earthworm77

I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder here. I've never used an Evolution jig as I make my own jigs but I know a little about the Eakins and I can tell you it is more at home, well, it was designed for skipping under docks rather than being worked through heavy snags. It is a modified ball head and really that is not the best choice for weedless-ness. You've got to consider that the hook is not the only place that you can pick up snags. The line tie area and where the head and line tie come together are notorious for catching on things.

Perhaps on eof the first things you should do, even before you write a resume is ask yourself this........Do I need to pursue sponsors and if I do, what do I hope to accomplish once I get some? The cold hard truth is that unless you are a Professional Tour angler, you will not make enough money from a sponsor for it to matter. I mean that you may swing a deal for a few bucks but nobody is paying your way. The most common things you can hope to get out of this are either discounted products or free products. Here is where this is important.... ....make sure you solicit a sponsor whose products you actually use. If you use Gamakatsu hooks and your sponsor makes gill nets and snelled hooks, it isn't helping you out. Your savings won't work in that instance. If you land Gamakatsu, you can cut your overall fishing costs and that will help you out. I guess, once you get your plan of action figured out, step back and review it. Don't make unrealistic expectations on yourself because if you can't live up to them, you will become less motivated. Part 3 coming this weekend

It is called heavy pressure on small waters. In Maine, much less anglers and they are pursuing other species.

OK, in part 1 we looked at what you should consider doing when you are starting out looking for potential sponsors. I focussed mainly on building your rep and your resume. Remember that your resume is the first impression you give to a sponsor and if it is garbage, well, you know what they say about first impressions. I can't reiterate this enough, check your spelling and grammar, people want to see that you care about your work. Remember there are so many people competing with you for a select number of spots. If you leave a bad impression, you will get circle filed quickly. I hit the delete key more often than not before I ever finish reading a resume, not because I'm a hard sell, but because if people don't seem to care about their work, they can't care about mine. OK, let's suppose you get through the first leg of the journey. You submit a very good resume, with a phone number which is key. If you have positive feedback from this, follow it up with a hard copy. I kind of recommend a hard copy over an email because emails are so generic. It might impress someone that you put the effort in and spent the 42 cents on the stamp. The next thing is that you better have something to say if this Staff Coordinator decides to call you. Let's hold on here for a second and consider a few things. What could this person ask me? Maybe for one, you might get a few follow up questions about your resume....make sure whatever you wrote is the truth, you don't want to be caught out there misinforming people about yourself. Next, you might be asked about your experiences with the company's products. This is a great time to let this person know about any facet of info you have about the baits etc that they market. Remember we talked about modifications, tweaks, ideas for improvement. Don't shoot your wad in one phone call, but you can say something like "I have some ideas about how to fish this bait more effectively"....or something to that extent. This call is your chance to prove that you are worthy of holding a conversation with a stranger about fishing and the products you intend to represent. Show your knowledge, articulate your thoughts and put them together. You are still trying to sell yourself. It is not the time to ask what they will offer you. Get your foot in the door. If a position is offered to you, you will be made well aware of the perks it will bring. Most importantly be prepared to say something, dead silence won't go over well. This is just common sense but I can tell you that there have been times when I called a person back and they didn't have anything to say. Make a little plan, an outline of things you might want to elaborate on if you get the chance to speak to a Sponsor on the phone. This is the time where you will help yourself by re iterating how you can help promote this company's products by...........???? You do an internship for school or college at a newspaper or for a radio station? Your buddy has a public access show and will give you air time? Again, shy away from the I'll wear your patch and shirt thing. That is pretty much expected of you and not a bonus to them. If you have any background in marketing or sales, it may be of interest to them as well. digest this for now, I'll be back later.

I'll warn you now, the new tubes are the smelliest ones I've ever dipped. Really, I'm packaging them in 4mil laminated scent locker bags because they are strong.

Not trying to be disrespectful but you've spelled "sponsors" incorrectly, a big mistake on a resume. -Good job in correcting that.

Brian, you know what, you are on your way. Getting a sponsorship with a photography studio is a perfect example of thinking outside the box. Part of me thinks that there are some people who are in charge of a Pro staff program, somewhere that actually look at a guy who has other sponsors extremely favorably. Like maybe that they have the experience and they should know what to do...it might be easier for them to assimilate into company X's program. I will have a bunch of jigs come the fall, right now, plastic dominates my custom business and it would be silly of me to side step that. I have built my reputation in the fishing industry by doing things differently from most other people. Your not breaking any rules by finding a new approach, in fact it should be welcomed. I got a little lazy this week but I'm going to do part 2 soon.

