Do the pro's use their signature series equipment?

[bassin_man]

Generally speaking other than lures do the pro's use their equipment that they endorse and have their name on them such as rods/reels?  Or is it just another marketing gimmick?

[Jnamo]

I know KVD does not use his stuff.  He uses the top of the line Quantum stuff.  His stuff is not top of the line.  

[Bladesmith,]

One thing you can count on is that the MAIN PURPOSE of signature equipment is MARKETING. That being said, I think most pros DO use their signature equipment, not exclusively of course, but at least when they're in the public view. After all, it's their JOB.

[KenDammit28]

most of the "signature" stuff is products released for the "casual" fisherman....something that will catch some people.  However, I think Rick Clunn does use his signature reel...seems like I saw him using it, anyway.

[Guest avid]

I really doubt that the elite pro's use ANY of the reels they endorse without having them modified. They may look "off the shelf" but I'll bet they are "blueprinted", polished, and built to much stricter specs with some custom personal preferences added.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I have a bunch of 'autograph cards' that they give out at conventions etc.  I have Clunn's, signed.  He's not holding his signature outfit, not even close.

[Full PULL]

thats what so hard thes days its like do as i say not as i do

[Sam]

OK, here's the deal my friend, a retired professional bass fisherman and now a guide, tells me about the "freebies" he gets.

He can use anything he wants but when he is out guiding he has to wear his pro shirt wtih all the logos on it; and any photos of any fish caught have to have the sponsors baits or equipment in them, it they caught the fish or not.

His sponsors want him to use their products and he does; but as all of us have our favorites, so does he.

And the sponsors are not giving much away anymore. You can purchase the reels and rods at a discount and get some baits free, but thats about it for the "normal" guys.

Of course, everyone who mentions marketing is totally 100% correct.  It is marketing using the pros as their salesman.  It is almost as bad as NASCAR.

"Yep, Billy Bob.  I caught that four pounder using my Stick-It Lighting 10 pound indestructible line on my Kohooites 6:2 ratio baitcaster, on the Pull-it-In 6 and a half foot medium heavy rod with the fast tip, model number 69, with a tungston Never-Feel the Strike 1/4 ounce bullet weight pegged with the Goodrich Blimp 3 inch rubber pegger with my Choker 6 inch green and orange floating worm mounted on a Stick-Em extra wide gap hook."

[Lucky Craft Man]

"Yep, Billy Bob. I caught that four pounder using my Stick-It Lighting 10 pound indestructible line on my Kohooites 6:2 ratio baitcaster, on the Pull-it-In 6 and a half foot medium heavy rod with the fast tip, model number 69, with a tungston Never-Feel the Strike 1/4 ounce bullet weight pegged with the Goodrich Blimp 3 inch rubber pegger with my Choker 6 inch green and orange floating worm mounted on a Stick-Em extra wide gap hook."

What you forgot to add is:

"I caught the fish out of my new 25 1/2' Suck-My-Wake addition X-series boat, with a Nagasaki 350-hp 12 stroke engine and a 250-lb. thrust Tournament Elite Pro Magnum Stealth Satellite Controlled Solar Powered Guide Series trolling motor."

[Infidel.]

I met KVD last year at a tackle shop here in southern California.  In his hands were five Team Daiwa Jerkbaits and I told him that I was telling Strike King on him.  He said that he has to use what works and that I should have seen him the day before.  He said that he bought about $500 worth of baits from other manufactures.  He said that there is a time and place for strike kings baits and there is a time and place for others.

[Bushwacker]

When KVD won the Classic in Pitts he was using an old discontinued suspending Rogue I believe.  That lure got the most press of any that year.  I think he does an excellent job of being a Strike King/Bass Pro Shops/Quantum man, but still being honest with the public about what he is using.  Definitely a class act and down to earth guy for being the "Tiger Woods" of bass fishing

[Banor]

I think you mean Tiger Woods is the KVD of golf? ;D

Anywho, back to the thread... this is the main reason I do not gear up based on the pro's.  Pro's do not consistantly use what they market in my humble opinion.  I was reading the basszone post classic reports and noticed several discrepencies on what "the pro's used" vs. what I saw on the TV coverage.

The only thing I believe is what I learn first hand.  Until it works for me I'm a skeptic.

