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To Any 16 And Younger Wanting A Sponsorship


BassAssassins14

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Guys guys guys..... Being 14 I know what it is like wanting to have a sponsorship or even a pro staff position. Take a breath and go to school. Don't worry about sponsorships. Most kids just want free stuff. Also don't call a resume this, " hi, I'm a good fisherman and I am looking for a sponsor" cause that won't get you anywhere. Take some time and put your heart into your resume and make the people want to say "WOW" this kid is amazing.

Tight lines,

Kade Anderson

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Agreed but at a young age I wouldn't be writing resumes to every company just to hope that one will sponsor you. Pick a company that you like and enjoy using their product every time you go out. On top of that being sponsored does not make you a better angler only you can make yourself better.

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You have knowledge well beyond your years and appreciate the value of hard work and pursuing your interests. The world needs more of you!

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I agree 100%. Find a company that makes baits that you like and have confidence in after fishing with them. Become friends with the owner and ask after a while. You are very likely to get a a sponsorship or a spot on their pro staff. Note: pro staff means promotional, not professional.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 2 months later...

I'm 16 and have a few sponsors. The reason that I have these sponsors though is way before I went to them asking for a sponsorship I used their product, got confidence in it, until that was mainly all I used. THEN I went to the company asking for a sponsorship. Also, companies have come to me asking to see my resume and sponsor me and I will not say yes until I know their product and have used it to the point i have confidence in it. Yeah it's cool getting free stuff and deals but you have to put in the effort. I work as many shows as I can and promote their product in any way I can. Turst me, I KNOW sponsors want young kids (14-20ish) that are really serious into fishing cause we ARE the next generation of fishing and I have been told that many of times. Although this is true, fishing companies do not want kids who all they think about is free product. That's not how it should work and a sponsor is looking at what you can do for them so make that known to them before you ask for free product.

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  • 2 months later...

Fishing can be alot more than just having an awesome hobby.Best Part about Tournaments, CLubs, Sponsership is networking and you get to meet a ton of good men and woman through fishing, and you never know when opportunities will come knocking

 

. Keep having fun fishing, and always remember to listen and never dismiss any suggestion another angler gives you even if it seems crazy. I often learn more about fishing from my friends who have never fished before since they do not have pre conceived notions of what lures are supposed to be used.....

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  • 9 months later...

I'm 16 and have a few sponsors. The reason that I have these sponsors though is way before I went to them asking for a sponsorship I used their product, got confidence in it, until that was mainly all I used. THEN I went to the company asking for a sponsorship. Also, companies have come to me asking to see my resume and sponsor me and I will not say yes until I know their product and have used it to the point i have confidence in it. Yeah it's cool getting free stuff and deals but you have to put in the effort. I work as many shows as I can and promote their product in any way I can. Turst me, I KNOW sponsors want young kids (14-20ish) that are really serious into fishing cause we ARE the next generation of fishing and I have been told that many of times. Although this is true, fishing companies do not want kids who all they think about is free product. That's not how it should work and a sponsor is looking at what you can do for them so make that known to them before you ask for free product.

With some fishing product companies, (like us),  kids can be a better sales rep that grown ups. My advice on how a young fisherman should prepare for future sponsorships is to cultivate his online presence with Youtube videos, Facebook, Blogging, etc. From a manufacturers view you have social connections, what matters to us is how far can you reach out your friends and your friends-friends. A fisherman looking for sponsorships is like a product, how popular are you?

I would advise to join fishing forums also. When someone we have sponsored makes a video and it gets 200,000 views, and he shares it with his Facebook and his friends share it we consider that a success.

What I've learned with sponsorships with young fishermen is out of consideration they are in school and sometimes work is we do not expect them to do that much on an ongoing basis. So, if you have a good online presence and can market their product to a large audience via Youtube, Forums etc. there are always going to be companies like us that may benefit you. There is a two fold advantage to short term sponsorships as I call it. One, as a young fisherman promoting a product will help get your name out there, two if you are really good at online stuff you will attract more sponsors.  Videos are an important part of our online presence.  And a lot of young fishermen have helped

us along the way so do not discount how important you are to manufacturers.

