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| I've spent a fair amount of time in my garage the last week prepping rods and gear, organizing tackle, taking care of loose ends and getting everything ready for this weekends first tournament of the year.....yes, I'm getting charged up.
While organizing tackle, I got to thinking about product loyalty and some of the stuff that I use "religiously". I also thought about how much people tout products that always seems to go in streaks. The hot bait of the month or the summer. The secret weapon lure, or tactic, or program.
Without this thread turning into a "pound my chest about my sponsors". I'm curious to how much people believe in the stuff they use vs running out to buy the lastest hype and even vs the "My sponsor.....this stuff is the greatest".
What do you think? |
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| Only go with what i know works, when the money is on the line, i don't need to be using inferior equipment just becuase i got a deal on it. Example, only daiwa reels in my boat, you'll never see a shimano, or lowarace, there will never be any other electronics. Just my $.02 |
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| I'm going to try and give an answer based on plenty of observation and listening in the right places. For instance, I always start with the Dave's Kaboom's I have so lets use that as a reference and maybe Dave will chine in. IF I was sponsored by Dave and fished tournaments, (I do neither) I would also start with my selection of Kaboom's, now if the biggest fish were being caught on BIG Rougues or crawler harnesses, and I had a chance to win, I would believe Dave would want me to do what it took to gain the podium then to just fish his baits. The guys that I know don't have sponsors that they don't believe in. They wouldn't have a sponsor and not trust and use his product. Also, those who understand the "game" understand it's all about chances to show the logo of your sponsor. The Dave's Kaboom patch shows up just as well on the shirt of the guy holding the trophy in the magazine no matter what he caught the fish on. SOMETIMES a Pro's product knowledge is able to take him beyond the general pattern and focus it on his sponsors product. That's when the real stars shine. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Doc,
Great reply. You mentioned many of things I was about to say. As a guide and tournament fisherman I use the tools that I believe work best under the existing conditions. I do not force feed the fish sponsor products nor do I make claim that sponsor products worked when I used other things. I have sponsored products that work best during different seasons and that’s when I use the product.
The key, as you indicated, is to get sponsorship from products you believe in and trust. You mentioned Dave’s KABOOM baits as an example. I pursued Dave as a sponsor only after trying his lures and having success with them. It’s a natural scenario in the industry. Do I use his crankbaits exclusively? Of course not, nor does he expect me too. There are times when different shapes and actions work better. But a good sponsored fisherman reports these things to their sponsors. Sponsors want to know what works and what doesn’t under different conditions. That’s how they modify or come out with new products.
I believe that you and I are not unique with our beliefs about sponsorship. It makes no sense to work with companies that do not offer products that you believe in. You do not offer honest professional opinions of their products. What good does it do to have several boxes of product in storage that you never use?
I’m also sure that you and I are similar with experiences we have with being approached by companies that want us to use their products. If I am unfamiliar with their offerings I tell them. I’m willing to occasionally try new things (keeps me ahead of the game) and I offer to experiment with their product. I’ll give them an honest opinion and if I like it, I’ll try to get sponsored by them. If I have minimal success we all go happily on our way.
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Not much more to say. Doc and Sunshine said it all. I use any and all products that work because they work. And the ones who I Pro Staff for use me, because I talk about and use their products that works. Seems it all works out fine to me. 
Edited by walleye express 4/10/2007 2:09 PM
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| So are you saying as soon as you believe in a product you should go on the sponsor hunt?
I chose not to mention any product names in my initial post intentionally. I'm curious to people's understanding of, most importantly, product loyalty. Maybe I missed it but I'm hearing "Sponsor hunt". it seems in today's world more people are caught up in the product itself vs what the product can do. And people's loyalty.
I'll toss one out, Shimano spinning reels. I've been loyal to Shimano spinning reels since I was a 12 year old boy on a paper route. Why? Because that's what I bought, it was "good" back then and my grandfather showed me how to fix 'em. 20 years later I still use Shimano spinning reels. Why? because I don't know any better.....product loyalty.
