15 replies to this topic

[youngbassman]

Hello, my name is Connor. I am 15 years old ,and love bass fishing. I am looking to support some fishing companies. I am not looking to get free stuff. More to make a partnership with a company and get a companies name out there. I love to talk about the sport. I like to help others out. I fish every weekend with my uncle. I can get your name out in California area. It would be very nice to get to become a partner with some of the awesome companies on here. Thank you very much for reading this. Continue to rip lips and have fun.

[youngbassman]

Not begging just trying to help some companies out. And any help on how I should approach would be great. Thank you

[slonezp]

Concentrate on finishing school and enjoy fishing.
You'll need alot more than "I can talk about your company" to get any attention.

[youngbassman]

Thank you very much for the input. It really helps. Yeah I am going to go to college after i get out i have already started college courses so it will be fun. I plan on getting my name out there this year a lot more because i am going to fish the future pro tour and i don't know what else.

[Wild Bill [NY]]

Concentrate FULLY on your education right now.
Word hard on getting into a prestigous college , and then work hard there to get your degree[s].

Fishing will ALWAYS be there AFTER you finish college.
Marketing or Communications would be good majors if that is what your goal is.

If you are that good of a tourney angler, word will get out for you on it's own.

You and a gazzillion other anglers want to be promoting a tackle company; what makes you feel you have that special appeal to be beneficial to them ?

Find what strengths you have in fishing certain tackle....and if you are that good where you are winning a LOT of tournies with their products, THEN approach them.

[youngbassman]

thank you very much wild bill for you input i think that is what i need to do get a good education and then you know work on it while i am going to college. thank you very much again.

[senko_77]

Hey man, I really really like how you are approaching this. If I had a company, you would definitely have a spot on our staff. Your attitude is right, man. Most younger guys come here looking for the sponsorship, thinking it will instantly make the better anglers. I think it's pretty cool that your just as interested in furthering the sport of fishing as you are in getting free stuff.

I've walked the walk man, and I'm still walking it. I started on this site when I was 13, and couldn't even texas rig a worm. Until I quit tournament fishing for the last 2 years, I had multiple sponsorships and things were looking great. It just wasn't the right time for me, but now I'm back at it, and things are going well

My suggestion for you is to continue doing what your doing. Keep practicing fishing. Time on the water is so valuable. Take what you learn here on the forums and all the articles, then go apply it on the water. Your catches are going to increase, as well as your tournament results. I got every sponsorship I had through winning tournaments. I never had to send out a resume until it was requested by the company, and at that point, your in.

Take the advice of all these guys. They are spot on.

Good luck dude, and PM me if you ever have any questions on how to approach potential companies.

[YoungProdigy19]

You are approaching it right its not about getting free stuff. Your going to need to be comitted to school and working hard to stay on whosever staff you are on. Which can be difficult. It's also another way to get other sponsors and getting your name out into the fishing world. But remember one thing, just because you have sponsors doesn't make you any better of a fisherman than the next guy, you have to want it more to get sponsors. Good luck man! Oh and stay positive don't ever let rejection put fear or doubt in your mind!

[youngbassman]

hey thanks very much... yeah I plan on representing myself a lot more this year by fishing many more tournaments. Get my name out there and just wait for the time that i think i am ready. I am really tied up with school but this summer is when I will really be trying and actually looking around. Great advice so far thanks everyone

[Bair]

Remember, you miss a hundred percent of the shots you don't take. Do not be afraid of being rejected, instead embrace it! I don't know your situation but if your in high school try asking out a junior and a senior, it's good practice. If you can get her, power to you

[youngbassman]

Hah thanks man I have not been trying lately to get a sponsor i will start my look back up soon. I am deff not afraid of being rejected worse thing someone could say is no. Thanks for the advice.

[fishguts]

Youngbassman,

As others have said, focus first on fishing and education and don't worry about getting sponsors. From my take (20 years in the fishing/media biz) lure makers are looking for professionals who are always working at something related to fishing. They might be hardcore tournament anglers or guides, or more likely both, and they give seminars at outdoor shows, take outdoor writers (the few that are left) fishing and show them why the products you use work so well. They win tournaments and get thier name-- and more important, the products they were using to win that tournament--in a magazine, newspaper or some other media outlet. Lure companies pay pro staffers to promote and help sell lures, not because they like them or because they don't want free stuff. It's a business.

In most cases that I've seen, lure companies find anglers to sponsor, not the other way around. In other words, pro staff managers are always looking for hard-working men and women who already use their products successfully and who already promote them. They are bombarded with resumes like yours and 99.99 percent end up in the trash. The few that get a second look are from top-notch anglers who are skilled at business, as well. Unfortunately, you don't have any track record that would help sell yourself yet. Stick with it.

Again, focus on fishing. Fish as many tournaments as you can. Volunteer at fishing derbies to help promote the sport. Get a job in a tackle shop or marina. In other words, live it and you;ll start to figure it out.

Good luck.

[youngbassman]

Youngbassman,

As others have said, focus first on fishing and education and don't worry about getting sponsors. From my take (20 years in the fishing/media biz) lure makers are looking for professionals who are always working at something related to fishing. They might be hardcore tournament anglers or guides, or more likely both, and they give seminars at outdoor shows, take outdoor writers (the few that are left) fishing and show them why the products you use work so well. They win tournaments and get thier name-- and more important, the products they were using to win that tournament--in a magazine, newspaper or some other media outlet. Lure companies pay pro staffers to promote and help sell lures, not because they like them or because they don't want free stuff. It's a business.

In most cases that I've seen, lure companies find anglers to sponsor, not the other way around. In other words, pro staff managers are always looking for hard-working men and women who already use their products successfully and who already promote them. They are bombarded with resumes like yours and 99.99 percent end up in the trash. The few that get a second look are from top-notch anglers who are skilled at business, as well. Unfortunately, you don't have any track record that would help sell yourself yet. Stick with it.

Again, focus on fishing. Fish as many tournaments as you can. Volunteer at fishing derbies to help promote the sport. Get a job in a tackle shop or marina. In other words, live it and you;ll start to figure it out.

Good luck.

thanks man very much for the advice i have thought about it more and thought that at my age i need to focus on my education. I don't need a sponsor at this point in time. Thanks very much for the advice it really helps man.

[Sam]

Win!!!

Win some opens. Win some high school tournaments.

Go to college and win some National Championships.

Start a career to bring in the money.

Fish the opens on weekends plus any other tournaments to showcase your skills.

Buy your boat and equipment BEFORE YOU GET MARRIED. Once you get married it is all over unless you have established yourself as a pro.

If you are sponsored or want to be sponsored by a specificbait company, take photos of the big bass you catch with their lure hanging out of the fish's mouth. You may have to replace the bait to take the photo and do this with a few baits. You need to show the companies that you are catching fish with their products.

Now, will this get you a bait sponsor? Maybe from a local company in California who makes their own baits. But you have to give it a try.

Being 15 you should also have intrests in playing sports, cars and soon, girls. Girls can be expensive and have fleas so be careful when you date!!!!!!!

Go fishing and take those pics and submit them to the manufacturers of your choice.

[Broke bass fisherman]

You are allready on the right track focusing on college. Remember more and more colleges of fishing teams these days. This is a great place to focus on your education, fish in big tournaments, and get your name out there. Keep on fishing and remember the second you think you have all the answers and stop learning all of your goals are almost impossible to achieve.