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  • Super User

Well, a note for all...

 

Posting videos here at BassResource.com is encouraged, we love 'em!

However, PROMOTION IS STRICKLY PROHIBITED.  The determining

factor is your affiliation with the company.

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  • 5 years later...

Hello I’m Andrew and I’m 12. I have been trying hard to get a sponsorship for the past 4 months and have got nothing. I have tried at least one thing from each company and I always come with my story and how I can promote them. I don’t really care about getting free stuff I just want to be part of a good team but no one seems to be interested. I have fished almost my whole life and I as I got older I started to take it seriously and thought about maybe going pro one day. What can I do better to get more  of the brands interest

 

-Andrew

 

 

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  • Super User

What can I do better to get more  of the brands interest?

 

Get involved in local tournaments, maybe as a helper instead of a competitor.

You will have to get someone's attention before sponsors are interested.  A mentor

would be extremely helpful.

 

Read through all the posts in this section for additional suggestions.

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  • 4 months later...
On 10/10/2013 at 11:04 PM, BassAssassins14 said:

Guys guys guys..... Being 14 I know what it is like wanting to have a sponsorship or even a pro staff position. Take a breath and go to school. Don't worry about sponsorships. Most kids just want free stuff. Also don't call a resume this, " hi, I'm a good fisherman and I am looking for a sponsor" cause that won't get you anywhere. Take some time and put your heart into your resume and make the people want to say "WOW" this kid is amazing.

Tight lines,

Kade Anderson

I am also 14, and I don't really want a sponsorship. But this guy^ is absolutely right. Don't just go around asking for sponsorships because you almost never get anything you want by going around asking for free stuff.

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  • Super User

Kade, to get sponsors you have to be an excellent bass fisherman and win some tournaments in your age group.

 

By winning tournaments you will be noticed and then the manufacturers will come to you with offers.

 

Being sponsored does not mean you get a free boat, free tackle, free rods and reels, free anything. You may get a bait or two and discounts on products, but that's it until you win a few BASS or FLW tournaments in your geographical area as a high school, college, BASS or FLW bass club member or one of the Opens your probability of getting sponsors is low.

 

Subscribe to Bass Times and read the articles about high school fishing and professional tournament results. I think you will like the publication and it is only $12 a year, or ask for that special subscription price. Here is Bass Times web site. Check out the article about the kids 11 to 16 fishing in a tournament:  https://www.bassmaster.com/author/b.a.s.s.-times

 

877.227.7872 to start to find out how to subscribe to Bass Times or go to: 

bassmaster@emailcustomerservice.com  

 

Nicest people in the world at BASS and they are very helpful.

 

Good luck with your fishing skills and getting sponsors in the future. Merry Christmas!

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  • BassResource.com Administrator

While Sam's approach is one way to gain sponsors, there are many other ways too.

 

In addition, the single, most important requirement for getting sponsors is your ability to increase their sales.  Nothing else matters if you can't deliver on this.

 

We have many, many, MANY articles on this topic in our Becoming A Pro section.  Dive in, and good luck!

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Boy did @Glenn nail that one square on the head, part of the sales game as it was taught to me (and still employed in my small business very effectively) is "Speak in terms of the other guy's interests." Never walk up to a guy and ask him for something because you want it, walk up to that cat and explain to him why it's in his best interest to give it to you, you will go much, much further.

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  • 3 years later...

Hello, this is Jacob Knight me and my buddy are currently trying to start a bass fishing team for our school. We talked to our principal and he said if we can get sponsors we will start a bass fishing team. Please consider this email because not everyone likes football, or baseball, or even basketball. Fishing is an escape for some people including me and my buddy. We are truly wanting to go “ pro” in fishing this has been our dream since we were about 4 years old.  
 

Thank you 

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