Want To Go Pro?
This is much easier said than done, but for those of you who have dreams and aspirations of one day becoming the next Kevin Vandam or just want to enjoy making a living doing what you love, than hopefully I can give you a direction in which to begin your career.
Tournament fishing has evolved over the past few years into a high dollar sport. Many of today’s young anglers come armed and ready with everything from knowledge and experience to marketing and business degrees. With the high costs of competition and road expenses such as gas, hotel, and food, most of what it takes to survive in today’s game is the ability to sell yourself to sponsors. This is a crucial part of the game because without them, few will make it strictly on their talent alone and even fewer will ever be able to afford the shot. On the BASS/ESPN Elite Series for example, tournament participation is $5000 a tournament with 11 events making up the schedule. That’s $55,000 just in tournament fees. Now add on the fuel costs it takes to drive coast to coast to compete and then add the cost of fuel to fill up your boat up once there. I’m not done. Unless you plan of sleeping in your truck all year long, lodging for 11 plus weeks out of the year will need to be factored in along with your food. All the while you’ll still need equipment and baits to fish with. That’s allot of money folks and I haven’t even gotten into vehicle and boat maintenance expenses, hygiene products, haircuts etc. Oh, and by the way is your truck and boat paid for or do you have payments to make on them as well? I tell you this not to scare you, but to make you completely aware of what’s at stake should you indulge yourself with the dream. With that being said here is a path to your dream.
There are many tournament circuits that offer similar styles of advancement. Well actually just BASS and FLW, but for this article I am going to focus you on the BASS road.
Bassmaster Weekend Series:Whether you are someone who is looking for a way to introduce yourself to tournament fishing or someone who enjoys tournament fishing around your busy work schedule, the BWS is for you. The series is operated by ABA under BASS sanctions. It provides a high level of competition and a chance for 1 angler (Series National Champion) to compete in the Bassmaster Classic. It is a cost effective way to attempt your fate at tournament fishing for a few years with entry fees around $200 per entry. Visit: www.americanbassanglers.com for more details
BASS Federation Nation:Also another great way to introduce yourself into tournament fishing, the Federation Nation may be more geared for the enthusiast who wants to learn from other anglers in a club style setting while focusing on not only tournament fishing but conservation as well. Many anglers consider the Federation Nation as the “grass roots” of professional bass fishing. The federation is the hardest path to reaching the Bassmaster Classic but from every region, 1 will advance. If you are interested in this than you will want to contact you state or local BASS chapter.
BASS Opens:Once you feel you have shown improvement and are ready to get a little more serious about you fishing career, you will want to get your hand in on the BASS Open Series. With 2 separate divisions nationwide, each division hosts a 3 tournament schedule and allows the top 8 in point from each schedule a berth to the BASS Elite Series. In addition you may also qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. Entry into these events are usually hit or miss due to the fact that many of the Elite Series Pros and top Open finishers from last year have priority entry into these events. Also include the many local anglers that jump into the events that take place on their local or home waters, and entry into a full season may become difficult. But if you are able to get yourself into the field, you are looking at $1000 a tournament over a 3 tournament division for a total of $3000 in fees to compete.
Elite Series: As stated in the 1st paragraph, you are already aware of what the costs are to compete, but if you make it the rewards can be like no other. This is where you want to be if you want to compete against the best in the world. If you have something to prove than this is the place to do it. The one place where your glory cannot be contested. The Pros you see every Saturday morning on ESPN while you are spooning Lucky Charms and drooling milk play right here. The best of the best. If you want to dream of competing at this level than you have to be consistent. Bad days on the water don’t exist and if they do, you probably aren’t ready. Read about your favorite pros here: www.bassmaster.com
Hopefully I have shed some light on places to begin in search of a career as a Professional Bass Fisherman. If you make the attempt, Good Luck and if you are one of the few who make it than Congratulations!
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POSTED IN: Miscellaneous, Tips/Tactics
1 opinion for Want To Go Pro?
Rich
Mar 19, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Good summary!
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