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Location: Manitowoc, WI | I just wrote this post in response to some questions raised on the KABOOM lures thread. I thought it was important enough to put it out for everyone to read on it's own in another thread. Thanks.
To relate a story: When I first met a gentleman named Ron Smart, who is an associate of Dave Storm's, he related a story to me involving a past member of a pro staff. This particular pro staffer had won a major bass event and, everyone assumed, when he got up on stage, he would relate tales of catching big fish with Storm lures. To everyone's surprise, he told all of trying to catch fish at that particular event with the Storm products but found another company's product to be more effective for that particular water. Ron went on to explain how important it was to him and to Dave to maintain the integrity of their product and to not embellish it with false statements. I do believe this same message has been passed down to all of our pro staff members and that they follow it to the letter.
Last spring, when I fished the first PWT at Wineconne, I went through a similar experience (except for the winning part!!) I had a good bite going in practice with Glass Shad Raps. I did catch some fish on the Deep KABOOM, but the Shad Raps, based on the water temp., forage available, and shallow conditions were the bait of choice. And I told all here about it. I got an email the next day from Dave congratualting me on a decent finish and thanking me for my honesty.
I choose to post these examples to show what types of individuals we are out there working for. I can also see how some would question the experiences of the pro staff. If anyone feels we are being less than honest about our usage of ANY product, I for one will be more than available to answer any questions. Feel free to ask but please do so in a manner that doesn't make it look like an attack on one's integrity. Thanks.
Jerry |
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Location: Kaukauna WI | Jerry,
Well said when talking to sponsors I have always expressed the sincerity of honesty takes when you get on the platform and talking on catch of that day. It bugs me when I here he caught them on Reef Runners 80 ft back when I watch the same guys catch them on harnesses.
Very good post and thank you for bring this out. |
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| Anybody know anyone that works at Engineered Custom Lubricants in Plymouth, MI - just curious. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | jerry - 3/2/2005 10:00 AM
I just wrote this post in response to some questions raised on the KABOOM lures thread. I thought it was important enough to put it out for everyone to read on it's own in another thread. Thanks.
To relate a story: When I first met a gentleman named Ron Smart, who is an associate of Dave Storm's, he related a story to me involving a past member of a pro staff. This particular pro staffer had won a major bass event and, everyone assumed, when he got up on stage, he would relate tales of catching big fish with Storm lures. To everyone's surprise, he told all of trying to catch fish at that particular event with the Storm products but found another company's product to be more effective for that particular water. Ron went on to explain how important it was to him and to Dave to maintain the integrity of their product and to not embellish it with false statements. I do believe this same message has been passed down to all of our pro staff members and that they follow it to the letter.
Last spring, when I fished the first PWT at Wineconne, I went through a similar experience (except for the winning part!!) I had a good bite going in practice with Glass Shad Raps. I did catch some fish on the Deep KABOOM, but the Shad Raps, based on the water temp., forage available, and shallow conditions were the bait of choice. And I told all here about it. I got an email the next day from Dave congratualting me on a decent finish and thanking me for my honesty.
I choose to post these examples to show what types of individuals we are out there working for. I can also see how some would question the experiences of the pro staff. If anyone feels we are being less than honest about our usage of ANY product, I for one will be more than available to answer any questions. Feel free to ask but please do so in a manner that doesn't make it look like an attack on one's integrity. Thanks.
Jerry
Jerry.
I guess this, my honest statements here, are unprovible except for the few people and myself who know them to be true. In 1986 when Sharon Andrews (Storms PR lady)contacted me to ask if I'd like to be added to their writers list and Pro Staff for the old Storm company, I accepted with the understanding that I'd be straight up with anything and everything I wrote, said or explained about any and all of their products.
I was honored and proud to represent them, and have helped over the years with theirs and now Dave's lure development. But lying about or embellishing the fishing facts of any lure of terminal tackle, will not fly long when the really good/experienced anglers try or practice your suggestion on their own. It might be easy to BS beginners about virtually any product. But for the guys who've been fishing professionally, guiding, or chartering for the many years like many of us have, telling Tall Tales does two things. They come back to bite you on the A$$ and destroy any credibility you have.
Not one person or company I have ever Pro Staffed for has ever asked me to put their stuff up front, when it wasn't was I was using. They might as well save their breath, because I wouldn't do it anyway. But you all know me. I will crow and crow loud when this stuff works. Count on it. |
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| I see deleted posts......they're everywhere 
I'm just curious, will WalleyeFirst fall to the ways of Walleye Central? We all know it's taboo to talk any advertising or sponsorships unless Walleye Central has got it's cut or it's moderators have a vested interest. I sure hope WalleyeFirst does not evolve to the same situation.
Just 2 cents.
Keep up the good work. |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Jayman,
I doubt it. I personally hope it never comes to that.
Capt. Dan,
I find all your posts highly believeable, entertaining, and full of great insight. I'm looking forward to this June when the PWT comes out to Saginaw Bay and I can speak with you. |
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| No Jayman I can assure you we won't. Any walleye-oriented topics are fair game. Talk about any product you want as long as it is within reason and doesn't become "overbearing" and a detriment to the board experience as a whole.
We do proactively moderate this board and remove, as soon as humanly possible, any personal attacks and other violations of our use policy. We also prosecute violators; we had to go this route in with a person on the MuskieFIRST board who had theatened other board visitors, he actually did jail time.
