understanding the sponsorship obsession

[Minnesota]

I bring this issue up more out of wanting to know how my fellow fisherman think than anything. I am not being critical of anyone. It seems like a lot of anglers are obsessed with sponsorship. I am curious as to why. Is it part of a self validation process? Is it because it suppliments the costs associated with tournament fishing? Few people make a living at just fishing tournaments so why do so many obsess with sponsorship? I am not putting myself above or below any of my fellow anglers by asking this. Nor am I offering a personal opinion. I am purely curious. Thanks in advance for your comments and good luck on the water!

Minnesota

"As fellow fisherman, we are all members of a brotherhood."

[guideman]

The main reason is money, the price of success
is very high. The entry fee is just the tip of the iceberg, equipment, travel expences and of
course the boat, most are anywhere from $25,000
to $40,000.00.

guideman.

[FROGMAN]

As you state in your post no one really makes a living from "just" fishing tournaments. Many have traditional jobs outside the industry, and there are those that have become fortunate enough to have jobs inside the industry. Many of these jobs inside the industry are related to the promotional, or sales side of the house. In the most basic terms you are a compensated spokesperson for that company, a paid promoter if you will, that fishes Walleye tournaments as a venue for showcasing that product, or company. Many things come together to determine what level you are sponsored at, and just as with walking you only get there by taking that first step. It is a reciprocal relationship, and hopefully a friendship as well. If you don't like the people you work with, or for, it will show in your performance. Companies that are interested in sponsoring tournament anglers are usually bombarded with requests for sponsorship, and you have to show them why you are a better choice than the next angler to apply. So in a nutshell, you need to be better at promoting a companies product than the next guy if you expect to be paid (sponsored) for it. Whether you acutally write the order or not you are a salesperson for that company. I work hard for my sponsors, and I thank them for working with me in my "dream" to make it in this industry. Hope my opinion helps you understand why anglers need sponsors to be successful in this business. Tight Lines

Keith Segar
NPAA #260

[Irish]

Well said Frogman.........

Irish
NPAA number applied for

[Backwater Eddy]

That was the best description I have heard yet, a Frog's eye view of the big pond that I can appreciate and respect.

No undue criticism or finger pointing, well done Frogman!

BE...><ND>

[Fish-on]

Let me tell you a little story that may help you understand the sponsorship obsession, by understanding human nature.

Back in the late 1970's I started working right out of high school at the Winnebago factory. Started doing grunt jobs readying motorhomes for shipment. Got promoted a couple times. Part of the time I was there I worked with a fellow named Brock. Now, he hated his job. He'd worked there for years and never went anywhere as far as promotion goes because he didn't have the ambition like I did to excel in any area. Since he hated his job, no he despised it, all he had to look forward to was retirement and he wasn't far away from that. He saved a lot of money and talked all the time about how he was going to buy a 5th wheel and travel since he'd "been stuck in this pit all my life."

He retired, bought the fifth wheel. And died.

My trapline ran right by his house, and before work every morning I drove by and saw that new 5th wheel sitting under the yard light. Now there's no better place to think that on a trapline. I resolved that what happened to him would not happen to me. I put a plan in place, I wanted to be a professional outdoorsman. That was my goal. I wrote it down, specifically outlining my goals. And I wrote down step #1, #2, #3, etc. and spelled out exactly how I was going to do it. I focussed my eyes on the prize and started working towards it.

I quit Winnebago in 1985 after seven years there. I have never had to get a full-time job since then, however I have had to do some summer work in parks, for farmers, etc. I delivered new motorhomes to dealers across the US and Canada. I worked on a commerical fishing boat in Alaska. I went to college full time at 30 years of age, living on food stamps and student loans for two grueling years.

I have now been a full-time professional fisherman, hunter, trapper for 11 years. Trapping has almost entirely dried up as source of income although I still sell quite a few of the three books I've written on the subject. I at one time did a lot of sports show seminars on whitetail hunting and fur trapping, and still do a few fishing seminars. I write magazine articles and run 10 walleye tournaments a year, and fish a few. I've written a total of 8 books and more than 100 magazine articles. I have five kids and an awesome wife of 22 years who put up with me though all this. I hunt and fish 150 or more days a year all across North America. The other day I took the year 2000 licenses out of my wallet for eight states and two provinces.

