tournaments??

[mike frisch]

I am a former walleye tourrnament guy who now competes in bass tourneys here in Minnesota. During these hard economic times, sponsorship dollars in the fishing industry and outside the industry are very hard to come by. I am wondering what people's opinions are concerning the value of tournament angling as far as a marketing device? Does the "average" angler pay much attention to who wins tournaments and what they used to win those tournaments or does he not care? I'm really interested to hear other people's opinions on this topic?

Thanks

Mike Frisch
Fishing The Midwest fishing team member
Elbow Lake, MN

[Hot Runr Guy]

I'm a recreational fisherman. I don't have deep enough pockets to afford $1k locator's, or fly-in trips, or the latest rod/reels/crank baits. I fish purely for the enjoyment of being on the water, away from work, and not staring thru a windshield on my way to a call. In all honesty, I could care less what tournament fisherman are fishing out of, what they're using, etc. I am happy that the ability for guys to earn a living, or supplement thier income, exists. But, it's not for me. Heck, I won't even work on a commission/bonus basis, just because I can't stand the uncertainty of what the next direct deposit might be.
I am probably a sponsors nightmare. No matter how they try, I'm perfectly happy with a dozen nightcrawlers, or a simple jig & minnow that will soon be lost in the rocks or timber.
HRG

[mike frisch]

HRG - thanks for the input. You certainly didn't offend me at all. I asked the question because I really do question the value of how beneficial tournaments alone are in promoting product. I do fish tournaments and do have sponsors, but those sponsorships involve a great deal more than my involvement in tournaments. What do some others feel on this subject??

Thanks

Mike Frisch

[mark in mn]

I have never fished a tournament and really don't know much about them. However, I have watched some of the tournament-hilite type shows. I do probably pay more attention to the anglers and their fishing styles like casting, trolling, jigging, etc. than I do the actual names of the lures they are using. I guess maybe I should pay more attention to that, but I kind of get caught up in the excitement of whether or not the angler is going to land the fish or lose it at the boat than I care about what they hooked it on! Anyway, guess I don't see a great deal of value in tournaments from a promotional standpoint as far as the tournaments actually impacting what I purchase. Just my 2 cents!

Mark

[dutchboy]

I feel the same way as Hot Runner Guy.
In addition it's becoming like watching NASCAR, all they seem to do is pump product. Nothing turns me off faster.

Fishing sponsorships won't get me to buy a Rapala any more then a Pepsi commercial at the Super Bowl will get me to buy Pepsi. :laugh: Once you become a well known company I don't know how much sponsoring a tournament guy will help.

[jcfishing]

It wasn't very long ago that the guys who are now considered the "founding fathers" of professional walleye fishing fished out of 17' boats with 25 - 40hp motors, a flasher and maybe a transom mount trolling motor. The true value of tournament fishing is two fold; it drives the manufacturers to produce nd inovate better products and it provides advances in tackle and techniques to help us all catch more fish. The advances in boats, motors, electronics all the way down to the mass availability of planer boards, down riggers, drift socks and other items was driven by tournament angling. Whether you fish tournaments or not, you have likely benefitted from them in some way or another. Let's not forget, many of us will watch the Superbowl, be bombarded by advertising pushing product, and excluding a few of us, we haven't stepped on a football field in many years if ever! I would like to see more attention brought to our sport and tournament fishing can help make that happen. We've all heard the statement " more people in the U.S. fish than play golf and tennis combined". Why is it then that on any given Sunday you can watch a golf tournament on a major network while fishing is relagated to a few specialty cable/sattelite channels? Sponosors and dollars! Maybe we should all support what helps support and promote our sport: Tournaments!

[dutchboy]

Product development is the only benefit I see to tournaments. So yes, that being the case advertising dollars will help. That being said 90% of the tourney guy's I see and read (here on the Internet) couldn't sell a raincoat during Katrina.

I guess my point is to many guy's who are just "fisherman" think they can and should be pro level tournament anglers. I think there always will be room for a select number of pros to be sponsored, but that number is very small IMHO. To my way of thinking if you have a tournament field of 100 guy's only about 10% would be sponsored by a major corporation, the other 90 better have very good jobs or own their own business.

Just my nickels worth, I hope all the tournament guys (and gals) get sponsors!! :bigsmile:

[KabNam]

I know I will miss watching the PWT this summer, they had a great run on some great walleye waters across America. I also hate watching the common guy get priced out of fishing. $30,000+ truck and a $30,000+ boat with accessories makes it real tough especially these days. I just hope the gas prices behave themselves this summer.

[treeguyus]

Fishing tournaments had, have and always will issues with connecting to spectators. Fishing tournaments are not spectator sports. I guess looking back the PWT has had good attendance, in certain markets, by spectators

[treeguyus]

If sponsors want to sell product and hit hard with advertising and promotions the best medium is the fishing shows and semianrs before the season. I speak from experience here. I feel stronglly that "some" professional competive anglers demeanor turn off the non-tournament recreational angler. Frankly, I feel todays angler is hit with so many articles and seminars pluging products they have become skeptical and reluctant to open their wallets. There was a time when I couldn't wait to try a method or technique from a seminar or magazine. Instead articles in today's print media must mention or limited to mentions of products that purchase advertising in the publication. the very pioneers in the industry have created this in todays outdoor print mediums. It is clear that fishing shows that actually show the products in action successfully catching fish does more to drive the business then any tournament. Let me add I feel the future of competive angling is bright for the smaller weekend team events. Entry fees and travel expenses are less in these team events. Competive angling started with "one one" friendly bets on the biggest and most fish between friends. I don't see desire to compete ever go away, it just might be capsulated in smaller venues.