Additionally we also don't welcome wholesale bashing of products so common around the web either, and for good reason. To a certain extent we are liable for the statements made on this message board. We don't have time or resources to confirm the validity of negative posts. If someone wishes a statement removed we pretty much have to do it unless we wish to take ownership of the statements made. We've also "been there done that" on this issue as well on the other sites. |
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| Interesting thread.
Honesty, is always the besy policy, even when it comes to talking about fishing. That is the professional aspect of being a member of a "pro" staff.
The term "Pro staff" can and does have 2 different definitions. Pro--fessional, and pro--motion! One does not exsist without the other. |
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| Thank you for the explaination.
Like I said before, Keep up the good work. I do appreciate WF and it's more "open" stance regarding product claims and such. |
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Location: Sheboygan,WI | Jerry this was a great post! In my opionion the key to this is believing in your sponsors products. I believe in all of my sponsors products. If I didn't I wouldn't take the sponsorship. It's easy to talk about lures and rods and reels if you really believe in what your using. I can say I believe that Dave makes a qualiaty bait and has a great Pro Staff that helps him keep up with the new colors and hot patterns. I think the pro staffers on this site enjoy talking about walleye baits and Dave's lures and It is not ment as an advetisment. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | jerry - 3/2/2005 2:00 PM
Jayman,
I doubt it. I personally hope it never comes to that.
Capt. Dan,
I find all your posts highly believeable, entertaining, and full of great insight. I'm looking forward to this June when the PWT comes out to Saginaw Bay and I can speak with you.
Thanks, Jerry.
Given the time, I'd love to chew the fat, share some Saginaw Bay fishing info, or simply have a beer with you and a few of other PWT Pro's at this years event. Don't be afraid to E-mail or call me when you get in town. If I have a good bite or pattern going, I'll share it with anybody interested. |
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Location: Timmins, Ontraio, Canada | Great post guys. I think it is really important to tell the truth to the public and your sponsors. Your sponsors want to hear if there baits work or not, so they can improve there product. The guys that really get me angry are the guys that have a new boat sponsor every year and say that "this is the best boat I have owned"
Where does lying get you in life, Nowhere. |
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| Back in the late 70's and early 80's when I was touring on the seminar trail with my 2 good friends Dan Sura and Bob Kaczkowski, we always stressed to our audiences that we were there to educate them, not to sell them anything. IMHO, real fishermen can see through the BS, and we tend to know right from wrong. During that time I was a manufacturers rep for Daiwa, Eagle, Lowrance, Minn Kota and more. When doing trade shows, we pitched the product, during the seminars I did, I tried to help people become better anglers....period. Sure there were the gratuitous sponsor shots in the slide show, but like I said...education was the key.
One day after a full day at The Milwaukee Sports Show, Jim Ferguson took me out to dinner, and over dinner and cocktails he told me something that still rings true to this very day.
He said, "Beav, you're going to find out that there are more pimps and whores in the fishing industry than there are on Bourbon Street. Remember, a fisherman can sell more fishing tackle than any salesman can, so always be square with everybody, because the real fishermen will see right through the BSers."
Yup, back in the day.......when I had hair to my shoulders and Worrall still had a head full.
He was the Tuffy/Creature guy, and if it weren't for the internet, we probably never would have reconnected until we found ourselves again on one of the walleye boards.
We spend time fishing together and we both still laugh about the old times. We both shared the same outlook back then and we still do. Always be a straight shooter if you want to be a respected member of the fishing community. It was true then, and it's still true today.
Beaver |
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| Great post Beav,But one Question that I have for this board is why are some people allowed to post without regestering on the site.It seems that when there is a good topic going there is always someone out there wating to cut on someone.We have all seen this on other sites and with the increasing use of the net how long will it continue before it becomes a slam board.Alot of us have been here since it was sauger.com and it has always been a good place to post and pickup new ideas.
Yes I do own a business and I also enjoy fishing,so much now that I have gone into the tournament side of it and hope to do it for many years.I guess my point is why should someone have the rite to cut down someone else without his I.D. being known or banned from this board?Also I love the new KaBoom shallow divers and I'll tell more after the Genoa Tourney.See ya there Zach! |
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Location: Sheboygan,WI | Lenny you provide a good point but it is true in this world that most people are man enough to put there name behind a statement they make. You can tell in about 2 sentences of a post on any site if it's advertising or a helpful post. i think informing fisherman about new products and boats and motors is why fishing is the way it is today. When we didn't have the internet and so many pro's willing to give tips we had a lot of weekend anglers in the dark for most of a season on a new color or new product. The internet is great we must all learn to keep our mouths quiet when i comes to quickly attacking someones post and just take in all this great information. Hope this makes sense. |
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Location: Rhinelander | No need to worry about WalleyeFIRST's message boards. What you've seen elsewhere is a result of their posting policies and permissions. We are far more stringent for many reasons including the most important one; the desire to provide a friendly place where EVERYONE can talk walleyes.
This will never be allowed to degenerate into a 'bash' board. |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Excellent Steve!!! Thanks! |
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| Steve,
It'll be alright with me if you were to be a little more strengent when everyone starts slamming on my Minnesota Vikings next year!! LOL |
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Location: Rhinelander | I'll work on that, sir, but the Vikings just HAVE to wear uniforms the color I like my boat. How do I explain that? |
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