Pro's?

I've read lots of interesting comments recently about what it means to be a "professional" bass fisherman. What are the qualifications? Money? Proficiency? Time? Talent? Reputation? Tournament results? I know
better than to think I can settle the argument of what the word as it
applies to bass fishing means and who qualifies. I will share some
insight into the truth.

The truth is that many of the Elite Series pros I fished against in the 2010 Classic would not meet many of your standards of the word "pro". Most struggle just paying expenses and even participating in the
sport at that level. Most sacrifice more than they would ever want to
admit to fish as a "professional". They sacrifice marriages and other
important relationships. They sacrifice any notion of having a normal
life with a normal residence filled with normal things where they eat
normal meals with a normal family. They travel at least half of the year
with all their fishing stuff and a few clothes stuffed into the back of
a truck. Many meals are eaten out of the truck. Many nights are slept
in the truck. Some bring along their family and stay in campers or an
RV. Some have sold their homes to go on the road with an RV.

Most of the "pros" have difficulty obtaining sponsors that can really help. Ones that can help cut into the $100,000 cost of just competing and living as a "pro". Most sponsors are a little gun-shy to
commit to that - especially in the last year or two. I remember
overhearing one of the Elites talking with a boat manufacturing rep. and
explaining that he was willing to take just about any kind of a deal to
get into a 2010 model for the upcoming Elite season. His current boat
manufacturer was making cuts and he was afraid he may be one of them. He
was going to be forced to fish out of a used boat, which at one time
was unheard of for a "pro". The boat rep told him that there was really
nothing that could be done for him for the 2010 season and that maybe
they could talk again next year. The fisherman is a big-time name among
the Elites. Someone who has won several Elite level events.

Some of the Elite "pros" don't even have major sponsors. They pay for their
own stuff - boat included. They may have money set aside from some other
source. Their hope is to break even during the tour so they don't have
to dip into their savings. There is no medical plan. There is no
retirement plan. The truth is you wouldn't even have to use your toes to
count how many "pros" make a serious profit each year.

Understand what it means for many of these guys to attain the title of "pro". First of all you have to be able to fish - really fish, anyplace, anytime. You better be willing to gamble, to take a chance
with what you own. Your house, boat, savings, reputation, peace of mind.
Sure, some of them are set financially through other means, but it
doesn't or won't take long to burn through that stash at 100K per
season. Most of the rest are simply willing to pick up, move to where
the action is and take a chance. Have a good season, make some money?
Great, because next year is going to cost you 100K to do it again. Think
you can find lots of companies willing to pony up the money for you to
fish. Think again. You think Skeet winning the Classic in '09 made him
an instant millionaire? Wrong. You think all his sponsors said, "Great
job Skeet, we gotta have you representing our company so here's a fat
check!" Wrong again. Go poll your neighbors and ask how many know who
Kevin VanDam is. Then think about which companies out there are willing
to finance some guy fishing as a "pro" who even your bass buddies
haven't heard of.

Are NW fisherman good enough? Some are no doubt. But you better be single, relatively young, and not afraid to take chances. Better not spend too much time worrying about things like a mortgage or a college
education for your kids. You better be able to network - work with
others to figure out how to get things done because you won't be able to
make it happen on your own. Truck breaks down on the road, your better
have a backup plan. Boat breaks down, better have someone you know who
is willing to loan you one. It doesn't' take much of an imagination to
see how without lots of help you could end up broken down along the side
of the highway sleeping in your truck. Oh, and you are probably not
going to be able to live here and make this happen. So either decide to
tell your family you are moving them or that you will be gone 9 months
per year.