Pros purposefully misleading about their sponsors baits?

[SissySticks]

Like probably most of us, I enjoy the "top ten baits of ______ tournament" posts from FLW, MLF, and BASS tourneys. Helps me get a sense of what pros use in certain conditions. But, one thing that comes out pretty shamelessly in some cases is the captions will mention a pro's sponsors' products when the picture makes it pretty clear the pro wasn't actually using his sponsor's product. Case in point: on the Conroe MLF "top 10 baits" post, the caption states David Walker was using the Zman Batwingz trailer on his jig, when the picture makes it plainly obvious he's using a Zoom Super Chunk (the dimples are a dead giveaway). Obviously, this happens all the time though, not just Walker. 

 

Does this bug anyone else? Are the writers screwing this up or are the anglers being misleading?

[J Francho]

I could care less what specific bait a pro is using, and pay more attention to what they're doing with the bait.

[Tennessee Boy]

I can't say it bugs me that much.  It is a fact of life.  Pros are loyal to their sponsors and they should be.  I guess it also makes them liars in some cases which is not admirable.  I question everyone's motives when they give me advice.   I think most of what we hear from pros and the fishing press in general is 90% BS.  I trust the opinions on this forum with the discussion and give and take far more as a source of information than say Bassmaster Magazine.

[RichF]

Not really.  I just assume they're only throwing Yamamoto senkos 99.9% of the time anyway.

[J Francho]

2 minutes ago, RichF said:

Not really.  I just assume they're only throwing Yamamoto senkos 99.9% of the time anyway.

I had to follow Pete Gluzik at a fishing seminar in NYC several years back.  It was just after his big open win on Cayuga Lake.  He was talking about throwing senkos being key to his win.  We all laughed and said, at least he actually admitted to throwing senkos all day.

[SissySticks]

3 minutes ago, RichF said:

Not really.  I just assume they're only throwing Yamamoto senkos 99.9% of the time anyway.

LOL. Aren't we all?

[GReb]

I’d wager most are going to use whatever works the best and hype whatever product pays the most. That may not always be the same product. A lot of these guys aren’t making mega $$$ like in other sports. It’s hard to blame them honestly. 

[the reel ess]

Notice how often the shows that feature touring pros are really 30 minute infomercials for the latest innovative new bait? The same bait that will be on clearance at Dick's at the end of the season.

[SissySticks]

Honestly, I think it bugs me more not even because of the dishonesty, really, since you're all right that they have to make a living. Weirdly I think it's more because it just seems so silly. Walker could easily have threaded a Zman Batwingz on there before the pic, and no one would be the wiser. If I was Zman, I'd be mad he didn't.

[ratherbfishin1]

That is the reason I don't get into all the "use what the pros use" stuff.  I can't blame them for being loyal to their sponsors but they don't care if "x" Squarebill even catches fish if they're getting paid to say it does, they likely will say it does. They might not never even throw a certain lure but say it's one of their "go-to" lures. So in short, yes it does bother me a little, however, you can't really blame them much.

[TOXIC]

They all work for the Bait Monkey.

[Glaucus]

On the one hand, they have to make money. 

 

On the other hand, they're pushing baits that they know aren't very good to people who don't have their kind of money.

 

In the end, we all have the duty to pay attention and not base our decision making on what we think everyone else is doing. 

[J Francho]

This *IS* pretty obvious, though I see two other rigs in the background with jigs tied up.  Maybe those were the Batwingsz and he just grabbed the wrong rig?  It's also possible that he didn't write the quote.

 

[Glenn]

Doesn't bother me.  It's business....and CYA.  

 

If you worked for a company on a year-by-year contract basis, where they will fire you if you don't meet (sometimes) lofty and difficult-to-measure goals (e.g. "David, how many sales did you generate from that brand mention?"), you'd be in a situation where everyday you must prove your value over and over again.

 

Just now, Glaucus said:

they're pushing baits that they know aren't very good to people who don't have their kind of money.

I disagree.  Most, if not all pros, won't sign a contract with a company/brand they don't like. They won't associate their name with them.

 

David likely ran out of his sponsor's baits, and had to dig into his tacklebox to find something similar.  Otherwise I'm certain he would have it on his bait for the pictures. David is a long-time pro and doesn't make mistakes like that.

[Tennessee Boy]

1 minute ago, TOXIC said:

They all work for the Bait Monkey.

Yeah...Sometimes you have to buy the bait JUST IN CASE they're telling the truth. 