Speed Bead is right....BP96. I was really young when I set out to fish competitively. Maybe 16 or so. I started by using all of the West Coast Finesse methods that were really new in the 80's. I was putting a serious hurting on the guys I fished against. They laughed at my tackle at the launch and then called me a cheater at the weigh in. I kept my mouth shut, not only because I didn't want to get my A-$$ kicked but because I let my fishing do the talking. After a while people get over it and you get accepted. But you can't let it bother you. Later on in life some of these same people sat in the audience for some of the seminars I've spoken at. People are jealous and if you consistently flog them at something they think they are skilled at, they will get frustrated and mouth off. Like I said, let your fishing do the talking. You are not always going to be liked. I've been following your responses to these threads and you are quick to defend yourself when criticized. Chill out. You really do show your age and it isn't flattering. TR said, Walk softly but carry a big stick. It means, keep your mouth shut and let your actions do the talking. Or have a really big gun.

Pretty much any of the canals near you and south of you will hold peacocks. I grew up fishing in Margate, I think the c-46 canal. Coconut Creek. miami Airport area is smoking hot, they sometimes find their way up to Okeechobee but normally can't winter that far north. Get a canoe or small jonboat.

I am. You shouldn't have much glitter on the bottom of the Pyrex. Salt does accumulate there though. But if you keep stiring it, you shouldn't have much waste.

Just remember, stay away from the cigar store Indian!!!

I'd like to believe that the above resume shows my passion for the sport. It obviously has many things that show a potential sponsor that I have some avenues to promote them. I think that is important. If I was to add to it today, I could list that I have written and authored 16 Bass Fishing CD-ROMs, that my own custom tackle company has received several awards etc. You can build on it as time moves forward. It doesn't say I'll wear your logo, it doesn't say give me something. It is just an introduction. I kind of am up in the air about the tournament results part of it. I know it looks impressive but I'll be the first to tell you that local tournament circuit activity is really nothing special. I was persuaded by a friend to put that stuff in there because he felt that it showed a dominance in competition. That has always had me on the fence but it certainly has worked for me. You don't want to look too "heady" but these are my accomplishments and I was advised to use them to my advantage. I used this resume from 2004 thru 2006. I pretty much don't solicit anyone for anything now. As a writer, I am often sent things by companies to check out.....remember what I said about street cred, well, I built it up and this is the result. I've had some big manufacturers send me products that I critiqued. If I don't like it, I let them know. One of the products I did back in 2004 was US reels Super Caster 225. It was a reel designed by Ray Scott. I hated it, I let them know and they redesigned it. I'm really active in the light tackle circle of bass fishing. Many people know this and things filter down to me because of it. Back to your resume- overview check spelling and grammar don't be generic don't ask for anything explain what you can do to promote leave out the I'll wear you patch thing most importantly perk their interest The resume process is just like fishing. Your resume is bait, you want a sponsor to bite at it. Once they are on the line, you need to be able to effectively follow up and land the deal. next installment: The plan