I appreciate the responses, keep 'em coming. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Jayman - 4/10/2007 3:26 PM
So are you saying as soon as you believe in a product you should go on the sponsor hunt?
Nope. That might work for the Pro's but not for me as a guide/charter. Most of my Pro Staff opportunities came looking for me because of reputation and/or reading articles I wrote about the sucess I was having with their product. But that won't work for all products, especially the ones at the top of the heap. I use Rapala's quit a lot for many of the techniques I use on both the Bay (in the spring) and the rivers at night. I'd love to Pro Staff for Rapala and get a deal on the many lures of theirs I buy and use. But I don't see that ever happening, even with the most appealing love letter to their Chairman. So they get the best of both worlds (at least from me). As I'll keep talking about and hyping their product as long as they keep working for me and can help others cath more fish as well. Oh, I'll wear the hat show the stickers and praise the product as often as I can. But I'd do the same for any product (Pro Staff or not) that keep fish coming in the boat and keep my clients happy.
Edited by walleye express 4/10/2007 3:06 PM
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I'd say that we all have product loyalty. We have loyalty to the products that work best for us under certain conditions.
Doc, Dan, and I all use products that we have no affiliation with. We are not sponsored by them but we depend on the product.
You mention Shimano. All of my spinning reels are Shimano. I use Diawa's for line counters and I use Quantum for baitcasting when bass fishing. When I'm musky fishing I will use nothing but Ambassador reels. I do not have sponsorship with all of these companies but I choose to use what works best for me.
Back to Shimano. I believe that they are the best spinning reel for walleye fishing for the price. I have picked up reels that felt better but cost twice as much. Shimano reels have held up great for me and have never let me down That's where consumer loyalty come in. I will continue using them even though I am not sponsored by them and could save money by using a sponsored reel. I'm loyal to the product. If I were asked to be sponsored by them I would say yes in a heart beat (you listening Shimano?  ).
Again, people like Doc, Dan, and myself do this for a living. Some full time and some part time. We must put fish in the boat to survive. We will continue to use equipment that works. We'll be loyal to the old "tried and true" but we must also keep an eye open for new and better things. It comes with the turf.
Edited by Sunshine 4/10/2007 2:57 PM
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| When it comes to equipment, I am very product loyal. When it comes to baits and jigs, that is a different story. I don't necessarily always go out and buy the lastest, hottest bait, but I am always looking for something that might work for my favorite types of fishing. I don't like getting too brand loyal with baits, because it might keep you from expanding your horizons and trying something new. I will always use St. Croix Rods with Quantum reels because they have never failed me. I'm sure there are other brands out there that are just as good if not better, but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". |
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Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | With the onslaught of ads in the media and on the web, its getting more and more difficult to find reliable sources of information regarding new baits and products. To help filter the wheat from the chaffe, I like to ask myself a few questions regarding the product and promoter prior to making a purchase.
For example, who is the person representing the product? Do I trust them? Do I fish like they do? When/where are they suggestting to use the product? Does the product fit with my pre-conceived ideas of what a successful bait on a particular body of water would be? Has the person representing the product given me good advice in the past? When they present a choice of baits, do they explain why they choose that bait or simply assert that that particular bait works "good"?
I don't fish many tournaments and as such I have ZERO interest in sponsorship. I just want to have fun and catch fish. In that order. As such, I tend to listen to people more if they have similiar ideals and probably will put a little more stock in their opinions.
I don't know that I'm loyal to certain products, but I do know I'll stubbornly stick to my way of doing things until I have a good reason to change. |
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| Here is my "two cents worth" on sponsorship/loyalty:
I expect that any Pro Angler would be an honest Pro Angler, and do what his contract with any Sponsor he may have an agreement with asks him/her to do. Certainly, honesty is of the utmost importance to all of us, I would hope. It is impossible to assume that anglers ONLY use their sponsor's products. Unless I was personally on the boat with the angler watching what he/she is using, there is no way that I can know what was used other than what the angler tells me. Likewise, I do not believe that many Pro Anglers would only use their sponsor's products unless their contract demanded it so. What angler would limit themselves to doing that? I don't expect an angler to use my lures when the bite is not "on". Try them when the oportunity presents itself.
