Sponsorship?

[CJ]

If you had the chance to be sponsored by a lure company that you don't really like or use their lures, would you? What if their products were a gimmick?

Another question, how many of you guys seek sponsorship or are just waiting for sponsorship to find you?

CJ

[Tin]

1. Absolutley not, 99% of the time all you are going to get out of them is more of the products you don't use or don't like or a discount on products you don't use or like. So who does it really benefit, not you, and not the company because since you don't have confidence in the product are you going to put all the effort you can into it to helping them move their products?

2. I really don't want sponsors. I don't want to become just another angler in the "sponsored fisherman" generalization  :-X.

[GobbleDog]

I'd endorse maxi-pads if they paid me enough.  

[jaskoh]

If they are just giving me free stuff I would say no.  Why would I want to use something I have zero confidense in?  I rather pay for my gear that I know will work.  If they were willing to give me a lot of money with the free stuff I would have to think about it.  I would have to look at how much money they are willing to give me and how crappy their product is.  Then I could make the decision.

With lures I would never look for sponsorship unless its a product that I already use because I feel it produces.  Im more like if it happens it happens.  Im more worried about putting fish in the boat than if Im getting free stuff.    

[Grey Wolf]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone with any ethics would not do it either , but alas many people do it , as they say" money makes the world go round."

[squid]

I would have to say no.  I have sponsors, but I have to work hard at keeping them.  Also, who would trust you if you didn't use the product you rep for?

[jrhennecke]

No way.  I would definately have to use and believe in their products.

[roadwarrior]

Well, there seems to be a lot of gray area if you ask me. I'm a Shimano man, but for free Diawa Steez and a few thousand dollars, I think I might like that brand just fine. You might prefer your Mecury motor, but do you think you could get use to a FREE Yamaha?

I just don't think it's all cut and dry.

8-)

[ba7ss3in]

Situation dictates

[5bass]

Situation dictates

Yep

[The Bass Guy]

Regrettably the situation would dictate alot...

[HesterIsGod]

It depends on where I am at in my tournament success. If I'm an elite series competitor or at a very high level then no, but if I am pretty unknown and at a low level, sometimes you need to take anything you can get.

[jrhennecke]

Well, there seems to be a lot of gray area if you ask me. I'm a Shimano man, but for free Diawa Steez and a few thousand dollars, I think I might like that brand just fine. You might prefer your Mecury motor, but do you think you could get use to a FREE Yamaha?

I just don't think it's all cut and dry.

8-)

Thinking on this for a bit I have to agree maybe this isn't as cut and dry as I first thought.  At the professional level the business side would have to be considered also.  I'm not saying I would be sponsored by the banjo minnow but if I was a Merc guy I could probably learn to like a Yamaha for the right incentives.  Besides loyalty works both ways.  Look what Diawa did to those guys.

[BillyBob]

I've never met an angler whose sponsored by someone he doesn't like. Moreover never met a sponsor who didn't like his angler!  

[Catt]

I don't think Diawa or Yamaha would actually fit the gimmick description?

So tell me again where this gray area is?  

[Willzx225]

I would say that I wouldn't put my name on a product I didn't use and like.  Its all about integrity and the fishing industry is relatively small so I wouldn't like to put my name on xyz product and prefer abc product.  Murphy's law would kick in and ABC would want to talk about a deal.  I have always heard that it looks really bad to keep switching like companies year after year. Therefore, unless they are offering a large amount of baitmonkey food  ;D, I will only put my name on products I know and use.

[t1365]

If I didn't believe in their product or had no confidence in it then I wouldn't take it.  As for seeking your own sponsors.  I've done it and found that it led to others finding me.  Worked out.

[Rayraff]

If I was going to get a sponsorship I would be the one looking for the sponsor not the other way around that way I know I like the product. But like road said if  I really liked to fish Alurringbait's trick stick but GY was going to give me free Senkos, hell, no question I would take the Senkos.

[fishizzle]

I would take the sponsor for the time being until a better company came around or the money was real good.

Do you think Aaron Martins uses a Ditch Witch?  No he is doing the company a favor by advertising it.

[Bassnbrett101]

I would take the sponsor for the time being until a better company came around or the money was real good.

Do you think Aaron Martins uses a Ditch Witch? No he is doing the company a favor by advertising it.

I agree wholeheartedly.  You gotta take the money as soon as it presents itself, tournaments do get expensive.  If another deal comes along take that, it is a business and you have the right to make more money if it presents itself.

[Volman482]

Do what you can live with.

Money talks, integrity walks??

Volman