Berkely Gulp Ad

[clipper]

The last couple of issues of Bassmaster Magazine have contained a full page ad for Berkely Gulp that features Skeet Reese and Mike Iaconelli posing nude holding a bass in front of them.  If they were to show up at a tournament weigh-in in that state of undress they would be arrested for indecent exposure. Why should they appear in a prestigious bass fishing magazine like that?  It also sets a terrible example for the thousands of boys and girls who eagerly read fishing magazines each month as well.  If you object to the ad, please let Bassmaster Magazine and Berkely know of your objection by writing them at advertising@bassmaster.com and berkely@purefishing.com.  Bass fishing is still in it's infancy as a professional sport and we, the purchasers of fishing products and subscribers to fishing magazines have a responsibility to hold everyone involved to the high standards we would like our sport to embody.  They will listen to the people who purchase their products and read their magazines.  I realize Bassmasters is sponsored by Berkely and may not have much say in what ads they run, but it won't hurt to express  your opinion on this matter to them.  

[Windknot51]

First let me tell you all that I am new to Bass fishing. I grew up un the East Branch of NY's Delaware River and it's tributaries. So I became a Spin and Fly Fisherman. Age has crept upon me and the constant motion of fly fishing coupled with the price of gas keeps me from fishing my roots. I now live on NY's Susquehanna River known for Smallmouths, Muskie, Walleyes, Catfish and Carp. Access to this river is minutes away and I am having a great time fishing for Bass. Still I need to learn more and this is a great place to be. What I can tell you about is advertising.

Look arround you. All arround you are advertisments of shock and awe. The intention is to create interest however contrivercial. Wall Street requires this as stockholders demand dividends. What better way to get there than to commercialize. The day of this quiet sport is gone as we now need to sell this new this and that. Just take a look at the Bassmasters just as flashy as Nascar and you see what they are doing..... Advertising for product.

Product is not bad and I use Superline that allows me to cover more water than I ever thought possible.

As the moral majority continues to decline, I wonder where we're headed. Naked guys are a NO in my book. Naked Ladies however would bring me to the river banks often.

Without being a liberal thinker, I beleive in sexuality, but not in advertising.

Wall Street now capitalizes on controversity and now are trying to prostute  the fisherman and the water. It's all about dollars!

As for the add.... It has done it's purpose well. From here they will back down, only to hit us again with another shock till we become conditioned as we have in TV, fast food, gas prices, etc.

[DDbasser]

The one question I have, is if it were 2 lovely young ladies up there would your response be the same?????

[Gatorbassman]

The one question I have, is if it were 2 lovely young ladies up there would your response be the same?????

DD,

 Clipper is my Father-in-Law and I can guarantee that his response would be the same or even more disgust. He is the most humble, honest man I know.

I personally can't stand when those commercials come on TV when my boys are watching fishing with me. I usually turn the channel so they don't see it. If they were women I would do the same thing without hesitation.

[Rattlinrogue]

I know they say in the ad business sex sells,but the Gulp ad is so ridiculous that it's laughable.It sure didn't motivate me to go out and buy any.Fishing and naked guys? Come on.

[KYbass1276]

Gentleman we live in a age where family values are pretty much a thing of the past. Gone are the days of The Andy Griffith show It's all about the money as stated before what makes more. I totally agree with Rattlenrouge on this on

[clipper]

As far as I am concerned, the principle is the same regardless of gender.  Bait and tackle manufactureres are dependent on us, the consumers for their sales and if we express our dislike of their advertising practices they will change them.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I know they say in the ad business sex sells,but the Gulp ad is so ridiculous that it's laughable.It sure didn't motivate me to go out and buy any.Fishing and naked guys? Come on.

Exactly

[KYbass1276]

It really dosen't surprise me about what some companys will do to sell products.  I was looking through the latest bassmaster and last months issue and happened to notice a picture of preston clark in a ad for berkley.  I'm sure that berkley does sponser preston clark or they might have just picked him up after his santee cooper win but anyway in the ad he was wearing a berkley hat that if my memory serves me correctly he wasn't wearing during any of the tournaments.  You could see that it was I guess for lack of better words photo shopped  it didn't look real.  I don't know maybe I'm wrong maybe he was wearing a berkley hat during the tournaments but I really don't think he was.  It just irritates me to see that. Does anyone else think those pictures look fake

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Are you guys saying that you don't fish in the raw? Am I solo on this? I mean, it gets cold come Oct-Nov-Dec but come spring,............Gulp.

See the backround? No houses, noone to see,no harm done. I just hate tan lines.

*This opinion offered strictly for entertainment and humor purpose. No offence is intended to any. No animals were harmed in the making of this photo.

[Minuteman]

It seems like every 7-8 years that the advertising industry goes nuts. It isn't just fishing, that's for sure. It is usually the automobile ads that start some disturbing trend. I was complaining the other weekend that most ads now a days make me NOT want to associate with the product.

I agree that some of the behaviour in the ads is Illegal, escpecially in car commercials. You can add small disclaimers and I guess it is ok to show drivers going 100+ MPH on a back road like the one I live on and small children are playing near.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

LOL,...you're right,...where is closed course rd. anyway?  Looks like the cul-de-sac over by my grandmothers,lol.

