JayPea2005

As for the spawn, there was a push in January when water temps were hovering around 70 and then a cold snap came through and pushed them off. Now the spawn is in full swing with beds everywhere and mixxed in with the tilapia beds. I had them using 10" to 14" wild shiners. It was a lot of fun watching these 2 people catch big fish.

Had a couple of neighbors (snow birds) that I had been promising to take fishing before they headed back to Canada. Ted and Rose joined me today for a trip to Lake Tarpon and the action was astounding. Rose started the morning off with an 8lb'er, and then a 7.13lb'er, followed by a couple of 3lb'ers. While Ted managed a couple of 3lb'ers today himself. It was so cool seeing Rose, who has never caught a largemouth bass, start off with an 8'lb'er! Here are some pics from today. I think I can smell a Capt. License coming. Today was a blast and we all had a very good time out on the lake today. Here are some pics... Rose with 8lb'er! Rose with 7.13lb'er! [img width=640 height=481]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g118/jaypea2006/100_0347.jpg Ted with one of his 3lb'ers! [img width=640 height=481]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g118/jaypea2006/100_0349.jpg and, Rose and Ted posing with the 7.13lb'er! [img width=640 height=481]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g118/jaypea2006/100_0348.jpg

From what I understand, Denny Brauer had more to do with it's cancellation than the network or ratings. I enjoyed the program, and have been a Denny fan for a longggg time, and it seems his rededication to working hard paid off at Champlain. WTG Denny! I think the concept is a good one and should be successful.

Get your hands on an FLW Nov-Dec issue. It has a very good product comparison on the lipless cb lines, including the yo-zuri. The article gave the yo-zuri a favorable review when compared to the lucky craft baits.

I fished today with a Spro and couldnt get bit then changed to the Hardcore Drum and started catching fish. Later I came down a bank behind Doghouse who was throwing a Spro and caught the fish in the photo. I think the difference was the different sound and action of the bait. The Drum has a different lower pitched sound that I feel helps when the fish are getting pounded by other lipless crankbaits. Its a unique bait thats just a little different and its worth it in the right situation

I have been a Territory Sales Manager for TRANE AC Co. and in the a/c wholesale business for 14 years. Also own my own manufacturer's rep. agency (Pro-Staff lines listed in siggy), and work as a freshwater tackle consultant and pro-staff member for Tackle Outlet in New Port Richey, FL.

Crud, my secret is out! ;D I started using them a couple of months ago and have been absolutely been tearing fish up on them. The baby bass pattern and the black back shad have been my best performers. I was going to change out the trebles, but don't really need to so I have held off. Totally impressed with this bait!

Just thought I would send this post back to the front for a reminder to those new to the site looking for sponsorship. It's a year old, but still makes a lot of sense.

If I may add some other advice, go the extra mile. Make investments of time, money, and your heart. If sponsorship is what you want in order to fish your tournaments, then be creative. Also, take a marketing class or two at your local community college. Community colleges sometimes offer non-accredited 6 week classes that you can take advantage of. Everything you do is taken into account when talking to prospective sponsors. As Lane said before, companies want to sell their products and gain market exposure. Example: Here in Tampa we have a major outdoors expo coming up in March of 2007. I didn't have a clue what I would put in the booth when I made the decision to lease one for 3 days. A bit of a gamble and expense, but when I spoke to prospective sponsors about the fact I had a booth leased and wanted to promote their products, I believe it was the kicker that put them over the edge. ALL of them are GIVING me products to sell through my booth allowing me to recoup my expenses. Also, all of them have agreed to send a company representative to help me man the booth. Lastly, do what you promised you would do. If you can't make time obligations then do not mislead your sponsors and yourself. A lot of companies know each other and they talk. I actually got a sponsor from word of mouth of another sponsor I already had. Be prepared to go the extra mile and it will work out for you. It won't happen over night either, have patience, plant your crops, and watch them sprout. Once they sprout tend to them as though they are your children... seriously!

Low Budget Hooker you make a great point! There are guides galore offering fishing reports within these forums and others in order to get their name out there. I can't see why they wouldn't be willing to do the same in a day of taping a program? Vorlin, you have a great idea and hope it gains speed. Also, check with your local cable provider and inquire into the policies of their public access channels. They can also provide low cost production services and direct you in which direction you need to go for rental of filming equipment, etc.. good luck!

