Is Tournament Bass Fishing PROFITABLE? The Good, Bad & Ugly Truth About PROFESSIONAL FISHING!
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Welcome to SonarFishing! My name is Miles “Sonar” Burghoff. I fish the Bassmaster Opens tournament trail, guide in Alaska, and just all around LOVE fishing! It is my goal to deliver fresh fishing content on a weekly basis, consisting of videos highlighting my life on the tournament circuit, as well as relevant fishing tips and tricks.
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Good stuff miles
What do sponsors do for you
What I would love to see a pro do is actually break down what all they have coming in from everything other the just payouts. Like exactly what sponsors are paying them and maybe just don’t say which sponsors are paying what but just like as a total this is what all of my sponsors together are paying me as well as the money earned from tournaments and then break that down compared to the expenses because looking at it like this just doesn’t really make sense because if every person was losing this much money their would be no way the opens would have a full field every year.
Great advice Sonar!
Miles is the son of actor Gary Burghoff. "Radar" from the great show called M.A.S.H. I'd guess that he doesn't need to worry about cashing checks or any of that stuff.
This is a common misconception. Though a very popular show, the actors were generally paid very modestly in that time period. Yes, he is my dad, but I can assure you that that doesn’t mean he has money, and I haven’t seen any of it since the last time I borrowed a few hundred bucks in college. Everything that I make is from the fishing industry.
Thanks for the advice and the honesty not no one else will be honest
Great video very helpful to new tournament hopefuls. This could have been a rant, but I love how you refuse to do that and provide a positive message that included important cautions. I wish more UA-camr's could stay positive like that!
Excellent advice!!
Great video Miles! I love the direction that you and many other pro anglers give to young anglers wanting to chase their dreams of professional bass fishing. However, there are so many jobs within the industry that no one ever talks about. It's getting the best of both worlds. Not everyone is cut out to be a pro angler regardless of how much they love bass fishing or the endless hours they dedicate to the sport of bass fishing. But, they can pursue a good career in other areas of the industry... marketing, production, logistics, sales, office management, etc. When I was in the racing world, I would tell young amateur riders that you have a better chance at being the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees than you do at making it to the elite level of the sport. Find other ways to get the best of both worlds. Just a thought.
How to become a pro bass fisherman = win the lottery! ✔️
Unfortunately, tourney fishing these days is damn near impossible to get started in and to be able to compete unless you're already loaded. It is not what it was, and with all this tech these guys rely on, (which in itself is absurdly expensive) it's not even entertaining anymore...save your money, sanity and time...spend that shit where it matters....your family. Cool video man, I appreciate you being real.
What is the co-angler?
All I have ever seen is they get cussed out everytime they catch fish. I don't think I would make a good co-angler. The way I see it, I payed my entry fee, I want to win, so I going to do my best to beat everyone in the field, including you in your own boat. Am I right, or wrong for thinking that way?
@@charlierobertson3432only some boaters act like that, the ones who are good usually want the co-angler to catch fish and work together with him to dial in patterns. The boaters who get angry or feel entitled to all the fish in an area are never the ones who are good in my experience.
@@renegade2325 How does that work fishing forward facing sonar?
Investment BULLCRAP. Get a real job. What did you really make or lost at the end of the year. Tell the truth, common man.
@@blakefoster6324 it doesn’t unless your boater is kind and allows you to cast on fish he sees, which is rare. Best bet is dragging something around and hoping for a bite.
I’m sure we’d all like him to be totally transparent on how he’s gotten paid from sponsors or some other form of income coming in but it’s none of our business. The nice shed,home,and property he’s living in and on probably wasn’t cheap but you have to have $$$ coming from somewhere to have that ! But that’s his and his family’s business not ours ! If he can make it happen kudos to him 👍👍👍👍👍 Very good video Miles !!
Hey Miles ....I've been around longer than Blaukat, and this is one of the best explanations that I have ever heard!
I’m in the bass boat market right now (weekend angler no tournaments) and the fact you can do an interest only loan on a boat is insane lol.