Bio- Craig De Fronzo grew up in Hauppauge NY on Long Island. Very early on he became interested in bass fishing as he lived in the middle of what he terms the Western Suffolk Big Bass Belt. This was a series of lakes that were all located in close proximity to each other. Fishing on Blydenburg, Millers Pond and Lake Ronkonkoma, Craig became a power fisherman and took what he learned on these lakes to Florida every Spring during his youth. Craig cut his teeth fishing Floridas famed big bass waters such as West Toho, Lake George, St. Johns River, Suwanee River , Lake Osbourne, the Everglades, The Big O, Kissimmee and others. In the early nineties Craig took a trip to the Ocala National forest and caught a 13.9lb bass on 6lb test. This was the turning point in his young angling career as he switched over to the realm of finesse fishing. Craig began to adopt all of the "New" West Coast methods and re applied them to his fishing here in NY. Not only did he discover he could get more bites when scaling down his tackle, he saw that he was catching far more large fish as well. He has documented through the NYDEC Diary program an outlandish number of bass over 5lbs all on light tackle. To date he has landed 21 bass over 7lbs on LI including 3 bonafide nine pounders. When he is not chasing largemouth bass, he can be found out in Montauk looking for big stripers. Nicknamed "The Surgeon" by several of his friends and club mates, for his meticulous eye for detail and scientific approaches, he was selected to be on Owner Americas field staff in 1995. Craig has written articles that appear regularly on ., River Smallies.com, Kevins bass site, The Michigan Fishfinder, Bronzeback.com, Bassininny.com and several for the Fisherman magazine and NYDEC Sweetwater Angler. He has had 300 articles published within the last decade. Craig is also the author of 14 bass fishing related ebooks. Craig has given several presentations on light tackle jig and tube fishing for the South Jersey Bass Busters and Suffolk County Bassmasters and New York Bass University. He is known for his technical approach to fishing and finding patterns. He is currently a police officer in NYC and was part of the Harlem Outreach program which taught inner city kids how to fish in Central Park. He worked with this program for the 5 years. Craig believes that confidence and his unorthodox approaches often give him the advantage out on the water. He is part owner of Micro Munch Tackle and is sponsored by Kistler Custom Rods, Sea King, Mizmo Baits, Kick N Bass, BBQ Team Coyote Roadkill, Jerky Hut and Mr. B's Tackle. He is on the staff of BassinUSA and Ultimate Bass and is a guest writer for RiverSmallies.com, Kevins Bass Site, BassResource.com, Illinios smallmouth Alliance, Michigan Fish Finder, BassAnglersonline.com. Each fishing season Craig hosts a charity bass tournament dedicated in the memory of is childhood friend Tom Aylward who was killed in an auto wreck in North Carolina in 2000. The event draws some big name sponsors and 100% of the fees and donations generated make their way to the Aylward family. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Although I fish competitively and wear my sponsors colors proudly speaking with many anglers at the ramp, I feel my greatest attribute is being able to promote products and services through speaking to people at the seminars I do and through the many articles I write for various publications and websites. I am a staff writer for 3 of the biggest bass fishing websites on the net as well as several smaller sites. There is potential for my articles and ideas to reach over a million anglers a year, likely many more than that. I have been featured as a guest host of several TV fishing shows and have several invitations to do more. The possibility to reach large numbers of viewers exists. In 2005 alone, I've done 25 speaking engagements for national boat and fishing shows, clubs and websites. I would estimate that I've spoken before 10,000 unique individuals at these functions. I have spoken