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Member
Posts: 12
| For most of you pro fisherman that travel the MWC, PWT, FLW and others such as the saginaw bay / etc.........
Is this what basicaly you guys do for a living or do most have another job. I ask this cause i just read a book about himself who is a pro fisherman and he said in his book that he gave up everything and started fishing full time.
I have fished the PWT several times on the co angler side and it seems that the pros i have fished with didnt work either, I guess its a rich mans sport with all the traveling, food, gas prices and so on......
That was my dream to fish professional but it just seems every year i keep getting stuck behind and at one time i was gonna give up work to fish but that didnt work out yet. Just kinda want to know how you guys do it.
Thank you
STUFFUM | |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | STUFFUM,
I’m not a fulltime Touring Pro but I do feel a little qualified to answer your questions. In fact, I asked the same questions and had the same feelings when I was much younger. Like you, I did a few national tournaments as an amateur. Then I fished (or I’m currently fishing a few) MWC, PWT, FLW tournaments besides doing a few regional tournaments like MWS, Otter Street, Mercury Nationals and the Fleet Farm. I have also spent considerable time helping friends who are national touring Pro’s prefish for their events.
What has this all taught me?
Very few people do this as a fulltime job. Most have jobs that allow them the freedom to pursue their dreams.
Many many people have come and gone who dropped everything and took the gamble of trying it fulltime. Unfortunately there are many stories of people who have gone bankrupt, became divorced, lost friendships and spend most of their lives afterwards trying to get out of the hole they dug for themselves. It’s a major financial investment and a major drain on a family.
You need a plan.
It’s frustrating when (as you put it) “every year you keep getting stuck behind”. But I highly suggest that you put your family first and a good job second. If you are young, think about a career that gives you some freedom to have days off from work to keep doing tournaments. Enter a regional tournament to see if you can do it. Team tournaments are nice but outside of the MWC, it’s an individual sport. Try the FLW league to see if you can do it on your own. Try to gather a few sponsors along the way to help offset costs but most importantly……….
Don’t give up your day job!
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| I thank you for the fast reply. My wife stands behind me cause she knows how bad i want to do this. We are a young family so to speak i guess. I was thinking of just trying the saginaw bay walleye club tournys for a year, its alittle cheaper and they are usually sat and sun tournys some fridays And a few FLW when they are in the michigan area.
May i also ask ?
How do you go about getting some sponsors?
- did you win a few tourny first?
Do the boat Manafactures give you guys the boats?
-I know a pro who lives down the road from me and he seems to tell me that everything is paid for, but what i dont understand is how when he doesnt place. Something just doesnt smell right.
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | (I seem to be doing this a lot lately, but) read the following thread from WC. (thanks WF for putting up with this)
http://www.walleyecentral.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=13...
This makes some very interesting reading and should be an eye opener for some.
Back to you……..
Sounds like you have a good plan. Stick to it and keep thanking your wife. Try to get her involved as much as possible.
How do you go about getting some sponsors?
Start at the local level and make contacts with people in your area. The local marina, bait shop etc. are good areas to start. I believe that having a good entry level boat and motor sponsorship is a must. It appears that other sponsorships develop from there. Again, this happens easier if you develop a good relationship with some local who believes in you and trusts you. Be prepared to work at boat shows and show a local marine how you can make money for them. That’s how you’ll keep a good boat and motor sponsorship. Show them what’s in it for them. Keep your promises and keep your commitments in the off season.
I believe that you are better off with fewer good sponsors than trying to get lots of sponsorships. Do not spread yourself out to thin. You can not help out everyone if you have too many. Establish that good relationship and go after people who make products that you believe in. Get used to the word “no”. Rejection comes with the job. Keep trying and the portfolio grows. Stay in contact with the sponsors you have without being a pest. Peoplke hate it when they hear from you one time a year when you want some thing.
- Did you win a few tourneys first?
Some people believe that winning tournaments are important for sponsorship. I do not believe it. Winning tournaments is good for your pocketbook but it doesn’t necessarily help you sponsors until you go national and people see you in the national media and you are branded with your sponsor products. You’ll gain more sponsors and will benefit them by doing other things like: writing, presentations, guiding, doing sport shows and volunteering to work at the marina.
Do the boat Manufactures give you guys the boats?
Sure, we all get free boats, whatever we want and as often as we want. We just pick out the colors……LMAO …… Sorry, that was all said tongue in cheek. That’s a big fallacy. Very very few people at ALL levels get free boats and motors. Some do, but they are the exception not the rule. Most get discounts. The higher you go the bigger the discount. Few of us know what the others are getting because we sign nondisclosure contracts. I can not tell you the specifics of my sponsorship deals.
