Mikeydoes Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 I'm sure it is everyone at this forums dream, but assuming you are a good fisherman and you devote yourself to fishing and fishing alone. How possible is it to not have a job and just travel the US fishing? Quote
Super User Raul Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 I'm sure it is everyone at this forums dream minus Raul. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 Minus RoLo I admire those who can, but I'm afraid once it became a living it would cramp my style and rob my pleasure of the sport. My fear is that bass and pike would begin to look like dollar bills, instead of the beautiful creatures they are. To each his own Roger Quote
Mikeydoes Posted June 10, 2009 Author Posted June 10, 2009 I can kind of see what you are saying about it making fishing not as enjoyable. Fishing with my brother is a bass tournament every time, so competetive. And if I was to start taking fishing very serious he would most likely be my partner, and I always have the most fun with him. Quote
Super User WRB Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 About 1 in 10,000 odds of making a decent living fishing. WRB Quote
Dixon Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 Its called sponsors. Get a ton of sponsors all paying anywhere from 100 to 1000 a month. Maybe more. Plus all the bonuses from winning a tournament. Quote
bigtimfish Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 I agree with Rolo. That seems like it would take the fun out of it. It would be more business than pleasure. :'( I'm sure it's possible to travel and fish but unless your on a tour (elite-flw) I would think you would need to be a guide. And i don't know of any guides who guide on lakes cross country. Quote
farmpond1 Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 I'm sure it is everyone at this forums dream, but assuming you are a good fisherman and you devote yourself to fishing and fishing alone. How possible is it to not have a job and just travel the US fishing? I would say this same thing to anyone who wanted to play any professional sport such as basketball, golf, etc. If your heart yearns and burns for it, go for it. But don't preclude other possibilities or neglect other responsibilities. Don't become an idiot without any options. Look at the odds. There must be at least 50 million kids out there who want to be pro athletes. Best case scenario, you succeed. Worst case scenerio, you adjust and get on with life-and fish for fun. Quote
Mikeydoes Posted June 10, 2009 Author Posted June 10, 2009 Good answer. I'm looking for all the ways to make money. Whether it is sponsors or winning tournaments. I was also wondering how much the how much people get for having their own fishing TV shows, that is something I want to work hard to do. You don't necessarily have to be the best fisherman to have a TV show, and sponsors would pay you a lot more. Not saying it would be easy, but just thinking of other possibilities. Quote
bass wrangler569 Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 Good answer. I'm looking for all the ways to make money. Whether it is sponsors or winning tournaments. I was also wondering how much the how much people get for having their own fishing TV shows, that is something I want to work hard to do. You don't necessarily have to be the best fisherman to have a TV show, and sponsors would pay you a lot more. Not saying it would be easy, but just thinking of other possibilities. Dude, you have to make a name for yourself with fishing before you just get your own TV show. It's more than just working hard, you have to be very very good and charismatic. Think about it this way, if you're not catching fish, nobody is going to want to watch your show, so you really do have to be one of the best. If you just want a way to make money, there are far easier, and more profitable careers out there. Quote
DINK WHISPERER Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 Minus RoLo I admire those who can, but I'm afraid once it became a living it would cramp my style and rob my pleasure of the sport. My fear is that bass and pike would begin to look like dollar bills, instead of the beautiful creatures they are. To each his own Roger I could not have said it better myself RoLo! I have been invited to many clubs and tournaments but decline for this reason! The only tornaments i like are between me and my big mouth brother!!!! ;D Quote
Super User Long Mike Posted June 11, 2009 Super User Posted June 11, 2009 Unless your skills place you in the top 5% of all professional bass fishermen, you will make a lot more money by getting a college degree. Quote
SammyLee Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 I asked he best local bass catcher I know if he ever thought about going pro. His answer, "Nope, I'm not in good enough shape and besides that, there are better fisherman than me out there." Now this dude appears to be great shape. He is a former marathon runner, never smoked and is thin. But after one full day of "real" fishing with this guy, my butt was a dragging. Imagine, practice day or days, then the tournament with daily prep before launch, the days of hard no bs fishing, clean the boat, prep for the next day and whew... You've just got yourself a job. Edit to add, He is in the running to win the local championship for the local tournaments. He is real successful when he fishes, usually. That's why my avatar says, "fish for fun!" Quote
