Pros and their sponsors

[Landis76]

I know that when you become professional and as you collect sponsors, you are only allowed to use their products. But do they ALWAYS abide by this law??? Gez, I personally would hate to have hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line and not have equipment I am not 100% confident about. I mean, most of these guys try to support their family this way, why would they want to use sub-par equiptment? Even if they do only use the sponsors equipment at tournaments, do they get to use the the fancy stuff in their off time? I know a pro who is sponsored by a company that I think sells junk, but I really think he believes in the stuff. If it were me, I'd want to be sponsored by Lucky Craft, G Loomis, Shimano, Ranger, Mustad and P-Line!  ;D

[Glenn]

That same topic was discussed here:

http://bassresource.com/cgi-bin/bass_fish/YaBB.pl?board=Tournament_Talk_ID;action=display;num=1109037432;start=0

Perhaps you may find it interesting.

[Will]

First of all the pro's won't always use the sponsors baits, although they will usually say they did. One example was at a recent tournament, Kerry Kreup who has fished on the B.A.S.S. Pro tour was fishing at a tournament I was at. When I was talking to his non-boater for the day who I know said they were carolina rigging. Kerry took first place and told the audience they were flipping buckbrush with his sponsors tubes.

[Landis76]

Well I had rods and reels in mind mostly when I posted this. There is such a difference between a so-so rod and a top o'the line Grandt, G Loomis or Kistler.

[Muddpuppy]

And in Nascar the Fords are all stock.  Just because it has a certain name on it I dought if all of their equipment lines are the same products as the fine one's mass produced for retail.

[Marty]

I'm certainly no pro, but I do know that many, if not most, companies understand that their pros may have to use other companies' lures at times to fit the conditions. Some of these companies have instructed their pros not to lie about what they used. Obviously, they don't want them mentioning competitors' products, but just to use a generic description when applicable, as "I used a shallow crankbait."

[earthworm77]

I'm not a pro angler, I do have sponsors and I do have friends that are pro's. These guys do what they have to do to keep sponsor dollars coming in. There is no doubt that they use other companies products...I don't think they are prohibited from doing that. There is also no doubt that they might embellish and talk up their sponsors products as being key to their success even if they weren't. These guys are making a living. They do what they have to do to get by.

[JT Bagwell]

Well I had rods and reels in mind mostly when I posted this. There is such a difference between a so-so rod and a top o'the line Grandt, G Loomis or Kistler.

When it comes to equipment like rods and reels, it is a lot more rare to see an angler using a competitor's brand. Unlike with lures, you should always be able to get the job done with your brand of rod and reel. It's not like the fish are only biting on Pflueger reels and All Star rods today because of the post cold front bluebird conditions.

If I was an equipment company (rods and reels) and I saw one of my Pro Staff members using a different brand, they would be fired.

JT Bagwell

[Landis76]

That's what I was looking for. Sorry, if I was sponsored by Quantum, I would HATE to have to use their stuff.

[JT Bagwell]

Sorry, if I was sponsored by Quantum, I would HATE to have to use their stuff.

LOL  Then I wouldn't suggest getting sponsored by Quantum. Typically you only try to get sponsored by a company whos products you use, love and believe in.

JT Bagwell

[Fisher of Men]

J.T.

I agree with you that you should be sponsored by a company who's stuff you believe in, but don't you think that some pros (or beginning pros) just try to get sponsored by anyone who'll offer instead of pursuing sponsorship by products that they believe in?

[Landis76]

J.T.

I agree with you that you should be sponsored by a company who's stuff you believe in, but don't you think that some pros (or beginning pros) just try to get sponsored by anyone who'll offer instead of pursuing sponsorship by products that they believe in?

I second that. I don't think you can be picky most of the time. Kinda like how KVD is sponsored by Nitro ... you know he'd rather be sponsored by Ranger!

[John Cullum]

If KVD wanted to be sponsored by Ranger, Ranger would be all over him. With Nitro he gets to double dip as a BPS guy too.

What would be the benifits of being sponsored by a company you didn't use and believe in?  Not to many guys that are sponsored by a boat company get a FREE boat. I could see if you could score some FREE rods and reels that you could sell when the years over. But if your locked in your gonna get new product from that company the next year and you'll still have to use it.

What could you gain from having a lure company sponsor you if your not using their product?

[Marty]

J.T.

