earthworm77

I don't know about specific degrees based on fishing but it couldn't hurt to study towards being a fisheries manager or biologist. Likely close as you can get to your favorite sport.

I would disagree with this statement.........I have used a palomar almost exclusively with all my lines including fluro, and I have not had a problem at all agreed!! What was that about being prepared like a panda bear with a chubby?

Baitcaster: Shimano Antares or Scorpion MG Spinning: Shimano Stella 2500FB

FT, nothing personal, I was just venting a little. Sorry if I offended.

You are right RW, it is frustrating when you type out a very thought out response to something only to have the same question asked shortly after and usually the answer is only a few posts down. It is no different than any other part of the board except that it clearly illustrates that people don't pay attention and that might not be an admirable trait to a potential sponsor. First impressions are important.

I'm thinking that this site might be better served by removing this particular forum. It is obvious that none of the newer guys who come on here asking for advice read any of the very detailed discussions that we have had in the past. I'm not speaking for everyone but it gets tedious repeating the same things over and over again when one can easily search and likely find exactly what they need.

I'm pretty confident that video is one of the better ones out there. i've seen several of the Bazzclass video's and they are all good. Check for a Don Iovino video, I know he wrote a book about the connection between finesse fishing and sonar, I'm positive he did a video as well. He is the guy to listen to about sonar.

Nick, why do you deserve a sponsorship over any of the other people soliciting the same companies you will ultimately try to hop on board with? Answer that question and then make it apparent in your resume. If your resume reads like a bio, a bio that all other anglers submit, then nothing sets you apart and likely nothing in it will get you recognized. You want to strive to offer something a little different and not so mainstream. I read a ton of resumes each month and although you and others may be great people, I'm looking for something that sets them apart from the pack, I'm looking for an individual.

Several years back I had one. It was a Loomis IMX blank. The rod was a good rod but as soon as I got into using Kistler Heliums, I ditched it.

Be warned, there are a couple already out there and they are very good.

I think the biggest, most misleading thing about the sponsorship game is that most anglers assume they are entitled to something just because they fish. This simply is not the case.

Basspro05- You my friend have the right idea or at least a good plan. I appreciate reading this type of post from someone your age. You know what your priorities are. I honestly believe if you do well with your fishing, you will find a way to make yourself marketable, don't underestimate the importance of that. In my experience, my tournament success and marketing went hand in hand. One relied on the other. Start off small and let it manifest itself. Good luck with that. Kevin, your explanation sounds like you are interested in a sales position at a lure company. A sponsorship will most liklely require you to promote your companies products to some degree but the marketing we are talking about is how you prepare to portray yourself to a sponsor. The package you put together will allow the sponsor to base his decision on picking you up. If you are marketable, meaning appealing to the many aspects of representing that company through but not limited to public speaking, moral and ethical issues, responsibility, dependibility, enthusiasm etc. then you may find yourself in the thick of things.

Allen, Stamina makes or made the original hidden head bait which the current head evolved from. I used to double up the skirts, 2 60 strand jobs on the bait with a big Colorado. I liked to throw a Table Rock Shad chart/puple color. Man oh man is that a great bait. The only weak point was the Mustad hook which in reality was better than anything not a Gamakatsu or Owner. I think I have a few left. I think I'm going to throw them next time out.

Thanks. One last question. What is the Sensilite and how does it compare to the Twin Power?

I'm looking into the twin power to replace my current lot of Sustains. I'm wondering if it is worth it.

What are the Japanese equivelants to these American released reels? I just don't know all the names- Stradic-Biomaster Sustain-Twin Power Stella-?? I know there is a Biomaster and a Twinpower, is there a third one? Are they really any better than the American release reels? I use Scorpion Mg's and Antares exclusively and feel they are better than the Curado and Calais reels. Wondering if the transaltion is for spinning reels as well.

Squid, that might not be a bad thing to show a sponsor after you've gotten your foot in the door and are negotiating a deal. I have to believe that it is a follow up after the guy gets accepted? If someone just sent me that out of the blue, I'd laugh at it. It is pretty bold as a first impression.