[Smitty]

I'm somewhat of the opinion as several others on this thread. I think tournaments and tournament fishermen do provide value to manufacturers as sort of a "hard core R&D department", but I'm not sold on the fact that they're an effective promotional tool to teh general fishing public. Like many others, when I do happen to watch tournaments I'm more interested in tactics under certain conditions than I am specific products.

That said, I think tournament fishermen can provide value to their sponsors from a marketing perspective with all of their work at sports shows and doing seminars. That's likely a very good reason that the majority of feedback when most people ask "what do I need to do to become a tournament fisherman" starts with how effective you are at promoting products and not how well you're able to compete / place in tournaments. Of course for the big names their success lends credibility as they promote, but I'd guess that folks at the sports show probably don't easily recognize 80+% of the tourney fisherman by name.

All in all I feel that TV fishing shows that get into more discussion about tactics and personal experience / word of mouth are still probably the most effective tools.

[eyeballs]

Lots of great replies. Tournaments breed competition. Competition breeds new ways of thinking, which transcends into new discoveries and refinements to catch more and bigger fish faster. EVERYONE benefits from the knowledge spawned by tournament fishing.

Putting the focus on smaller two man circuits is very healthy for the walleye world. These events cost less, require less time away from family, require less equipment since you're fishing local waters - you probably already have everyhing you need. Also, these circuits attract local hot sticks and new comers looking to learn the trade. All of this adds up to good participation and stability.

Maybe we'll see more opportunities where one must qaulify to fish at the highest level. I think the NTC staff is doing great things with this philosophy - the way they are having specially qualified grass roots tournament teams compete against the big names for 2010.

[Work Release]

a number of years ago, I competed in a few muskie tourneys in WI, with my great fishing partner my wife. I think it was about 100 bucks a head to enter, they had a huge tent set up at the fairgrounds with some manf. and seminars...they gave away a DANDY boat to the "winner", which was determined by a random drawing of entrants. At those tourneys, we learned a bunch, fished a bunch, had a blast and even had a chance at that dandy boat...THAT'S a tourney to me. That being said, I've gotten into walleye fishing in the past few years...my learning process was some articles, the internet, but most importantly was the "local boys"....those guys that fish where I fish, under conditions like I fish and often times with lures made locally (oft times by them). To me, this is specialized, whereas watching tourneys/shows on tv is more generalized. Tourneys to me are entertainment with a li'l education....local boys are a lot of education with a li'l entertainment (OK, sometimes a LOT of entertainment :bigsmile:). I'd luv to get into some simple, local tourneys....just not many around.

[wa11eye]

i agree and disagree with all of you. I tournament fish for walleye as much as i can afford it. I don't hit the tourneys that cost over a thousand dollars. a few hundred bucks per boat is what i fish.

i truely love the competition between anglers. in these events, most of us don't have sponsors. I do love beating the guy with the $40,000 Ranger with a 300 Verado and I'm fishing out of a 16 1/2 ft fish n ski and a 75 hp Merc.

I believe i represent the average Joe better than those guys. I would love to get some sponsors. not so much for the money but rather products to use and endorse. How would I endorse them?

If any of you have been in a tournament or in the crowd, who's eyes are fixed on you when you walk across the stage. Now I don't mean hot girls or anything like that, I'm talking about the kids in the audience.

I wound up only placing 5th in the one tourney i am thinking of. the top three teams were guys that were (to be honest) not very personable. they all had their logo ridden wear and pictures of themselves that they were handing out to the audience. when they walked off the stage with their giant paychecks, the people that wanted to greet them the most were the kids. these fishermen didn't give them the time of day.
My boat was on the trailer about 50 yds away and I was getting my gear ready for the drive home. Some kids were walking over and I wound up giving them some extra jigs i had left over and then I quizzed them on who gets the best grades in school. the one little boy said he's not sure but he tries his best.
I gave that kid my rod and reel right out of my boat. I'll almost guarantee that kid will be in love with fishing forever. his face lit up from ear to ear.
I've been teaching Angler Education classes here in Wisconsin for about 5 years now. Mostly as after school clubs in spring so the kids have something to do here in summer while both of their parents are working.

Why am I telling you this? I guess in my mind, if I were a fishing product producer-say of a jig company- i would want someone like me for sponsorship. I connect personally with the people. I don't get my check and forget the people in the audience. I actually go above and beyond to teach people in person how to use these products, give them away and the such.

I represent the average weekend angler. my gear is easily obtainable to all at almost any store on any budget. I don't have a $1200 locator, a $20000 motor, my rods are off the rack at department store, etc.

I think people relate to me and would buy products more because of a guy like me than the guy that seems to have everything priced out of the average joes pocket book.

it's even better when i beat these guys in the tourney. I am the Underdog almost everytime i'm out yet I can still stay on the porch and kick a few of the big dogs off.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Wa11eye Chris Dymale