B

[Bushwacker]

I think you mean Tiger Woods is the KVD of golf? ;D

I was thinking that exact thing when I posted that!  My favorite part was when Kenny complemented KVD on releasing the fish and "giving it a second chance at life" and Kevin replied, "that's how we roll"

[Brad_Coovert]

There is what the pro says he's using.

There is what he is actually using.

"Prototype" means another company's bait that my sponsor does not make, but that it is currently scrambling to copy as we speak.

Brad

[Bud]

Most of the pro don't use off the wall stuff.

[Munkin]

Rick Clunn was fishing with his signature series bass rods.

Allen

[Blue Streak]

Good question and one that I have always wondered about. If those 350 dollar rods and 500 dollar reels are that great. Wouldn't it make sense that a guy who is fishing for really big bucks use the very best to get just the slightest edge? I mean after all if he doesn't win no one will want to sponsor him.

[flechero]

Rick Clunn was fishing with his signature series bass rods.

Allen

Are you sure that his rods aren't actually something else with his decals and thread colors under the finish?  I don't know Clunn personally but I do know for a fact that some of the pro's rods are customs with the same decals and thread, set up to their specifications.  

I also have been told by staff at one of Abu's service centers that the reels their pros use are "tuned" and upgraded before being sent out.  I would guess that most of the top pros have similar treatment.

[Jig Man]

I have a friend with lots of money and who fishes big tournaments for fun.  He has fished with several of the top guys in the country.  He says most of them have their sponsors stuff out when they are around the crowds before and after the tournaments.  As soon as they get to where they want to fish, in goes the promo stuff and out comes the fishing stuff, including in many cases depth finders.  The reverse is done before heading back.

[Guest avid]

I'm waiting for Ike to seal his deal with Zebco.

[Redlinerobert]

Rick Clunn and Zell Rowland use their own gear from what I understand. I think that the older guys were more "true" to dishing out their names, now it seems it's all about the $$

What happened to believing in your products?

[scbassin]

Right on Flechero.

[TrickyVT1887]

one thing i know for certain is that KVD doesn't use his signature series all his signature reels are quantum Accurist AC500CX with his name on it and a special paint scheme, He himself uses the Quantum Tour Edition PT which many many of the anglers use which was evident in the Classic coverage, Mainly because of their sponsership deals with Zebco.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

"Yep, Billy Bob. I caught that four pounder using my Stick-It Lighting 10 pound indestructible line on my Kohooites 6:2 ratio baitcaster, on the Pull-it-In 6 and a half foot medium heavy rod with the fast tip, model number 69, with a tungston Never-Feel the Strike 1/4 ounce bullet weight pegged with the Goodrich Blimp 3 inch rubber pegger with my Choker 6 inch green and orange floating worm mounted on a Stick-Em extra wide gap hook."

You also forgot: "My doctor says I am cancer-free and you know why?  Because I use this sunscreen every two hours, it keeps my skin cancer-free!  I also use these Ohno "polaroid" glasses that help me see in the water and these Ohno's have these "readers" that help me tie knots.... Oh and when it gets rainy I put on these Frogg Toggs..... and I think I need to put some megastrike, just a bit on my finger then I rub it in, on this Yamamoto Hula grub...."

[Cigarlover 1]

"Yep, Billy Bob. I caught that four pounder using my Stick-It Lighting 10 pound indestructible line on my Kohooites 6:2 ratio baitcaster, on the Pull-it-In 6 and a half foot medium heavy rod with the fast tip, model number 69, with a tungston Never-Feel the Strike 1/4 ounce bullet weight pegged with the Goodrich Blimp 3 inch rubber pegger with my Choker 6 inch green and orange floating worm mounted on a Stick-Em extra wide gap hook."

You also forgot: "My doctor says I am cancer-free and you know why? Because I use this sunscreen every two hours, it keeps my skin cancer-free! I also use these Ohno "polaroid" glasses that help me see in the water and these Ohno's have these "readers" that help me tie knots.... Oh and when it gets rainy I put on these Frogg Toggs..... and I think I need to put some megastrike, just a bit on my finger then I rub it in, on this Yamamoto Hula grub...."

Don't forget the "Breathable Bass Pro Shops Shirt"  :