You know, it looks like what is happening to the fishing industry is the same thing that has happened to the hunting industry. The hunting industry has pretty much pushed the working man to the side and focus only on the exceedingly rich guys. I have pretty much had to stop deer hunting, because I just cant afford it. These ranchers want too darn much money, and there are too many schmucks out there who are willig to pay the rediculous prices..."feeding the beast". I sure hope bass fishing isnt done the same way. I guess as long as we arent charged thousands of dollars to fish, like we are to hunt, then we will be okay. Also don't let people fool you on TV. Those pros are paid to push a product They always make everyone thing that they gotta have this or that to catch fish. I am keeping it simple,and do well fishing. Nobody needs a 300 hp Mercury to scream at 100mph across the lake to go to their favorite spot. But it seems just like the hunting industry, there are many, many, guys out there who WILL pay rediculous prices for stuff because they think they gotta have it. I'll buy used before I go shell out $30,000 for a boat.

If you buy used, do your homework. You can buy a 5 year old Bass Boat with under 200 hours for 30K!!!!

"...but those high boat prices are partly caused by giving those pros sponser ship money." I don't want todisput this at all but want to add to it.
We the consumer traded cash for credit a long time ago. This resulted is we are no longer being price or value concious. We focused only on what the monthly payment would be and how it fit our budget . To accomodate us the lenders opened the credit lines and offered longer terms i.e. 10, 12 15 years. If go to anyone of the boat dealers the first thing you see on the sales sign is "only $459 per month" in large bold font. In smaller font you will read "Based on approved credit for 240 months.

We the consumer drove these prices up. They are other factors involved but we lead the way.

Preach on Thirsty!

the fish dont know what i catch them from or with. i gotta tracker pt 175 that tops out around 34 mph. i dont need to have the wind rip my face off going down the lake to feel like a true fisherman in a big, fast boat. with that said, i would still like to have a big, fast boat to feel the wind rip my face off because it's a whole lotta fun.

The industry is headed down. It tracks the economy and the economy is down. There are just less dollars to chase these boat prices up and up. Gonna be fewer boat brands out there in the future.

Fishing as a sport needs donors and it always has. The products and their use are so specific and the market so narrow that in the end what it needs is a new venue. The truely hungry can squeeze some money out of it, but it is very exclusive and hard to get money interested. As far as "where it is headed", I guess it seems that it is where it has always been.

Timbass in many ways what you say is true.

But maybe this time we have hit the apex of how far the industry can go and keep the weekend angler in the game. After all this aint really about the pros and their sponsors. It is about me and you and the million or so other folks that leave work on Friday afternoon and drive 2 to 4 hours to the lake. Sleep in our trucks on the ramp friday night. Get up and fish from daylight to no light. Grab the greasiest burger we can find, split the cost of a motel room with 5 or more other guys and fish from day light tell noon on Sunday. Go home and can't wait to do it again next weekend.

Bass Fishin ------Life is good

Speaking of the industry and donors. It is all about business. One organization put all their eggs in one basket. That basket (wally world) had a big influence on vendors to sponsor. That helped support their cause. When they pulled out, the cause was gone. Now don't get me wrong the economy has dipped, but the cause was gone. So when that organization was riding a fat hog, they didn't reach out for sponsor dollars when everyone wanted in. That is a consequence. For where the industry is headed; I think most fisherman want confidence in a trail with 1 oppurtunity to further a dream. That is where I wish some of the small trails could deal with BASS, FLW, PAA, and come up with some kind of way to get to that level, or dream shot. I think they all have a place and will rebound over the next 2 years even if ownership changes take place. I also think the sooner PAA gets adds co-anglers, the faster they will get to their goals.

+1 so true

I was born in 1961, my dad gave me this sport, fishing was the first thing I can recall doing. I have a Tracker Pro 16, and spend $50.00 a mounth at bass pro, fish every Saturday and Sunday morning, And I think, I am the luckest, and richest man on earth. And thank you dad, for giving me the best hobby in the world!!!

Keep it simple,

All these analysis's and its really simple.

We're in a recession.

There are more industries in the same boat(funny huh?).

When we get back out of the recession it will all start back up. Probably differently but with the same drives it has had in the past.

It always does.

I am just a hillbilly from TN so far be it from me to a voice of authority in fishing or business matters but has anyone sat and thought that the fishing industry cannibilizes itself? By this I mean there are literally hundreds of lure companies in most lure categories and hundreds of rod companies. Some are big and some are small but all are getting a piece of the pie and in the end it causes companies to have less money to put back into the sport since its being divided up so many ways. Granted there are some big dogs on the block like Berkley(Pure Fishing) but not many.
Someone earlier referenced a comparison with golf and how golf pros pay no entry fees but there are far less golf related companies out there so those that are in business make more money allowing them to put more back into the sport. Golf is also a better spectator sport and no special equipment is needed to follow the golfers around to watch them compete. Also golf has advantage demographic wise because its been traditionally a middle to upper class white male that participates. These are traditionally the same demographics you see in upper management and CEO type positions it only makes sense that they "approve" golf related sponsorships for their company since they play as well and lots of business deals are done on the course. Just food for thought.
We are seeing the same with tournaments now in terms of cannibilzation. I don't blame higher bas prices and a poor economy solely for smaller turnouts but I will put some blame on too many trails and a saturated market. For instance I am curious to see who blinks this year since Bass Champs and the BLT are both on Lewisville the same day(a holiday weekend I think at that).
Last but not least its time when referencing the annual revenues bass fishing brings in to separate the the tournament fishing from the recreational fishing. For too long the whole revenue share has been used attract and obtain sponsors when in effect tournaments are not as huge a part as we all think. We are a smaller demographic than we think. I always say that KVD can go into the busiest shopping moll in America and less than 5% of the people in it knows who he is.

You know, basstracker or anybody else that harps on big boats and big motors... you got the wrong idea about horsepower. I had a 300X on a Champion. I didnt buy it because I saw some azz-master elite had one, or because i wanted to get to a fishing hole before someone else, or nor was I compensating for anything else. I just enjoyed having the power under my foot. I enjoy going fast in a boat more than I do in a vehicle.

The people that harp on someone for having a 20 footer with a 250+ on the back are people that just dont want such a boat, or people that cant afford them and want something to gripe about. Not much in between.

I have such a boat, because that is what I enjoy fishing out of.

Just because someone has such a boat it dont make them no better or no worse than anybody else on the water.

I traded my 300X for a 250XS because the 300 drank gas and the 250 Opti sips it comparibly. I also have a 17 foot stick stear with a 40 horse on the back. I enjoy catfishing out of that boat more than I do my bass boat.

Face it everybody... fishing can be an inexpensive, pleasurable sport. or it can be as expensive as you want it to be.