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The year was 1991 and I was fresh out of high school and working at Barklay's outdoors store.....
I was regularly exposed to "high calibre anglers" coming into the store to buy tackle, guys like Bob Izumi, Rocky Crawford, Pete Bowman....And the Viola Brothers
These guy's were "it" Tournament Anglers, T.V celebrities and just plain cool dudes...Posters with their faces, lure packages had their signatures and Yep...T.V had commercials with them endorsing product!
What a great industry....Tournaments where you could win boats, Trucks and Tens of Thousands of dollars. New lures and Tackle that promised to be the most revolutionary fish catching gadget ever! Yes sir it was awe inspiring and in turn spawned a whole new generation of "super Anglers".
I swore to myself that at the rate this business was booming that by the time I was These guy's age I'd be the KING of all fishermen...or I mean Anglers....
Well Back to the dark ages.....
Here I am in the year 2008....
It has been almost 15 years since I began my quest to become a professional "Angler".
Yes I accomplished my goal and am grateful for what I am doing for a living...BUT!
What is going on out there.....With the public, the corporations, the media....argh....
Tournaments are in a state of disarray and paying no more now than they did 20 years ago!
I still can only name a handful of guy's that can call themselves "professional anglers" and the tackle and lure companies that were so slick at marketing their wares have all but fallen off the radar.....
I am here to call out all Anglers, all the company's that cater to anglers, all the people who spend even a day of their lives fishing!
Are you satisfied knowing you are being looked at like a backwoods BUBBA that casts a bobber out with a worm and waits for a slimy green fish to come along and eat it?
Gone are the days of bamboo poles and buckets of bait and a leaky row boat in a swamp!
It is no longer a BUBBA sport, it has become a place where skill and savvy along with physical endurance and mental toughness are critical!
The technology is here and readily available to all those who wish to use it or learn from it....
It will make everyone of you no matter what your skill level is now, a much better angler!
I know I know... where can you get it?
Shame on the corporations for not marketing properly and shame on the media for not recognizing our great sport but most of all SHAME ON THE FISHERMAN who is content with staying in the dark ages and not developing with the rest of the world.
Charts, Maps, GPS, Super lines, High performance hooks, Biodegradable plastic lures, Sonar, Reels that practically cast themselves, Rocket fishing rods, Boats that look like something from a science fiction movie! AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH, The list is endless and so are the possibilities
Get out there and see what you have all been missing and write all those companies a letter..."on your computer"....not a stone tablet!
Tell them to get with the times and start marketing like it was 1999!....Hey wasn't that a PRINCE song?
The world has changed and so has fishing..........lets all do our part to expose fishing for what it really is and take a step forward out of the dark ages!
Yours Truly...Archie Bunker.
Readers have left 17 comments. No.1 Fishing in the dark ages
Hey Mike,
My wife and I love the show and watch you guys every Saturday morning. Today's show was especially unique and interesting. Using an old railway to portage from lake to lake was awesome!
With regards to fishing in the dark ages I think there is a good reason for most of us..... Cost. There is a wide variety of new innovative products available ie. Underwater cameras, Gps/Fish finders, baitcasting reels that will not back spool etc...
However along with this new technology comes a hefty price tag.
I fish out of a 14' Aluminum boat with a 25 hp motor and struggle at times to simply afford the gas needed to travel to a lake and fish for the day. I can only imagine how much it would cost if I had a bass boat and 115 + hp motor.
I am an avid fisherman and manage to get out at least 3-4 each month and feel that if prices for some of this technology would come down more of us weekend fishermen would be able to use and learn from these new technologies.
Regards,
Mike in Bowmanville.
No.2 Untitled
Well put Mike,
I too was once a "weekend Angler" and I agree cost is alway's an issue with any sport or recreation.
But just watch our show from Osoyoos, British Columbia and check out the Boat we fished from.
My point is....The tools are available to anyone willing to access them and the knowledge that is available from all the great pro's in our Country is endless. Anglers such as yourself can benefit greatly with very little cost by doing what you just did, Contact me!
Advice is alway's free of course, but secret spots or magic lures?
Hehehe...thats another story......
Have fun out there and catch a big one....
My message is lets promote our sport and the anglers that struggle to do it for a living...then in turn the Expensive product you speak of will come down in price thanks to good old fashioned competition from other companies that suddenly recognize we have a viable industry up in the GREAT WHITE NORTH! No.3 Untitled
Hey Mike, not only is it the industry and fisher people not marketing fishing properly it's our politicians that have let us down as well...I live in Windsor which should be the fishing mecca of Canada with Lake Erie, the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair all within casting distance....our city is slowly dieing because of the auto industry tanking and do you think that our mayor and city council would even think about putting some money into advertising our city, fishing and our local guides in the area to bring in more business....not only would the guides make a living but the hotels, restaurants, bars, etc....it's a reel shame that we have so much talent here, Bob Devine, Jon Bondy, Jerry Peltier, etc that have to have more than one job to make it in the industry....the only thing we can hope for is that they finally get their heads out of their behinds and do something about it.....
