Are Sponsored Guys Limited On What Lures They Use?

[Basspro3106]

Let's say some one big like Vandam or iaconelli, could they use Gary Yamamoto lures or any other brand other than their sponsor product.

[BeardedBassGuy]

i would assume when fun fishing they would use whatever they want too

[Bluebasser86]

They use the baits they need to give themselves the best chance to win. It's pretty well known that Randy Howell used a DT6 to catch a lot of fish at the Classic at Guntersville, then used the Livingston Lures Howeller to catch some key kicker fish. I can tell you for certain that KVD was throwing a Megabass 110 or 110+1 at Grand a couple years ago, despite being sponsored by Strike King and having his own namesake jerkbait. 

[zachb34]

I also believe they use what they think will help them win. A lot of times in am interview if they won on a lure not by their sponsor they'll just use a generic term such as "a natural colored squarebill" in the end though I'm sure they'll still catch a ton of fish and take just about anyone's money fishing with their sponsors baits. They're a pro from their skills and talent. The sponsors just help pay the bills not so much catch the fish.

[Senko lover]

They will use whatever they feel is best under the conditions. Of course, they do throw their sponsor's lures, but if they decided that another lure will perrform better, that's what sees water time. For instance, Aaron Martens fished a Z-man chatterbait the last day of the Chesapeake Bay Tournament because it had a beefier clip, instead of using a sponsor's bladed jig. Skeet Reese caught one four-pounder sight fishing at Guntersville with a Berklely Havoc Slop Craw, but everything else he caught was with a BassTrix swimbait, a company he's not sponsored by. 

 

 

Some people will tell you that they didn't use a sponsored product, where as some people keep it a secret. BASS Live is making it harder and harder to conceal what the guys are throwing. 

[Canyon explorer]

Sponsors lures would have priority but not to the point of total vertical monopoly. Mega Baits Vision 110 usage would be a good example.

[WIGuide]

No they are not.

 

[Choporoz]

^  "The reason you do that....is 'cause you're sneaky"

 

LOL

[Mike L]

They wear thier sponsored logo's on thier shirts, hats and pants, they put em on thier boat, stick em on the truck, give seminars about what they use etc..

But none of that has ever put a fish in the boat.

They will use what they need to use win, which keeps that stuff coming.

Mike

[Surfcaster]

I am sure it is just like pro golf or racing. Before pro golfer Payne Stewart died in a plane crash he signed a deal with Golfsmith. They did not care what clubs were in his golfbag they just wanted their name on the bag. Ping is the only company (I think) that requires their sponsored players to use all Ping clubs. I spent a few years in NASCAR racing and many teams that were sponsored by petroleum products would not use their sponsors products in the race car. If I really liked Senkos but sponsored by Yum or whatever, I would probably put Senkos in my sponsors package.

[Senko lover]

No they are not.

 

 

I was looking for that video to share, but couldn't find it. Good work 

[mnbassman23]

They use the baits they need to give themselves the best chance to win. It's pretty well known that Randy Howell used a DT6 to catch a lot of fish at the Classic at Guntersville, then used the Livingston Lures Howeller to catch some key kicker fish. I can tell you for certain that KVD was throwing a Megabass 110 or 110+1 at Grand a couple years ago, despite being sponsored by Strike King and having his own namesake jerkbait. 

Happens all the time and these are two good examples. That's the cool thing about the Pro's having GoPros in the boat now and better coverage during the Bassmasters. Hard to get away with throwing none sponsored baits. 

[ww2farmer]

I could care less what they use, or what products they hock....but it flat out bugs me when they lie through their teeth. One of the most blatant ones that sticks out in my mind was the when the Forrest Wood cup was on the three rivers in Pittsburgh and Ike was blabbing about all the fish he caught on gulp sinking minnows (a sponsor) but the on water footage clearly shows him getting a GYCB senko out of the bag, and several bags of senkos strewn about the front deck. He even catches a fish on a senko and with the bait hanging out of it's mouth claims it's a gulp product. Stuff like this, while probably trivial to most people, bugs me. It's like he thinks we're too stupid to see what's what with our own eyes. On the flip side, I have a lot of respect for a guy who will shoot straight and tell you what worked for him even if it wasn't a sponsors product.

[Michael Hannon]

Ike was doing a video for *** after the classic at Hartwell saying he was using a Havoc pit boss trailer on a football jig, but it clearly shows a Zoom super chunk in the video. He must not have thought that one through.

[Fun4Me]

One more reason why I like Swindle. Skip to 2;20 if you don't want to watch the whole video.