I used to make a good living modifying sporting equipment for proffessional atheletes (not fishing) to make them look like a sponsored brand's model. I'm sure it goes on in all sports. In my experience, manufacturers, agents, and teams were in most cases all aware of it.

Something like that would be wholly misleading to the public. They see the guy using branded equipment and then like how it seemed to work so they buy it and it's not even the same thing. If this goes on in fishing and it came to light, heaven help the guy who got caught. He'd never be trusted again.

Does Shimano even sponsor touring pros? The only guys I've ever seen sponsored by Shimano were guys with TV shows (Dave Mercer, Bob Izumi, Jimmy Houston back in the day, etc). I know many pros use Shimano, but it seems like they just use them w/o the sponsorship.

Does Shimano even sponsor touring pros? The only guys I've ever seen sponsored by Shimano were guys with TV shows (Dave Mercer, Bob Izumi, Jimmy Houston back in the day, etc). I know many pros use Shimano, but it seems like they just use them w/o the sponsorship.

I don't believe that Shimano sponsors any of the Elite Series pros. I'm not certain, but I don't think they sponsor anyone of the FLW pros either. If they do, it could be simply through the Elite Purchase program like any other pro.

Kennedy has always fished shimano reels. When he won Clearlake a few years back all he had was shimanos on his deck.

Martens fishes shimanos too.

Hey Hooligan,

Maybe with a camerman in the boat the pros have to use their sponsors gear.

Makes sense to me.

I just related what I saw and how marketing works.

And lets face it. All the name brand rods and reels perform at a quality level. It is us guys who go bonkers when deciding to make a purchase as we do not have the luxury of receivng free or discounted gear.

I don't pay attention to the rods and reels the pros use. I focus on their technique and baits.

I know Shimano sponsors atleast one guy on the SWBA (salt water bass Assoc.)This kid makes his rounds everytime shimano puts on seminars at local tackle shops.He is a great fisherman and a heck of a spokesman.I think Shimano gets the better end of the sponsorship.