Why? What for?

[Brian_Reeves]

What I'm getting curious about is why write a fishing resume at all?  Sponsers are going to pick you up based on your marketability and success.  Sure, you can kind of display that in a resume, but your actions up on the weigh in stage and out on the water are what is really going to land sponserships that are worth having.

If I were the owner of a tackle company I would recruit rather than listen to a bunch of "shotgun resumes" that were written as an attempt to get a sponsership from anywhere or anyone.

What is the point of a fishing resume at all?  Do they work?  I think that by working with a company prior to asking for sponsership is a good way to get a sponser that you can actually use.  I just have a bad taste in my mouth for people that are looking for freebies and handouts without actually believing in the products.  It's not good for bass fishing.  That's how Gulp still exists

[Bassnbrett101]

lol i see where you're coming from.

I have a resume on here and i'm currently working on getting some sponsors, i only have a few little sponsors that ended up finding me.  I only sent out my resume once so far and its under review.  

Basically I look at it as another part of the business and sponsors will want to see what you have done with other products and how you did in past tournaments.  Its almost like looking for a job, not everyones interested at first but they might just change their mind if they see your resume.  Also i have seen companies that are looking for pro staff to ask people to send in their resumes to the company.  To me its not entirely useless to have, if you go to a company in person and take your resume it might start a conversation or help with the interview for sponsorship.

[Brian_Reeves]

I guess I should have said "shotgun resumes."  Meaning a resume that could fit the bill for any company in bass fishing from soft plastics to trolling motor batteries.  If the resume is custom tailored to the company, you stand an even better chance at convincing them.

I guess I can go ahead and ask ya if you don't mind.  Do you care who you're sponsored by?  To me, Strike King has some of the better spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits.  I use them both religiously on the water.  If I were sponsored by them instead of Berkley, it would be better for both me and the company.  Nothing wrong with Berkley, I just don't use very much of their line-up.  I really wouldn't be a good advertiser for them.  Like if Mattlures sponsored me.  I have never even seen one of his lures.  Depending on the terms of the contract, I'd be uncomfortable working with a company I have never tried before.  Especially if I find out that after I sign up, they create a junk product that I'm stuck with.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

There are folks out there who have come here with hopes of learning more about the business side of angling.  This section gives a good idea of what it's like, from lots of different perspectives, sponsored anglers, manufacturers, mom and pops, etc.

We have had kids take this info and use it to their advantage, senko77 is a prime example.  He's going places and it's because he learned how to do it right and of course,...the kid can fish,.

But like Brian suggests, and as Senko77 is now finding out,....when you are at the level or have the exposure, to warrant being "marketable",....they'll find you!

But when they come,....they will want to see a resume and rest assured, if it's passed through this section, it's one they will at least read.

Bri- I personally do care who's name I wear.  When I skied, I only had certain choices (equipment, accessories,,,) but we also had corporate sponsors like Visa, UPS, Kodak,etc. that we all had to work with.  Having the freedom to choose, as I really don't look for sponsors, is a nice change.  The relationships I have now are ones I believe in 100%, but I am not recruiting sponsors out of need so it's different.  We just fit each others criteria naturally and it makes for a much more relaxed scenario.  Otherwise, it would not be worth it for me.

[Bassnbrett101]

I do care who I'm sponsored by. I mean one sponsor just found me and I have heard of his product and I'm going to try it out and see how I like it. But if its for brand name lures or something and they want to sponsor me I'll probably take them up on the offer anyway. I really need to take as much burden off of myself as I can for buying products.

Right now I can't honestly say I wouldn't turn a sponsor down if the deal was good enough. I'd still try my best to market their product the best I could and I'd give it a shot when I was fishing. But if it came down to catching fish or not I'd still fish with what I'm comfortable with

[Hawg Fan]

It is good to have a resume but I do not believe it is good to shove it in everyones face to get free stuff, sponsorship is a two way street.

If you want to form a relationship with a company the best way to do it is to shake hands at the weigh in after you just won that big check. I feel like some of the younger guys forget all about fishing and just try to promote themselves without any experience! You should not try to force sponsorships, if you think your good enough to have one, then they probably already know who you are. Fish hard  

HawgFan

[Brian_Reeves]

For non-fishing sponsors, I wouldn't care if it were Suave shampoo, but for baits, I think I'm just going to market myself directly to companies that I already have faith in. Maybe when it comes that time, I'll pass a resume through here and see how much it gets chewed up ;D I still feel like a shotgun resume just sounds more like a desperate plea than a business strategy. "Plx sponsor me cuz i r teh grate fsherman!!!" is just not working for me. I guess to each their own.

I guess the reason I started getting bothered by it is because I'm writing resume's to various companies right now for a job. Getting out of the army sucks, especially for infantry. Ive got some good things lined up, providing I don't scare the heck out of my interviewer dudes. "So, Brian, what have you done in the last few years?" That's going to be the make-or-break question there. "You know, sir. Nothing much. We broke into an office just like this in Iraq and we fragged it."

[Bassnbrett101]

Brian first of all I want to thank you for your service to our country!  I can't thank people in the armed forces enough for that, its very much appreciated.  But your right about the shotgun resumes, i have a basic format I have in this section that i have already made a whole bunch of changes too.  But i'd have to say the sponsors I have are from relationships I have formed from fishing tournaments.  I just think its a good idea to have one just in case a company does notice you, that way you can show them you took preparation and so that you have something to show them if they ask you for an interview.

I think its also important not to force yourselves onto people by sending them a resume for no reason.  But I will ask them politely if they are looking for people to endorse their product, and if they say no its cool too.  A vast majority of the time though the sponsors that are looking for business are out recruiting themselves so theres really no need to beg them for sponsorship.

And I know some of the people your taking about  , but I must say before I knew much about the business I was guilty of it a few times too

[Brian_Reeves]

Yeah, that works for me.  That seems like a more positive approach that won't end up giving a bad rep or a restraining order ;D  I guess that makes a little more sense.  It seems like a highlight reel would own a resume though.  That's what I'm going to do.  I'm going to hire LBH to make a video of me at Sugar lake.  I'll pay rofl

[Bassnbrett101]

lol thats not a bad idea at all  ;D

[roadwarrior]

There are folks out there who have come here with hopes of learning more about the business side of angling. This section gives a good idea of what it's like, from lots of different perspectives, sponsored anglers, manufacturers, mom and pops, etc.

That just about sums it up.

8-)

[Daiwa]

How about instead of writing get some pictures and/or videos of fish you caught?

[Brian_Reeves]

Pictures and video should probably be included as an attachment to a resume.  And chances are the pictures need to be of you holding a giant uncashable check and not a fish.