alongside of such personalities as Jimmy Houston, Larry Nixon and Jason Reynolds. One thing I feel that is essential for me to work with any sponsor is the absolute belief in the product or service. Product knowledge is paramount to my success both on the water and representing your company. I have a degree in Criminal Justice and have been a law enforcement officer for the NYPD for over 10 years. I've seen and done it all. I believe that being a police officer has given me the great ability to be a public speaker bursting with confidence. I do my best to represent this sport in a professional manner and I realize in truth that I am an ambassador to your company, a reflection of what your business is all about. For this reason, I commit myself to exhibiting conduct in a professional, courteous and humble manner at all times. While I don't feel that my tournament activity should be a large consideration for a position with any company, I list the past few seasons results to show that I am active in competition. Angling Accomplishments and Achievements 6-20-04 first place Loon Lake Craig DeFronzo- 14.69lbs 3 LMB 1 SMB 7-31-04 first place Upper Mills C. DeFronzo- 5LMB 18.79lbs 8-07-04 first place Hither Hills C.DeFronzo- 5LMB 18.10lbs 8-28-04 second place Bryant Lake C DeFronzo- 5 LMB 12.45lbs 10-24-04 first place Classic Forge Pond C.DeFronzo 10.37lbs 2004 Anglers of The Year: R.Fisher/C.DeFronzo: 74.40lbs Mr Bass Craig DeFronzo 4.89 Smallmouth Club MVP: Craig DeFronzo Classic Champs: R.Fisher/C.DeFronzo 6-15-03 second place Hither Hills 11.88lbs Craig DeFronzo 6-22-03 first place Maratooka Pond 9.55lbs Craig DeFronzo 6-28-03 first place Upper Mills 13.80lbs Craig DeFronzo 7-20-03 first place Forge Pond 11.96lbs Craig DeFronzo 7-13-03 first place Swan Pond 10.72lbs Craig DeFronzo 7-27-03 first place West Lake 12.69lbs Craig DeFronzo 8-10-03 second place Hither Hills 8.15lbs Craig DeFronzo 9-7-03 first place Forge Pond 16.93lbs Tom Aylward Memorial Event Craig DeFronzo/Paul Ritchie 9-14-03 first place Upper Mills 6.48lbs Craig DeFronzo 2003 films pilot episode of Lunkerville 2003 ESBA Team Anglers of the Year Craig DeFronzo/Rob Fisher 86.54lbs 72pts out of 80 for the 2003 season 2005 Seminar Series at NY Boat Show with Larry Nixon and Jimmy Houston 2005 Filmed second Lunkerville Episode Mr. Bass ESBA 2003 season Craig DeFronzo 4.89lb largemouth 2003 ESBA Club MVP Craig DeFronzo 6-2-02- first place Forge Pond 12.48lbs Craig DeFronzo 6-9-02 second place Zone 1 4.66lbs Craig DeFronzo 6-21-02 second place Swan Pond 7.87lbs Craig DeFronzo 7-7-02 first place Upper Mills 11.50lbs Craig DeFronzo 8-11-02 second place Forge pond 9.70lbs Craig DeFronzo 8-25-02 second Place Hither Hills 7.74lbs Craig DeFronzo 9-15-02 first place Swan Pond 7.59lbs Craig DeFronzo 9-22-02 first place Maratooka pond 9.50lbs Craig DeFronzo 10-02/ 10-03 -02 ESBA Classic first place 16.79lbs Craig DeFronzo 2002 Team anglers of the Year Craig DeFronzo and Rob Fisher 2002 overall angler of the year Craig DeFronzo 2002 club MVP Craig DeFronzo 2001 Helps establish Green Eyes Worm Works and Wicked Tubes, hand poured baits 2000 Forms Micro Munch Tackle 1995 Invented the proto type of the Micro Munch Jig 1995 co-Founder Harlem Outreach Fishing with Inner city Kids Program 1995 Runner Up Big Bass World Championship for NY 8.16lbs 1994 Runner Up Big Bass World Championship for NY 7.34lbs Pro Staff Affiliations BASSIN' USA Mr. B's Bait and Tackle Owner America Corp. Sea King Line Micro Munch Tackle Kistler Custom Rods Kick N Bass Jerky Hut Fish For Free BBQ Team Coyote Roadkill Mizmo Baits Micro Munch Tackle Blue Label Key Stats : Largest Largemouth Bass 13 pounds 9 ounces Ocala National Forest Largest NY Largemouth Bass 9 pounds 14 ounces Wildwood lake Largest NY Smallmouth Bass 6 pounds 2 ounces Hudson River Catskill Creek Largest LI Largemouth (2) 9 pounds 3 ounces Largemouth Bass Peconic River both Zone II Largest 5 bass Tournament total 22 pounds 14 ounces Mahopac NY 2000 Largest LI 5 bass total 32 pounds 4 ounces Millers Pond 1991