Chris Brenner No.4 Untitled
Well Chris?
What is the answer?
Every region has a group of guides that carry the load of "tourism" and when not busy are forced to take second jobs.
It is a very tough road to travel.
Tournaments are a great way to get attention .....Maybe more corporate support and payouts that attract Anglers from North America and a TV broadcast that offers National coverage during a prime time window.
Maybe, or possibly more corporate dollars spent promoting the stars of fishing?
Either way...we have to change the way the masses view fishing.
One thing for sure is the politicians are not helping.....hmmmm maybe an open challenge to get some of these guys out on the water? No.5 Hit it on the head
I think you may have hit it on the head Mike....by getting these politicians out on the water or bringing in the "stars of fishing" to get them too see the potential of the revenue that big fishing tourneys and fishing tourism can bring in then maybe they can help attract corporate sponsors and big televised tourneys in our areas....which in turn would hopefully up winnings at tourneys because of the awareness and general support from anglers...not too mention help the local guides, tackle makers and bait shops in that area...It would be a great start to get us out of the "dark ages"!!
Chris Brenner No.6 hit it
The problem is not a big as you guys are moking it. In Ontario the problem is access to the water. Ok if you got a 18 footer with a 200 on the back then you can travel the lake from one point along with a GPS to get you back. This goes back to what Mike in Bomanville was saying cost. Take the average joe you give them access and a place to park safe the rest will come.......... No.7 Do what it takes......to fish
Well redfisher.....my only response to your water access is.....move ! I agree that the price for fishing has gone up, but at the same time, what price are you going to put on something you love to do?
I live in Northern Saskatchewan and fishing / camping is just the cost that me and all my buddies factor into everyday life.
I live in a province that is very affordable and provides access to kickin' hunting and fishing. Our politicians don't really promote thte fishing either...but that's ok...too many times too much promotion leads to overfishing and damage to the local environments.... No.8 What to do???
Mike, dark ages for sure, it does seem like the sport is going backwards in recognition, yet forward with technology and cost??!!!!?!?! I think that you are right Mike, if the sponsors were bigger and the prize money was bigger then there may be more attention, look at the FLW!!!! There is no reason why Canada can not have something this big!!! I see that WFN has a tour this year, let's hope it does not go the way of the CFT!?!?!! There is little opportunity for anglers that want to be pro to get in, this could be part of the problem, don't get me wrong, if you love fishing, you will do it no matter what, but how can someone that loves it so much get into it??? It is a tough expensive go for sure...
Keep on fishin' we will get the recognition in our sport we deserve sooner or later!!!! No.9 Untitled
Hey Bassguy,
Sooner or later?
Your comments were right on...but if we take the attitude of sooner or later ....It will never happen...
Like NASCAR...we have to sport the colours....
More anglers should step up and say Ya I am a Fan of Dave Johnson or look at my autographed hat of Pete Bowman.....Were doing it for a living so that our fans and youth can say hey I'm proud to be an Angler, Look at these guys...they do it for a living....Do you Follow me on this? Support from Fans will make WFN succesful, But all the while the CSFL is the best platform for any Canadian Pro to make a mark but it has no TV....Sponsors can step in and make it big but they have to take that first step and spend some major coin.....
And Redfisher....A hand held GPS and a Canoe are all a person needs to get on the water and be "high tech". No.10 Right On!!!!
Mike, I stand corrected on the sooner or later comment, not at all what I meant, it needs to be NOW for sure!!! I would be more than happy to wear my favourite anglers colours, jerseys, etc...where do you get them though??? I can pick up, to your point, a NASCAR jersey just about anywhere, not the same with Angler's jerseys, t-shirts (I guess that is the point, angling is not where we need it to be yet!!!) I totally follow you on looking up to the pros, like yourself, Pete, etc...how do the up and coming anglers get there, I guess is what I was getting at, the kids know what they have to do to become a pro hockey player, is it as well known on how to become a pro angler, I don't think so, because I am still working on that one myself...
To all reading this, let's support our love of fishing, Mike you are right on, it is up to us to get the support by showing fan support!!!! No.11 Dark Ages
Thanks for the forum Mike. I personally have been trying to promote the sport through children fishing. I have a 4 year old daughter that would rather fish than play with Dolls. She does it in a dress but she does it just the same. I have purchaed 3 boats over the last 2 years for my camp up north, all from the same dealer. Do you think I could get him to sponser me and my daughter in a fishing tournament. I have the boat and grear, I was asking them to put up some tackle and stuff for the kids. Can you believe the said no. The only way to get these manufactures and Government to get off there butts is through our children. Get the kids off the TV(sorry your show is on Saturday morning), off the computer (nice coming from me as I type) and on the lake, pond, river, whatever. I am willing to get involved where my children are concerned. I fish in many tournaments every year and more and more the children are showing up. The manufactures need to see the light at the end of the tunel and children are that light. More shows with children fishing and having a great time would help to promote this. Thanks for letting me post my opinion.
