Fishing for a living (little long)

[Love2Fish]

I have been fishing for about 13 years and I have a unique opportunity to take the whole year and work on just fishing. I know that everyone is different and everyone learns at a different pace, but I am thinking about taking this year to try and pursue my dreams of being a professional bass fisherman.

I don't know if this is a naive (sp?) way to think about it but I think that it might be doable.

I have bounced around from profession to profession trying to find my niche and nothing has really stuck. Even hobbies have been the same, I do them for awhile and then I am done. The only thing that has stuck is my desire to fish.

I am wanting everyone's input on what they think.

[snapitoff2002]

Are you a Taurus too? I have the same personality. I have done just about every sport imaginable. Had an accident on a road racing bike last year, and most of the hobbies are not viable now. One thing that I did on a professional level was play pool. Over all the hobbies (team roping, karate, boxing, motocross, snowboarding, running etc.,) Pool was one thing that I loved to do, because it was head to head competition. I lived a slightly different life to pursue it, and I tailored my career around it. Now I'm back to fishing, and I don't remember when I have spent so much money in such a short time. I've gone to such extremes in so many sports that I have lost some nice women along the way! I don't have any wish to play pool, and only want to fish. If I were able to, I think I would also like to fish for a living. I have to be realistic for myself, and remember that I have been away from it for a long time, and have not had time to cultivate any experience as well. So.... If you are married, be very careful. If you have more than enough money to compete, Kudos! - Maybe you can become a guide and add to your income. All in all, I guess that I am saying good luck, but don't get yourself in a pickle over it- We all love fishing, but most of us have to keep on working just to support the habit.

[Randy Walker]

If everything in your life is at a stable place now and you have a chance to further your passion for something, I would say do it. If you don't atleast try it out, years from now you could be sorry. This could be your chance to really see if you can make it happen with fishing, expecially if you don't have to worry about going to work and getting limited time on the water. Many folks would love the chance to chase there dreams regardless what they may be but never get their chance. I hope some of the local pro's ring in on this also to see what their outlook on it is.

Good luck with your decision
Walker

[Hardshell]

One piece of advice, "It's one hell of lot easier to fish with money than it is to fish for money".

Hardshell-Jailer

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

*NM*

[Dewayne]

You cannot count on earnings from tournament winnings alone to make a living. It requires sponsorships to make the dream work. These are relationships that are developed over time and also are based off factors such as your reputation, industry contacts, tourament performances, speaking/seminar engagements, and etc. Not knowing who you are or how long you have been in the game, maybe the sposorship opportunities are already there or maybe not. It is something you need to consider. There is a lot to making this work and my guess would be most of us would be looking at about 3 years of very tough times. At that point we would either be broke or making it. In one year I think it would be tough.

The ISE shows are coming up and there will be a good opportunity to talke to some of the people who have made it and some that are still strugling to make it.

[Kelly Jeffers]

If want to step-up to the plate, that is the best thing for you whats the price of a dream, here is the way I see all the pros
did to be a pro is catch a fish when some one was watching
a some keep doing it, and some have one or two good years
and then you never hear much about them, so if it is your turn
then come on join the fellas,
good luck to you!
and to me too!

[JT-Madera]

Ok here's my .02

I think it is almost impossible to make a living tournament fishing. There are too many variables. With the high cost of boats and other expenses..So on that basis I wouldn't do it..A dream is nice but very soon reality will set in and you just can't win enough money just tournament fishing..If you think you can live on tournament winnings, I think not...

Now can you make a living being a tournament angler, hell yes, but the two are different... If you look at the guys out there really making the dream happen, they are not doing it with tournament winnings...ya BDO has won a gazillion boats and finished in the top ten in more tournaments than anyone local...However, he doesn't rely on those winnings to live, or do you BDO.. You better take a course in marketing and salesmanship....because the money is in sponsorships and side lines like guiding, designing and selling your own rods, etc..

The successful life span of a top tournament angler is probably four to five years.. Then time and mother nature take their toll and there are a lot more, "has beens" , than hot sticks... I don't believe that you use the old timers who are still on the BASS circuit as an example, because those guys are making their money on tackle endorsements, not winnings....most Pro's live credit card statement to credit card statement...that is not the way to go thru life my friend....

