Competitive anglers recently heard that one team circuit had reached an end with its boat sponsor, and as the story has circulated, a complete boat package had to be purchased from the sponsor in order for the organization to fulfill obligations to its fishermen.
While you can spin that any way you want: that the sponsor’s legal issues precluded it from “providing” prize boats or the other side, that the organization didn’t have the juice to warrant it retaining its prize incentive. But the fact is, this situation has merely marked the effective the end of the “sponsor boat era” in the West.
Whatever contracts that may be signed herewith, or have yet been signed prior to the opening of the 2010 season, you can pretty much figure that no organization at any level will be touting prize boats in the coming year–unless they purchase them–and at full price. It’s so tight out there, I have it on good authority that manufacturers are not even returning calls for those wishing to buy half a dozen or more boats–unless the customer (organization) was willing to pay full pop.
If that is true, then you can readily expect that, relative to the next most important part of that “rigged boat,” the outboard engine will become equally unavailable as a promotional item in 2010. And it gets worse. There may soon be announcements relative to the outboard industry that will effectively end the Golden Era of tournament bass fishing.
Very soon the full impact of the economic crisis that has crushed boat and motor sales (and thus eliminated any need for promotional fishermen) will force the tournament industry to retreat into full retro mode. Any talk about the growth of tournament bass fishing is a fantasy because virtually everything which has been available, is no longer available.
But then, I think you already knew that.
6 Responses to “Tournament ‘Golden Era’ coming to a halt”
I am glad to hear that the organization (which ever one it was) stepped up to the plate and made things right with their anglers (customers).
I might be wrong but I believe that in the early days of NBW (Barron and Peterson) the same thing happened there.
Besides, what’s the chance of a pro angler needing to win a boat? I always thought that the boat should be given out to the Ams and cash money be given to the Pros.
WON BASS has a long history, but I think its still going to be around for quite some time to come. If they adjust to FLW at Shasta, that would tell me they want to establish their own place among the tourney hosts…. And rumor has it they’ll have something to say this week.
George, you hit the nail on the head in regards to the manufacturers tightening their belts. Trying to make a living fishing tournaments is going to be WAY harder than before. As far as WON BASS goes, there going nowhere. People love to dwell on the negative and kick you when your down.
Rumor has it that WON BASS has drug Harvey Naslund out of retirement to try to revive WON BASS. If they give him full carte blanche to work as he needs to, he might have a shot. However, I don’t think that will be the case. The real measure of his autonomy will be if he is able to bring back the year end fish offs for the pros. I was never given this opportunity.
Harvey is a great guy and I wish him the best.
I just walked out in the garage to check and see if my 2010 Mercury powered Triton boat had vanished in a puff of purple smoke now that I as a promotional fisherman had been eliminated……..Nope it is still there and shining since I just had it on display at my class at Gone Fishin Marine in Dixon, one of the top 100 dealers in the country.
Maybe what you meant to say, George, was they eliminated the need for promotional fishermen that didn’t do anything….but you already knew that. I see you in that Ranger hat quite often, George do you own one? Have you ever owned one?
Well off to Bass-A-Thon to tell the rank and file anglers that bass fishing is over, tournaments are over, sponsorships are over, prize money is over and you need a 5 iron for that shot and the green is 125 yards.
When I get back home I am gonna go fishing in my eliminated sponsor boat, George, you want to go?
Is WON Bass History?
Rich Thiel