I use the pros advertisements simply as informative tools. They make me aware of what new gear is available that maybe i didn't know about. After that i will do research on the items for myself and make decisions on which may or may not work for me.

There would be no way for the companies to sell their products for the most part without pros to somewhat sell it for them.

Are you guys telling me you don't buy everything Roland Martin sells?  I'm thinking Helicopter Lures, Boogie Bags, that rocket launcher fishing outfit. . .

Sometimes an endorsement hurts a product.  I wouldn't even consider buying Frogg Toggs for a long time simply becauase Roland Martin endorsed them and his credibility is suspect.  It wasn't until I met a guy who had just ridden his motorcyle 300 miles in pouring rain in 40 degree weather wearing Frogg Toggs and he raved about them that I even considered them.  The ironic thing was that this was just a few miles from Roland Martin's Marina in Clewiston, Florida.

I'm sure this is common place in fishing as with golf. A pro golfer on tour may be hitting a Taylor Made driver with a Callaway or Nike headcover on it. Bag may say Nike but he is hitting Cleveland irons and hitting a Titleist ball, this is very common.

I wouldn't be surprised if a pro fisherman may have a patch or 2 on his shirt saying one thing and they are fishing with something else.

That being said I pay no attention to a pro fisherman or golfer regarding equipment.

I use the pros advertisements simply as informative tools. They make me aware of what new gear is available that maybe i didn't know about. After that i will do research on the items for myself and make decisions on which may or may not work for me.

Exactly. I look, listen, ask, and then I think about what makes sense to me and how I fish.  I am a fairly inexperienced fisherman (only fishing for 3 years or so now) and I have a wife and two kids...and little to no money. I have to be very selective. I pick out a product based mostly by what people on here "endorse", and then I wait till I find them on sale. As far as the pros go, I listen to them, and some things just make sense. I also respect the fact that some of the pros do not jump at the chance to change sponsors...KVD has been fishing quantum, strike king, nitro for along time based the stupid looking sunglasses in some of his earlier videos ;D

I think it gives them more credibility when they stick with the same companies.

this is an interesting topic. i happen to know a few pros very well we talk about these kind of things , they get congencey money for there equpment such as gas if they use a certin gas station and save the recept they get a bounes if they fish out of a boat and they win they get more money it goes on and on if you were good enought o be in there shoes we would do it also  thATS WHY The flw wont let them ware shirts or  sunglasses that they dont endorse i mean flw my friend puts tape on hes brand of glasses its all about money