Super User OkobojiEagle Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 In a new (posted 10/12/21) you-tube video, Randy Blaukat opined that a professional bass angler with multiple tournament wins but a small social media presence isn't as valuable to the fishing industry as a non-professional angler with a large social media following. He's suggesting fishing companys will be moving sponsorship money away from pros without social media followers and by extension I'm taking away from this that professional tournament fishing may disappear. Not being a follower of pro fishing tournaments myself, I'm wondering what other's on this board think? oe
Super User Choporoz Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 No question that there is money being diverted to many who are more social media personality than fisherman. The available pool of money is limited. Unfortunately, I expect that the circuits may need to alter things that favor 'clicks' and 'subs', over watching a guy watch his line. Me turning on ESPN 7 at 8AM on a rainy Saturday isn't nearly as desirable as a 20-something watching 50 straight tiktok things. The sliver of romantic in me believes there will be enough geezers and fanatics left to sustain high level tourneys that are still mostly about actual fishing....one can dream.... 3
Super User scaleface Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 I see his point . Its fast becoming an elitest sport . 3
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 This is the modern take on something that has always been true in professional fishing. Companies sponsor people who help them sell product and could care less if those people can catch fish or not. Before social media that meant being likable and being able to convince your fans to buy your sponsors products. In the modern world, having a social media following has played an increasing role in this. There have been plenty of failed pros over the years that could catch the fish but couldn't catch the sponsors. 5
Super User Team9nine Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 I don’t think he’s suggesting professional tx fishing will disappear - it’s actually experiencing a good rebirth at the moment. What he did suggest is that the old way of companies spending all their marketing money on professional anglers is changing, and they are seeing a smaller slice of that pie, which is being taken up by those with large social media presences, both within and outside the tournament world. Winning isn’t quite as important as it used to be unless there is also the reach from social media platforms to compliment the traditional marketing efforts. 6
Siebert Outdoors Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 I agree to a point. Pro's will probably be forced into doing more social media posts about their sponsors. Otherwise the others will take that advertising $$. That is to a point but we all know and have all been part of the Pro X wins the classic on lure x. We all go out and buy it knowing we may or may not catch fish on it. 1
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 I'll add one more thing. An absurd amount of money is spent by anglers chasing the dream of becoming a Professional angler. It's in the best interest of the industry to keep that dream alive even though it's a pipe dream for almost everyone who chases it. 11 1
Finessegenics Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said: Companies sponsor people who help them sell product and could care less if they those people can catch fish or not. ?
ironbjorn Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 Social media is everything these days. Social media is where you market and sell. I'd argue far fewer people watch a professional tournament than they do YouTube fishermen. Almost every bass fishing personality I watch has thousands to tens of thousands of views on each video they post. When I revisit a video months or years later they sometimes have over 100k views. And that's just one video from one personality. 4
Super User WRB Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 Pro bass angler = promotional bass angler, not always tournament pro anglers. Consider the value Matt Allen Tactical Bass vs Randy Blaukat brings to tackle sales. MLF series vs B.A.S.S. elites offers for promotion bass fishing. MLF is growing where B.A.S.S. Is struggling to refine itself. Tom 4
Super User Bankc Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 Two things can be true at the same time. I think there is definitely a rise in importance of social media influencers in all markets. And they're making more and more money out of it from sponsorship deals as a result. But I don't see it taking away from fishing tournaments. If anything, it's adding to it. Fishing is growing really fast right now. There's no reason that growth just has to be one directional. If anything, I'd say that social media influencers are doing more harm to the magazine industry than the professional tournament circuits. 1
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 Say what you will, but just reading the title made me hungry for some Bridgford beef jerky. 7
Super User Columbia Craw Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 So I’ll play the role of the old guy. When you compare where the sport of tournament fishing was in it’s infancy to what it has become, the potential sponsorship opportunities have gone out the roof. It’s a business, plain and simple. There was a time when I kind of wanted to identify with the “pros” but now I just enjoy being entertained by them. I rarely view how to videos because it’s redundant. I’ve learned just as much or more from this site as any where. 2
Super User T-Billy Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 2 hours ago, WRB said: Pro bass angler = promotional bass angler, not always tournament pro anglers. Consider the value Matt Allen Tactical Bass vs Randy Blaukat brings to tackle sales. Good point. I can watch Matt and Tim all day. Tons of solid in depth fishing info and informative tackle reviews. I can watch Randy all of about two minutes. YMMV. 2 2
Super User bowhunter63 Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 All this makes me want to throw on my hip boots grab some hair jigs and go chase smallmouth in the river. No sponsor needed 1