Just go to Bassfan and look at the money winnings list for last year and deduct their expenses and they just are not making it..and 90% of them are from the East coast where endorsements and sponsor money is a lot more available than here.. Heck most West coast sponsors think giving free product is a sponsorship..that is just plain embarrassing... The best advice I can give is find a helpful Pro and sit down with them, one on one and ask the hard questions, like how much money do you really make a year and how much do they expect to earn in their life time tournament fishing...

Heck a grocery store clerk will make a better living than most of them...and have good health insurance and benefits... A dream is nice, but it doesn't put food on the table...

Just get a good education first, so you have something to fall back on, because they all fall...there are very few 65 year old Pro's out there...with a good retirement and health coverage..and as time goes on you will find those things VERY important...because standing on the pointy end of a bass boat thirty days a month twelve hours a day will take it's toll....

But hell go for it, I hope you make it....

[NaCl]

I wise old tournament fisherman once told me if you love fishing, it is probably your #1 way to relax. It's your hobby. It's your peace of mind. He went on to say, if you make this your full time occupation, what on earth will you do to relax?

Sure, he was joking...sort of. But, there is a lot of truth in jest. Ask Gary Dobyns. He once had a passion for fishing. He still enjoys fishing but his passion is now hunting. Why? Because, "fishing" is now a "job". Now, don't get me wrong, it's a lucky man who can say he loves to go to work everyday. But, it is still WORK. Some of the thrill and luster gets rubbed off by the grind of 10 months on the water.

So, I say "Go for it!". But, realistically, if you have trouble staying with any one thing for long periods of time, fishing aint' gonna be any differrent. You might be better off to look inside your head for happiness instead of out at the world.

Good luck in whatever you choose!

.....NaCl

[Marc]

Just about anything is "do-able" if you have the passion, support, and resources necessary.

You first need to decide what your goals are, and a timeschedule to achieve your goals. You need a business plan. Have you decided how you plan to make money "fishing"? Fishing encompasses many possible professions, and combinations of professions. You could guide, fish tournaments, write fishing articles for magazines, take photos for magazines, teach fishing classes, build rods, clean reels, sell fishing equipment, be a tackle manufacturer's sales rep, etc. Betting on income from tournament winnings is frankly a long shot, and to my knowledge each successful tournament angler is involved in several of the other aspects of fishing (mentioned above) to keep receiving a paycheck that covers living expenses.

Look deep within yourself to determine what is going to make you happy. If being known to all as the Bassmaster Classic Champion, or as the guy whose photo is on the Wheaties box is the goal you want to achieve, then you need to fish tourneys and I would also advise having the money banked to cover expenses (like Hardshell mentioned) and sponsor support like Dewayne mentioned.

On the other hand, if your happiness will be gained by spending your days on the water and getting paid to do so, there are much better avenues than the tournament tour.

If you love fishing, recognize that when you tour you fish where you are told to fish, and when. You have no control over the schedule and that requires sacrifice, and turns the emphasis away from "enjoying fishing" and turns it into "enjoying competition".

Notoriety is important to some degree to most of us, but the more you get, the less you probably want...something else to consider.

Again, look deep within and determine what will really make you happy. With modern medicine you are likely to live a long time, so don't become 80 years old and look back and say you wish you had lived your life differently had you known you were going to live so long.

If fishing the tour is your passion, and you have the resources to do so without hurting your family and friends, then you should consider it.

Now that I have been long-winded, go back and read Hardshell's advice over and over again.

[Marc]

...you are getting more nimble in your light-weight! I was so long-winded that I started my answer before you began yours...and you beat me to the punch! I never saw your post before posting my response.

[Mike Phua]

Love2Fish I don't know your name but here's a few names you probably know.

Aaron Martens, Kevin Vandam, Mike Iaaconelli, Denny Brauer, Skeet Reese, Ish Monroe, Brent Ehrler, Luke Clausen, David Fritz, Greg Hackney..........................etc, etc, etc.
If these guys would've listened to everyone who ever told them "it's gonna be a tough road."