Another vote for the Kistler Helium LTA

Freedom I'll be blunt and honest as I always try to be. Unless you are applying to a relative or a friends company, you won't get cash from anyone. It is simply unrealistic at best to think that anyone will give you some money just because you are going to fish some tournaments and claim you will represent their company. There are exception but I think just about 100% of the time you will be rejected. I like the idea of a phone call or visit to the target place but at the same time understand that any company you solicit, can likley ge tbetter advertising for less money through other areas. You really have to be impressive and "Wow" them. I just don't see it happening with a generic letter. One thing that everyone needs to understand is that just because you have a rod and reel and want to fish a tournament, it doesn't qualify you to be worthy for some kind of hand out or help from a company. There are tons of anglers who may qualify but, it is unrealistic to expect this. If you can't find a way to market yourself atractively to a company don't bother. You can be the crummiest angler and have a boat load of sponsors because you have a marketable trait that will sell products for them. That is what it comes down to. Is the cost of having this guy going to be worth it. I review tons of sponsorship requests for my custom bait company. I ask the following questions to myself: 1-Does this guy actually know my products? 2-Can this guy market my products and himself? 3-Is this guy legitamate? Can I check what he claims out? 4-If he checks out, can he really help me? 5-What has he done different than the 1000 other requests I get? and the one you never want me to ask: Is this clown for real? Who does he think he is? It may seem cruel but there is no place in my stable for a freeloader who has little intention of fulfilling an agreement with me. I like to weed 'em out ahead of time.

Just an interesting side note...in a poll conducted currently on this forum about favorite reels Shimano is the most popular by a 4 to 1 margin over the next popular brand. At the time of posting it was 44 members preferred Shimano to 12 Daiwa and 11 Quantum.....several other brands had less votes. Just wanted to stir the coals a little. Quantum is not an up and coming brand they have been selling reels for many years. Tica on the other hand or even Okuma is up and coming. Sorry, just having fun.

One last thing Matt, if you go to BPS, I think they offer the Stradic teamed up with an Extreme rod for about 139.00, that is a pretty good deal. Take a look at their split grip model, I think it is a 6-9 Medium action rod.

Kinda funny this was brought up. For years I've flipped jigs and plastics however, only recently did I discover that my technique is actually pitching which I find easier. Which ever works I guess.

That's because they are "athlete's",...a very important job position in our country. My sister is a teacher, That job is only worth 35k. LBH, I was a police officer in a tactical unit in NYC I worked for every penny of my pay. All year the city would praise us for the thankless job we did, but come contract time they would lock it up and delay us for years. I've been retired for about a year and a half and they still owe me and the working officers a contract. It is a shame we as a society have placed the importance in entertainers over the people who do the really necessary jobs. Instead those people live paycheck to paycheck scraping by and doing without. When the towers came down the little people were there everyday picking it up. Any time you had a celebrity or athlete come down, it was a visit aimed at starting a media circus. I certainly do not feel bad for any of the athletes or celebrities. They make more in a few months than most make in a lifetime.

Dodge, your correct about that, it is all based on the individual. Curious, how much weight do you use on an average set up? I guess maybe in my experience 3oz was a lot. Maybe an oz or so would not have caused a problem. I still kind of feel that with a hjigher end rod, a balancing system shouldn't be necessary. The rod I was using was a Johnny Morris and it happens to be a very good rod.

I'll tell you what, I have very negative feelings about the weight balancing kits. I truthfully do not think you will need one. If your rod is top heavy or bottom heavy, it should be minimal. These kits really over compensate in my opinion. My tournament partner gave me a rod as a gift with one on it. I never looked at it. At the end of the fishing season I developed a really bad pain in my flipping elbow. I took the system apart to discover 3oz of weights. I didn't notice it at the time and shame on me for not looking but you have to be really careful. I have since been fishing for 3 or 4 years with Kistler Heliums and have not had the problem. Many people(normally people who do not own a Helium) say that because the rod is light, it is out of balance. I disagree.