So You Want to Turn Pro??
By: The Bass Doctor (Charles Stuart)
Many people would like to compete on the tournament
trails, and would do very well, even win large sums of money. What
about you? The first thing you have to ask yourself is, "do I
have what it takes"? I will try to outline below some of the
roadblocks and requirements to answer your questions.
Well to start with, you need angling know-how. A good
understanding of the lifestyle and habitat of the fish you want to
catch, including feeding and mating habits. Then, you have to think
like a fish! These are just a few of the prerequisites you will need
before "stepping up to the plate". I began fishing in
London, England at the age of six on the banks of the river Thames.
Ten years later, I was competing in local tournaments or matches
against some of the best in the country. Using the oldest cliché of
all "I was hooked". By the age of twenty, I was fishing in
championship competition in different lakes, rivers and streams, all
over Europe.
When I arrived in the United States thirteen years
ago, I fished European style and kept catching these unusual fish
called largemouth bass (they are not native to Europe, however some
have been found in Italy and Spain). Five years ago I joined a local
Long Island bass club and it was there that I laid down the foundation
for what I do today. I began watching the club's senior members catch
bass consistently. I learned and used their styles combining them with
my own and formed a set of techniques that I use today.
Once you have established a track record in
tournaments at a local level, sponsorship is a great way to start.
When selecting a sponsor, use their product because if you like it and
it works for you, you will have no trouble whatsoever promoting its
benefits on the road. Remember if you have no confidence in a product,
you will never successfully convince others to use it. Always contact
the marketing division of the company and get a name to whom you can
write a letter, attaching your resume and relevant information about
your fishing capabilities.
Most sponsorship in the beginning will be in the form
of product. Once you have established a professional track record,
then dollars become part of the bargaining process. This can be a lump
sum per annum, or a "salary" based on sales and seminar or
trade show appearances. A fact worth remembering is that there is more
sponsorship dollars in fishing today than golf and tennis combined!
While on the subject of dollars, this sport, like so
many others is not inexpensive. A typical tour of four, one-week
tournaments will cost you $2400.00 just to enter. Next comes food,
lodging, fuel and equipment, plus "on the road" vehicle and
vessel repairs. The amounts can vary, but a general rule of thumb is
between $6000.00 and $8000.00 per annum for this one tournament trail.
One-day tournaments are cheaper, but still require overnight
accommodations, entry fees and all the other items previously
mentioned. A weekend tournament (typically Saturday and Sunday) will
average between $300.00 and $600.00 dependent upon location.
Travel and vacation time play an important role in
your decision to turn pro. You will need a minimum 6 weeks vacation
per year if you hold down a full time job. That can be tough and you
will need an understanding boss. Virtually every weekend you will be
on the water, fishing or practicing. I was once told while fishing
with the legendary angler Woo Daves, "there is no substitute for
time on the water". How right he was. When you begin fishing from
the back of another angler's boat, you must have the basic skills to
catch fish from various locations regardless of who is in control of
the boat. The "back seat" angler who does his or her
homework has won many tournaments.
As if all that was not enough, you should be prepared
to address large crowds and speak to the press or television crews who
will come to you for comment and information. The spectator and
weekend angler is the bread and butter of this $70 billion per annum
industry. Without him or her, there would be no tournaments, no new
lures, rods, reels or equipment, simply because there would be no one
to buy the goods or watch the shows on the weekend!
Some of the touring anglers can sometimes become aloof
when dealing with the public. Their success is usually short lived and
they pay the price for forgetting their beginnings. When dealing with
the press, they can be your best friend, or your worst enemy.
Personally, I prefer the first of the two choices. Always make time
for them, tell them what they need to know and make sure you use the
name of your sponsors in your conversations with them.
Well if that has not scared you away from the
tournament trail, then feel free to contact me for further information
and hints on getting started.
Contact Charles at LIFisher@aol.com
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