"the competition is too tough."

"you'll never make it as a pro."

You probably would never know who these people were. These guys didn't listen to the negativity.......they let it fuel them. If you've ever watch any of these guys give a speech at a seminar it's awesome to hear how some of them got to where they are today. Sleeping in their cars because they couldn't afford a hotel. Living off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because its all they could afford. These people were determined and nothing could stand in their way of succeeding.

You know whats awesome about The United States of America..................you can do and be anything you want! You want to be a Doctor.........who the hell says you can't be a doctor. Can't afford it........ there's programs out there begging to help you. Don't have the grades study your *** off or get a tutor till you get them. Don't have a ride to school........take the frigin bus or ride your bike.

There will always be people who have tried and failed but there is nothing out there that says that you will. People with no motivation make excuses. The people mentioned above made things happen! MP

Sorry for trying to sound like a motivational speaker...........I got carried away.

[Phil]

ALL WE CAN SAY IS GOOD LUCK, ONLY IN AMERICA CAN YOU DO THIS AND MAYBE MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE AND HAPPEN !!

JIGS ......AMERICAN MADE !!

[Blue_R70]

But, there is a lot of truth in jest. Ask Gary Dobyns. He once had a passion for fishing. He still enjoys fishing but his passion is now hunting. Why? Because, "fishing" is now a "job". Now, don't get me wrong, it's a lucky man who can say he loves to go to work everyday. But, it is still WORK. Some of the thrill and luster gets rubbed off by the grind of 10 months on the water.

Yup, don't turn an avocation into your vocation. If it's your favorite means to relax you may lose interest or abandon it altogether after turning it into a "job."

If you do have the means to take a year off, spend it as a fishing vacation. Expose yourself to other kinds of fishing that you may have always wanted to experience (going after exotics in Asia & S. America, long range tuna fishing, Gulf Coast inshore, etc)...

[Joe Bruce]

I'm doing it !

first thing is lower your living expenses to almost nothing. second assume your wife will leave you. (unless she is un human) third tell your kids to forget about birthdays, Christmas and collage. forth be prepared to hate your favorite thing on certain days.



now go buy yourself a good camera, youll need it

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[scsiman411]

I feel your pain on this issue, Im in a very similar situation.

[bassindon69]

I had to find sponsors just to fish 100% this year LOL!!
If it is somthing you want to do bad enough DO IT, or at least give it a try, Maybe do the first few, you will know if you want to keep going or not by then. If you don't try it when you had the chance it will always be there in your mind ( I wish I had tried it) I know if i had the chance I would at least try to set my mind to rest.

I would like to hear how you do If you do give it a try.

Best of luck to you.

Don.

[Love2Fish]

I just wanted to thank everyone that responded to my posting. There was a lot of useful advice that I could use and some things that I just didn't think about.

I am blessed to have a wife that understands me and supports me with anything that I have ever wanted to do, so I am not to worried about that. However, at anytime it ever becomes a problem in our marriage fishing would have to stop. We are also all blessed, like others mentioned, to live in a country where dreams can and do come true.

I have decided to give it a shot and roll where ever it takes me. I am going to spend the next year studying what the top guys do to be successful. I am going to spend many more hours on the water trying to figure things out. At the end of the year I will evaluate my progress and make decisions accordingly.

I withheld my name for a reason and was simply to alleviate any pressure. If I should start to realize my dream I will certainly let you all know what your advice has meant.

Thank you and God Bless.

[Mike]

Good Luck Doug!

[Slippy]

i had a passion for Golf that i tried to take to the pro level. I worked so hard and though how lucky i was to be able to play a sport and kinda make some money from it. Last time i set foot on a golf course i got the the third hole and thought i cant wait to get home.


I wouldent touch a club now even for good money.

[kb]

Well I for one will never be the one to discourage anyone on fishing for a living however you have to remember that the percentage of guys making it are very slim. At the very best your fishing ability will account for about 50 to 60%. Kinda seems low doesn't it.

I know you are planning on spending your time studying the successful anglers and time on the water working on your fishing. When do you plan on taking the courses in business, marketing, journalism and public speaking. I know you may think what the hell does that have to do with being a professional angler.........my answer is everything!!!