-I know a pro who lives down the road from me and he seems to tell me that everything is paid for, but what i don’t understand is how when he doesn’t place. Something just doesn’t smell right.
It’s called sweat equity. Many of us put hundreds and hundreds of hours in, doing things for our sponsors, to get those sweet deals that you see. There is no free lunch. You work hard to get what you have. No one ever approaches you and says: “Hey, you won a tournament, you’re a nice guy, can I sponsor you?”
Too many people believe that all you have to do is win one or two tournaments and everyone will want you on their team. Nothing can be further from the truth. It helps to have a good track record but you are a representative for a company trying to sell product and make money. Again, show them how you can help with that.
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| excellent post and thyank you for the link. Answered alot of questions
Thanks you
Stuffum | |
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Posts: 921
Location: Manitowoc, WI | Very good post and advice Dennis! I believe you gave me the same advice some time ago. Hey Stuffum! Take this advice to heart. I started fishing tournaments this year with the MWS being the biggest one. Believe me, it is not easy maintaining a full time good job, family and tournament fishing. It can burn you out real fast if you are not careful. Remember, your family comes first. Start slow and inexpensive but most of all, HAVE FUN! As far as sponsors go, you really have to pound the pavement and let potential sponsors know that they are your first priority (not fishing) and that you can help promote their business/product. Stick to your word and deliver what you promise to them. Good luck.
Edited by Horshak 5/31/2006 12:44 PM
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| thank you horshak
The thing that is hard fro me is to get a steady parnter. I have a few buddies that fish with me once in awhile but the thing is it alwas seems they never want to travel nor have the money. I wish i could afford everything so they woudnt need to pay but until i win the lottery its not likely to happen.
I wanted to enter the michigan walleye tourny that was at lake erie this weekend just seems to always have a hard time trying to get a partner. If you no what i mean. | |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | Stuffum:
The MWT, Michigan walleye trail is no slouch of a circuit. Are you at all familiar with who, in the pro ranks, started on the MWT. Jerry Fox sr. and jr., Greg Yarbourough, Steve Vandemark, John Gillman, Nate Sieferlien, Jason Kaniczewski, and some more I am sure I missed. Then you have the Super pro's Steve Bohn, Bill St.Peter. Saginaw bay turns out some really good fisherman, This circuit should not be looked at as a beginners only circuit. This will be a great way for you to get the "SEAT" time you need to advance.
If you have to the MWT will let you fish by yourself. Or better yet, do it with your Dad or wife.
Edited by stacker 5/31/2006 10:28 AM
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| Yes i no its no local. Alot of good names in there.
Its more practicly for my pocket books with the fees. Im not in any way saying that the michigan walleye trail is a walk in the park if thats how you are taking it. I would like to do the whole circuit but its getting a partner thats committed to do it with me. | |
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| I have thought about that with my old man but its his way or no way, he is stubborn (SMILES) It just might boil down to that with him.
My wife - she loves to fish just doesnt like touching any fish, worms and all the good stuff. Also with 2 little ones leaving for a weekend will kinda be hard with only one set of parents up here. No babysitter is the down fall for a weekend adventure | |
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Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | Stuffum,
I thought the same thing about fishing in the GNWC with my father last year. The nice thing about fishing a circuit like that is, it opens up your eyes to a lot of new water and techniques. My father was the type of guy who only wanted to fish the Mississippi within 30 miles of our house. After last year, he's dying to go to Winnebago and Green Bay and other places.
He was always an aluminum tiller boat guy, he'd never have a big glass console with all that motor on it. After one year, he's done a 180 and now has a glass dual console rig just for the big water. To make a long story short, fishing a team circuit was one of the best experiences we ever had. I fish the FLW Walleye League as a boater and he is my gauranteed co. We both grew a lot and had twice as much fun learning together. | |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Stuffum, the family part is the hardest. I have a 3 1/2 yr old and one that will be 5 in July. Coming home from a two day tourney can be hell. If the kids were good, fine. But if they were devils, look out. The wife will have fire in her eyes. This is just some of the stuff to think about. Partners are another thing. They can help split the costs but make sure you can get along with them.
Hey Stacker! I'd rather do it with my wife than with my dad. SICKO!!!!! LOL just kidding. I know what you meant. | |
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| hehe
i can imagine  | |
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pro fishing