(Note from BassFan president Jay Kumar: Recently we received a letter from a young aspiring professional fisherman about a seldom-mentioned but significant reality in the sport of bass fishing. We were going to run it as a BassFan Opinion, but at the last minute, on the advice of friends, he decided to withdraw his submission because he didn't want to torpedo his career before it started. But since I think the issue is important and deserves to be aired -- and because I'm curious about BassFans' opinions on it -- we're running it with all references to the young man removed. Here it is.)
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Right now my job is fishing local tournaments and working for my sponsor. I hope to make my pro debut soon. My area isn't the most lucrative area to meet sponsors and develop a good working relationship with them, which brings me to the subject of this column.
I have tried for some time to get into a national-level tournament and I am always on a waiting list. I decided last year to try to qualify other ways, so I fished the amateur side of the B.A.S.S. Central Opens. I don't think that I did badly, but I was shy of the Top 25 cut to get on the pro side this year.
In fishing these tournaments, I met many influential people and thought this was one of the biggest learning experiences that I have ever had. Not so much learning about different types of fishing, but about the BASSMASTER and FLW tours. I learned that there were such things as sponsor-held field slots: From what I understand, sponsors of the tours are given a certain number of anglers to put in these tours to represent their products.
Everyone I talked to had very little to say about these spots. Usually, as soon as I asked, the subject was changed. Why is that? I never learned how to get one of these spots or why the pros I spoke with avoided that question like the plague. I read every article on fishing I can get my hands on, and I've never read an article on this subject. Why?
I'd like to know how many spots on which tours are held, and which pros get them. Also, why did they get them and what did they have to do to get them? I would also like to know why people avoid this subject at all costs. I wouldn't think that they would avoid it if it were good for the sport.
That sets up the question of whether this is this good for the sport. Is this sport about fishing, or is it about who has the most money to buy the right products for the right tours? If the latter, does this hinder the talent and growth on the tour by locking out people who can fish, but don't have money, from getting a chance to prove themselves?
And finally, if this sport is about growth and talent, how can you tell someone "you can't fish this tournament, not because you're not good enough, but because you don't have the right boat or the right sponsor?"
Where is this sport headed and what is the public opinion on this widely-known, but little-talked-about subject?
I write this with no intention of offending anyone, but rather to address what seems to me to be an elephant in the room. I'm just wondering how can you learn about something no one wants to talk about.
Thanks to anyone who responds, and I look forward to hopefully learning more about this.