After reading some of the latest posts about people wanting to get sponsored, and after trying to prevent my head from exploding due to them, I figured we should maybe once again touch on the important things people should consider when thinking about pursuing sponsors. My first bit of advice is to actually do it the old fashioned way, fish hard and build up a reputation. Join a club. For lack of any other statement and the fact I was a cop in the ghetto, build some street cred. Once you are confident that you actually have something to offer, go into town and try to get a local business to back you. You can even cheat, maybe it will be your Mom's boss or a family friend.....perfect. It doesn't have to be fishing related. It could be a car wash or a butcher shop etc. That is the guy who may accept the...."I'll wear your logo" for local advertisement purposes. I'm not sure what they can give you in return, maybe a little cash, some pork chops but most importantly, you will get your feet wet and know how to deal with the responsibility of representing a local business. Now, realize that this isn't Shimano or Zoom. They may actually be watching how you conduct yourself. So don't go drinking with your buddies and steal the local ccigar store Indian that happens to be a county landmark, (only about 35 of them left in the country) Anyway, I digress. marketing tip-Check out Fish For Free 1 and 2 by Scott Rauber. These are books written all about how to attract sponsors and not necessarily fishing related ones. Two great reads. If you are serious, they will absolutely help you. I read both of them after I was already sponsored by several companies. As an experiment, I took a little about what I learned in those books and sent out a couple of resumes and was picked up by each company....perfect track record following that advice. I can't help but stress that age is important. Yes, you may think at the ripe age of 12 or even 16 that you have experience but you don't. If you put on your resume that you have been fishing since you were two, I delete it right there. Be serious, How much serious fishing time can you do without having your own tow vehicle to pull your own boat....not going with Daddy who operates and dictates what you will be doing? OK, lets talk resume and website. Both are good to have but...the first thing I look for as I review either is spelling and grammar. Not because I'm a stickler for either but because I figure that if you do not care enough about providing me with a flawless representation of yourself, a spotless resume or a well done website that is supposed to convey to me that you are of impeccable character and you are serious and the best man for the position, along with showing me how your represent yourself, then you can't possibly care about my company or represent it in the way I expect you to. READ THAT AGAIN This is a common reason that I hit the delete key without even finishing the read. It is so easy to do right but so many people fail right here. Your not even in the door and you are already out. Here's my 1st tip of the day. Proof read, spell check and for heaven's sake, know how to spell sponsor. Next, about the content of the resume, I think the first and most important thing about someone who is applying for a position is that you really should know about the product. You should use it regularly. it makes sense. When I was 18, I was banging up the local circuits and got featured in the newspapers, local fishing publications and even wrote a little on my own for a magazine. This is good street cred. When I decided I may want to go at way, into the semi-pro angler field, I immediately took stock in what I used every day. At the time I was using BPS rods, no chance for a sponsorship there, Owner Hooks.....HMMMMM, Sea King Line...HMMMMM, all kinds of plastics, maybe a hand pour company would be interested in me. Forget Strike King, Zoom, Mann's and all of the big names. They fork out the money to the real Pro's and know you can't offer them anything they already get from a big name. Tip of the day#2- Do not set your sights too high. If you expect to land Daiwa...when they don't answer your inquiry or turn you down, you will get upset and lose motivation. Solicit manufacturer's whose products you actually use. Wearing a patch is not a badge of courage. It is not a status display. You should be doing it for the right reasons and if you are serious, you will be. You are a representative of that patch. you should know about the products and act in a proper manner. Plan out your resume. Explain how you intend to help promote my company. How can you get media time or spread the word? DO NOT SAY you will wear my patch, logo, boat wrap, whatever....etc. That is something I will dictate if I choose to. Can you get TV time? Radio time? do you write for a newspaper or magazine? Know someone who can do any of this for you? That is what is important. How can you influence sales or marketability of my products? Saying you can wear a patch is so generic and low tech, it doesn't interest me. That is really putting in little effort. I have people who buy my logo merchandise and wear it...for me at no cost to me. If this is the best you can offer and the backbone of your resume.....go back to the drawing board because it will not cut it. Tip of the day #3- If you are 12 to 16 years old and this is all you can offer, maybe you shouldn't jump into this until you can seriously offer something more to expose your targets better. Last resume tip- Never demand or ask for anything until they ask you what you are looking for. Asking for cash is absolutely out at the bottom rung of the ladder. Asking for a few bags of baits in the resume cheapens the resume and makes it seem like you are looking for a handout. It's great to say you love the products, you use them all the time and even...I have a few ideas about how to improve them, I modify them certain ways to make them more effective etc.....um, make sure you really do because you might get called on it. Any small time bait jockey will be flattered and may make it a priority to follow up to chat with you. This is what you are hoping for....impress! The resume is just a tool to perk their interest in you. The follow up is how you close the deal. No manufacturer will hold on to a resume. If he doesn't follow up on it, your in cyberspace. Never say, this is my second request or second time sending this to you, I haven't heard back.....don't be a thorn in someones side, they are not going to give you a shot if you are. This is the resume I sent out several years ago. I haven't updated it, there are some pictures on it that may not load on to here but take a look at it, it describes me, it doesn't ask for anything, it doesn't say I'll do anything. I leave that for later. It is more a press release than a resume but it has worked for me because it is different. Check it-

