How much do sponsors pay????

[Captain Obvious]

I was just wondering, how much do you think those elite series guys are making each year. I know they all claim that sponsors pay the bills and put food on the table but how much is that? I know that it differs depending on how good you are, so lets just look at guys like John Crews who don't win very often.

[RichF]

How can these elite guys hold a full time job and fish the elite schedule every year? That's like 7 or 8 tournaments plus the post season and classic. Not to mention, each of these tournaments is four days, not including practice and travel time. They must have great jobs that allow them to take half the year off in order to fish! I'd love to find a job like that.

[Captain Obvious]

Some do work for someone who supports their fishing

Those people they work for are called sponsors ;D

And those elite guys do work for their sponsors by giving seminars and helping create new products.

Lets not confuse the elite guys with the the people who fish the federation or open tournaments. Although those guys are pros they also have jobs.

What I want to know is how much is Strike King paying KVD or how much is Lucky Craft paying Kelly Jordan to fish their baits.

[bigjake]

Bassmaster had an article about this a couple years ago. Skeet was the highest paid at the time. I'm sure some of this has changed over the years.

Skeet Reese $650,000

Mike Ike. $615,00

Gerald Swindle $550,000

Kevin VanDam $515,00

[stratos 375]

Hey Chris, I really like the way you think! Your situation mirrors mine, except mine was 26 years ago. I was 28, had a new F150 and a new 375. no kids, a high paying job with flexible hours/ days. Plus I lived in a run down old cabin a half mile from the lake that most dogs wouldn't live in. I fished my first tourney in 1981, my last in 1992, and many in between.

I remember that from '85 to '88 I spent 100 grand of my own money on chasing the dream, Red Mans, PBFA, BASS Div. 2, and club tourneys.

Several years later I came to my senses and got out of that game to fish on my own time schedules at the lakes I chose.

The best decision in my life I ever made.

I didn't have any sponsors, the only thing I had going for me is that I was a hang around/ errand boy a a bass boat dealer and got most of my work for close to free, or parts only.

The biggest part of my wet dream was that I wanted to stand up on that podium with a shirt on that had only one name on it, MINE. And I didn't want any cheesy decals plastered on my boat either. If I got there, like yourself, I wanted to do it all on my own.

Some people are under the impression that sponsors are there to finance your fishing endeavours, and are a "must have". It's a 2 way street, they give you something, then you owe them something. I would imagine pleasing a half dozen or more sponsors could chew up a fair amount of time that could be spent fishing, then there was the problem for me that you had present yourself a certain way, dress and act a certain way, and watch what you say in public. I don't think so!

I've been out of the game for so long, I don't really know what sponsorship is and does nowadays, but I would think in a tour like the FLW that there are a lot of guys that are flashing sponsors, but are only getting some free line, rods and reels and lures. I would venture to guess that guys getting trucks, boats and paid entry fees are not the majority. I'm sure there are still a lot of guys spending tons of their own cash ,and struggling with employers to get time off for travel, practice & tourney time.

Like I said, this is only an assumption on my part, I don't really know anymore, or care. My only other dream was retiring before age 50 to do nothing but fish. I did it several years ago at age 48, now I'm really livin the dream.

[Tin]

Just entry fees and a rig will cost over $100k not to mention living on the road and such. If sponsors were not kicking these guys cash then most wouldn't do it. I don't see why one would continously spend money and not get much if any back in return. Forget "chasing the dream", it sounds more like a gambling problem to me.

[Captain Obvious]

I'm just trying to teach the youth to stay in school

How did this topic become a "Save the Youth" campaign? 

I'm already a sophomore in college working for my bachelors in finance. So I guess that I'm "safe" for the time being

I just asked how much did sponsors pay and never mention anything about turning pro.I was merely asking out of curiosity and nothing more.

Capt.O

[Grey Wolf]

I'm just trying to teach the youth to stay in school

How did this topic become a "Save the Youth" campaign?

I'm already a sophomore in college working for my bachelors in finance. So I guess that I'm "safe" for the time being

I just asked how much did sponsors pay and never mention anything about turning pro.I was merely asking out of curiosity and nothing more.

Capt.O

It almost sounded like a cry for help.

[RobbyZ5001]

I have heard that some of the better guys who have boat sponsorships are given 3 boats. One boat to use for the season, one to sell, and one as a backup. This is of course hear say. In Ike's book he described his levels of sponsorship. That will give you an idea of where he was at a few years ago. I am sure his prices went up.

[chris090981]

Hey Chris, I really like the way you think! Your situation mirrors mine, except mine was 26 years ago. I was 28, had a new F150 and a new 375. no kids, a high paying job with flexible hours/ days. Plus I lived in a run down old cabin a half mile from the lake that most dogs wouldn't live in. I fished my first tourney in 1981, my last in 1992, and many in between.

I remember that from '85 to '88 I spent 100 grand of my own money on chasing the dream, Red Mans, PBFA, BASS Div. 2, and club tourneys.

Several years later I came to my senses and got out of that game to fish on my own time schedules at the lakes I chose.

The best decision in my life I ever made.

I didn't have any sponsors, the only thing I had going for me is that I was a hang around/ errand boy a a bass boat dealer and got most of my work for close to free, or parts only.

The biggest part of my wet dream was that I wanted to stand up on that podium with a shirt on that had only one name on it, MINE. And I didn't want any cheesy decals plastered on my boat either. If I got there, like yourself, I wanted to do it all on my own.

Some people are under the impression that sponsors are there to finance your fishing endeavours, and are a "must have". It's a 2 way street, they give you something, then you owe them something. I would imagine pleasing a half dozen or more sponsors could chew up a fair amount of time that could be spent fishing, then there was the problem for me that you had present yourself a certain way, dress and act a certain way, and watch what you say in public. I don't think so!

I've been out of the game for so long, I don't really know what sponsorship is and does nowadays, but I would think in a tour like the FLW that there are a lot of guys that are flashing sponsors, but are only getting some free line, rods and reels and lures. I would venture to guess that guys getting trucks, boats and paid entry fees are not the majority. I'm sure there are still a lot of guys spending tons of their own cash ,and struggling with employers to get time off for travel, practice & tourney time.

Like I said, this is only an assumption on my part, I don't really know anymore, or care. My only other dream was retiring before age 50 to do nothing but fish. I did it several years ago at age 48, now I'm really livin the dream.

Stratos 375 , I'm kind of looking at it like i'm doing better than most with a college degree being a salesman in this time and day ... The more i make , The more i'm able to fish ! There are more roads to take now then there were then in the fishing industry .. Ex: A.B.A weekend series could run you 5000-10000 with a possibility to make the classic ..  Flukes do make it sometimes ( like this year) .. But let a versatile angler through those doors , And look out !  Everybody's got their own season and strengths .. Live by the sword, Die by the sword ! For those of you who have a certain strength , Set it down and learn something new ! You will never succeed until you do !

[firefightn15]

Example : I'm 28 and still live at home , Me not dishing out $1200 a month is my sponsor and if i were to make it , I did it on my own !

In this example, at 28 years old, how does this translate into doing it on your own?

Just curious.