Who Is The Federation Angler

Who Is The Federation Angler?

By Robert Townsand

It seems that many industry pundits and executives are trying to wrap their minds around who the federation angler is and how sponsor dollars invested in this federation angler leads to profitable promotions and future sales. They are just not seeing the results that were expected. They all seem to be stumped.

Its no fun digging out stumps or pulling them. Blowing them up is easier and saves time. So find some cover because the fuse is lit. 3-2-1....

They are stumped because many federation leaders have painted a picture of the federation angler as a steward of the environment, counselor of youth, issue aware, big money spending, and die-hard tournament angler. It is true.

Imagine a current state champion angler not knowing which way his state went in the latest federation flap. It happened. Some would say this guy is not a typical federation angler. He is, too, because some federation anglers just want to fish.

Within the ranks of the federation anglers there are many who are not the anglers as described by federation leadership. They are no less or are they no less important? They are dues paying members meeting the requirements for affiliation. But they are not spending weigh in bags full of money on tackle and boat loads of money on boats. Federation anglers can be very thrifty and some are down right cheap.

How many times have you, a federation angler, heard another federation angler say he will "never pay $40,000 for a boat" or $15 for a crank bait? Complains when last years line breaks, puts his boat in rip rap to grasp a $4 dollar lure because those fancy lure retrieving poles cost too much. Has never owned a bass boat, not even a used one.

Yet these guys want to fish for free through the federation ranks to the BASSMASTER CLASSIC or the FLW CHAMPIONSHIP and they have the attitude that it is a right! And where do they think the sponsor dollars come from?

There are 40,000 federation anglers as diverse as the make up of America, so trying to grasp who the federation angler is, will always be a pointless task.

The questions that sponsors must ask is "what is the return on my investment and what is the potential for sales growth?".

The question that federation leaders and members must ask is "why are there more bass anglers NOT in the federations than on the rosters?"

Only when those questions are asked, true answers achieved, and programs instituted to correct the shortcomings of both parties' past programs, can a sustainable sponsorship agreement be implemented.