Go to any hardware store and get a 36" length of 1/4" steel rod. Cut it into 12" sections and you have three mixing rods which can double as tube dipping rods.

Oh, and let me just add, if you misrepresent yourself, and you get caught, your credibility in the industry is shot, along with your hopes of a career.

BP96-What you don't seem to comprehend is that you need to sell yourself. You need to actually offer a benefit to the company you seek sponsorship from. It translates into what are you going to do for me now? It is a job. Federal law says you can't work until you are 15 or 16 and then it is restricted by special laws. Basspro- Pretend you are trying for a sponsorship to my company, we specialize in hand pours, tubes and custom jigs with gamakatsu hooks. Sell yourself to me, the Pro Staff Coordinator..What do you have to offer....Ok? You and I can go back and forth and maybe you will get something out of this.......And.....begin.........

you need to listen twice as much as you speak We have a winner. Excellent point Wayne! I didn't want to be too harsh and say shoulda, coulda, woulda, but I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I thought it and absolutely said that in my head as I read that mssg. It doesn't matter what you almost did, it matters what you actually do and even then, maybe not. It is about maturity level and how you conduct yourself publicly. Near misses don't count for anything.

Basspro, you are out there doing what you need to do and that is great. I'm sure if you stick with it and are serious, your day will come. However, you can't rest on the laurels of "If I won that event, the exposure would have been....." You need to approach this with realistic goals. What can you do now for a sponsor, despite not having won a big event? Unfortunately most people aren't as vigilant as you and try to get what they can with as little effort as possible. It may not be fair to drag a whole group of people down but based on experience, it is fairly accurate to come to the conclusions I have. So many people talk the talk but can't walk the walk. It isn't because they are dishonest, it is that they don't realize what this entails, the expectations on them and that in their young lives, there are so many other important things going on to distract them from focusing on their responsibilities. In all seriousness, a young person who is a staffer, really needs to stand out to get the respect of a much older audience. I read a response on one of these threads where someone said "Your 15, what do you know about life and what could you teach me?" As harsh as that sounds, the guy was 100% accurate. That is the opinion that every older person will have flash through his head when he meets this kid for the first time. What would make someone respect that kid? If it isn't there, he just sounds like every other young kid with aspirations. You have to be able to fill some decent sized shoes because people are generally skeptical. I went through it when I was young, I conquered it by fishing competitively and beating those skeptics. You gain a reputation and hopefully it is positive and leads you to opportunities. Consider this: Let's say a 16yr old or younger kid gets a staff position and the responsibilities are to travel around to shows and shops etc. That burden falls on a third party to shuttle that kid around. What kind of deal is the kid going to get to make it worthwhile for the parent to do that work...considering gas prices what they are. Also consider the approach that many people use is that they have no job and have no money and need equipment. Times are tough but they are tough for manufacturer's as well. The loss in profit is reflective of what is going on in the economy. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is about a young generation not getting opportunities based on character flaws. It is only about being prepared to handle the tasks and responsibilities that they sign up for.

I don't think that is the easy way to do it. You have to be spot on with the cut and I don't think I could even be close. 2 ways to do it with RTV. 1- Make your frame and fill it half way with your RTV mix. Let it start to harden. Figure out how deep you need to set your master (forgive me for saying) bait taking the setting RTV into consideration. You need to make sure the bait is literally suspended halfway into the RTV. Let it harden. Next, you need a release agent sold where you buy your RTV...micromark is a good shop. Slather the top of the finished mold with the release agent and then pour another batch of RTV on top of it to make the 2nd half. It'll work. They will separate when hard. 2- make a clay copy of the bait. Cut the copy in half. pour a bottom covering layer of hot soft plastic into a frame. as it is geling up, place the half clay copy in the frame. Pour in RTV. Next on both the top and bottom of the RTV as it sets, place an alignment peg. Once you can take the mold out, simply repeat the process and after your second half is ready, match up the peg holes and you should be in business.

