Bassnajr Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 Hey all... I posted earlier in this catagory about what your definition of a "pro" angler is and the thread is VERY interesting. All great and varied replies, as I knew they would be from the BRS crew!!! Here's the next one... What does it mean to be "sponsored"?? Are there different levels of sponsorship? Are there anglers who are "sponsored", but do not fish tournaments? I hope some of the folks on here who are sponsored can give us newbies some insight? Oh and also...no I am not a "pro" nor am I "sponsored" (that I know of!!) nor am I looking to be. It just seems I here alot of guys throwing these phrases around pretty liberally, so I figured I'd ask. Thanks!!! Alan (bassnajr) Quote
Bassnbrett101 Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 To be sponsored is to be given money or product from a company from wearing they're name or endorsing their product or service. There are plenty of different levels of sponsership ranging from partial sponsorships with just a little bit of product as the reward, to full sponsorship where they pay your way to tournaments and you pretty much do whatever they tell you too. And there's everything inbetween. I don't know of any sponsored people that don't fish tournaments Quote
jrhennecke Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 For some people they view "sponsorship" as some kind of validation. There are many different levels of sponsorship varying on the angler and what the company offers. There are some quides around here that do not fish tournaments but have sponsors. Also some of your TV guys like Bill Dance that no longer fish tournaments are still sponsored. Quote
Super User Catt Posted March 11, 2008 Super User Posted March 11, 2008 Our own FishChris is sponsored and he is not a tournament angler; he is a record hunter in search of the next world record. Quote
BillyBob Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 Definition of Sponsorship....something you think you want, until you get it and then it isn't what you thought it would be. Its gainful employment connected to your love of bass fishing, requiring lots of time, work, distraction and unfortunately some deceitfullness. The more you get...the more you give. The old law of business that theres nothing free applies. Quote
Perfect Hook Set Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 Hey all... I posted earlier in this catagory about what your definition of a "pro" angler is and the thread is VERY interesting. All great and varied replies, as I knew they would be from the BRS crew!!! Here's the next one... What does it mean to be "sponsored"?? Are there different levels of sponsorship? Are there anglers who are "sponsored", but do not fish tournaments? I hope some of the folks on here who are sponsored can give us newbies some insight? Oh and also...no I am not a "pro" nor am I "sponsored" (that I know of!!) nor am I looking to be. It just seems I here alot of guys throwing these phrases around pretty liberally, so I figured I'd ask. Thanks!!! Alan (bassnajr) You and or your boat become a billboard. In exchange for advertisement you can be givin money, fishing gear free hotels stays and things such as that. Different levels, I would say yes. An amateur angler may be sponsored by local companies where pro anglers are sponsored by well know big companies such as Dodge etc.. Are there anglers who are "sponsored", but do not fish tournaments? **Yes and I wish I was one of them Sponsors ruin watching fishing on TV!!! Quote
Super User Tin Posted March 12, 2008 Super User Posted March 12, 2008 Definition of Sponsorship....something you think you want, until you get it and then it isn't what you thought it would be. 100% Right. I would rather be on the water than working at outdoor shows. And as BillyBob says most of the time you have to be "deceitful" or exaggerate to get the job done as I have seen by about 98% of sponsored guys. I'm all set with that stuff. But my sister does have a pretty sweet deal. ;D Quote
GobbleDog Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 What would being sponsored mean to me? It would mean angrily throwing my rod in the lake everytime I missed a fish, banging my lures off other fisherman's boats, and acting like the greatest gift to fishing since the plastic worm! I'd be the Rodney Dangerfield of fishing. j/k Quote
warmer Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 Sponsors ruin watching fishing on TV!!! there would be no fishing on tv without sponsors. Quote
Perfect Hook Set Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 I was waiting for that comment. Not all sponsors that are shown or talked about pay for the show and it gets annoying to watch some anglers (no names needed) repeating how great this specific brand of bait is this month or how great this reel is even if they dont normally use it, Quote
warmer Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 repeating how great this specific brand of bait is this month or how great this reel is even if they dont normally use it, commercial = show sponsor they all come w/ strings... certain baits they cant suggest, certain boats they cant run, and on and on... you cant get away from the bent of the "sponsor" dollar in any form... sit back and enjoy the show. Quote
preach4bass Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 Sponsors ruin watching fishing on TV!!! there would be no fishing on tv without sponsors. There would be no TV without sponsors Quote
squid Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 Hey all... What does it mean to be "sponsored"?? Are there different levels of sponsorship? Are there anglers who are "sponsored", but do not fish tournaments? What does it mean to be "sponsored"?? - To me it means that there is a company out there that wants to use my sales skills to get their product out into the public. In return they will reward for for such given services...ie...free product, free services, or money. All depends on the sponsorship level......see below Are there different levels of sponsorship? - Yes there are all types of levels. ie The company I work for makes racing bikes for kids..we have 4-5 types of levels, it's all in how you look at it. National Team riders, Factory riders. 1) Team riders start out with a 30% discount on all parts and a discount for their bikes. 2) They can move up to the 40% discount on all parts and a bigger discount on their bikes. Then if they do a lot of national events and are good enough they become Factory riders. 100% discount for parts upto $5000, and 3 free bikes per yr. Some are full 100% riders...no limit. For those that are 40% and below....ie...just ride our bikes...we have contingicy(sp?) money based on how they finish a race. That they can spend with us for parts. Some fishing sponsorships work the same way. I have to maintain a certain amount of points to maintain my national team status with 1 of my sponsors. Are there anglers who are "sponsored", but do not fish tournaments? - Yes, there are plenty of anglers out there who are sponsored and do not fish tournaments anymore or never have. Quote
Super User Gatorbassman Posted March 14, 2008 Super User Posted March 14, 2008 To be sponsored is to be given money or product from a company from wearing they're name or endorsing their product or service. There are plenty of different levels of sponsership ranging from partial sponsorships with just a little bit of product as the reward, to full sponsorship where they pay your way to tournaments and you pretty much do whatever they tell you too. And there's everything inbetween. I don't know of any sponsored people that don't fish tournaments I'm sponsored and I don't fish any large tournaments. Triton Mike is sponsored by Lucky Craft and Gary Yamamoto and several others and he doesn't fish tournamets either. It's not all about wearing their logo or promoting their product. It's about making them money. You work for your sponsor in return for what they agree to do for you. You are an employee of that company and that is how you should look at it. Quote
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