Guys I just turned 16 and I love to fish. I've bought a boat to fish on my small local lake. I fish daily every chance I get. I was wondering what I need to do to become a better angler and work my way towards getting a small sponsorship.

Enter tournies as a non boater. You can fish the back of the boat and learn quite a bit.

 

I would not look for sponsors until you get more experience. You dont want to make it look like you just want free baits and not a true sponsorship.

When I was 16 I joined a bass club. Gave me the chance to fish out of the back of the boat with some more experienced guys and I got to fish lakes I never could have fished out of my boat. I learned a lot from that and even managed to win back to back tournaments my first year

Welcome Joshua!  You have come to the right place to learn about fishing.  Hang around here, read, and you will get lots of ideas to try out at your local lake.  The learning will come naturally with time.  Here's an important lesson from me to you.  Never ever get in your new boat without a life jacket!  Lesson two is alway maintain balance in your life, don't get so wrapped up with the fishing that it takes away from school or family.    bert

Welcome aboard Joshua. Setting your goals at an early age is good, just remember few achieve fame and fortune bass fishing. You didn't share your location and I understand that, however a broad regional location like mid west would help to reply to questions.

Joining a bass club may or may not be a good option, depending if the members want a young man.

The best way to get sponsors is becoming well known. Getting some recognition starts with catching bass during local tournaments or posting some pictures at local tackle shops. Some local tackle shops may sponsor you in local tournaments with discounts on tackle etc.

Take your time and enjoy your fishing, study bass habits.

Good luck.

Tom

Sponsorship is not all it's cracked up to be...it turns your hobby into a job.  Unless you are prepared to make that step, and have the skills necessary to lend credibility to your sales pitch, then I recommend waiting until a company notices you rather than pursuing them.

 

To become a better fisherman, read, fish, talk to other anglers, read posts on these forums, watch videos, etc. - all good stuff. The most important thing is time on the water.  Don't try to do it all at once.  Try a few bait types, and a limit your gear to a few combos that suit what you are doing.  Last of all, try to find a club or tournament series that is a team format. You'll learn the most in this format.

Talk to your athletic director, try to get a bass fishing team going at your school if it is a state sport. I started a team in my high school last year, we came in 3rd out of of 35 teams in the qualifying tournament and 6th or 7th in the championship this year... It is awesome, we are also getting a bass fishing club going for anyone in the school who doesn't make the team or just wants to be in the club... 

 

PM if you have any questions