You will need to be able to prepare a professional proposal, portfolio, and marketing plan for potential sponsors, write articles for sponsors in major magazines, web pages etc. You will need to start doing seminars at local bass clubs etc to work on your public speaking presentations. Contact local outdoor writers and get them on the water to build a relationship with them for the future.

The days of fishing out of a boat that is never washed is over, you need to keep your equipment clean and presentable and make sure it works, you also need to know how to do most repairs on your own boat, I don' t mean major outboard work but trolling motors, transducers, batteries, pumps, trailers as this is a huge part of it and keeping yourself on the water is very important. There won't always be a service truck at the tournament. You will need a toolbox that includes electrical fittings, propellers, hubs, pumps, switches, extra running lights, trolling motor and spare trolling motor parts, electric screwgun to save time, spare battery charger and 200 feet of extension cord (you won't always get the room by the plug at your hotel).

Rods and tackle are never ending and you need to stay on top of the new trends, you don't want to be the guy that learns about a technique or bait after it is too late.

Have you noticed that I have not mentioned making a cast yet? You will need to plan on working at least one if not more of the local fishing shows in your area for anyone that will let you help them and don't plan on making much more than $150 per day and you may be doing it on your own dime. This is a good way to meet potential contacts in the industry and potential sponsors along the way.

When you finally get on the water you need to be aware of your image on the water to both the other anglers and tournament organizers. Don't think that if you do well enough to get the attention of sponsors they won't ask around about you.....they all do, and they usually ask the guys that are already on their staff. Now you may be running a boat that is not under warranty any longer and the added 300 to 400 hours you plan on putting on it in the next year WILL take a toll and you WILL break something.......did I hear that engine start knocking on that last run in.........hope it doesn't let go the first morning of the event and take me out of the entire tournament, I need a good finish to make the TOC. (I left Ladd's and blew up a motor at the mouth of 14 mile slough one year in WON Bass)

Now hopefully you will have a "Jimmy Reese or Gary Dobyns" type year and when you do don't plan on the sponsors filling up your mailbox with checks, free worms maybe but not checks. If you have that type of year you will probably get the chance to purchase a boat and motor from a company you may want to work with for a slight discount. This discount probably won't cover your Stren Series entry fees for a year but you will be fishing out of new equipment with warranties BUT you probably just signed up for about 10 more days of standing around a booth at a boat show near you. You won't be bored though because you will get to split your time between your boat company, motor company, trolling motor company, electronics company, rod and reel company and maybe a lure company or two................life is good! Now remember you may not get all those days on the water practicing for the tournament next week because you will be at the show until Sunday night, get home and get ready to drive to the lake Monday morning and be fresh and ready, don't forget that article that is due on Wednesday either so you have to do that before you leave because you won't have time at or want to do it at the lake. Oh and you need to be off the lake early Tuesday so you can get to the check-in and work a table for one of your sponsors. You need to get your boat and tackle ready so it's either fish and little later and sleep a little less or get off the wate early. You should be back to your room around 10 after the draw and dinner with the sponsor you only see once a year and you can't blow them off on dinner besides you want them to know you better to increase your position with their company.

OH S&*# I forgot it was: (pick one)
My Anniversary
My Wifes/Kids/Mothers birthday
My daughters dance recital
My kids soccer try out (hope the wife gets them there)

Hurry up and call home to find out the: (pick one or more)

Wife's sick
kid's sick
dog is puking
car is broke down
water heater just flooded the laundry room and I took a cold shower for the second day.
heater/airconditioner won't work
school called and she had to take off early to get the kid.

Oh yea don't expect her to ask you how fishing is!!!!!!!!!

I list all of these because each and every one has happened to me.

Just when you have it all going well and the sponsor list couldn't be better one of the companies you are sponsored by: (pick one)

Goes out of business
Get's sold to a company you quit to join them and they hate you
Fires your contact
loses their biggest account and needs to reshuffle some of the marketing monies.
Fires their entire pro-staff and although they love what you do there is nothing they can do.