I agree with you that you should be sponsored by a company who's stuff you believe in, but don't you think that some pros (or beginning pros) just try to get sponsored by anyone who'll offer instead of pursuing sponsorship by products that they believe in?

I don't know any pros and I'm far removed from organized fishing, but based on what I've read about financial hardships that exist in professional fishing, I'd be willing to bet that the answer is YES

[JT Bagwell]

J.T.

I agree with you that you should be sponsored by a company who's stuff you believe in, but don't you think that some pros (or beginning pros) just try to get sponsored by anyone who'll offer instead of pursuing sponsorship by products that they believe in?

    Oh there are definately anglers out there that will try to get sponsored by anyone just for the sake of adding another patch to their shirts. The thing that most people have to understand is that VERY FEW anglers actually receive cash payments from sponsors.

    I have never done or read a study on this, but I would have to guess that less than 1% of tournament anglers actually receive regular cash payments. So in reality having a sponsor, especially one that they dislike, is not going to greatly benefit them from a financial standpoint. In most cases it might help reduce costs which can attribute to lower overhead expenses, but the affects will be minimal.

    It just does not make a lot of sense to me for an angler to invest the time and energy that it takes to create a solid sponsorship agreement with a company whos products they do not even believe in or even use for that matter.

JT Bagwell

[Fatdaddy150]

Well done JT, I know several anglers that go to shows and seminars and go to every booth trying to get an organization to sponsor them. They send countless emails practically begging to be a pro staff member. I wish I had a dollar for everytime a buddy of mine added a new company name to his tournament shirt. He puts the patch on goes out has a good day takes all kinds of pictures with that logo on his shirt then sends a resume, to brand X company with that logo on his shirt. He has yet to land a sponsorship deal because he is very pushy and does not take the time to actually learn brand X line of product. He is a good fisherman but all he wants is what is best for him not the company he wishes to WORK for.

"Yes I said work fulfilling your commitment to a sponsor is work"

The key is be paitent and don't just go looking for a deal, make sure you get sponsorship deal from a company you trust, and truly enjoy using thier products. Like JT said I highly doubt in the early stages of tournament fishing you are going to get paid cash from the company. More like some product and apperal, if you are lucky maybe a small amount will be knocked off an entry fee or two. If you are trying to get a sponsor be prepaired to work at selling the product, doing shows, seminars, and trying new product line. More than likely you will work harder for them than they will for you, but that is how it should be because they are helping you out and you need to show your graditude to the company. Because bass fisheman are a dime a dozen they can find anyone to promote their product! Show them that you appreciate them because they choose you. "Also nice to prove to them that they choose the right guy for the job!! JUST MY TWO CENTS!!

Tight Lines,

Fatdaddy151

[Gatorbassman]

I have a good friend who is sponsored by Lucky Craft and I know it took him at least 3 years of very hard work to even get noticed by that company. Many of the top companies are very particular about who they sponsor even if they aren't sending a check.

[earthworm77]

JT -right on the head brother!!!! The thing that most people have to understand is that VERY FEW anglers actually receive cash payments from sponsors.

This is true all the way up to the pro.s

FatDaddy, pm me or something, that's my tube the Fat Tony. You obviously like!!! I just put it together...Steve.

[GamblerFL]

I wrote this a while back but I was at the tournament on Toho. When Tak had the boat pulled out of the water he had several people around him taking pictures. He pulled a rod out that had a Lucky Craft lipless crank bait on it. He took the lure and pulled the hooks off and put on two red hooks. He then held it up as one camera man took pictures of it. Since he won, Bassmasters had a write up on him. The picture they used was that picture of the crank bait with the red hooks. Now of course I wasnt in the boat with him so I have no idea if he used the bait with red hooks, but I know for a fact when he had pictures taken he didnt have one with the red kooks until he put them on.

Just a side note to this, Golf is probably the biggest sport for people not using what they sell. I read an artical a few years ago that the title was "Whats in their bags". Although most of the top pro's in golf use a club built by the sponsor it isnt the club you can go buy. In most cases the clubs they use are a bladed club but on tv they are pushing the cavity back over the counter club. Fred Couples at the time was pushing the Lynx "Boom Boom" driver and he didnt even own one.

[Fatdaddy150]

FatDaddy, pm me or something, that's my tube the Fat Tony. You obviously like!!! I just put it together...Steve.

Glad you catch on fast...Craig.