Fishing Doug Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 No way I would want to be a professional fisherman. That would take out a lot of the things I enjoy about fishing-relaxing, taking my time, going when the weather is nice, etc. Quote
Mattlures Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 I dont think there is a single guy making a living just bass fishing. I may be wrong but I dont think there is. The fishing part is just that PART of thier job. They are all salesmen. They all do apearances and seminars and product endorsements. You dont have to be the best fisherman to make the most money. You have to be the most marketable. I bet my friend Byron Velvick makes more then most of the touring pros but he hasent been a top 10 guy. He is good and is a top 50 guy but he is more marketable. Very friendly, well spoken and good looking plus he can fish. My point is, If you become good at the marketing aspect you wont have to be in the top 10 to make a good living. Quote
mattm Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 I always thought it would be cool to do anything fishing for a living. However, I know a very busy guide on Fork that I consider a friend and he put it in perspective one day for me when he said "when I started guiding i gained a job and lost a hobby." He still loves what he does but its not the same as just fishing and doing what you want. Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted June 11, 2009 Super User Posted June 11, 2009 I'm keeping my job at the car wash, head drier at the end of line, I get the tips. Quote
ZeNoob Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 got laid off April 1st, bass fished everyday for about 2months.(with some cat fishing thrown in) Now i sit on the back porch with my neighbor drinking beer BSing and bobber fishing for what ever will eat a worm ;D and watching all my other neighbors bass fish. Quote
Super User cart7t Posted June 11, 2009 Super User Posted June 11, 2009 I'm sure it is everyone at this forums dream, but assuming you are a good fisherman and you devote yourself to fishing and fishing alone. How possible is it to not have a job and just travel the US fishing? Just fishing? How would you earn a living just fishing? Are you going to put a hat on the dock and suggest people would toss money into it for the pleasure of watching you fish? Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted June 11, 2009 Super User Posted June 11, 2009 Making a living solely from tournament purses? Impossible, I'd say. Kevin Van Dam wouldn't be able to make a living from purses without sponsorships. Without sponsorships there would not be enough participants to have tournaments, hence KVD and others who have won "millions" over their careers would not have won those millions. Only a handful of the pros make enough to cover their expenses from purse money, let alone make a living from it. Just like auto racing, it is sponsor money that makes it all possible. Quote
Super User Grey Wolf Posted June 11, 2009 Super User Posted June 11, 2009 'To dream the impossible dream." Quote
CODbasser Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 like stated above..fishing is just part of the buisiness..those guys do alot of work for their sponsors, they help develop new products, promote products, test products. Well known bass fisherman, especially someone like kvd are marketing machines...his name on a product will sell it to some, just because his name is on it...when they fish, they dont just fish, they have to deal with the public and keep a good image so they keep a good name for their sponsors...if im fun fishing it is usually practicing for a tournament...i love the competition, but tournament purses mainley go towards funding my hobby..if my fishing pays for itself then i feel like i have done a good job... Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted June 11, 2009 Super User Posted June 11, 2009 like stated above..fishing is just part of the buisiness..those guys do alot of work for their sponsors, they help develop new products, promote products, test products. Well known bass fisherman, especially someone like kvd are marketing machines...his name on a product will sell it to some, just because his name is on it...when they fish, they dont just fish, they have to deal with the public and keep a good image so they keep a good name for their sponsors...if im fun fishing it is usually practicing for a tournament...i love the competition, but tournament purses mainley go towards funding my hobby..if my fishing pays for itself then i feel like i have done a good job... I'd say if your fishing pays for itself you've done a great job. Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted June 11, 2009 Super User Posted June 11, 2009 I'm keeping my job at the car wash, head drier at the end of line, I get the tips. I'm more of a plastic or paper man, myself. Though a WalMart greeter is also a viable option. Quote
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