The only reason I do this is because I have to flip my boat each year and in that case it makes sense to help keep the monthly cost down, however, it would not be a good choice for multi-year ownership.
Its called a pipe dream unless your kvd ish monroe zaldane or another big wig they get 100k chexks cut to them hell kvd has a po box jonny morris fills up with cash every month everone else is just a pawn in the game
Like your attitude.
EVERY individual that enters a fishing tournament needs to watch this!
Great talk! The best part about the average fishing dude being an influencer is that it is solely based on merit. The Web don't lie...you're content has to be good but anyone has the opportunity.
Thanks for the explanation.
If only tx anglers would devote a proportionate amount of time to growing the resource (the fish), We'd have a secure future in bass fishing... Instead, continued growth and overshoot will ? I understand the addiction. I've never gone pro due to the financial but have been in tourn fishing since 1978. If I had all that money back I could now have a very comfortable retirement. Gambling 101. Fun but painful
jacob stoutz broke it down a couple of days ago and two sponsors cancelled him. sounds kind of like the mafia.
Great video!
You nailed it. Pro tournament fishing is a vehicle for sponsorship money to promote products. It used to be the only vehicle, but now there are several vehicles with social media. It takes a decent angler just to break even with entry fees from payouts. Not only would you have to win $53,300 just to break even, but you need to win another $60,000 or so to pay the bills back home.
I’d like to see a video on both the amount of endorsement money different level guys make and what UA-cam guys make in comparison at a few different levels high mid low?
I think what most angler's dont talk about is the salaries that they recieve from sponsors at the professional level along with having spouse/family that has great career or help from families financially
You know as well as I do that if you have to rely on the purse then you won't make it. Got to have the sponsors to make it work!
I always wanted to fish full time but had a family to support. Was never able to pull the trigger on quitting my full time job. Fished tournaments on weekends and still fish. You make some great points on building value beyond tournament winnings. That’s really the only way to make enough money to pay your bills. These regional full time tourney anglers, who only tourney fish, are in for a rude awakening when they get into their 50’s. No retirement, no health care, no social security. Going to be living in a van down by the river.
Yeah that last part is key.
Ive always passed on guide jobs beacuse I dont want what I love turn into work.
Then it would be crazy for me to walk away from a good paying job with a great 401k, pension healthcare etc.
Plus its nice to be able to walk out to my shop and hitch up my paid for duramax diesel to my paid for basscat and head out to any of the lakes here it TX I want to chase trophy bass.
Nobody tells me when or where Im gonna fish. If the fishing isnt good or the weather is trash, I dont have to worry about how the bills are gonna get paid.
You guys want to fish for a living bad or your already rich. Tournament fishing is a loser not to mention it turn’s something you love into a job. No thanks
Everyone fussed about payouts...payouts are a small piece of the pie
You can easily make a Million dollars fishing Bass Tournaments, start with 2 Million!
I see a lot of pros with big house and nice stuff, must be making some money. lol
Because like you said “you see them” the ones you don’t see, that don’t get the attention, all the guys trying to make it and the ones that never do are the ones struggling. And that’s 95% of them.
That's a high lifestyle budget, sleep in your truck, eat hotdogs, 80k boat and 80k truck. It's not necessary you choose to buy them. -50k is your job 😂😂
To fish at the level Miles is fishing... You need an 80,000 boat and Truck IMO..
He fishes all 9 opens all over the country in a Zman Wrapped boat. Zman has certain criteria that must be met and he needs equipment that is ALWAYS reliable..He actually does sleep in his truck camper 😂.
If we knew more about what your sponsors help you with that would make it more appealing. Like if zman is giving you money for wraps and peddling products that in turn can go for entry fees or gas etc. You wouldn't have to say a name or an actual amount but a ballpark would make it seem better. All the exposure in the world is no good if your gonna be homeless from fishing. And if guys are in it for money alone then they should stick to bfl or local stuff. It's all gambling when you really look at it. Your betting your entry fee that you'll win or at least make more than the fee. That's a slot machine by definition. Lol.
I will never do the math on money made for hrs worked!! I would be rolled up in the fetal position balling for hrs it would be sooo low!!!!
