how do you become a professional bass fisherman?

[bassmasta07]

my dream is to become a pro bass fisherman and i would like to know the right path, do i need to join a bass club and if i win enough tourneyments i become pro? how does it work?

[Marty]

Take a look at the FAQs here and you'll see some questions that should be of interest to you.

http://www.bassresource.com/fish/faq.html

[BASS fisherman]

Welcome to the forum!   \

To answer your question,  lots of hard work, and even more good fishin'!

[flyphisher #]

"Catch fish." - Guido Hibbon's answer to this whimsical question

[bassmasta07]

well i have been fishing about everyday since i was like 7 and im 16 now

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

First, you will need to be a VERY accomplished fisherman. Then you will need a variety of sponsors or a very big wallet. The price of entry is high.

[bassmasta07]

Welcome aboard!

First, you will need to be a VERY accomplished fisherman. Then you will need a variety of sponsors or a very big wallet. The price of entry is high.

ok and do i get sponsors by winning tourneyments?

[BASS fisherman]

bassmasta07,

 Click on the link that Marty put up in the first post.  Once the page loads, scroll half way down the page until you see the part about becoming a pro.  Click on those links and read up.  After you read those articles, scroll down the FAQ page a bit more and read up on sponsorships.  

There are many ways to become a pro, and many ways to aquire sponsorships.  Read up!

I've been learning for two years now, and I still don't have all the facts.  The answer is to vast to list all the ways here, read the articles to get a better idea.

[cabela10]

ok and do i get sponsors by winning tourneyments?

First off, lets start to spell "TOURNAMENTS" correct.

[langs15]

Know how to speak very well in public, have great grammer. Than, know how to put togather a great resume of your fishing accomplishments. Get a sponser. Talk to as many people as you can. Get to know as many lakes as you can. And knowing the right people is a must.

[bassmasta7]

Welcome to the forum, I think its weird you are bassmasta07 cause I'm bassmasta7, you are 16, I am 16, you live in atlanta, Ga and I live in atlanta, Ga.

[langs15]

stalker much?

[Sam]

First, get educated.  Get your college degree.

Second, make the progression through your state's Bass Federation, working yourself up to the top two or three positions.

Third, qualify for the B.A.S.S. or FLW circuit.

Fourth, using your degree, have a career so you can have the finances to support your fishing.

Fifth, when you get married, be sure your wife is supportive of your efforts.

And before doing all of this, read Ike's book and also hear what Hank Parker has to say, along with Jimmy Houston and Keving Van Dam.  They will tell you about their journeys to the top levels of B.A.S.S.

Good luck and be sure to get that degree.  It will make all the difference in the world.

[bassmasta07]

thanks for the help guys

[flyphisher #]

Stalker???? sounds more like a "man crush..."...... ;D A bassfishing message board isnt the best place to have a secret admirer...LOL

[langs15]

Either way, it's messed up. I think i just spelled either wrong..

[Hillbilly_Hooker]

bassmasta07,

I couldn't agree with Sam more, get an education... a college education, first!   I hate to plug products on here, but Ike put out a CD/cassette, that's available on his website, about how to turn pro in 5 yrs.  Regardless of what you might think of Ike, the CD has some very valuable information in it.

Good luck and good fishing,

Hillbilly

[triton2]

As woo davies says. Winning fishing tournaments is not that important it can you sell. To be a pro must be a good salesman. The sponsers want you to sell there products.

[cabela10]

As woo davies says. Winning fishing tournaments is not that important it can you sell. To be a pro must be a good salesman. The sponsers want you to sell there products.

SPONSORS

[rocknfish9001]

Study, study study. Go into college and study biology classes, chemistry, english, and even math. All of these are necessary to become "pro". You have to know a fish inside and out. You need to know where they are, why they are there, and have all information necessary to become the best. Another important step is getting a name for yourself. Be able to communicate and be resourceful. Study up on all sorts of things to advertise yourself to sponsors as well.

[George Welcome]

I believe the question was: how do I become a Pro fisherman? The answer is quite simple. Put in enough time on the water to become very good at fishing. Then decide if you just want to become a Pro, or do you want to become a successful Pro. If you decide you want to become a successful Pro then put more time in on the water, and hit the books. Not the magazine type books, but rather the dry, boring scientific type books so that you can learn about such things as bass physiology, biology, etc.

The difficulty to becoming a Pro is what most would consider life's normal course. Family commitment, job, and schooling all work against the time you need to dedicate to the water and your quarry. Money is a major factor to becoming a Pro, and the lack of it will cause you to fall flat on your face.

I would tell you that you need to get the education, figure on having a limited amount of time for family matters as you need to spend inordinate hours on the water away from home, and find a source for the substantial funds that you will need to participate at the Pro level.

[rocknfish9001]

This just made me think when i met kevin van dam last year. He gave a good presentation, and stayed the rest of the day at the seminar with his parents, kids, and relatives. I saw him watching the other presentations of Mark Zona, Bill Dance, and Shaw Grigsby. He was really good about taking questions very professionally. He made an effort to be the nicest guy there. I wish i could say that about Mark Zona. One of the questions i asked him was how did you become pro. His answer was based on the fact that he has unbelievable skills as an angler. He saved for years to be able to afford to break away. He was in a club and was doing quite well. (my uncle actually had the chance to fish against the guy) Once he had $20,000 that he was willing to spend, he set off and dedicated the next year to fishing. Fishing was his job, and he was able to nearly master it. He won almost all of his tournaments, including the state finals, which is like michigan's bassmaster classic. He ended the year with a free $25,000 bassboat. (the prize for winning the finals) This really was a landmark year, and was able to land him sponsors, and because of his amazing ability was able to qualify for big name circuts and eventually made his way to be the best of them all.

[Guest JoshKeller]

Start small. At the club level. You'll be surprised at the quality of the competition in them. If you cant finish in the top 3 in EVERY event, then be realistic.

When you graduate school, go into college and pursue marketing/business classes.

[cabela10]

This just made me think when i met kevin van dam last year. He gave a good presentation, and stayed the rest of the day at the seminar with his parents, kids, and relatives. I saw him watching the other presentations of Mark Zona, Bill Dance, and Shaw Grigsby. He was really good about taking questions very professionally. He made an effort to be the nicest guy there. I wish i could say that about Mark Zona. One of the questions i asked him was how did you become pro. His answer was based on the fact that he has unbelievable skills as an angler. He saved for years to be able to afford to break away. He was in a club and was doing quite well. (my uncle actually had the chance to fish against the guy) Once he had $20,000 that he was willing to spend, he set off and dedicated the next year to fishing. Fishing was his job, and he was able to nearly master it. He won almost all of his tournaments, including the state finals, which is like michigan's bassmaster classic. He ended the year with a free $25,000 bassboat. (the prize for winning the finals) This really was a landmark year, and was able to land him sponsors, and because of his amazing ability was able to qualify for big name circuts and eventually made his way to be the best of them all.

When has Mark Zona ever fished above the Stren Series?  He isn't that freaking great.