Successful fishing shows

[VABassin'14]

What is it that makes a fishing show successful? When I started thinking about this question, I couldn't really come up with a good answer. So curiosity made me ask what others think.

[bwillis]

If a show is informative and has a lot of good action in it.  I don't like shows that try to push a certain product the whole time so it seems like 30 minute commercial.

[Carrington]

The show needs to be entertaining, must have good information and must engage the watcher.

[Brian B]

I like shows that kinda bounce all over the place.  To me, watching Bill Dance fish (on his private stocked lake) one lure for 30 minutes just doesn't do it for me.  I want to see info on new products, new ideas/techniques, news, info on all aspects of fishing like boats, non-tackle equipment and etc.  I guess what I'm saying is give me 5-6 five minute shows at once.  Watching one person fish one lure in one location puts me to sleep faster than tennis.

[chris090981]

Reasonable prices as well as making it a fishing show rather than a boat show with 20 bass club booths trying to get yearly memberships out of visitors !

[Fishing Rhino]

Success depends on whether you're a vendor, or a potential buyer.  The definition for each is different.

A vendor will measure success by the bottom line.  Did the show generate enough sales, or interest, to cover costs. 

Attendance can also be a measure of success.

For the visitor, success can be finding a deal on a wanted item, or merely being entertained or stimulated without buying anything.

Attendance numbers aren't as important to a visitor, though a lot of activity can be stimulating.

Like beauty, success is often in the eye of the beholder.

[Crestliner2008]

I like a show that illustrates how to achieve success with certain presentations, under well defined circumstances. I don't mind them using a specific product, as long as they don't say that this product is "IT", rather than this product as a "family" of baits. If that makes any sense?

Shows that tell you the structure they are fishing, the depth, the seasonal period, water temperature, etc., are what I look for especially. That way you can relate better and get a handle on a new technique or find out what you may be doing that is wrong.

[Taylor Fishin 4 life]

I really like Fishing City Limits with Ike mainly because Ike is entertaining at he is full of information. And its kinda different from the rest of the shows

[VABassin'14]

What I personally think is most important for a fishing show to be successful is sharing the techniques they are using. To be considered a successful TV show, the audience should be able to learn something about fishing while watching the show. IMO, the best show at doing this is Lunkerville. You can learn about fishing by watching this show.

I was just reading through another forum, and someone else hit the nail on the head. Fullspectrum said "I prefer to watch shows that I can relate to..." I also believe that is a major part of having a successful fishing show.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

To me, I like to see different fish, different lures and different presentations... too many of these shows are either one long commercial with a pro catching 18"+ monsters or it is sitting there watching a fishing buddy chat... and not a good buddy, usually one of those annoying guys that you would never really go fishing with because he is so annoying...

Thats why I loved that episode of Lunkerville, especially "Low Budget Hookin"... it wasn't edited to show only the biggest bass caught, it was a few guys having fun using different lures and actually showing something being caught other than bass.

[flyboy]

So what has made "Beat Charlie Moore" successful?  I hate that show.

[arul]

What is it that makes a fishing show successful? When I started thinking about this question, I couldn't really come up with a good answer. So curiosity made me ask what others think.

EDUCATIONAL! That is the number 1 criteria in my book.  The ones that I find are the best:

Bassmasters (my #1 favorite show.  I love the production, and I get soooo much out of watching the top guys fish.  And it is just darn exciting.  They need to start filming it in HD though...)

City Limits (sucks it is on Versus and I can't watch with Directv)

The Bass Pros (sucks it is on Versus and I can't watch with Directv)

Classic Patterns - (just now seeing these.  Is this a new show?)

Bass Edge (haven't seen this in a while- not sure if it is still on)

[rowyourboat]

Fish lakes that are open to the public and not always perfect conditions, NOT FARM/GOLF COURSE PONDS lol

[190sxchamp]

A successful fishing show to me is one that is educational and entertaining. I like it when they tell you where they are fishing. A couple that I DVR are Bass Pro's, City Limits Fishing, and Fishful Thinker. I recently ran across another show called Hook n Look or something like that. I really liked that they dive and video what is going on below the surface. Cool to see how the baits look under water, how thee fish react to them and such. Going to be tuning in to it in the future.

[Eternal Angler]

Home having a interesting teacher.  Problem with some of these fishing shows is they get boring.

[bassinbob54]

the best show i ever saw was a 30 minute performance by Jason Quinn a pro from south carolina and he talked about the baits , reasons for useing them , showed his ability to make just the right presentation..no commeralized stuff at all and at the end of the show they said that he caught over 70 fish during day the show was made!!  thats totally awesome and i wou;d watch shows like that for sure

[Blade-Runner]

Nothing will ever beat In-Fisherman.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

How much fish they catch,how they catch them,how cool the hosts are,how many twists they put in the show,how informative they are, how good of quality the show is, and if theyre not annoying with sponsors (AKA Roland Martin and Angler West with Pro Cure)

[Dalton Tam]

Catching plenty of fish and just having a good time.

[brushhoggin]

that most recent monster fish episode last night was sick! some dude killin it at lake salto. also some huge trout were shown caught. that just made my mouth water. bass dontt make my mouth water. bass are guaranteed release with me, couldntt promise the same to a nice trout

[bass or bass ?]

In-Fisherman, The Bass Pros, and Bill Dance always have good informative programming with diagrams, maps etc. That's what I want in a fishing show. Not just showing guys catching fish and bantering as they do it.

[FFF-150]

Ditto most of what everyone else said about a successful show.

What I won't watch are fishing shows with celebrities fishing or where a less-than-knowledgeable host like Wayne Pearson or Randy something-or-other (he was a professional baseball player) is promoting some lodge or guide.

I think the worst or best (depending on your perspective) fishing show I ever saw was the one where the three babes fished in bikinis. I was pretty enthralled until one of them started giving me advice on how to catch fish!  Pulease. I thought that was a little much.

[SBM-RL]

I think what makes Charlie Moores show successful are two things.    1. Alot of people can't stand him and want him to get beat so they'll watch in hope of him losing.   2.  He fishes all Lakes in New England that are not televised often so NE fisherman love watching a show on a lake they just fished last weekend. When I lived there I got to fish a few lakes that were on his show so that instantly made those episode interesting to me.