Personally I think it is more about being a competent angler who has personality and can represent products. The fishing is really secondary but problem is as the economy worsens a lot of companies not related to fishing in any way won’t be sponsoring anyone in fishing. Bass fishing is a niche sport. UA-cam ain’t helping either cause most watch that more than tournament pros.
Either you got to have big sponsorship dollars.a rich daddy or have a daily 9-5 job to get started and keep going in the sport. If I would fish them I’d pick 1-2 of my best chance to win and try to jackpot them. The challenge now is with interest rates it’s getting harder to flip the boat.i think you are wrong get any sponsorship you can and try to develop a long term relationship as you also build your brand.
I don't understand why you guys do it! I understand the love of the sport but it's nothing more than addiction when you're paying more money in than what you're making. You guys are just like gambling addicts! 😂
Great question? They say they do it cuz they love fishing as I do. But they really do it because they don’t want a good paying boring job. Half these guys are busted the first year and will be in debt up to there eyeballs. I get it it’s fun. You get to drive a cool boat. Bottom line they rather go broke fishing than working a 8-5 job but get this they will have to go back to work to pay there debt off. Your only as good as your next tournament some make it most don’t. There are way to many pros it’s click bait everyone wants to be relevant. Come on man the average working man makes 50 grand a year. You better have sponsors. You know why a pack of worms is 10 dollars a pack. A roll of string is 60 bucks boats cost 100 grand? Because everyone wants to be a pro.
@chriswainwright755 I hate to say it, but they are the reason the sport has grown out of control and is refusing to pay these guys what they deserve. If they know these guys will pay them to fish instead of the other way around dam straight, they'll take advantage of it. There is way too much money being made by these companies, electronic, motor, boat, rods and reels for these guys to have to pay to fish! Someone is putting tons of money in their pockets while the anglers get screwed! What a world we live in! And by the way, I love fishing tournaments as well, but when does the sacrifice become not worth it?
@chriswainwright755 it's not easy but most come from family business and have right offs through the business expenses to make it work
Better to have a job and be a local hammer I think. Way lower costs, you can still compete, but you can still be home in your own bed with the family you love. Big draw back is no one knows who you are nationally. Got to weigh it all.
I agree guys. My best friend fished bass federation won regionals twice but could not make the next step due to his job, family, and financial responsibilities it’s a shame because I know for a fact at that time he would of qualified for elite series. He was making over a hundred grand a year and still could not afford to fish like he wanted. He told me fishing is not affordable like it was 10-15 years ago. It’s on another level now . We use to fish with the same equipment the pros used 10 years ago. Now reels are 500.00 rods are 400.00 it’s on another level now. The sport has gotten so big it’s priced the working man out. All the guys my age and I’m older have really good jobs make 6 figures a year and still can’t afford to fish all the opens due to travel and expenses plus entry. Got to qualify got to win to pay bills or be very well off.
Sponsor dollars??? Make your explanation legit, no pros get by on winnings alone you silly kid....
You can’t count your at home life expenses . Because everyone has those regardless of their job.
Trust the process 😩
THIS IS OLD NEWS….THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY VIDEOS OUT ON THIS SHOWING YOU CAN’T MAKE A LIVING BEING A PRO….YOU NEED SPONSORSHIS AND GOOD ONES…OR BE RICH AS HELL….250 BOATS ONLY PAY DOWN TO 45TH……JOKE
Dont like that you have to fish 9 events to fish the opens ! Just the travel *food * lodging * and gas kill you ! Then the entry fee ! 100 grand then ya got your Bill's! Ain't no way an average joe can make it ??
Traveling salesman. The way to make money on the major trails.
I could make more then that at the casino 🎰 in a year.
Dint tell your wife you are quitting your job to become a asshole. No, it's not.
I can't wait until Facebook is no longer. A lot of people will have no life. Especially people who fish.
It’s here to stay, and if it’s gone the guys making videos on their own won’t be making the money. It will be the guys fishing these tournaments.
How much of that is a tax write off?
Everything, but the catch is I think you only get three years to show a profit.