Do pro's use non-sponsor baits?

Is this shunned upon? I can't imagine there are rules about it, but I'm sure the sponsors don't like it.

Do the pros try to hide it when they use baits from other companies? I'd imagine it has to suck for a pro to only be able to use a Rapala crankbait when the fish are only biting the action of a strike king or visa versa.

Thoughts?

Of course!

100% yes they do whatever it takes them to win or catch them. They don't hide it either.

no question they do!

I thought so, thanks for the quick response

I remember seeing KVD throwing a Yellow Magic before on tv. I paused the tv when the camera showed his baits for a second. Of course the Y.M. is 100% better than Strike Kings.

KVD has a BULLET in his garage

Does the water ripple when a frog farts?

They all do it!

I remember one of the Toyota tournaments at Conroe Ike said at the weigh in that the only lure he used was Caribbean shad rapala DTs but when they showed him fishing on the tv show he was catching them on a chart/blue back 6xd

I had one tell me that if it was given as a gift from someone it was no issues but he absolutely wouldn't get caught buying something not in his sponsorship.

Fishermen don't lie!

Seriously?? Some don't. But we have all seen they hide it Almost as bad when the first side imagine units came out Everyone had them weather they were sponsored or not

Sponsors mainly care about having their names on the jerseys, boats, etc. for advertising.

Don't think for a minute they are bound to only their sponsors baits. They use what catches them fish to try to win. They may say they are using one thing but don't be naïve and believe that part of it. They're in it to win it.

I had a buddy that fished a few pro ams back in the 80's and 90's. He got to know a lot of the pros. He was a paraplegic so he never could go pro. But he was good enough and smart enough to. Just too difficult for him. This is the guy I learned a lot of my bass fishing from. Anyway, He used to tell me stories of the lies and deception that went on. He told a lot of interesting stories. Man did he hate Rowland Martin.

Yes they do

KVD won the Classic in Pittsburg throwing a jerk bait that wasn't made by Strike King and said so, even showed it in the show afterwards he was on. Strike King didn't make one in the color he was throwing and the one he had was no longer being made and the company making it wasn't around anymore, Strike King started making it

Yes we do.......

Oh yes no doubt

When you ride with them as a Marshall, you get to see it!

I don't think it matters. I'm sure the pros even swap baits with each other in the parking lot.