I've noticed something, most pros only use lures that are from their sponsors. Seems like a duh kind of statement. But bear with me.

 

From what I gather, they may get some free lures when becoming sponsored, but after that, they have to purchase lures and get them with a discount. Is this generally correct?

 

Okay, let's say I'm a pro and I love my Rat-L-Trap. But I get a Berkley sponsorship. Am I then forbidden to throw the trap, and must use the Warpig? Or can I use the trap, but just not enjoy the free lures or discounts on purchased lures?

 

The reason I ask is, the pros seem to all be using whichever brand they are sponsored by... but if I made it to the pro level, relying on my faithful Rat-L-Trap, I wouldn't want to give it up for another brand. Do they just give up whatever that brought them to the top?

No lure is essential to making it as a pro.  Sponsorships are essential to making it as a pro.

Believe me some of them are fishing stuff they aren’t sponsored by. They just don’t talk about it. And most of them didn’t make it by getting good at one lure. They are proficient in alot of them. And it’s important to remember they are salesman. Some of the worst advice out there is from a pro angler. They’ll say whatever the guys signing checks want. Remember they get some free lures but they are getting checks too. Sponsors are how they pay for tournaments that cost thousands to buy into. 

3 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

No lure is essential to making it as a pro.  Sponsorships are essential to making it as a pro.

Wise words.

 

 

1 minute ago, Joedodge said:

Believe me some of them are fishing stuff they aren’t sponsored by. They just don’t talk about it.  

I would bet that all of them are.

Their job Is to sell lures, so naturally they’re going to mention their soonsors lures. Lots of times they catch fish on these lures. But many times, when asked, the will give a generic answer. Like crank bait,  Spinnerbait, etc, without mentioning a manufacturer. There’s no pro that only has sponsored baits in the boat. They’re smart enough to know other baits work just as senko, or even better. Their con will determine what they can /cannot say about the lures they use. I. Know 2 guys who have fished the Elite Series. Both have multiple sponsors and both carry/use lures other than their sponsors. Neither is allowed to mention any manufacture other than their sponsors. Every company has a different contract but they are basically all the same. If a pro has a crank air sponsor and tells you he caught his fish on a crank bait, most people will assume it’s the lure from their soonsor. This is. It always true. Pay close after to the interviews and you’ll see this 

Short answer......Pros use the lures that work for the conditions. When their sponsors lures do the job, they use them. When the sponsor lures don't work, or don't work as well, they use other lures. But when asked, they only mention their sponsors lures BY NAME, and go generic (spinner bait, crankbait, etc.) when talking about any other lure. To my knowledge, no sponsor forbids a pro from using any lure (that would be counterproductive as they want their sponsored pro to catch as many fish as possible)...they just don't allow them to talk about those lures by NAME.

Ah, okay. That makes is clear to me. Thanks guys.

I’m going to bet that some pros also use rods and reels with manufacturer markings and labels covered up.

39 minutes ago, Kayak Koz said:

I’m going to bet that some pros also use rods and reels with manufacturer markings and labels covered up.

I’ve seen this, mainly with rods. I’ve even seen a Ranger wrap put on a borrowed Nitro. 

4 hours ago, Kirtley Howe said:

Short answer......Pros use the lures that work for the conditions. When their sponsors lures do the job, they use them. When the sponsor lures don't work, or don't work as well, they use other lures. But when asked, they only mention their sponsors lures BY NAME, and go generic (spinner bait, crankbait, etc.) when talking about any other lure. To my knowledge, no sponsor forbids a pro from using any lure (that would be counterproductive as they want their sponsored pro to catch as many fish as possible)...they just don't allow them to talk about those lures by NAME.

^^ This ^^ ....mostly.  I'd add they don't mention other COMPETING brands.  But many will say exactly what brand/bait they're using if they don't have a sponsor for that type of bait.

 

A good example is this video, where pro Brian Schmitt talks freely about the Geecrack Neko Hack, and even discloses he's not sponsored by them:

 

 

Great point. Thanks Glenn.

8 hours ago, Glenn said:

But many will say exactly what brand/bait they're using if they don't have a sponsor for that type of bait.

 

Well, if the pros are fishing for a sponsor for a bait they love, I'm going fishing too: I'd sure love Rapala to sponsor me. The ONLY bait I'd like them to send me is 4" Crush City Mayors. My bass sure chew through those and I do mention them a LOT here at Bass Resource. 

 

Wait? What? I'd have to turn pro? Sigh. I'd look so sad at the tournaments in my scuffed canoe with zero screens.

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Sigh. I'd look so sad at the tournaments in my scuffed canoe with zero screens.

from what I've seen of some tournaments I would both be a little concerned and not concerned if someone showed up like that. Either you are just doing it for fun and see what its like, or you know WAY more than everyone else and are going to start digging graves for everyone you are about to bury. 

No one is mentioning that they straight up lie some times. I've lost count of the number of times a Strike King Sponsored pro has said he was catching them on a Thunder Cricket only to clearly see the coffin-shaped blade of a bladed jig on Live. The only guy I've seen claim to throw a Thunder Cricket who actually throws a Thunder Cricket during tournaments is KVD. 

 

I've heard plenty of stories of guys taking another brand's soft plastic and putting it in their sponsor's packaging. 