[SissySticks]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

This *IS* pretty obvious, though I see two other rigs in the background with jigs tied up.  Maybe those were the Batwingsz and he just grabbed the wrong rig?  It's also that he didn't write the quote.

 

That is a good point, though again, if I were Zman, I'd be ticked off about this particular instance of "grabbing the wrong one." I also think that swimbait trailer might be a Reaction Innovations, not a Diesel minnow, but it's harder to tell.

1 minute ago, Glenn said:

Doesn't bother me.  It's business....and CYA.  

 

If you worked for a company on a year-by-year contract basis, where they will fire you if you don't meet (sometimes) lofty and difficult-to-measure goals (e.g. "David, how many sales did you generate from that brand mention?"), you'd be in a situation where everyday you must prove your value over and over again.

 

I disagree.  Most, if not all pros, won't sign a contract with a company/brand they don't like. They won't associate their name with them.

 

David likely ran out of his sponsor's baits, and had to dig into his tacklebox to find something similar.  Otherwise I'm certain he would have it on his bait for the pictures. David is a long-time pro and doesn't make mistakes like that.

I hear you, I'm not picking on David so much as a general trend I've noticed. David seems like a good enough guy. In other news, how does one run out of Zman plastics? I suspect you could be on a pretty good jig bite and still only use 1 trailer the whole week.

[J Francho]

6 minutes ago, Glenn said:

David likely ran out of his sponsor's baits, and had to dig into his tacklebox to find something similar.  Otherwise I'm certain he would have it on his bait for the pictures. David is a long-time pro and doesn't make mistakes like that.

That's probably the most reasonable explanation.  Didn't think of that!

[NYWayfarer]

5 minutes ago, J Francho said:

This *IS* pretty obvious, though I see two other rigs in the background with jigs tied up.  Maybe those were the Batwingsz and he just grabbed the wrong rig?  It's also possible that he didn't write the quote.

 

Thanks for the pic.

 

I think he grabbed the wrong rig. That makes more sense than thinking he is purposely misleading us as this hurts his pocket if the sponsoring company finds out.

 

As a sponsor I would want something in the contract that says he is using my baits exclusively but that's another story.

[MIbassyaker]

I could not possibly care less about this.

 

Here's what I get from that picture of Walker: He was using jigs. He had a shad-looking one with a paddletail, and he had a bluegill/craw looking one with a chunk.  

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, NYWayfarer said:

As a sponsor I would want something in the contract that says he is using my baits exclusively but that's another story.

Depends on the contract.  When I was sponsored by Wilderness Systems, I was encouraged to get seat time in other companies' boats.  Bonus points if you did a boat swap.  That way, you got more hands on exposure to the brand, and learned how to differentiate your sponsor from others.

[NYWayfarer]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Depends on the contract.  When I was sponsored by Wilderness Systems, I was encouraged to get seat time in other companies' boats.  Bonus points if you did a boat swap.  That way, you got more hands on exposure to the brand, and learned how to differentiate your sponsor from others.

I have seen "partnership" type sponsorships for YouTubers that seem similar to what you have described. They want you to use their equipment but don't mind if you use others for comparison and exposure.

[J Francho]

Oi, YouTubers ruined everything!   It's even altered the landscape of endorsement deals for musicians.  I even hear them say, "I'm endorsed by so-and-so..."  No, bud.  You endorse them, lol.  Skateboarding is even been affected.  Turning "pro" is not the same anymore. 

[12poundbass]

Was this an article or video? If it was an article then this hiccup could be the result of the writer/photographer using the wrong photo and not necessarily David ‘misleading’ you or using a different bait. 

 

It doesn’t bother me one bit if they use other lures than what they’re saying. You don’t bite the hand that feeds you. 

 

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I would have never know the difference. I can’t pick out what bait is made by who and what model it is. There are a few hard baits that I might have a fighting chance a guessing. Soft plastics other than maybe a Senko nope not a chance. Blows my mind when someone on here posts a picture asking what lure this or that is and 2 seconds later there are 5 replies with make, model, and color. 

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, 12poundbass said:

Was this an article or video?

https://majorleaguefishing.com/bass-pro-tour/top-10-baits-how-the-10-best-tackled-lake-conroe/

[OCdockskipper]

25 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Doesn't bother me.  It's business....

It's fine that it doesn't bother you, but don't try to rationalize it as being "business".  Business does not have to be lying to potential customers, one can be truthful & have ethics. 

 

You can run your business however you choose, but how truthful you are with your potential customers is a reflection of your ethics, not of how business's have to operate.