[DDbasser]

The one question I have, is if it were 2 lovely young ladies up there would your response be the same?????

DD,

Clipper is my Father-in-Law and I can guarantee that his response would be the same or even more disgust. He is the most humble, honest man I know.

I personally can't stand when those commercials come on TV when my boys are watching fishing with me. I usually turn the channel so they don't see it. If they were women I would do the same thing without hesitation.

Fluke,

I apologize if I offended you or your father-in-law!!! That was not my intent!!!

And in no way do I condone it. I reread my last post and should have given more of my opinion.

I overheard a couple guys talking about that ad the other day and how they thought it was wrong and then in almost the same breath made a remark about a beautiful woman that was walking by.

Ads like that have no place in magazine's or on tv where a young child may be   reading or watching.

My brother-in-law cancelled cable because of ads like that on ESPN, my nephews loved watching BASS Saturday. But because of commercials like that they don't get to watch it anymore.

[Gatorbassman]

DD,

There was no offence taken. That question was expected and it's sad that it's true. IMO If it's men or women doing the commercial wrong is still wrong.

I don't use Gulp but this commercial made it more difficult for them to persuade me to ever use it. I just think it's tastless junk. There are better ways to advertise than to cover some guys crotch with a big bass in hopes that it will get a bunch of other guys to by a product. It just doesn't match the demographic.

Russ,

I think if feel lunch comming up.

[galv]

i saw it and was really mad too

why'd they have to put that darn bass there and cover all the good stuff

just kidding those ads are tasteless and dumb

[Sam]

The ad worked.

Love it or hate it; good taste or bad taste; it caught your eye and planted a seed for Berkley Gulp! products.

To be honest, I thought the ad was dumb and a waste of money.  

A Wall Street advertising firm created the ad to meet certain advertising goals and to say the least, by the responses to this topic, it worked.

What is so depressing is that the ad is insulting, demeaning and stuipd.  I guess it was some young college kid with uncontrollable hormones that came up with the ad.

When I fish I only think about fishing; the beautiful scenery; friendship with my fishing partners; and a peaceful and relaxing time on the water.  Not naked guys trying to sell baits.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I don't see the partial nudity as a "sexual attack" on our senses or a "hormone driven" one as much as somthing to make you look twice and continue watching because you just have to see the whole thing because you are pretty sure you will be judging it morally.

In short.  Advertising.

And as Sam said.  It worked.  The more we type, the more we prove it.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Come on LBH ... Show some decency!!!!!!! ;D ;D

[clipper]

It is comforting to know that I am not the only member on this board that thinks the Gulp ad is inappropriate for a fishing magazine.  I hope enough of you will use the email addresses I listed to let the publisher and manufacturer know how you feel.  It doesn't take many letters from consumers to make a manufacturer take note because they know that for every fisherman who took the time to write them there are 500 more who felt the same way and didn't write.  I also take no offense when someone else expresses a view point different from mine, I am thankful we have the freedom in this country to do so.   This is a great forum and the people who run it and the members who post on it make it that way.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Clipper-I fully respect your opinion and mean no foul when I say this but every email you send them will re-inforce their assumption that this commercial worked.  The ad is designed to generate controversy, the emails are like trophies for the ad agency, solidifying their success.

[clipper]

Clipper-I fully respect your opinion and mean no foul when I say this but every email you send them will re-inforce their assumption that this commercial worked. The ad is designed to generate controversy, the emails are like trophies for the ad agency, solidifying their success.

I am not an advertising expert and you may be correct. I have heard it said that "any publicity is good publicity, even if it's bad." I would also expect them to judge the success of the ad by sales. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I wonder if there is any way to go look up if a campaign was successful or not and to what degree.  Anyone out there have in depth advertising experience?

[K_Mac]

clipper

I sent both companies e-mails to let them know I find this type of advertising inappropriate. I agree with you that if enough complain it can make a difference.

LBH

I think you're right that a handful of complaints will be viewed by some as a victory. A few right wing conservatives complaining could be seen as a sign that this commercial tactic worked. On the other hand, it doesn't take too many complaints for the corporate world to take notice. Public opinion can and does make a difference. Look at the changes that have been made since the Janet Jackson/Super Bowl incident. Morallity does matter, and even if the knot heads who came up with this advertising campaign don't know it, many Americans and the corporate bean counters do. Just my .02.

[Guest avid]

Are you guys saying that you don't fish in the raw? Am I solo on this? I mean, it gets cold come Oct-Nov-Dec but come spring,............Gulp.

See the backround? No houses, noone to see,no harm done. I just hate tan lines.

*This opinion offered strictly for entertainment and humor purpose. No offence is intended to any. No animals were harmed in the making of this photo.

This is a hoot!!

C'mon guys.  In this age of gangster rap videos, victoria secret commercials, erectile dysfunction, and our favorite.....the internet, I just can't get all worked up about a couple guys doing an ad like this?

I thought it was funny.

As far as emails and complaints, yeah if they get a couple of million it might work, but the real test is the direction sales take.  It it's up expect more and worse to come.  If down, then who knows?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

My personal opinion is pretty much the same as Avids but I would be curios to know the opinion of the majority.  The  Ad industry must have periodical literature, I just don't know where to look.

I smell a poll coming.