I want to become a PRO where do i start

[fireburn1134]

my name is dan im in my last year of high school and RILLY loking to being a pro bass fisherman i wana know where do i start i have a binder that is FULL of info i study my ass of trying to be one with the fish
i need to know what i should do first.I just think that is the only thing that i wana do with my life + any good web sights for cheap producks or good info sight i want to learn more and more thanks for evrey thing

[brendanc]

Heavy,

You've found a great resource right here at Bassin' USA. Keep checking back for replies to your questions, sometimes it takes a day or so before the gang gets back to you.

If you are serious about becoming a Professional Tournament Angler, and you are not already financially independent, my first recommendation would be that you start studying some of the following subjects:

- Business
- Promotion & Marketing
- Sales
- Public Speaking & Appearance

You may be asking yourself “what do these things have to do with bass fishing”? The answer is "not much, if you just want to go bass fishing", but if you want to make a living out on the tournament trial, they are often more important than your ability to catch fish. There are very few Pro’s on the trial today that are able to support themselves and their families by only fishing tournaments. Many Pro’s have to take part-time jobs and work fishing shows and other events that their sponsors require them to attend in order to supplement their income. Most of these guys have to keep their expenses to a minimum when they are on the trial. This means sleeping in their truck or in a tent at a campground and eating cheap pre-packaged food. Many of these guys are up to their neck in credit card debt and are barely getting by. When they finally decide that they have had enough, they file for personal bankruptcy and then struggle to find a new career so they can feed their family. The sad part is that these guys and gals must compete against Pro’s who are financially independent and have all the money and free time they need to practice, compete and live comfortably while they do so. Every now and then someone rises through the pack and makes it, but the truth is that the majority of Professional Angler’s fail to make it.

Now, don’t get me wrong here, I am a firm believer that people should follow their dreams and there is a possibility that you might just be the next “Kevin Van Dam”… but I am also a person who likes to stack the odds in my favor before I chase a goal or a dream.

So what can you do to give yourself the best chance for success? Stack the odds in your favor! Fishing is a business like any other business, so if you want to be successful, you will need to understand the business that surrounds fishing and how you fit into the picture. That is why studying the subjects that I listed above is so important.

Let’s take a closer look at these subjects and I’ll do my best to quickly summarize them and show how they relate to tournament fishing. You should still study them on your own, because you want to always be ahead of your competition (other fishermen).


Business:

I use this general term because there are so many aspects of business that you could study or analyze. All you really need to know about business is that businesses were established in the fishing industry for one main purpose… to make money. So when ever you approach a company, it is important to understand how their business makes them money. If you want to get a company to sponsor you, you need to be able to explain to them how sponsoring you will make and/or save them money. They want to know what their return on investment is (R.O.I).

Promotion & Marketing:

Once you understand how a particular business makes money, you will need to come up with a marketing plan to explain “why” that business should sponsor you. Bassin’ USA gets hundreds of resumes and letters each year from people asking us to sponsor them. About 95% of these resumes and letters focus on self promotion and never even mention “why” Bassin’ USA should sponsor this person. When I look at someone fishing resume, the first thing I look for is anything that might explain to me “how this person will help my company?”. In bass fishing, most people think that all they need to do is build a resume and send it out to companies. If they have done a good job with their resume, they may get lucky and a company might give them some free product, or give them a discount off their product.

If you can present a marketing plan that shows a measurable “return on investment” to the company you are targeting, you will put yourself at the top of their list of candidates.

For promotion and marketing, the key is to focus on the needs of the business, rather then explaining to the business owner what your needs are.

Sales:

Selling is important to understand because if you choose to become a professional bass fisherman, you will always be selling something in order to survive. Starting out you might be first selling yours services, then a marketing plan and later your ideas. There are lots of books and tapes that can teach you the basics of selling. Think of selling as your ability to prove that your service, plan or idea has value.

Public Speaking & Appearance:

You MUST be able to speak to people in person with confidence. This is often a tremendous resource that is overlooked by most fishermen. If you have strong verbal communication skills, you are much more valuable to a company because they will be confident in your ability to deliver their message to groups of people. It has been said that public speaking is the #1 fear in America… if you are one of these fearful people, you will need to work on overcoming your fear. Just think about how many times you will need to speak in front of a crowd if you are successful?

Being a Professional Bass fisherman simply stated is running a business. You will own this business and be responsible for its success or failure. So you may want to ask yourself, “How much do you know about running a business”? If you take the time stack the odds in your favor, you will have a much better chance for success. Good luck on your journey…

Brendan

[mofish]

Brendan is RIGHT. Study! Don't quit going to school just now. Get a degree in something that you like to do. This way you will always have something to fall back on or use while you make your push to be a Pro-Fisherman. Learn from others mistakes. Heck learn from me.lol

I have dreamed of this since I caught my first bass. Its just hard to do simply put.
Don't get me wrong I would never want to discurage anyone from doing what they dream of I just dont wont to see anyone get them selves into a bind either. Brendan hit on all the things that you should be looking at. I will add that you need to start out slow and build yourself a great portfolio to go along with the classes. There are all kinds of Jr. Angler programs that you can get involved in during time taking classes. Join a club, then move up to local event, then regional events and so on and so on. get good at what you do. Just remember that each step you take there are going to be stumbling blocks in your way. How you deal with them and rise above the rest is what will make you a Pro. Paying your dues in the lower tournaments will help you when you are ready to step up to the next level.
Never let anyone discurage you but listen to the folks that have been there and done that so you can learn what to avoid.