Bites change all of the time. There is a tremendous amount of product out there. Conditions change and fish get picky...we all know that it happens. As a sponsor of several Pro Anglers, I believe that first and foremost, fishing is a sport in which it is designed to be enjoyed. We get to be outdoors, enjoy the thrill of wondering what is on the other end of the line. If you use fishing as a way to earn a living by fishing tournaments, the only way that you will succeed is to be honest, both to yourself and to your sponsors, and to truly enjoy the sport.
I do not expect my Pro Anglers to only use KA-BOOM Baits. I would hope that if they catch fish on a Rapala or Smithwick or Reef Runner or jig that they would say so, rather than tell lies or simply say "crank bait"...sometimes, I get really aggravated when an angler on my team is quoted as saying "crankbait"....well, that tells me right there that he/she was not using my lures, and I would rather the angler be honest and told the public what was used. It is the public that wants to know what the Pros are using. Tell it like it is. It is when the "Pro System" gets corrupt and Pro Anglers lie about their product use in order to gain something, either monetarily or otherwise with their sponsors that it really becomes a sad scenario for the sport and the Fishing Industry. I know that some companies out there do whatever they can to get an angler to say what they want to hear, money...product...incentives....but, really, what they should be wanting to hear is the truth. I believe in honesty, and I trust that most of the Pro Anglers out there feel the same.
Dave |
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Location: Rockford MN | The biggest problem is the best products that we know have been around long enough that they have millions of anglers selling them. Shimano, Rapala, Diawa- these compaines don't need pro-staffs. They have millions of anglers that write about them or talk about them and of course buy them, all this for free. Rapala got more into the bass baits lately, so in return they sponsored some of the big name bass guys. They can afford to buy these names, some of the smaller compaines could'nt.
I can say this: over 50% of what people consider as sponsorship is nothing more than a product discount, a discount that the company rolls into the next buyer. The more people that a company puts on a speical program the higher the retail costs. Most companies (anymore) just offer the pricing they already sell the products to a distributor, this way they know the numbers will come out as needed.
The "Few" top name guys that get the true sponsor deals, cannot make it on a simple discount. they need money in hand. These guys get free products and cash from many of there sponsors, or you won't see them mention a product. Understand that many of the top guys do this for a living, they are not home enough to guide to make a living. These guys have to have sponsors that pay them real money in order to stay on the tour. Every year it gets harder and harder because of the masses of anglers all looking for sponsorships, while the top anglers need more than a simple discount.
Product loyality was brought up. Yes many people are very loyal to brands, just don't expect every angler making a living in this industry to remain loyal forever. Anglers must fit into budgets, and some compaines budgets are done by people who just deal in numbers and not "how" or "where" they come from. |
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Location: townsend,wi | Gordy i agree with you 100%. there's only a few pro's that get cash and they deserve it.i remember when i fished the mwc years ago i had a few product sponsors,but they just gave me product at a reduced price. but ya know i probably could of gotten the same deal at fleetfarm. all i know is i fished the mwc for many years and it cost me lot of money. i guess it was just a expensive hobie! |
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| Dave
Thanks for the response into what you look for in your Pro Staff it's also refreshing to listen to an owner that wants integrity first then loyalty.It's been a long time since I've bought a product because the Pro Staff said I needed it.I think we all can remember not long ago of products that were praised as being the best by Pro Staffs and the history tells us they were just a piece of crap,but lets not drag this into the gutter.I'll also tell you Dave that some of your products are what I call my comfort baits; you know they are the first to hit the water every time and I also have some of yours that have only been wet once maybe never again.Thanks for letting me ramble on,I'm leaving for Erie in an hour and I'll give a report when I get back.Paul
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