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Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Some folks actually want to work in the business. If no one did, there wouldn't be much of a business, so why all the 'get a real job' stuff? Try what I do for a month and tell me it's not rewarding, hard, interesting, challenging work. I love my work, and have for over 35 years.
Of course, as I said, if you choose to spend your time in the eye of the public, you will have your detractors; that's good...it proves you have folk's attention. I'm in a segment of the biz that 'covers' the Pros, and makes sure folks know who, what, where, why, and how they got where they are...and we do that for the Pros, for the sponsors, and for the fans. I handle marketing execution, sales chores, and customer service chores for several clients. I am a media guy, pointing cameras at the Pros for interviews and having them pointed at me while I talk to a Pro like Keith Kavajecz or Tommy Skarlis, or Ted Takasaki,... up-close and personal stuff, and more. I shoot and publish to the web about 5000 images and hundreds of videos of Pro Anglers in action every year. No, I ain't rich, but I do love my work. I know some folks way better off financially who near hate their day to day life. THAT'S TRULY too bad. Life's too short, do what you are dreaming to do, and do it well. |
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Posts: 164
Location: Bloomington,MN | thanks for the advice everyone, i think im still going to try and pursue this. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Join Toast Masters.
Learn to speak in front of groups. I can't tell you how many speakers we have that can't speak worth a darn. They may be great fishermen, but the ability to catch fish doesn't always translate into making a living in the industry.
Also learn to be a well rounded multispecies angler. VERY few people that do well in the fishing industry are muskie guys. By being an accomplished multispecies angler you'll become a better muskie angler as well.
Learn the biology of different fisheries. Anybody can chuck a cowgirl or dawg at a rock pile or milfoil edge, but few can tell you why the fish are there. And when they're not there you'll need to know why so you can figure out where they went.
Learn another skill that can pay your bills. It take a lot of time to get established in the fishing industry and it takes a lot of money getting geared up even with middle of the road sponsorships (discounts). I think that most of the "pro's" that I've seen that get up and going have spent a lot of time sleeping in the backs of their trucks or on buddies couches.
The most important thing you need is integrity if you want to be taken seriously in the industry. Remember that you're selling yourself and if your word isn't good or if your character is sketchy you're doomed before you begin. I know that it sounds like a no-brainer but there's lots of people out there that never figured this one out and have had their careers in the industry capped because of it.
Edited by Muskie Treats 9/14/2009 8:38 AM
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| Realize, Rumbler, that indicating you want to make your living in the muskie "world" is a close to impossible task. I don't want to "rain on your parade", but reality and truthfulness is important, here. Rumbler, ask yourself who you know of who actually makes their living in the muskie world or even the fishing world??? These numbers are far fewer than professional athletes such as baseball, basketball or football players. And these athletes have far better health benefits and retirement plans than the vast majority of professional fishermen. Most fishing "pro's" don't actually make it as pro's for very long - they tend to make it for a few years and realize that they are spinning their wheels and chasing their tails financially and even worse - family wise.
In the walleye world their are a handful of anglers who have truly been successful and made a living fishing. A handful of guides do so, but I'll guarantee that these folks are one period of illness or poor economic situation from going under financially - for good (right now...). In periods of tough economic times when magazines, boat companies and other fishing industry businesses are going under by the fistful I will guarantee that you would do yourself a favor to complete a sound eduction to use as a base to fish or set up a side business as several of the previous folks have eluded to.
Just remember - this "pro" thing is an over-used term. A "pro" actually makes their living fishing. You may be confusing this with folks who are in the magazine industry (selling/producing), reps (sales/marketing), or retail personnel - all which are fine and good jobs, but they are not fishing pro's such as a Gary Roach, Hank Parker or Gary Parsons. These folks have made successful livings fishing...
Maybe begin steering yourself towards your interests within the fishing industry... I have friends who have made a great living working for folks such as the Lindners at either In-Fisherman or Lindner's Angling Edge who are video production specialists (mass media/media production), writers (usually either Biologists or Literature majors) and within DNR jobs throughout the country. The chances here, are far greater and far more realistic.
I speak from experience, young man. I have worked from within and around the fishing industry since 1984. The most successful folks I know work in jobs realated to the fishing industry (DNR jobs, resort owners, fishing industry reps, film production, writers, editors, etc) but truly aren't professional fishermen. Get a quality education and use it and a job as a springboard to achieve your goals. In twenty or more years you may realize how OK it is to work a job and simply enjoy fishing as a recreation on the side!
