BJH, you are right. We are the ones that the companies are wanting to catch. Most serious fishermen and fisherwomen, have lures, baits etc. that they beleive in and will stick to those because of their confindence in these lures, rods, reels. But stop and think if you went to a tackle store and there was one rod, one reel, one boat, one motor and that was the only choice? Now that would be sad. But I can promise you, that if an article comes out in the sports section of a paper, magazine or where-ever and a large fish(any species)was caught on Brand XX bait, using Brand x rod, and reel, this article alone will make die hard fisherpeople want one.

puttman, Keep in mind that anyone to be sponsored, they must meet a lot of different criteria. I have 12 guys on my pro staff. I do not walk up to them and give them rods. And neither does any major company. Now if this guy is making the papers, magazines etc with his finishes in tournaments and is selling a lot of your product, then yes, the products are either sold to them at cut rate prices or if they are selling and pushing your product with earnest and the manufacturer is reaping benefits from it then he will start getting stuff for free. If he wins a major event using their product, then he stands a chance of getting paid to use the product. It is not an easy thing to do unless you are making headlines in fishing magazines, papers etc. I require all of my guys to send me any article where their name appears, and make sure that Texas Sidewinder Rods is mentioned. If they fail to send articles, win or place in tournaments then they are dropped from the staff.

AND CATCH US THEY DO.!! BUT SEE I'VE STILL GOT SOME DOC TAGGERT MAK-IT RODS THAT I BOUGHT IN THE 70'S BEST RODS MONEY COULD BUY. (THE SAM RAYBURN SPECIALS) WE USED THEM FOR DOODLE SOCKING AS IT WAS CALLED THEN !!NOW ITS PITCHING -FLIPPING ??? GUESS THAT TELLS MY AGE???BUT I WAS TRYING TO SAY YOU DON'T NEED ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES TO ENJOY THE SPORT .WELL I'VE BEAT THIS DEAD FISH ENOUGH. HAPPY FISHING --MERRY XMAS--HAPPY NEW YEAR-- REMEMBER THE FIRST ROD WITH THE GUIDES THAT WRAPPED AROUND SPENT HALF A DAY STANDING IN MY HEAD TRYING TO KEEP THE GUIDES ON TOP.???

Puttman,
As far as I know, Wally first showed his rods seems like 10 years ago at one of the spring seminars Barlows put on.
I don't think BassPro had anything to do with it at that point. Wally was very informative with explanation of the features he designed into the rods, such as the extra number of guides. At that time, I don't think you could buy a store bought rod with that many guides. I've always liked them for that feature.

I think his deal with BassPro kind of developed into a symbiotic relationship rather than a case of BassPro putting Wally's name on their stuff. He has some stuff on his site like his double down seat base, and the fish fry mix that is not BassPro co-branded. Now I'm not 100% sure how it all works, I just have a real strong feeling that Wally had a very big part in designing the rods long before he ever hooked up with BPS. Not sure about the other stuff, and I will agree that the majority of his sales probably are through the BPS marketing.

I've always like his rods, and was just as happy when you could buy them @ Barlows and some other places besides BPS. His new 5 ball bearing reels feel just as good as a Shimano, though I haven't tried one yet I will be getting a couple before spring.

Regards,

Jon

BJH, would you be interested in a swap of some kind for one of your Sam Rayburn Special Rods? I guide on Rayburn,and live only 5 minutes from the lake. I would love to have one of those to display in my shop. I still build the spiral wrap rods also. I had a lady who worked in my tackle shop spend half a day trying to straighten the guides out on the first one I put in the store. When I came in, she told me that the rod rack has twisted and that the one rod had the "things on it all messed up" I told her to show me which one, and it was the spiral wrapped one. I told her , I don't know how you did that but I guess I can hold it out of your check! I left it at that for a few hours and I would notice her going back to that rack and turning the rod. I finally let her off the hook, because by the time her shift was over she was worried, and did'nt know what to do. And when I told her the rod was built like that, I thought she was going to hit me. But instead of hitting me, we were married about 1 1/2 years later.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE ON HERE AND MAY ALL OF YOUR HOLIDAYS BE MERRY.

Hey BJH,

Apologies from me my man. I see you were not actually trying to badmouth Wally, just making the point about the old stuff working just as good.

I actually am with you n that. Pard and I have a Tracker boat that is an '86 model and we seem to get around the lake just fine. We still use old Coleman lanterns that are 20 years old.

Again, sorry on that.

Merry Christmas

I have some top of the line fly rods and some BPS rods as well. I prefer the BPS White River rods to the $$$ rods. Comfort, durability and quality seem to be my keys on favorites here.
I've had some big name bass fishing gear, but my favorite is still an old beat-to-heck Browning with an even older Amabssadeur reel. When it comes to crappie gear well...Wally Marshall Crappie Rods...don't leave the shore without 'em.

just my 2 yen.

Wally is a heck of a nice guy!! Simply put, he seems to be the kind of guy that anyone would want to spend a fishing trip with.

But then, aren't most fishermen going to fit that bill? I haven't met anyone from this forum that I wouldn't welcome in my boat, or home.

I will second that.

That's a personal choice. No one here is being coerced into buying anything from Wally or anyone else, as far as I can tell. If we are of the mindset that we want better products, how is that bad? For instance, you aren't writing on a torn piece of grocery bag and pinning it to a cork board, this is an internet message board about fishing. We all participate, some offer goods and services and I trust the majority of the people to decide what they want. It works in politics as well. I love fishing with cane poles, but it's really hard to slow roll a spinnerbait with one.

Smooth operator. Take note guys.

Please turn your Caps Lock off.

barndoor

HUH!!!!

I notice Wally and his Lady on the Cowboys side line Sunday talking with Jerry Jones before the Redskin game. I wonder what tips who was giving who? Great Game. Howabout them COWBOYS.
WWorth

Wally (Mr. Crappie) wasn't given anything in the fishing industry. He has earned his fame thru hard work, long hours at show's/seminars, and has the ability to go out and catch Crappie consistently even at tournaments. If I remember right, in 1994 Walley maybe had a boat sponsor that did not give him the boat and a crappie jigs sponsor. I believe he had a real job outside the fishing industry for support.

Wally it's hats off to you.

Do I personally know Walley? No.
This is just observations made watching him grow in the Industry.

Hope you will make me some extra fish at the Mesquite Show. I'll be at the St.Croix/MotorGuide
Display booth.

They call me the,

DINK-CATCHER