Now I know this is long and I really hope that it doesn't discourage you because it is not meant to. We have all followed our dreams that is why we do what we do and no complaints here, I have an awesome list of sponsors that treat me very very well. Nothing is easy or free in the game, trust me! You will work your *** off for everything you get. This is not a 40 hour job it is 24/7, 365 committment and the sound of one year fishing full time sounds fun, glamourous, and possibly profitable....it really isn't enough time to make this game work out for you as a business.

Pick a top name guy you read about that fishes for a living and the above is their life. Good Luck to you and when you make it I have a radio show that I would love to have you on!

Kent Brown

[Kelly Jeffers]

If you don't make it as A pro there is always Radio!!!!

Kb,

I liked your post a hard core eye openner , but with the drive-in
gone I had to look for a new job so why not be a tackle pimp and fish

[basstamer]

I was thinking along the same lines as JT then I got to thinking more about it and actually came to the same conclusion as Mike Phua-if these big guns never took a chance then they never would have been! I do believe that they are making a living thru the fishing industry but NOT by actually fishing though! I could never do it for a living as much as I would love to-I dont believe I am good enough to begin with but I also do not believe that I could do all the associated "stuff"-I wanna fish not talk about it! I also would worry that it would just become a "job" not something I love anymore. I would venture to guess that sponsorships,promos,appearances,etc. is where most of these guys money comes from-not by placing 23rd this time,3rd then next,etc.
I dont want to be negative here and I will gaurantee there aint a soul alive that loves to fish more than me but Joe I hope you are kidding with your post-I couldnt live with myself if I put something as minute as fishing over the wellbeing and/or happiness of my family-I love it but nowhere near as much as my wife and kids and I would never put it ahead of their wellbeing! My whole goal in life is to provide for my family and give them the best I can at all times and I'd never be able to scrimp thru their life to satisfy my desire or drive to fish. Just my .02 take it for what it is worth! Tight Lines
Scott

[Schneider Fishing]

Will you regret it if you don't try?

[Marc]

Amen, kb! Well said and so true.

[Colebass]

in your case, WIN?

Just kidding!

Geat post.

DC

[Joe Bruce]

I would have given up fishin in a second to save my marrage, she knows it. & i dont have any kids.

[basstamer]

Scared me-I thought you were serious for a second there! Tight Lines-
Scott

[NaCl]

"Hurry up and call home to find out the: (pick one or more)

Wife's sick
kid's sick
dog is puking
car is broke down
water heater just flooded the laundry room and I took a cold shower for the second day.
heater/airconditioner won't work
school called and she had to take off early to get the kid."

In October, I got off the water at 3:30 from prefishing, turned on my cell phone and found there was a message from my wife.

"Honey, it's 6:30 and water is coming up from the downstairs shower drain. It's flooding the kitchen and laundry room and, its seeping out onto the patio through the wall. I don't know what to do. I have class this morning at 8:00 so I hope you get this message soon enough to come home and do something about the flood.

I don't know how to turn off the water to the house and I paid $350 for this course so I can't miss it. I turned off the washing machine. I hope that helps. I'll call you on the way home at 5 to see if you got my message."

I was furious. If a water line busted or hot water tank busted, this flood could cause mega-$$$ damage to the house. I called a nearby buddy and asked him to turn off the water to the house which (thankfully) he did right away. Obviously, I rushed home.

Turns out the main drain clogged from non-flushable bleach wipes that I asked her NOT to throw in the toilet. The washing machine machine was dumping large amounts of water into the system and the water came up through the shower. So, when she turned off the washer the flooding stopped. But, it could have been a disaster. Anyway, I missed the next two days of scheduled prefishing to stay home and fix the water damage.

Kent, is so right about all the distractions and difficulties you must overcome. And, the single most important "fishing skill" you MUST possess to fish for a living is "concentration". Despite a flood at home, lost prefish time, fishing with a healing injury (Dobyns once fished while his broken back was healing), wife recovering from serious surgery, kid flunking a class in school, flat tire on the way to check-in for a major event...no matter what kind of distractions life throws at you, you damn well better be able to concentrate the moment you get on the water. Success is all about decision making. Making good decisions depends on concentration.

Good luck!

.....NaCl