PressuredFishing Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 8 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said: In a new (posted 10/12/21) you-tube video, Randy Blaukat opined that a professional bass angler with multiple tournament wins but a small social media presence isn't as valuable to the fishing industry as a non-professional angler with a large social media following. He's suggesting fishing companys will be moving sponsorship money away from pros without social media followers and by extension I'm taking away from this that professional tournament fishing may disappear. Not being a follower of pro fishing tournaments myself, I'm wondering what other's on this board think? To put simply, the industry is changing
NavyToad Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 4 minutes ago, T-Billy said: Good point. I can watch Matt and Tim all day. Tons of solid in depth fishing info and informative tackle reviews. I can watch Randy all of about two minutes. YMMV. I’m the opposite. For some reason, Matt gets on my nerves, but I can listen to Randy all day. LOL! I’m NOT claiming that one is better than the other. 3
ryanerb Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 What's sad, is I believe tournament fishing makes better anglers. I don't know that I can say the same about social media guys. On social media, you may know how to talk and be entertaining, but do we really know how many fish you catch? Did you edit catch footage from 5 days into 2 minutes and we think you are a good angler? Should we really listen to you? Seems we are getting too comfortable taking advice from any John, Dock, and Harry just because they are taking the time to make and post a video. Those of us who are savvy hopefully can weed out the mediocre guys and only watch the guy who truly can perform. This thread seems like a hot topic, lots of opinions and debate. Just my .02 cents. 2
Super User WRB Posted October 13, 2021 Super User Posted October 13, 2021 Bass fishing derbies prior to Ray Scott’s B.A.S.S. organizing a scheme to reduce cheating common with Jelly jar or turkey shoot events. Scott’s blind draw partner bass tournaments nearly eliminated cheating giving the events credibility attracting sponsors. Still the early events only awarded the winner. Scott was a promoter selling B.A.S.S. with both a magazine and traveling seminars. It worked creating a new business of bass fishing and all the innovations for tournament fishing. It’s amazing to see the premiere organization start to degrade. Time moves on. Prior to B.A.S.S. We only had a hand full of sport fishing magazines like Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Field & Stream plus a few books on bass fishing. All print media that is also failing today. Time moves on. So where does a product manufacturer turn to promote sales? The biggest source is social media, internet and TV. Live audience at bass events and seminars isn’t needed. Tournaments pay for participation and pay down on a sliding scale, it’s not winner take all, it’s winner takes a little more. Everyone is a promoter. Tom 7
JHTR20 Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 If an angler wants to be successful today $ wise, they best know how to catch fish and present themselves on social media. And present fresh content on a regular basis. Weekly at least if not more frequently. There are some non pro anglers who have huge social media followings. I think this is more towards appealing towards a specific demographic or just the entertainment value. I can say when I started getting into bass fishing seriously, 30 something years ago, I was influenced by what I saw on TV and read in Bassmaster magazine. My garage has evidence of that in bins where I bought the latest, can't miss bait. I think we all fell victim to it at some point. The name of the bass business game is still how much product you can sell. I can still catch quality fish on a 7 inch black ribbon tail worm just about anywhere I fish. As for the pro side I feel sorry for them. There are so many tours and circuits the marketplace is quite diluted. What tour does Randy fish? I really don't know, yes I can google it, but not MLF or Bassmaster Elites that I find after asking my TV remote. So why should I listen to him? I do once in while but ask if his knowledge share is that good why isn't he in the top echelon of tournament fishing? Do I really think a tour pro is really giving away the goods? Sorry juice, No! And why not watch and listen to someone who isn't a pro? Maybe they present a technic or application you've never thought of. What does it mean to be a pro? You can pay the entry fee. Yes some tournaments you need to ascend to but bottom line is you need to pay to get in. I do like him and he is probably a tremendous human being and caught more bass better and faster than I ever have or will. Just sayin......... Choose your own path. Good luck and tight lines. 1
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted October 14, 2021 BassResource.com Administrator Posted October 14, 2021 Before social media existed, same thing used to be said about pros with TV shows and/or regular magazine columns, or non-pros with fishing TV shows and/or routinely featured in mags. Old comments, new mediums. "Pro" or not, people with deep knowledge willing to share it in meaningful ways that reach a large audience will always catch the attention of sponsors. 8 1
MidwestBassAttack Posted October 14, 2021 Posted October 14, 2021 Times are a changing! Companies turn to the social media platforms as it’s cheaper and reaches more people immediately without much overhead that could impact margins. “PRO STAFF” used to mean something…..Now it’s evolved into “PROmotional STAFF” 1
schplurg Posted October 14, 2021 Posted October 14, 2021 Sounds like people think it's an either/or when it isn't. The successful bass tour pro will be competitive as well as have a social media presence. Many of the pros do have Youtube channels, I just started watching B-Lat. 2
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted October 14, 2021 Global Moderator Posted October 14, 2021 3 minutes ago, schplurg said: Sounds like people think it's an either/or when it isn't. The successful bass tour pro will be competitive as well as have a social media presence. Many of the pros do have Youtube channels, I just started watching B-Lat. Just now?? Man you’ve been missing out! I should’ve alerted you.
HaydenS Posted October 14, 2021 Posted October 14, 2021 15 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: Just now?? Man you’ve been missing out! I should’ve alerted you. Brandon Paulinuk has some of the best fishing youtube IMHO. https://www.youtube.com/c/BmpFishing 3
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