A friend of mine is on the pro staff for an “up and coming” bait manufacturer (translation: Temu quality plastics with a cool label), and he has gotten to the point that he will claim he caught the fish on the whatever the name is stick bait, with a 10XD plainly hanging out of the fish’s mouth. 

I couldn’t ever be a “pro” like these guys. I believe in God and there is no way I’m selling my soul for money. People who behave like this have a love of money and money is evil. No one has the best baits, styles or colors. Lots have good stuff, but no one is the best or perfect.
 

One of my biggest pet peeves is the mindless following of “pros”, “experts”, “best ever” etc. There’s no such thing, it’s all human created and human maintained for money. You have to have a deep, open mind to truly think out what humans are capable of when consumed by greed. I buy baits if have they look, feel and action I desire. That’s it…I don’t care about pro anglers and the things they say

28 minutes ago, JonB2 said:

I couldn’t ever be a “pro” like these guys. I believe in God and there is no way I’m selling my soul for money. People who behave like this have a love of money and money is evil. No one has the best baits, styles or colors. Lots have good stuff, but no one is the best or perfect.
 

One of my biggest pet peeves is the mindless following of “pros”, “experts”, “best ever” etc. There’s no such thing, it’s all human created and human maintained for money. You have to have a deep, open mind to truly think out what humans are capable of when consumed by greed. I buy baits if have they look, feel and action I desire. That’s it…I don’t care about pro anglers and the things they say

Product plugs have never really bothered me, but I loathe the NASCAR-ization of the sport to where the actual act of fishing has become secondary to product placement.

 

Well Jon, i don't think they are "selling their souls" nor that money is evil. I do agree with you that there might be some that mindlessly follow whatever the pros are doing or thinking they have to fish like a pro to catch fish. That's on them. 

7 hours ago, JonB2 said:

I couldn’t ever be a “pro” like these guys. I believe in God and there is no way I’m selling my soul for money. People who behave like this have a love of money and money is evil. No one has the best baits, styles or colors. Lots have good stuff, but no one is the best or perfect.
 

One of my biggest pet peeves is the mindless following of “pros”, “experts”, “best ever” etc. There’s no such thing, it’s all human created and human maintained for money. You have to have a deep, open mind to truly think out what humans are capable of when consumed by greed. I buy baits if have they look, feel and action I desire. That’s it…I don’t care about pro anglers and the things they say

Money is not evil, only the love of money.

 

There are several pros that use their platform to support and promote their religious beliefs. Ott Defoe, Andy Montgomery, and Edwin Evers. Andy has a religious themed boat wrap and jersey. Ott has a bible verse on his jersey.

I have a lot of respect for the pros because they are excellent fishermen.

We see the word “pro” and associate that with professional not promotional, these bass fisherman make their profession selling tackle etc for their sponsors. The top pro can sell his signature name on tackle he promotes.

The pro bass angler didn’t get his sponsors by selling tackle he won them over winning  or doing well in tournaments.

Most of the pro bass anglers have pet lures and tackle they rely on, ideally they get sponsored by those same companies while making a name for themselves, no conflict of interest.

To think these anglers don’t share info and lures when they are not in the hunt during a tournament naïveté.

Tom

The entire world is out there trying to separate you from your money.

 

Pro fishermen are no different. They are businessmen, salesmen, and fishermen...in that order.

 

Sure, there may be a few independently wealthy peeps out there competing as professionals...with the money and resources to buy the equipment, travel, entrance fees, etc. Likely few and far between.  

 

It is all about the money...

On 8/25/2025 at 4:03 PM, Bazoo said:

I've noticed something, most pros only use lures that are from their sponsors. Seems like a duh kind of statement. But bear with me.

 

From what I gather, they may get some free lures when becoming sponsored, but after that, they have to purchase lures and get them with a discount. Is this generally correct?

 

Okay, let's say I'm a pro and I love my Rat-L-Trap. But I get a Berkley sponsorship. Am I then forbidden to throw the trap, and must use the Warpig? Or can I use the trap, but just not enjoy the free lures or discounts on purchased lures?

 

The reason I ask is, the pros seem to all be using whichever brand they are sponsored by... but if I made it to the pro level, relying on my faithful Rat-L-Trap, I wouldn't want to give it up for another brand. Do they just give up whatever that brought them to the top?

That’s a good question. I have often wondered that same thought. Maybe they can ask their sponsor to give them or make them something that is the closest to what their favorite lure is? 

Well, there’s at least one pro bass angler that doesn’t lie about which lure he caught them on. That’s Steve Kennedy. Last I heard he’s not sponsored, and maybe never was, I dunno. 🤷‍♂️ Not really sure how he’s been able to afford all the entry fees for so many years. But he’s had a fairly successful career. 
 

There might be a few others that are “unsponsored”. But it probably isn’t many. 

On 8/27/2025 at 2:47 PM, wdp said:

Well, there’s at least one pro bass angler that doesn’t lie about which lure he caught them on. That’s Steve Kennedy. Last I heard he’s not sponsored, and maybe never was, I dunno. 🤷‍♂️ Not really sure how he’s been able to afford all the entry fees for so many years. But he’s had a fairly successful career. 
 

There might be a few others that are “unsponsored”. But it probably isn’t many. 

GRats lures, Lowrance and PowerPole currently.

Steve marches to his own drummer!

Tom

I wasn't familiar with Steve Kennedy.