Just so you all understand.....

[Fish Chris]

(and nothing at all, against tournaments..... many of my good fishing buddies fish them)

But you do not have to fish tournaments, or even guide, to become sponsored. Of course most fishing sponsorships are for tournament anglers and guides, but their are other options.

You will see my sponsors at the bottom of my post. These were really easy...... all I had to do was fish 1200 to 1400 hours a year. Catch a bunch of trophy sized fish. Build a 200 page, 1500 photo website, gain a little bit of a following.... and Bam ! All of the sudden, these guys are giving me free stuff ;-)

Of course I'm being a little bit facetious about it being easy, but in reality, I would have done all the same stuff anyway, just because fishing is my lifes passion. In fact, I never intended, or expected to become sponsored (at first anyway), for any of the work I put in. It just sort of worked out this way :-)

Peace,

Fish

[fishingaddict]

wow!

I always believed sponsors endoresed tournament anglers only

this is giving me a new aspect towards gaining sponsors

though i am young and probably don't need any right now

Thanks for letting us all know about this!

[Fish Chris]

BTW, the sponsors I have listed, are the ones of which I actually have written contracts with.... or in other words, of which I am on their pro-staff. But I also have a few other companies who just give me stuff :-) Those are nice too.

I keep saying though, what I really need, is to get a sponsorship with Chevron, or BP or somebody who will give me an "unlimited gas card" !!!

......"Yes, I catch all of these big bass because I use BP gas" :-)  LOL

Peace,

Fish

[fishingaddict]

haha  ;D

definately a must

what's your secret to catching your lunkers?

I use BP gasoline ;D

[Dane]

news reporter: Chris, congratulations on catching the new world record largemouth.  how does it feel?

chris: Well It's a wonderful feeling, Dawn, I got up today and ate my kellog's corn flakes, and its 13 essential vitamins and minerals helped me get going.  Then I jumped into my shower and turned on my Moen showerhead and lathered up real nice with lever 2000.  I tell ya, after those 25 pounds of fish, i still smell like a spring meadow!  I jumped out of the shower and put on my BVD's, boy they give some great support where ya need it most, and threw on my wranglers and nike's and turned down my Honeywell thermostat so i didnt waste any gas while i ws gone. So away I went in my Ford F-150, which rides like a dream.

Dawn, the news reporter: OK...uhh so what did you catch your record breaking fish on?

Chris: Okuma lures baby!!!

Dawn: And why is that?  is it the quality, perhaps the color scheme?

Chris:  Ahhh, they were free...

i got bored, just a little 4:43AM humor

[5bass]

news reporter: Chris, congratulations on catching the new world record largemouth. how does it feel?

chris: Well It's a wonderful feeling, Dawn, I got up today and ate my kellog's corn flakes, and its 13 essential vitamins and minerals helped me get going. Then I jumped into my shower and turned on my Moen showerhead and lathered up real nice with lever 2000. I tell ya, after those 25 pounds of fish, i still smell like a spring meadow! I jumped out of the shower and put on my BVD's, boy they give some great support where ya need it most, and threw on my wranglers and nike's and turned down my Honeywell thermostat so i didnt waste any gas while i ws gone. So away I went in my Ford F-150, which rides like a dream.

Dawn, the news reporter: OK...uhh so what did you catch your record breaking fish on?

Chris: Okuma lures baby!!!

Dawn: And why is that? is it the quality, perhaps the color scheme?

Chris: Ahhh, they were free...

i got bored, just a little 4:43AM humor

That sounds like Roland Martin being interviewed or talking on his show,just with different brands inserted.

[Fish Chris]

That was entertaining :-)

Peace,

Fish

[Mattlures]

I am also on Okuma's pro staff just Like FC. I also have other companies send me free stuff all the time. Rods reels baits. You name it. I have never asked any of them for it. They came to me. I have actualy thought about asking a few companies that I like for sponsership but I havent got around to it.

Here is the funny part. I HAVE NEVER FISHED A FRESH WATER BASS TOURNAMENT! EVER!

Its all how you market your self. If you can help them sell products they will want you.

Just like FC. catching big bass = big money.

[George Welcome]

I watch these terms bandied about quite loosely:

Sponsorship - Pro Staff: are these terms synonymous or are there marked differences between the two?

Yes, the differences are day and night. To be a Pro Staff member in most cases simply means that you received product at a discounted price that is usually in and around the wholesale price level. The company you are a member of the Pro Staff with is still making money out of your pocket, just less than they do with the retail customer. In the process they anticipate that word-of-mouth advertisement will be of more benefit than some other form of media. In some instances there are some companies that look for the Pro Staff to attend events and act as spokesmen, but in most the Pro Staffer is just another avenue of sales with the potential of gaining some advertising benefit.

You are not going to pay your way through the fishing industry with this position. The industry plays upon a part of the human psyche with these positions - the desire to be recognized.

Sponsorship: This is the money end of the fishing industry. This is that segment where no money leaves your pocket. This is that segment where the money comes from the sponsor. It may come in the form of free product which will require active participation in various forums by you. It may come in actual cash to cover such things as entry fees into tournaments, or cost of equipment and gear, and again will require active participation in various forums. Of course, the best type is the paid salary whereby you are an active employee/spokesperson for the represented company. Also note that sponsorships come with hardline/lawyer produced contracts that can be taken to the bank. Pro-staff comes with a handshake and a wink of the eye.

An example: When one of the boat companies gives you a boat or gives you such a discount that you can actually make money in the sale of that boat, then you are being sponsored by that company. When the boat company/dealer sells you the boat at wholesale or above, they or you may claim sponsorship, but the reality is that this transaction was just another sale.

It's nice to get a discount, but learn to recognize the difference, or admit the difference and you will be on a better track to sponsorship in the fishing industry.

[Triton_Mike]

To build on what Chris said,  I know people that don't even own a boat that have sponsorships ie not paying for product.  If you can put baits in a store your worth more than a guy that just fishes tournaments IMHO.  Although these cases are rare but they do happen.  

Mike

[Mattlures]

George there are exceptions to your definations. My situation may or may not be unique. I am on the "pro staff" acording to Okuma(the second largets reel manufacturer in the world) My main job is to test gear. They send me rods and reels and I use them. I try and break them under normal situations and I give them feed back. I get to keep all the gear unless I actualy do break something or find a problem, then I send it back and they give me a new one. Not a bad gig huh? They also send me all the shirsts, hats, and decals I ask for. They even sent me a professional tournament shrt in case I ever decide to fish tournaments. Oh and guess what else. I have a yearly budget. I can buy what ever gear I want. When my budget runs out I have to use my own money to buy gear but not at a a small %. I get a huge discount. I still havent spent any of my 06 budget because I have so much stuff already.

I assume Fish Chris has a similar deal. Like I said before you dont have to fish tournaments to be "sponsered" or on a "prostaff" Its what you can do for the company. I guess according to your difination I would be sponsered, but according to them I am prostaff.

[Triton_Mike]

Matt,  I don't think George said anything about tournaments in his entire post??  What part of his post do you disagree with??  I thought Georges post was pretty accurate.  He just described the difference between the two types of deals to be had.  Some companies do interchange the 2 terms loosely as in your case with Okuma.  Another term that can be used is Field Staff.  Nothing to get riled up about over what company uses what terminology as it varies from company to company

Mike

[Mattlures]

Maybe you are right. I think I took it the wrong way. After reading it agin it again it does seem prety informative. At first it seemed like he was trying to "correct ' me. I wasnt mad just figured I would "correct" him back I fixed it.