Could I Get Sponsored?

[J Francho]

Which one? It might have been rhetorical.

[gulfcaptain]

Why do you need a sponsorship?

This one.

[J Francho]

Rhetorical, something to think about. There's a bit of semantics in the exact words as well, meant to trigger thought. Probably way more into than most teens can handle, but it has a purpose.

[gulfcaptain]

Very true.  What happen to working hard and letting your own actions and performance get you the results you are looking for?  Hard work seems to be in the past as it seems easier t just ask and hope someone gives it to you instead of working hard to attain it.

[J Francho]

I disagree, I see hard work all around. Laziness does have quite a bit more exposure now with technology. Maybe that's not so bad, means people might respect hard work more, if they notice it.

[gulfcaptain]

Glad to hear.  I know I'm raising my son with the same ethic I had.  He asks for a phone, I respond by what are you going to do to earn it?  But this did end up being a great thread to read.  Very good discussion.  

[Fishing Rhino]

I am seriously eating Frosted Flakes while reading this.  lol

 

I'm having Captain Crunch Berries.  But Frosted Flakes are good too.

 

Real fishermen eat grits.  Not the instant or quick kind either.

[Big C]

I love this section of the forum! The real SHARK TANK!

 

It's the BASS TANK.

[HoosierHawgs]

If I had a child in college the last thing I'd want is for him/her to focus on fishing, college IMO is for an education. What ever degree or career is chosen, you get out of it what you put into it. Not everyone is college material or has aspirations of attending, the same rules apply to life, it's up to the individual.

This, my friends, is the best advice in this thread. Kids are so entitled these days, and everyone is just expecting to go to a 4 year school, and then get right out and get a full time job.. And when they don't, instead of fixing it they throw a fit because they are immature and entitled. This is why kids right out of college end up in the gutter. Not because they graduate with worthless degrees.

[Choporoz]

Real fishermen eat grits.  Not the instant or quick kind either.

No self-respectin' Southerner uses instant grits. I take pride in my grits

[J Francho]

Grits are no good cold.

[Matthew2000]

Grits are no good cold.

They are good with sausage and cheese though.

[Big C]

Grits?  Are you guys talking about Girls Raised In The South?

[Scorchx1245]

Little bit of info, is getting you're name out there. Social media is a great way to start it. Also success is part of it. Another note I've seen is get used to rejection, I've sent tons of emails, made appearences and even helped in tents during expos for free to try to promote a product I believe in. Still only picked up a partial. And it's for a pizza company. I'm even looking at one from an umbrella from a sock company. But I like franchos question about why you need a sponsor. The reason I think I need one is help pick up expenses from gas and entry fees which are most expensive expenses, and help promote a product I believe in. And trust me I love pizza!

[J Francho]

I'm liking the pizza angle. That's creative.

[Big C]

Little bit of info, is getting you're name out there. Social media is a great way to start it. Also success is part of it. Another note I've seen is get used to rejection, I've sent tons of emails, made appearences and even helped in tents during expos for free to try to promote a product I believe in. Still only picked up a partial. And it's for a pizza company. I'm even looking at one from an umbrella from a sock company. But I like franchos question about why you need a sponsor. The reason I think I need one is help pick up expenses from gas and entry fees which are most expensive expenses, and help promote a product I believe in. And trust me I love pizza!

 

 

What pizza company?  Give us the sales pitch. 

[Canyon explorer]

Sponsors are looking for exposure and performance. Fish as many tournaments as you can.

Small club tournaments are a good place to start especially if they are affiliated with BASS or FLW. Central Pro Am is one step up from that.

Keep an entry log by date, by location and achievement; and some pics.

 

Join a local Bass club and run for officeand or become appointed as their delegate to Federation and attend their meetings. Maximize your visability and your fishing network. When ready work up a Resume.

 

Good Luck,

 

C~Y

[Miller's Ferry 8]

Man fish on a college team and you'll get the discounts as well as nice opportunities to prove yourself on a national scale.  Hope to see you out there next year!

[BassAddict'18]

Man fish on a college team and you'll get the discounts as well as nice opportunities to prove yourself on a national scale.  Hope to see you out there next year!

     I Second that suggestion. College fishing is the best thing you can get into if you are looking for a start in fishing. I already have one of my own small personal sponsors, along with enjoying the benefits of fishing team sponsors. It isnt that hard to achieve certain deals with different companies and people if you are respectful and work hard and keep at it. You just have to start on the small scale and then work your way up from there. There are plenty of small fishing and lure companies trying to get the ball rolling with their business in many small towns. I know there are several in mine.

     Start meeting and talking to different people and networking. If you fish as many tournaments as you say you do this shouldnt be too hard. Heck, I'm sure that there are a lot of people you probably have met who would be good aids in knowing where to start. The fishing industry is packed with knowledgeable people who would be happy to help you.