You nailed it right on the head. As a matter of fact I was able to get support from one of my current sponsors the exact same way. I used them for the better part of a lifetime and convinced my local tackle shop (also a sponsor) to bring in the line. Once a stocking order was placed, I called the lure manufacturer and talked to the owners. The rest is history. Excellent post mattlures!

updated again to current info.

I should write a book on how many different ways to spell sponsorship. I love the "if anyone knows of a pro staff opening notify me". Yeah right, if I find free money floating around I'll be sure to let you know.

updated

I have to say that I am intimidated by Lake Toho. I can fish, I can catch fish, I can catch fish on almost any body of water, but I am intimidated by Lake Toho. I practice and catch fish on Toho, but choke when it comes down to a tournament. I have my gameplan and then when the tournament starts I wind up ditching my gameplan for something else I think might work. Only on Toho though.

JayPea, that surprises me what you say about Toho. I have not been there in about three years, and it was before they drained and worked the silt out. My experience there for nearly a week was great, not a lot in numbers, but a lot of 5+ lb. fish, and my buddy caught one at 8lb. It was all positive. BUT, it would not surprise me if continued extreme pressure is taking a toll. What was the problem/weigh-ins for the tourney? I am not familiar with Lewisville, would appreciate a bit of info. I keep googling, and still am unable to find a recent poll by bass anglers on the 'top bass lakes' in America that is recent and by angler opinion. The list above posted by JayPea is surely accurate, but I do believe it is in regards to BASS tourny fished waters, AND in mind that Bassmaster mag will always have some agenda in what it publishes - though I am a huge fan of the publication.

KVD won't finish in the top 10 for the classic. Husky jerks and spinnerbaits are'nt going to cut it on Toho or the rest of the Kissimmee chain this year. Gotta' find the thickest, nastiest stuff you can find and punch a hole in it.

After what I witnessed and participated this past weekend on Toho, I'd have to say that Toho has to be the most over rated body of water in the state. Replace Toho on your list with Lewisville.

SPONSORHIP RESUME My objective is to acquire primary, as well as associate sponsors to assist me with the financial burdens of professional bass angling. In return for your financial support, I will be willing and able to assist you in the promotion of your products and/or services. My efforts to promote your company, it's products and/or services include, but are not limited to the application of logo vinyl graphic's to tow vehicle, boat, as well as my tournament attire. In addition to the aforementioned, I will make myself available to work trade show booths, or other public promotions venue. As a sponsor you will also be given professional marketing services through my marketing firm JayPeas' Outdoor Promotions, Inc., specializing in direct mail marketing campaigns. PROFESSIONAL SALES EXPERIENCE: 1988 to 1992 Jane Group, Inc. / Kodak Micrographic Distributor: Outside Sales Representative covering the west coast of Florida from Crystal River, south to Naples. Clientele included city, county, and state government as well as financial institutions that employed the use of Kodak Micrographics. Responsibilities also included working trade show booths, live demonstrations of current and upcoming products. 1994 to current: Territory Sales Representative in the HVAC/R industry. My responsibilities are to efficiently manage, cultivate, and grow sales within a two county area to licensed Mechanical Contractors in central Florida. In the sales year 2005 I increased my territory sales by 38.5% over the previous sales year 2004. OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: Midwest Sportsman Tournament Trail: Tournament Director ExtremeLures.com/Mega Bait: Pro-Staff Member BASS/ABP: Tournament Angler Member FLW: Member Brandon Bass Bandits: Tournament Angler Bay Area BassMasters: Federation Nation Children Charities Director, Tournament Angler I have a lifetime of experience in the outdoors. My exposure to fishing and the outdoors began at an early age, and cultivated by my father throughout my lifetime. Everything I do on and around the water is a direct reflection of the influences of my father. Throughout his lifetime we traveled to many bodies of water throughout the state, where he taught me the basics of lure presentation, and roots of how I approach any body of water I fish today. I have made a financial commitment in 2007 to fish the with my local Federation Nation Chapter, as well as various other tournament trails. All told I will be fishing approximately 20+ tournaments in the year 2007, with my goal to move up in the BASSMASTERS Southern Tour Series or better for 2007. FISHING TECHNIQUES: I am proficient at a multitude of techniques. Such as: flipping/pitching, deepwater crank-bait, medium and intermediate crank-bait, spinner-baits, and worming in Texas Rig-Carolina Rig-Finesse. I have the ability to adapt to a given situation and am not afraid to try something new. I keep an open mind when fishing and do not discount any information that may help me become a better person, better fisherman, and a better sportsman. CONTACT INFORMATION: Joseph Pepper PO Box 27556 Tampa, FL 33623 Cellular (813) 495-4566 Email: Jpepperjay@yahoo.com