Personally if I have to put it on credit to do it I am not taking that chance. I work overtime, mow yards, and help do remodeling to pay for my tournaments, and I will not put my family in a position to were they will have to do without just so I can fish. I tried it once and will not do it again.

Sorry long winded there but this is something that hits home with me so I hope this helps.

Conley

[JOE D.]

Guys, I hope you let me put my two cent in.Heavey,I'm not a pro staff member here,put everything Brendan/Conley said nobody could have said it better.I'm good friends with Mike Iaconelli and that is the frist thing I hear him tell every young angler.A degree is something every sponsor is looking for.I've been tournament fishing for over 18 yrs,from the club level to the pro level.And its just this year that I got sponsorship help.If I was you stay in school get a degree,and fish the bfl or federation level tournaments as a nonboater.Don't give up on your dream,but make sure its the one you want,life as a pro is NOT easy on you or your family. PS Leave the credit cards HOME I agree. LOL GOOD LUCk

[carl]

you gents are to be commended for the time taken and the maturity of your adivce. Good for you. carl

[fireburn1134]

thanks guys for the advice a have ben rilly loking foword to trin it but maby i should try somthing like a guide frist money is a big problum but dont get me rong i might me 17 but i know my bass i know every thing there is ritten in web sight and i apresheate that u guys hae this web sight
here in Omaha no one think that i can be a pro witch dousent help but i think i will take a few years off after hight school and go around and fish the lakes and read up and fish the lakes then after all that ill hopwfuly have something picked up. i thank u guys for having this web sight and it good to talk to people that under stand you. i love u guys if you know what i mean ...... see you on the lake

Thanks agan i think i will stay for a wile

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Heavy, you can see by our answers being a pro is no piece of cake. There are so many variables that don't even concern the actual fishing. I'm sorry to say this, but you have two very difinate strikes against you right off the bat, they are however; correctable. First, you need to learn better spelling, you will be required to submit written reports to any sponsors you might obtain. With spelling like yours, you won't even be considered by any company. I apologize again for saying that, but I want to be of some help. Spell check on computers is a wonderfull thing to have, but it won't always save you. Secondly, forget any curse words in your writings and conversations, we all work our "butts" off, but the (A) word is a big turnoff. Listen, vocalization and appearance mean more to sponsors than a great limit of fish, there are millions of good anglers, but educated, articulate, well mannered anglers aren't all that common. Good luck to you, and I don't mean to insult you or any such thing. It's just my advice. Good luck, my friend. Johnnie

[Don House]

Heavey, WOW!!! Is this some great advise or what? Everything from Business advise to personnal advise.

Pay attention to what Bren and Johnnie and Mofish have to say. They have some very good points, don't give up work on what you have right now. Take on each of these one at a time and you will succeed.

I know after reading Bren's section, there are a few things I will redue myself. Just remember you are young, not like some of us, you must crawl, then walk and then run!!!

Good Fishing

EAT SLEEP FISH

[johnnie crain outdoors]

And run you will!
Good advice from all concerned, I hope you have a brilliant career.

[catt951]

Ok! So you want to know what works under different conditions so you can tournament fish. Well here’s the great mysterious strategies that all the big money pro’s are hiding from the public.
· Skeeter, Ranger, Stratos, Champion, Triton, Nitro, Bass Cat, & all the rest work just fine they get you from point A to point B.
· Johnson, Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude what ever they all are excellent choices.
· Depth Finders, Trolling Motors, and GPS they are well worth the money.
· Plastic, Crank Baits, Jigs, Jerk Baits, Carolina Rigs, Texas Rig, Wacky Rig, Drop Shot, any one will produce.
· Pre Front, Post Front, during a Front, Blue Bird Skies, Thunder Storms, Over Cast it don’t matter.
· Pre Spawn, Spawn, Post Spawn, Summer, Fall, or Winter is cool
· Berkley, Stern, P-Line, Spider Wire, Power Pro all good choices.
· Shimano, Garcia, Diawa, Quantum you pick
· Points, Flats, Ridges, Humps, Hydrilla, Coontail moss, Lily Pads, Stumps, Letdowns, or Boat Docks all hold fish.
You see people all the above does not matter; the key to successful bass fishing is you!
The # 1 key is K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid), enjoy what you are doing, have fun, socialize with others, be amazed by what GOD has provided in the outdoors! All of the rest is just hype and has never caught a single fish! CATT