Few pro fishermen make it big
Expenses usually overtake winnings for those looking to make a living on the bass circuits
January marks the start of yearly bass tournaments on Clear Lake and there is no doubt bass tournaments are the No. 1 sport in Lake County. Clear Lake plays host to more than 35 major tournaments a year, drawing fishermen from throughout the United States. They not only want to win the tournaments at Clear Lake, but they are seeking recognition and fame as well.
Watching the bass pros who compete in these major bass tournaments it is interesting to see their bass boats and the fancy clothes they often wear.
When up on the stage after weighing in their fish, they normally thank their sponsors before receiving a nice round of applause. It looks like the perfect life. Who wouldn’t want to fish for a living and make thousands of dollars? However, looks can be deceiving. The winning bass pro often receives a new bass boat and some cash, but for others it’s often a struggle just to pay the motel bill.
Can a bass fisherman make an adequate living competing in tournaments? In California, there are probably fewer than 20 fishermen who make a living solely by tournament fishing. Most tournament fishermen do it as a hobby and not as an occupation simply because they can’t make enough on the tournament trail to support themselves much less a family.
Before a fisherman can even begin to consider a professional fishing career he must first purchase a bass boat that costs in the neighborhood of $80,000. He must also own a truck that is able to pull the boat thousands
of miles while traveling to and from tournaments. And then there is the cost of buying fishing rods and reels, which is another $3,000 or so. Fishing tackle alone, such as crankbaits, plastic worms and jigs, can cost up to $1,000. In fact, there are certain swimbaits on the market selling for as much as $800 each.
After the bass pro buys the boat and fishing tackle, he must decide if he wants to start fishing tournaments. The entry fee for the megabuck pro/ ams ranges from $500$2,000. The team tournaments costs from $200$500. Then there are travel costs. Many tournament fishermen travel more than 500 miles one way just to fish a lake. There are motel costs of at least $100 per night, meals and fuel costs for both boat and tow vehicle. A fisherman can typically count on spending at least $250 per day for living expenses alone. Add that to entry fees and a tournament angler has spent more than $2,000 before he gets his line wet.
Winners of larger tournaments often receive a new bass boat that is immediately sold. In most cases the winner is happy to sell the boat for twothirds of the listing price. Of the 150-plus fishermen in a tournament only one wins the boat. Others take home cash. The runner-up generally pockets about $3,000-$4,000 while other finishers get considerably less. A tournament normally pays down to 20 percent of the field, the lowest payback being the return of the entry fee.
While many people think tournament fishermen make loads of money from sponsors for endorsing their products, that’s not the case. Even though they display lots of patches from tackle manufacturers on their shirts, they’re not getting much back in return. With the exception of a few top bass pros, most fishermen receive only a discount or a few samples of the products in return for advertising the product.
Unlike golf tournaments and other sporting events, bass tournaments don’t draw a paying crowd at the weigh-ins. Tournament organizations raise money from either entry fees or sponsor money. The recent poor economy has dramatically cut back sponsor money. The purse for the competitors comes strictly from entry fees.
How much does a typical bass pro make in a year? The figure is surprisingly low. Most fishermen in California win less than $10,000 and that doesn’t include expenses. A fair number never cash a check. By the time they subtract entry fees and travel expenses they are often in the hole.
A few years ago one of the top pros in the state told me he averages about $25,000 per year in tournament winnings. That’s the good news. The bad news is it cost him more than $40,000 per year in expenses to make that $25,000. He said he is fortunate to have a wife with a good job. Many of the younger bass pros envision a career where they make thousands of dollars a year and also enjoy the notoriety of being a famous bass fisherman. In truth, many last only a few years on the tournament circuit before going back to their original jobs. Many now fish only on weekends.
As a side note, in several of the Southern states you can obtain a college degree in professional bass fishing.
As one famous tournament fisherman once told me, “Don’t quit your day job.”