Good Luck,
DC |
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Posts: 2089
| Thank You Mr. Craven! Absolutely awesome response. Passion..... Dreams.... muskies/fishing.......REALITY. Perhaps a tough pill for some to swallow but REAL LIFE can be that way sometimes. Thanks again for posting. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | "Livin' the Dream" right Steve? LOL.
As someone who's guided fulltime in the past....I wouldn't do it again until I have my military retirement in hand and income and benefits arranged through that, cause guiding and even tying flies and bucktails (which I still currently do professionally) won't put kids through college. |
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | I'm glad DC chimed in on this one. As he has been at it quite a while and has managed to fish, coach, teach, council, and maintain being a good father and husband.
As much as I appreciate Joe's response earlier in the thread, by definition, I am not a "Pro". Yes, I do get paid to fish. But I do have to rely on other sources of income. I would love if guiding was lucrative enough to where I didn't need to live on outside dollars but that is the reality. The fact that I don't lake hop all over the state hurts my bank account. I don't go chase the "Hot Bite" I often try to make something out of a slow bite. Not out of pride or anything like that, but simply because I have a wife and a house to maintain. If I travel, 99.9% of the time, it is to fish for fun, not for work, except maybe to become a better fisherman.
Often threads like this go negative quick - "Don't do it", "Money this", "Other job that", "It's too hard"... Etc.
But the fact is getting paid to fish can be awesome. There are times when I'm in my boat waiting for a client and I question why I do this? Then I breathe in the fresh air, listen to the waves slap the boat and look at the sky. It all comes back to me. And if we stick a big one that day - my total faith is restored in what I'm doing.
An extremely prominent man in the business world told me once - "A Success isn't measured by how much money you have made, it is being able to do what you love and be good at it. And you are a success" Of course he has more money than Forrest Gump, so it may come a bit easier for him to say. But I do love to fish, and that is what I chose to do. Big dollars or no dollars, it is who I am.
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Location: Twin Cities | As stated on another website, i've taken some of my favorite hobbies and ruined them by trying to be a "pro" or making a living doing exactly that hobby. If you really enjoy doing it now for fun and for a hobby, even if you do it A LOT, i'd wager that you're not working 50-60 hours per week putting food on the table and paying for a house/car/college/family/life in the mean time.
Perspectives change as life around you changes. By the time you're 25, things will change a lot and your idea's about what to do with your life will most likely be different. It's hard to sit there at 18 and know what you want to do for the next 40 years, even if you think you can figure it out today. But a great way to find out is keep trying things, no doubt about it. Put me where I am today, saw something I wanted to do and went for it. The world is your play ground should you choose to play on it. |
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Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Writing, even if using a ghost writer, promoting via TV, Web, and Print, selling and marketing, and of course, fishing make a successful 'Pro'. Gary Parsons is a great example. He and Keith Kavajecz have been consummate 'Pros' from the very start, yet the fishing is secondary to many other aspects that lead to their core success. Sure, they are very VERY good anglers, but without the business structure they have set in place, that doesn't do much for them. The Next Bite TV show rounded out all the aspects of what they do, producing a product that is enviable.
Look at Scott and Marty Glorvigen. TOP Walleye pros, with a HUGE promotional company in place. TV and radio, web and more...very well rounded business structure and very successful. If oyu need a Tournament shirt in the US, it's probable you'd buy it from them.
Joe Bucher made it guiding, building and selling lures, writing, and producing a TV show.
Steve Heiting adapted skills from his previous career to MH. It's worked out OK for him, seems like.
The industry is sick right now, but it's not terminal by any means. Go for it, and keep in touch as to what the final career destination you select might be.
There are lots of directions one can look for a living in this business as Dan pointed out. Add a strong, consistent, well publicized fishing profile (guiding, competitive angling, or just plain being consistently successful) to your selected aspect of the business and you have it.
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | You can get involved in the fishing industry and still have a regular job to pay the bills. It isn't all or nothing. Maybe you could go to college for a job with lots of time off for fishing? Like maybe being a teacher? Teachers usually have the summer off and many guides are teachers during the school year.
Just a thought. |
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Posts: 4342
Location: Smith Creek | Or get into business management and run a resort or tackle shop. Bottom line is you need to do something in addition to fishing 24/7/365 if you're not independently wealthy. |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Teaching is a great option: The training will give you the theoretical background on fostering the learning in others. That translates into being able to guide as well as give seminars. When teaching there are certain principals you should follow to conduct a lesson, and that is basically what a seminar is. Also, you will need to meet certain proficiency standards in writing to be a teacher and that will bode well for you in writing articles. Plus you will have your summers off while you get started in the business, have health insurance, and an income to purchase the equipment you'll need to do your job on the water. There are environmental education positions to be had in certain districts and that would be perfect. M2 cents. |
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