Really the only difference is the distance you are trying to reach. I use flipping when it comes to thick, heavy mats where I'm just lifting the bait out of one spot and dropping it into another within a distance of 10' of my boat. I use pitching when I need to get the bait out more than 10 to 15' from the boat, usually deep into tree tops, boat docks, and other tight quarters where a cast is not possible, or I need to get the fish out of structure in a hurry. As for the tackle, I use 65lb test Power Pro on a 7' flipping stick with an ABU 6500 Redfish edition. It is a little heavier than what most people use, but man it rips them right out of the thick stuff.

Fine in my book too. I have done it when shiners were not working and the bass jumped on them.

Thanks to all of you who responded to my delema. All of you made valid points and I sincerely appreciate them all. I think Keith made the best point that really opened my eyes. It reminded me that my dad always told me to have something to fall back on in the event plans don't go as planned. I am going to go ahead and get the six pack and have it in my back pocket in the event I need to use it. Saltwater guides down here are pulling down $475 for a full day, not bad money. By the way, any of you guys who responded to my response have an open invitation if ever in the Tampa Bay area to join me for huge redfish, snook, trout, cobia, or my personal favorite... bass on beautiful lake Tarpon. Lake Tarpon is one of the best bass lakes in the state, and in my back yard. Would love to meet some of the great people who use this forum. Thanks again and keep the lines tight!

As many of you may, or may not know, I have been trying to get sponsors for next year as I embark on my quest to make a living from bass fishing. A long time friend and tackle shop owner has allowed me to use his shop for my how to clinics. Last week he offered to sponsor me next year in the way of tackle at his cost, as well as paying for some ads in our state fishing magazines announcing my how to clinics. The ads are several hundred dollars a piece and in major state mags. My problem is that I am just as proficient at saltwater species as I am freshwater. He pestered me all weekend about getting my Captain License to take out his over books. He is a charter Captain and has actually bugged me for 10 years to get the license. He says I won't make it to the pros without having the title of "Captain" and that boat/motor manufacturers will not give me the time of day until I do. To top it off I have advertised my classes as "Bass fishing how to's" since I started. Now he is demanding that I lose the "Bass" and cover saltwater as well as freshwater species in my how to classes. Guys, he has bent over backwards to help me out now, as well as in the past. I told him this weekend that Pro for me meant "Bass Pro" but he kept on and on about the saltwater thing. Help, what do I do? Do I throw away this chance he is giving me? Or humor him? :-/ :-/ :-/ I forgot to add that I have no interest in guiding or doing charters. Saltwater or fresh. I am fishing BASS and FLW in 2006. A total of 19 tournaments. I'm sorry, I guess I did not make that part clear. I am trying to break my way into being a professional touring bass professional. Thanks again guys for any advice you can give.

I think it should be banned from tournaments for the simple reason that it reduces earned talent and hard work to nothing more than sticking a wire in the water and flipping a switch. Sonar, flashers, etc. still require us to use everything we have learned about bass behavior, eating habits, lure selection, color selection, presentation, and the list of things we have had to learn goes on and on. Sounds to me like now all we have to do is cue the fish with a little dinner bell action and anyone who can half a$$ed get a lure away from the boat has a chance. My view is that this thing is no more moral than Barry Bonds (allegedly) juicing with "performance enhancing drugs". I have been bass fishing since I was 5 with my dad. I have spent every available waking moment on the water, working hard, paying my dues, and will in my own personal opinion... never consider someone who uses that thing in a tournament situation to have lagitimately performed to the best of their ability. I would seriously hope that people who have an ounce of character and self respect would rely on their hard earned, God given talents and use what got them to such a high level of performance in the first place. Now if you'll excuse me I gotta' go get my dynamite ready for tomorrow. lol Sincerely, Traditionalist and Purist

Working on taking my game to the next level. lot of tournaments next year. If there were anything I needed to work on it would have to be getting myself to slowwwwwww down. I find myself speeding along and having to slow myself down. I will be glad when it is a natural action instead of having to constantly remind myself. I will not troll for marlin, I will not troll for marlin, I will not troll for marlin..........