     Also, this is the internet, and people have a tendency to say certain things that may offend you if you are sensitive. Knowing this as well is a good step in moving forward. If you take absolutely everything literally and to heart, well, you will be in for a bad time....

 

Hope this helped

 

Ryan

[Sam]

Bassdisaster and all others reading this post:

 

There are way too many pros; transpros; amateurs; club guys; and what ever else bass fishes for the fishing industry to handle.

 

Just too many pros and others looking for free stuff or discounts on various products to have everyone sponsored.

 

You will not be sponsored unless;

1.  Your family business sponsors you, like Big Bob's Bail Bonds, etc.

2.  You have a rich uncle who will sponsor you as he loves you and wants to get you out of his hair.

3.  You win lots of club and pro/am tournaments and work your way up the ladder into the Elite series. Easier said than done.

4.  You can talk, walk, chew, scratch and look nice without tattoos showing like the NASCAR drivers after you make it into the Elite series. A good education is a must if you are to attract supporters. Learn to talk and write and win to have a strong following.

5.  You are willing to put 100% into bass fishing and not get married for the first years you start your bass fishing career.

6.  Again, you need a good education. A college degree can be helpful so you will have something to fall back on after you bomb at professional bass fishing.

7.  You have to have the financial support, i.e., a strong bank account, to fish as many tournaments as you can. And the entry fees are not cheap plus the fuel, lodging, food, insurance, clothing, etc. that you will have to do while traveling around your local area, your state and the country fishing tournaments.

8.  And you have to be able to show the company why supporting you is good for them and how it will increase their market share in your geographical area.

 

Now, with that said, what is your target audience?:  Age group? Education? Geographic area? Fishing levels? And what company products/manufacturers or retail establishments in your neck of the woods is willing to give you money to expand their advertising base?

 

Everyone knows the major bass industry companies so asking them for support is not going to work unless you are an up and coming professional. So forget them. Any local guys who manufacturer their baits?  Any guys making rods?  Any new bass fishing products out there? (Lots of new baits and materials are known to the industry but they have not been developed to date.)

 

Once again, way too many guys and gals out there that come and go in and out of bass fishing that can be successfully sponsored by the bass fishing industry. So what makes you unique? How do you separate yourself from the hundreds of "wanna bees?"

 

This is why Ike said many years ago that the pros need to expand their base outside of the fishing industry and Ike went out and got Toyota Trucks as one of his major sponsors.

 

We need more "non bass fishing" industries to support bass fishing and they will do this if the companies believe they can increase sales.

 

Take what I have just penned and add to it that FLW and B.A.S.S. need young guys in the sport. The pros are getting older and we need young guys like Bradley Roy, John Crews, and others to start a strong fan base and product support for a few sponsors.

 

So go outside of the fishing industry for sponsors. Have a one sheet introduction ready to hand out with who you are and what sponsoring you can bring to their company. 

 

And be ready to "Annie up" to have their logos and names printed on your fishing shirts, caps and boats.

 

Good luck to all who want to be sponsored. It is easier said than done.

[aqualkinbush]

I skimmed the replies to the topic so forgive me if this has already been said but, Something I don't see alot of people mentioning on this forum to people interested in getting sponsored is youtube. Make regular and high quality videos and post them to youtube. It should be mix of entertaining fishing footage and knowledgeable advice and information. If you can do this it could really help you in getting sponsored. Especially if you are already a successful local and regional tournament fisherman. Companies sponsor anglers for the marketing value. Popular youtube videos can market products better than any trade show or tournament ever could. It's nearly permanent marketing presence to have their products featured in a popular online video. On top of that you can and should have your own website where you can keep all your content in one centralized place as well as a proper facebook page (not your personal one) and an active and engaged twitter account if you can manage it. 

[J Francho]

In my experience, video, photo, and short tips or reports are part of a quota detailed in your contract. It's not a "nice to have," but a requirement.

[vmabuck]

I don't see the issue with tattoos?

 

Many high end Fly Fishers have many tattoos and get killer sponsors to fund their epic adventures. That sounds more like a personal issue that you have.

 

I think any sponsor understands the younger demographic and the need to attract them. I understand some old schoolers might have issues with that but it is something that really does not matter in todays day and age. Discriminating against tattoos is not something that will aid in the growth of any sport nowadays.

 

That should not be something that hinders anyone from succeding in this sport.

 

Just sayin...

[J Francho]

Probably want to avoid a swastika tat on you forehead. I hear some companies draw the line there.

I've never heard of any company avoiding someone because they have tattoos.

[HoosierHawgs]

Probably want to avoid a swastika tat on you forehead. I hear some companies draw the line there.

I've never heard of any company avoiding someone because they have tattoos.

Its all about the brand image you want to portray. I don't think Chick-Fil-A wants to sponsor anybody with Tatoos, because that is not the brand image that they want.