I love fishing... But no thanks...

competitive fishing is an EXPENSIVE sport/hobby. Without supplemental income.. most folks fail..

been there.. tried to live it.. but not worth losing my day job over it..
cause I suck at fishing..lol

The only people making money from pro tournament fishing are BASS and FLW owners and operators.

Take a look at the payout amounts for either organization in the top tier tournaments. Both payout more than they take in from entry fees. Sponsors is where the money comes from.

There would be more money around the sport if there was a way to make it a spectator sport. As soon as they can figure that out then the participants will be able to make a living fishing only.

you're very right, but there is no way to charge people at public ramps where the events are being held. Maybe if they were held on private lakes...lol

Those numbers are a little inflated

Good read. I'll just say if you make $41k and pay 25% in taxes then you need a new accountant.

Dont think so dude I have checked into to doing some semi pro type trails and entries alone is stupid then travel,motels,practice,gas and all the others it adds up quick and I can just imagine those type tournys and what them guys pay. I would say if you aint in the top 15 in the Elites you aint makein no easy livin.

It really isn't a matter of charging the fans to watch. More of getting them to attend so the sponsors get more exposure. Then they would pay more to the anglers for showing their products. Every tournament should be more like the classic and Forest Wood Cup events.

Agree. I hope that with the collegiate series taking off and the start up of high school teams it will make a difference in overall participation in the sport. 10 years ago when I was in high school I would have never thought of having a school bass club. Now they seem to be popping up at a lot of high schools which is great. Get more fans and the sponsors will follow.

Humorous for sure. A little unnerving to me, however, for several reasons.

I know a few of the Elite guys and can say, without a doubt, that the money side of things is secondary to them fulfilling a dream and doing what they love. The "big" money is welcomed, but represents itself as a measure of success more than it does a line item on a P&L.

I would also venture to guess that a good number of successful tour-level pro's also have another source of income. This is the case for all but one of the Elite angler's I know.

I don't know this Hale White guy and this is the first time I've ever seen his website. I have to wonder why he goes out of his way to single out B.A.S.S. and Jerry McKinnis, though. Does he have some sort of axe to grind? Jerry has only owned B.A.S.S. for a very short time and seems to be cleaning up a lot of internal messes (is that a word?) created by ESPN.

He really props up FLW in this blog as the overwhelmingly obvious choice for the "smart" angler wishing to be a tournament professional. At the time he penned this piece, perhaps, that may have been true.

However, read his latest entry about the recently released reductions in 2013 FLW payouts. Did he denounce their actions and demand better treatment for his fellow WalMart anglers? No, he chalked it up to necessary actions to protect their finances and ensure their survival.

Does that seem like a double standard to you?

I was also a little put off by another one of his blogs (that was referred to/linked from this one) by his negative remarks about "two-bit amateurs" and their colorful shirts "adorned with mock sponsor logos" as a slap in the face to real pros.

Doing a little research, Mr. White has fished a grand total of 15 FLW events and has $7,046 in career earnings. Hardly any sort of career to speak of. Ironically, his personal Facebook page is adorned with pictures of him wearing a sponsor laden jersey and matching stickers in the back window of his truck.

For the record, I have no problem with folks wearing jerseys, sporting stickers on their trucks and boats and generally showing their support for the brands they use and love. I have to wonder why this guy goes out of his way to bash on them, bash on the Elite Series and then post pictures of him doing the exact same thing while barely earning enough money in 15 events to cover his fuel bill.

His byline on all of his articles states that he is a "tournament angler and fitness enthusiast". Maybe I should delete this before he pounds me into submission and drowns me in that FLW weigh-in aquarium!

Pro fishing is just like Pro Rodeo. If you want to compete at the pro level, it's going to cost you your time and money 24/7, 365 days a year. If you want to have fun and fish against the best sticks in North Texas, come to the Bridgeport Thursday Night Workingman Tournament. Entries at 5 to 6 PM, take off at 5:45 PM., weigh in at 9:15 PM. $25.00 per team or individual, includes BB. State regulations for Bridgeport. Winner runs the scales for the next week. Pays 1:9. BB is winner take all.

Tim Cline fishes that tourney??

LIKE

Hey now. I don't fish that...But i am the best!

NOT!

But with the help of these forums.. Ya never know!