Sponsors and Anglers

[uk.bass]

Anyone a sponsored angler?

[nitroz7]

I was until I had some health issues. Still have a couple I work with.

[Issy1]

I fish as a pro and have sponsors. BassCat, Mrecury, MotorGuide, Marine Works, StarTron, StarBrite, New Haven Bargain Depot and looking for some more so I can fish the tour.

[uk.bass]

I fish as a pro and have sponsors. BassCat, Mrecury, MotorGuide, Marine Works, StarTron, StarBrite, New Haven Bargain Depot and looking for some more so I can fish the tour.

Cool. I would like to pick your brian. I love fishing and have done it for a very long time. Recently, I got this crazy idea in my head about wanting to fish professionaly. BUT I have several problems. 1) I haven't ever fished tournaments. 2) How would sponsor someone who hasn't ever fished a tourny. 3) I just don't know a lot about the business.

So thats why I come to you. What does it take to fish professionaly? Where would you even start if you were in my shoe's? As you can tell I need some direction.

Any help would be great!

[00SKEETER]

I'm no professional but have a few words of advise. First thing it takes is a lot of money getting started i.e. boat, tow vehicle, fuel, oil, maintenance on both, tackle, more tackle, time and did I mention lots of money? But seriously if you want to get started you need to start at the bottom and work your way up. Start with the BFL's or something like that and work your way up through the ranks. it's just like a job you have to build a resume for success. Sponsors like to see nice resume's before they invest their money in you. That's just the beginning.

[uk.bass]

I'm no professional but have a few words of advise. First thing it takes is a lot of money getting started i.e. boat, tow vehicle, fuel, oil, maintenance on both, tackle, more tackle, time and did I mention lots of money? But seriously if you want to get started you need to start at the bottom and work your way up. Start with the BFL's or something like that and work your way up through the ranks. it's just like a job you have to build a resume for success. Sponsors like to see nice resume's before they invest their money in you. That's just the beginning.

This might be a real stupid question but would you ask for sponsors before you have this big resume? Asking these sponsors to take a chance? Might be an easy question to answer but would that approach work?

[artcarney_agr]

This might be a real stupid question but would you ask for sponsors before you have this big resume? Asking these sponsors to take a chance? Might be an easy question to answer but would that approach work?

No.

Like everyone else said, you have to work your way up. You need a solid resume of what you have to offer and the level of exposure your sponsor can expect.

There are plenty of people knocking on doors for a sponsorship and you have to have something to make you stand out from the crowd. Asking for sponsorship without having anything to offer just isn't going to work.

First and foremost, you need to focus on your fishing. Once you get that down and are performing well in tournaments, the rest will fall into place.

[Issy1]

The first thing you need to fish as a pro is MONEY. That way you see most of the tour level pro have lots of sponsors. But as far as getting started, as a few stated, I would start as a co-angler in the BLF/BWS to started, move up to the EverStart/Bass Opens and then FLW Tour and learn as much as you can. Then move to being a boater in the same process. Getting sponsors is very hard, its who you know and what you can do for them, fishing is second unless you win all the time.