I'm not saying all this to brag, but to prove that it can be done if you are willing to focus and grit your teeth and pay the price. And the price is huge. I didn't realize it for a long time, but I now realize I'm living a dream. There are no perfect jobs or careers, and there are NO days that I don't have to do something I really don't care to do, but I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

Now at 42 years of age, I can see very clearly why people have this obsession with sponsors. Nearly everyone wants to make a living doing what they love to do. We all love fishing, that's why we are visiting this message board. Not everyone wants to make a living fishing, no. Hans doesn't. He doesn't have to, he's probably nearing retirement anyway. Some of you have jobs you look forward to going to every day and you're happy to just fish on the weekends. But the people who really would turn down making a living doing something they love are the exception not the rule, in my opinion.

My point is that many people see sponsors as a way to get paid to do what they love. And for a handful of people, it has been the first step. While many leave tracks on the beginning of the path, there are few tracks near the goal. If you are looking for an easy life, professional fishing--whether it be writing about it, fishing tournaments, guiding or whatever--is not an easy road. But if you want it bad enough, I hope my words have encouraged you to put a long-term plan in motion and start taking the steps to get there. Sponsors can and should be a part of it, but they should not be the first part. Sorry for being so windy.

Fish-on

[Minnesota]

Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to my question. Very good reading and I learned some things.

Minnesota
"As fellow fisherman, we are all members of a brotherhood."

[Eric Olson]

Well Done...
Very well Done.

This is the insight that makes this sight so helpful,and informative.

Let's keep the ball rolling!
Eric Olson

[Ric]

What is the stigma behind the first one hundred numbers in the NPAA?

[Art/CO]

Just some thoughts; it seems that our sport, fishing that is, and sponsorship for good fishermen is missing the boat. Every day we watch multi-million dollar mediocre professional sports people get paid to push a product, whether they use the product or not. And yet there're professional fisherpeople out there struggling to make ends meet. Maybe we should boycott professional sports, athletes and their sponsors and say so out loud. Think of it this way, why can't the professionals in our sport receive the benefits as others? If I eat Slim Jims in my boat and it makes me fish better, slap a Slim Jim sticker on the side of my boat and show me the money! Not me, persee but somebody. And how about the women in our sport, if they wear Victoria Secret underwear while winning a tournament, slam a sticker on the side of the boat and show them the money! Am I wrong here or am I just sick of overpaid athletes? By the way, Mr. Peluso, no offense, but I think you're over-worked and under-fished.


Art

[Gonzo]

Art,

What if you wore the Victoria's Secrete underwear?

Gonzo

[Art/Co]

O.k. It's V/S mens boxers. Silk for that cold day on the water.

By the way I was serious.I suppose you want a sticker for your boat and thousand dollars to boot. Go ahead admit it those boxers are not just for Saturday night wear anymore.hehehee

Art

[guideman]

The #'s 1-100 are for the "true professionals"
They fish "The show" while the rest of us are in
the minor leagues. They "play for pay" just like
any other sport, loyalty to the sponsor has little to do with it. The sponsor that offers the most cash gets their loyalty for the length
of the contract. Member #278

guideman.

[ddt]

Fish-On===You ARE what everyone here would
like to be,but most will not work that
long or hard to get there.You have every
right to be proud. ddt

[curt quesnell]

well done fish on...as usual

i understand "doing what you have to do to live the life you
want". it seems this is far out of the imaginable reach of many.

im not rippin on anyone...but anyone wanting to make a living
in the fishing industry can use fish ons post as a realistic
guide.

good luck to all who have the guts to try to live the dream,
hopefully you will "go for it" with your eyes wide open.

curt quesnell

[Rip Lips]

Iam very sorry you feel that way.I will always be true to the people that helped me get started.Maybe you should leave your name so everyone can put a face on the that #.By the way I call myself a true "pro"since I pay to fish.A Gary Gray quote.The RCL will be giving the "big show" some compettion this season.Sorry for your negitive attitude and good luck this year. Jamie Friebel.