If as an amateur you bought and fished brand A rods and reels and brand B wanted to sponsor you would you make the switch? for example If you were a Pure Fishing reel and or rod guy would you switch to Shimano or Diawa rods and reels if the wanted to sponsor you-or vice-versa?

Fishing, once addicted, becomes an expensive sport. Personally, I am not independently wealthy and work for the quality products I use.

Therefore, if I were in a position to accept a sponsorship from a company to promote and use their products, I would surely leap at the chance. The only way I would not is if I truly believed the product was an inferior product and would only serve to help me catch less fish.

This isn't really selling out. It is acknowledging there are plenty of quality products out there and plenty of good people behind them. I'd be happy to give it a shot.

That said, if St. Croix & Abu Garcia or Quantum are out there listening, I'm here for you.

Whets

8-)

Without question, yes!

If as an amateur you bought and fished brand A rods and reels and brand B wanted to sponsor you would you make the switch? for example If you were a Pure Fishing reel and or rod guy would you switch to Shimano or Diawa rods and reels if the wanted to sponsor you-or vice-versa?

Providing brand B was of good enough quality that it didn't interfere with my fishing, absolutely. Taking advantage of a sponsorship offer is not necessarily selling out. In most cases it is a good deal for the company and the pro.

Using prototype equipment that is far superior to the regular retail stuff is unethical IMO. Custom equipment is different and should not be confused with off-the-shelf stuff.

If as an amateur you bought and fished brand A rods and reels and brand B wanted to sponsor you would you make the switch? for example If you were a Pure Fishing reel and or rod guy would you switch to Shimano or Diawa rods and reels if the wanted to sponsor you-or vice-versa?

I am not a brand specific guy anyhow, I am an equal opportunity catcher.  I will say though, without naming names, there are only two brands I believe far and away are inferior  to others, and would not switch to them without some changes. So final answer, maybe, most likely yes. 

what if brand B was ugly stick and shakespeare...

How can you be "selling out" if you bought brand A yourself?

what if brand B was ugly stick and shakespeare...

You've really got to draw the line somewhere.

As an amateur what do you think a sponsor would offer?  If it were only a slight discount the answer would be no, but if there was some dough involved I'd use an Oneida broomstick.

It would come down to the specifics of the contract.

If the quality of the new gear is the same or better then Iwould be making the switch as well.

It would come down to the specifics of the contract.

Bingo....alot more to than just "here, we'll give you rods and reels if you don't fish anything else."

It would come down to the specifics of the contract.

Bingo....alot more to than just "here, we'll give you rods and reels if you don't fish anything else."

Excellent points guys. There are some great companies out there, and some others that no amount of tackle or cash would make acceptable.

I agree with J Francho, BigRickRolled and K_Mac.

I don't think I would call switching brands, selling out.

It would come down to the specifics of the contract.

Bingo....alot more to than just "here, we'll give you rods and reels if you don't fish anything else."

Excellent points guys. There are some great companies out there, and some others that no amount of tackle or cash would make acceptable.

Agree 100% right here... But yes I would sell all my equipment or store it if a company of considerable quality offered the deal to me....

In that situation I probably would make the switch.

But I'm not sure if I would support a product that I believed didn't work...

HEY! Daiwa and St. Croix! I'll do it!

Only if I liked the gear.