We get a sizeable amount of email from people with questions about the various aspects of becoming a tour pro. Surprisingly, a lot of it seems to indicate an unfamiliarity with the basics of succeeding in this sport, which is also an industry.
With that in mind, the following addresses some of the basics of becoming a pro -- from my point of view. That's the key part: some pros might have succeeded in other ways, and other people in the industry might have differing and equally (or more) accurate views about how to succeed. But again, these are the basics as I see them.

Got the Itch?

As many of you realize, you can't be a tour-level pro without money. And unless you were born with a couple of silver spoons in your mouth, that means you need what are known in this sport as "sponsors."

In most other pro sports, the athletes "endorse" products. But because the cost of participation is so high in bass fishing, the company-pro relationships in this sport are known as "sponsor" relationships.

How do you land sponsors? You have to walk the walk.

Winning

First and foremost, walking the walk means you have to win tournaments. Sponsor companies talk a lot about helping them sell products outside of the tournament arena and that's certainly part of it. But if you're out there hammering the fish, getting your picture in the paper (with sponsor logos on your shirt), mentioning products in interviews, and acquiring a good local or regional reputation, you're a lot more enticing to a potential sponsor.

In other words, separate yourself from the pack by winning -- and winning tournaments obviously will put some much-needed cash in your pocket.

Winning is especially important if you're not one of those people who has the gift of gab. Some guys don't win, but they get the deals because they can talk the talk. Winning is better -- though that doesn't excuse you from being able to talk. It just buys you some time, and maybe a little leeway.

Just remember that many of the top pros -- we're talking some of the best ever - - had to learn to talk: on stage, to writers and in front of cameras. The best ones learned fast.

Looking the Part

Another thing is that you must look the part at all times. Like it or not, the top rungs of this sport are a business, and as in any business, you have to dress properly.

A marketing exec I know calls it a "uniform." He likens the proper suit, shirt, tie and shoes to a military uniform, or even a uniform in sports. Ever see those gridiron guys on Sundays? For the most part, they all have clean, new- looking uniforms. That's for a reason. If they showed up in tattered, dirty stuff, or all were wearing different things, would you take them as seriously?

Can you imagine Kevin VanDam on the weigh-in stage in a T-shirt?

You can't show up for a job interview or a sales call in a T-shirt either. And if you're serious about having a career as a pro fisherman, you better know that every day you're out there competing, you're at work. That doesn't mean it can't be fun, but you have to be professional when it counts -- mostly on shore.

Don't let yourself look scruffy (whatever that means to you), and by all means, wear a clean, pressed tournament shirt. My shirt of choice is a T-shirt, but I'm not going to wear one to a sales call and you shouldn't wear one at a tournament -- if you're looking for sponsors. You never know who will be there or who will be looking at you, especially if you're successful.

I know of two good tour pros who, unbeknownst to them, didn't get deals (low- or mid-level deals) because they didn't look the part when it counted. That's the rub: you might not know that you missed a shot at some cash or, even better, a long-term relationship with a good sponsor.

Obviously that doesn't mean you can't sweat when it's hot, though some tour pros change their shirts after check-in and before the weigh-in. Just be generally neat-looking. South Carolina pro Jason Quinn has long hair and earrings, but he's neat (and looks cool). Nothing wrong with that in my book, though a few sponsors still might disagree.

The bottom line is look the part. Look and act like a pro.

A Few More Pointers

The above two items aren't everything you need to do or know to become a pro, but they are important basics. Following are a few more things that come to mind:

> When you get a sponsor, do everything you can to help that company -- without it affecting your fishing. That juggling act is what all the top pros have mastered. Some guys make a living working sport shows and doing other promotions. Nothing wrong with that, but no BassFans know their names. You just have to decide what you want.

> Bass fishing is a relatively small world. If you work hard for a sponsor, you will get that reputation (and vice versa) and that could lead to other deals. Some deals might come through that sponsor since some companies -- particularly smaller ones -- work together.

> You need good relationships with sponsors to succeed, even if you're rich. Like it or not, right now sponsors control the sport, including some access to the top levels.

> You may not get money from a sponsor right away, but never stop seeking it -- politely. Some sectors in this industry still apparently don't understand that the cost of product has not increased even close to as fast as the cost of fishing tournaments.

> Not getting in the press? Go get interviews. Offer -- more than once -- to take an outdoor writer or two fishing, and try to accommodate his or her schedule. You want what they can give. (Outdoor writers aren't millionaires, but assume that they will at least partially reimburse you for boat gas money.) And realize that more often than not, you'll have to work to create your own buzz, no matter how much you think you "deserve" coverage.

> Leave your ego at home. No one likes a jackass. Enjoy a win, but don't lord yourself around people like you just stopped time.

> If you do decide to go for it, make sure you do a ton of homework first. And no matter how hard you think it will be, add in about 50-75 percent more difficulty (time, expense, emotion, energy, etc.). For every Tim Horton who wins Angler of the Year in his rookie year are hundreds of guys risking their life savings and family lives on the sport.

> If you're not single, your spouse better be 100 percent behind you. If not, something will give somewhere.

> If you know you want to do it -- if you absolutely have to do it -- and you're sure you're that good, then work hard, be smart and don't give up. We'd love to see you up on BassFan one day.

BassFan president Jay Kumar lords himself around BassFan HQ even though he's never won a tournament.