Looonie No.12 Dark ages
Dark ages it may be but fishing is still a strong going hobby and career if you really think about it, you cannot dwell on the fact that the hype of a fad has passed through and is not coming back. I fish any place that I can find, it does get tricky for myself seeing that I am just starting off and the dream of owning a boat is still just that a dream but I will do whatever it takes to get myself out to the waters edge just to wet a line. Industry and technology, they are just a quick way to trick us into spend money on a sport that we may not need. Though I will say that some innovation is needed to keep the sport going, things like biodegradable plastics I think are great evolution from the pvc\'s of the past. Loonie has gotten the idea right it is not television or tournaments that we need to promote our sport but it is children first and formost that are needed. Without the next generation then we have nothing at all, but with the introduction of the next generation we also need to educate, inform and guide them so that they will know what to do in terms of conservation and angling. We need to make sure that we invite those into our sport that are interested in coming but we need to make sure that we do not repeat the mistakes of out ancestores in the way that we harvest the fish from our waters. Living in the Grey-Bruce region of Ontario angling has become a hard sport to commit to with dwindling access for people like myself to decent shoreline fishing on many of the rivers, inland lakes/ponds and of course the Great Lakes as well due to many different factors. But my biggest beef of all is that more and more people are taking away areas that were once great fishing holes because of lack of respect from others to their property, which causes people like myself to loose access to inland lakes and ponds not to mention to parts of the many rivers that can be found in this area, making it more and more likely that I will have to dig deep and peurchase a canoe of something similar just so that I can get out and after the \"Big One\" of my dreams.
Cheers,
itisme No.13 Untitled
As for the tournament aspect, WFN is a another train wreck waiting to happen, like another series CF.... something. Unfortunately you can't step up to the plate an ask $1500 for entry and $3500 entry for your open with ZERO sponsor backing from the Canadian industry. There really is no surprise though, every Tom, Dick and Harry that starts this PRO/AM style tournament series FAILS! The simple reason is because they want to run before they walk. This is the most important series for a fishing province like Ontario. Everyone that steps up to the plate flat falls on there face and I'II tell you why (they cater to the RICH!). I make six figures a year have no kids and would not even think about shelling out $15,000 cash to fish a circuit where first is only $25,000. This circuit is important for the simple reason that it can introduce hundreds of co-anglers/amateurs to the sport in a single week-end. The sad part is that it is a business and you have to understand that you may not make money for the first year or 2. The entrys should be 1/3 and allow sponsors to slowly jump on board and fill the gap. FLW and BASS were not built over night and this can't either. The Tour will only have about 30% of Ontario's good fisherman because the entry's are flat out retarded! Here's some food for thought, why would I fish here for $25,000 for 1st when I can fish for $65,000 for 1st for the same entry in the states. No.14 Untitled
I hope you are wrong but the enrty fee is way too steep.....
I will be competing in the Simcoe event as it is all I can fit in...Plus I can't take a hit to the wallet for the rest anyway.
As a professional I would love for a $500 5 weekend Pro am tour to Pop up but it is sooooooo not going to happen...
Your bang on with everything you said....
A pro am series with 40 or 50 boats to start would be fine and grow it from there....I think The CSFL should go for it ...but ....That won't happen either....
Oh well it is a rich man's sport that's for sure....
Too Bad....
My fingers are crossed that the WFN tour can develope into an affordable competitive series on all the Lakes, not just "Smallmouth Infested" Great lakes....
No.15 Untitled
Yep, you nailed it!!!!!!!!!
$500 5 week pro/am.....I'd be the first one there. I just don't get whats so hard about that??? You would get garenteed 100 boat fields in some events and it only cost me $2500 for the year, opposed to $1500 for one.
Out. No.16 Untitled
hey mike, ill start by saying im 20 years old. absolute obsessed with fishing. but until about 3 years ago, i had no idea professional or semi-professional fishing even occured in canada. for years i fished everyday of the summer, in creeks and rivers near my house, and watched every tv show out there, and been to all the fishing and sportsman shows. so that goes to show that the advertising is jus not there. also to imput on the cost. i jus fished my first year of tournaments with the csfl bm100's and without the help of my dad's small engine shop which kindly sponsor's my boat there is no way i'd be able to afford it. the cost of the tournaments and the rise of gas prices here in ontario. not to mention the $1000's i've spent on rod's, reels, lures, electronics. so what im tryin to say is, speaking as a young angler, its nearly impossible to get into the tournament scene without any help. No.17 Untitled
Bravo!
This topic is proving to be a real wake up call.
Crozy...as you now are a member of the Bass guys that can't afford gas for their boat.
The B/M 100's are the most affordable tournaments available....
I was in your position 15 years ago and I was lucky enough to eak out a living....
If our industry wants to make it to a higher level they had better listen to guy's like you....
20 years old and hungry!
Every one keeps saying we need to get kids involved...well you and I were both kids at one point and now are looking for somewhwere to go.....how many others are there in the same position....kids need role models and someone they can aspire to be like....Our industry needs to market it's personalities better...Plain and Simple.... |
