Does TacticalBassin have sponsors?

[James Schmidt]

I have always considered tacticalbassin to be the best of the best when it comes to useful bass fishing information on youtube. However, they seem to reccomend river2sea, dirty jigs and aftco all the time. I want to know if this is just because those companies make great products or if the tactical guys are being paid to mention them. I'm just wondering because I want to know if the baits they are recommending are really the best ones out there. If you guys know anything I'd love to hear about it.

[garroyo130]

Maybe theyre just fans of those brands

 

 

 

 

[mrpao]

According to them, they don't have any sponsors.

I believe like most of us, they have probably just found stuff that works well for them, so that is what they recommend.

They do have a large following. But they do seem to know their stuff.

[Big Rick]

While they may not be SPONSORED by these brands I am sure they are compensated for tagging their name on these products. The baits were actually designed by Matt and thus it would seem appropriate for him to make money off the sales. But, according to Matt and Tim, they do not receive a sponsorship from these companies. They just work with them designing things to sell. Seems clear as mud, doesn't it?

[5/0]

Don’t know about sponsorship, but they do usually state that what they recommend could be applied to the tackle (brand) you choose to purchase.

Although before COVID it appeared to me that shortly after one of their vids came out some of the products mentioned quickly became back orders at TW. Just my observation.

[browne762]

I would assume they get a commission on sales for items with their name behind it like the cranks and jigs. 

 

Not really a "sponsorship" in my mind, but I could be wrong. 

[James Schmidt]

Yeah, I thought it was weird they made products with these companies but weren't sponsored by them. I guess they just like the companies and have made products with them mutually

[J Francho]

You think they do it for free?

[OnthePotomac]

Good guys with really good information

[Tizi]

Love their vids.  Informative, concise, and fun.

[Tony johnson]

They are not sponsor but make money when people use there tackleware house and Amazon links from YouTube. Also im sure they get some of commission off the lures they designed 

[Koz]

3 hours ago, James Schmidt said:

I'm just wondering because I want to know if the baits they are recommending are really the best ones out there.

In my opinion this is a loaded statement unless you are talking about the quality or durability of the product. If you fish at the right place at the right time with the right technique you can catch bass. Someday I'm going to get a small block of balsa wood, attach hooks to it, and I'll bet I catch multiple bass with it.

 

My point is I think sometimes it's easy to get caught up in "I need this bait" or "I need that bait" to catch fish when you're better off focusing on location and technique. People forget that and the Bait Monkey empties their wallets.

[WRB]

Would you promote a product with your name and reputation associated with it for free?

Tom

 

[J Francho]

27 minutes ago, WRB said:

Would you promote a product with your name and reputation associated with it for free?

Tom

 

I often do.

[NavyVet1204]

There’s gotta be something in it for them.

[J Francho]

Endorsements, sponsorships, partnerships, coops, all waters are muddy these days.  No one does anything without benefit.  I could see an angler paying a company to to produce goods with their name on it to boost their own image as well.  In the case of these guys, they don't seem like their integrity is in question.  I think they recommend solid gear, whether there's some agreement or not.

[garroyo130]

^ The statement "I don't have sponsors" has power. People automatically assume it means unbiased reviews when in reality it could just mean they have partnerships vs sponsorships but still have a vested interest in a particular product. 

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, Tony johnson said:

They are not sponsor but make money when people use there tackleware house and Amazon links from YouTube. Also im sure they get some of commission off the lures they designed 

This right here............judging by how many items they link to end up sold out I'm sure they get something. But they also give other options on a lot of gear based on budget.   I love their videos. 

 

[LCG]

I enjoy their videos and have learned a lot from them. I believe they have been upfront and honest about who they work with and who they are involved with. I am sure they profit from their business relationships, but I would not hold that against them or challenge their integrity for making a living. 

 

I respect their opinions on gear and take it for what it's worth, but at the end of they day what I decide to purchase is still my decision. I just wish I had the disposable income to buy some of the toys they have

 

They are two of the most professional youtube fishing producers that I have seen. If Matt or Tim happen to read this, keep up the great work and awesome videos and thanks for teaching. 

[looking45]

Take a look at these numbers

 

https://us.youtubers.me/tacticalbassin/youtube-estimated-earnings

[GReb]

The fact that they put a $15 crank bait on the market and told their viewers that it was specifically made for winter and wouldn’t be as effective when water temps were high speaks for itself. They even recommend other branded baits similarly to theirs over their own in certain situation. Seem to be high moral guys to me that truly care about their viewers’ success on the water. I hope they do have sponsors and make decent money  They’ve earned all of it

[NorcalBassin]

11 minutes ago, looking45 said:

Take a look at these numbers

 

https://us.youtubers.me/tacticalbassin/youtube-estimated-earnings

That's interesting... definitely thought it would have been more. Those numbers work out to between $50-80/day, and considering they've put out at least 3 videos/wk for many years and have over 350,000 subscribers it's not near as much as I'd thought it would be. However, as has been said they get a commission of sorts from TW and probably save a ton on tackle. IMO they put out great videos and I'm more than happy to click on their link as a "thank you" for the excellent free to us information they put out like clockwork. 

[James Schmidt]

They are awesome guys and their integrity is very admirable. They are way better than every other fishing YouTuber representing every single catch co and googan product. I have the most admiration for them and it seemed too good to be true that they'd have no sponsors and that's why I asked

[king fisher]

When did they say they don't have sponsors?  Who said that? I  They make great videos with worth while information.  They recommend quality products that they prove work on their videos.  They seem like great guys, and I hope they continue to have great success.  They are true pioneers in the fishing video business. I watch and enjoy all their videos.

        That said.  Of course they have sponsors.  Unless they both have large trust funds, they make money from the companies they promote.  How else can a person afford going on cross country fishing trips for months at a time?  I can't take three months off of work to go make fishing videos all across the US, Canada and Mexico.  The amount of camera equipment they have  probably cost more than my kayak.  Their boats and fishing equipment are what dreams are made of.  They both have big houses on the shore of clear lake.  This all costs money.  Their skill as anglers is very impressive.  Both of them cast accurately with either hand with any rod and reel combo they use.  Developing fishing skills to that level takes many hours on the water.  Most fisherman don't have that much spare time.  They have time to become such skilled anglers, because fishing is their business.

       There are very few ways to make a living sport fishing.  I commend them for being able to make a living doing what they love.  I have no doubt that would include excepting money and or gear from sponsors, that is just the name of the game.  I hope the sponsors appreciate all the work they do, and treat them accordingly.  I'm sure they also use and recommend products that they do not have sponsors for in their videos.  Many times they mention a product made by a company that they don't mention in other videos.   This helps make them more credible than professional fishermen who only use and talk about sponsors products on film.  The sponsors must realize this, and don't force them to only use their products. As long as their advise continues to make sense, the videos back up what they say, and they don't start promoting crazy junk, than I will watch the videos and consider their advise when purchasing equipment.  Being a salesmen is not a bad profession.  Being a salesmen that lies to sell his product is not professional.  As far as I can tell, these guys have integrity.  They deserve to have great sponsors that treat them well.  If I'm wrong, and they do claim not to have sponsors, than I would believe them and assume they make their living some other way.  Either way I think they make great videos.

 

         

 

[Bandersnatch]

I've always liked their videos but have started watching some others due to lack of variety. Let's face it, the fishing industry has a ton of really great stuff from all different manufacturers. Tactical is recommending a very specific few over and over which just feels like they are being compensated. It's a bit I'd a shame as I see it because their content would be better if they were reviewing all the cool stuff out there in addition to the dirty jigs, river2sea stuff.