Guys, seriously now, first, ask yourself this- why would Zoom or Bandit sponsor me? What do I have to offer them that they would actually be interested in? If I am 12 or 15, should I not be more concerned with school than getting a few packs of free baits...which I may not get anyway? This is just silliness. It is nice to dream and believe that one has what it takes to even be in the same sentence as Kevin Van Dam or other big time pro's, but in all actuality, only one in a million may get close. It is totally unrealistic to think that a really big company is going bank on a 12 year old. I hate to be a dream killer but I think far more people are infatuated with the idea of being sponsored than with doing the work to attain that sponsorship. That being said, I've said this before, just because you enjoy fishing, it doesn't qualify you for a sponsorship with any company. It is crazy to expect that. If you are a young person get involved in a club or casting kids. Build some street cred. If this was easy, everyone would be getting their tackle for free. I have been in this industry for over 15 years. I've experienced both sides of the coin as a angler and as a manufacturer and now as a journalist. The bottom line is that you may only get one real chance to do this correctly, so do it right and plan it out. For one minute, put yourself in the shoes of the person reviewing your resume. Is what you are reading impressive enough for you to say "Hey, lets sign this guy up"? One of the most generic things I see in a resume is this and don't do it..."My partner and I would be willing to wear any patches, hats, shirts etc. with your companies logo" Think about it, what are you really offering? Unfortunately and all to often this is the only thing being offered by the resume submitter and , it ain't a heck of a lot. Most companies have tons of people who actually buy their logo merchandise and wear it regularly so why would this benefit anyone? The bottom line is that you need to explain how you can produce results. How will you directly influence sales? Talking to people at the weigh in nice but in reality, there is no real way for a manufacturer to know you are doing anything on your own unless people drop your name. In 2003 I wrote an article about how I started using Kistler Helium rods after I developed a serious elbow problem. This all came on the heels of a gauntlet fishing season where I competed in like 25 events over a 4 month period. I literally flipped my elbow to shreds. I got my hands on a Helium and felt that due to it being lighter, my problems cleared up and allowed me to win an AOL title and the Classic in my local circuit. Two days after I published the article I got a phone call from Kistler and was invited to be on their staff. That year customers dropped my name over 65 times when purchasing rods. Considering the cost of those rods at 269. to 289., you get the picture. That is how you influence sales. Why does KVD have all these great deals? Think about what he can offer a manufacturer. If he says I catch all my fish on a white buzzbait, guess how many white buzzers SK is going to sell. Do you have that ability? Do you have clout with the media? You don't, so that is why you can't expect any deal other than a discount on product and you should be happy with that. I read posts in amazement when people get bent out of shape that they were offered a crummy discount. What do you think they are going to offer a very low level angler? The keys to a new Ranger? Common sense. Start at the bottom and work your way up. If you are serious, you make strides to succeed. If you complain about it and get offended at the offer, you don't even get your foot in the door. That is why only a few succeed at this. They get upset that they are not offered the key to the city right away. Common sense!! Remember being a staffer is like a job in itself. The more you put in, the more likely you will get some decent return. If you are not willing to put in the effort, why bother. I think people do it as a status thing but in reality it means little.

Volman, Fishfordollars and Warmer, those were three very good posts about this subject. Vol- 100% right promotional staff is the term...your only a Pro if it says that on your W-2 or 1099. People get really caught up in that. Fish- Unfortunately, every Tom, Dick and Harry who owns a rod and reel feels they are entitled to something for free or a discount because of that. In this day and age, it is hard for a manufacturer to weed these people out from the ones who are willing to do honest work. So, many have resorted to offering field staff positions where a guy can buy in. I do that with my custom tackle company and it works for me. Warmer- that is a great idea about modifications/applications etc. It slams home the point that you are out on the water using company X's baits and looking beyond to improve those baits. It is obvious that a few people understand that selling baits is a business, just like whatever they do for employment is. Imagine walking into a car dealership and saying, hey, I drive, wanna sponsor me and give me a brand new truck? It is a joke. Within the past 5 years or so I have witnessed the shrinking of the pro staff programs and what they offer the entry level angler. I truly believe that very few people can convince a staff manager to provide them with a spectacular deal. Companies aren't willing to take chances on Joe Shmoe anymore. It probably is not good to actually make any type of demand unless you really have something to offer. To clear this up, wearing a hat, patch or shirt with the company name is not impressive. I have 100 guys wearing my hat or shirt because they actually fish my baits. It doesn't get you any street cred. You need to have a well thought out approach consisting of your game plan on how you will provide promotional opportunities for the target company. All I can say is this- Prepare a resume that has correct grammar and punctuation. Then proof read it at least 6 times. It says alot to the person reading it when there are mistakes and the writer can't even spell sponsor. It says you do things half A-ed and will likely take that approach when you are involved with Company X. Make sure you have experience with the product. Don't cold solicit, it seems too generic. I almost never accept anyone into my program who I know has no experience with my companies products. Just a couple of tips. I read close to 100 applications sometimes on a weekly basis. I'm at the point where I get offended by what I read because it is obvious most people are just looking for hand outs. Don't be one of those guys.

Plaster molds are notorious for giving off the air bubble effect. You need to seal them or switch to silicone and aluminum.

Ozark Tackle or Del Mart for me.

I'm pretty sure it is blue, with a white reactive agent, making it a finished color of powder blue. Most are like this. if you are looking for clear, you might want to try a resin type material but you may be limited to the heat it can tolerate. Nothing wrong with the blue... I make a ton of molds myself for my hand pouring business and for sale.