. Name all of the rich and famous Bass fishermen you can think of. Then look for the number of Bass fishermen on this site. Do the math and those are your odds. Bill Dance makes his money by investing in a lot of things, as does Roland Martin, Hank Parker, the list goes on. If you want to pay for your fishing win tournaments. If you're really lucky 100 or so wins later someone else may offer to pay your entry fees.
I believe a "fishing resume" is more about a "fishing presentation" or presence than the type of resume you would use to get a conventional "job." What I mean by presentation, is a personal presentation, a personal interaction with the suppliers. My son, who is 15 has half a dozen sponsors including Eagle Claw, Poorboy's Baits, Rogue Rods, Nixon's Marine, Bosstin Weights, Ledford's Custom Tackle among others. We put together images and text for a presentation piece which he gave out to prospective suppliers at the 2008 Bassmaster Classic show and the FLW Cup show. He walked around the shows in his tournament jersey, talked to manufacturers & suppliers, and volunteered to help work in a major sponsors booth, which he did. Sponsors want pro staff, even young pro staff, who win of course, but you must also be able to talk and represent the products in a cohesive fashion. But recognition is key! Sponsorship is really about sales or projected sales. The reason they give you stuff is because they are gambling on you, that you might be the next big winner with their product which translates into sales, hence profit. Start by looking at small local companies. They are probably more likely to set you up with some product. Wear their hats, shirts, decals etc. They want recognition just like you and this could become a good match. After you have put some significant wins under your belt, then approach the "bigger fish." if you look promising to them, they may start you out small, but you'll get your foot in the door. Remember, once you are being sponsored by a company, you REPRESENT them in the fishing world. This is a big responsibility. In a sense, you are working for them. That's not always easy. You always have to be thinking about them. One last thing: It's not about free gear, it's about a business relationship: one that must be beneficial to both parties.
Oh, I didn't mention that when he was 13 years old(2007), he participated in BASS Casting Kids for the first time and made it to the nationals and placed 6th in the nation. Then in 2008 he was back at the Casting Kids nationals and finished 3rd in the nation. He was 2008 Oregon State TBF champion and finished 2nd in the Western Division at the National Guard Jr. World's. These accomplishments helped him prove his direction and ability in bass fishing. When people ask him what he wants to be when he grows up...you know what he says. My motto is: work hard at it, very hard. Practice, practice, practice. And it probably helps to have a supportive dad.