Bassmasters Classic...

[BigMike]

I have to say, Ike is a little cocky and it's not for everyone, but I guarantee that Ike will have more sponsor money than Aaron Martens (who is probably one of the hottest and most consistant anglers on the tour over the last couple years). Martens won Angler of the Year this year and took 2nd for the last couple, not to mention 2nd in this year's Classic, yet as they mentioned on ESPN he spent $20K for tackle this year... what pro has to pay that much for tackle. Sure you'll be buying whatever works and may not be free from a sponsor. To me that says, it doesn't matter how good an angler you are but how much you "promote" yourself that will get you the sponsor $$. Sponsors want publicity and right prior to taking Angler of the Year he wasn't getting the publicity or notarity as others like Ike, even though he was a better angler...and I guarantee Ike is making a lot more $$ from sponsorships for his antics... Ike is a good angler and on top of that he carries a name that everyone knows (for good or bad). Sponsors don't pay for good anglers per say... they pay for publicity and to make money...

[delmuts]

wow! i missed that tid bit about arron!! i wonder how many of the pros go after sponsors strickly on their own or have an agent?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Del- I would say the majority of them do not have official agents. If you really think about it Del, how many of them are actually making a confortable living? I think about 25-40 of them are making a pretty good living, while the others are praying to cut a check at the next tounament so that they have enough money to fish the next one.

I will say that many of them, their wives act as their manager/agent. I have heard many of them talk about how when they are out fishing thier wife is at home on the phone to sponsors and such setting up seminars and promo atcivities.

[jackfish]

I wasn't to impressed by Ike's behavior either and here is the but. I have been around pro's who take themselves far to seriously. Man... It's fishing. I've seen pros boot their fishing gear overboard. (they probalby didn't have to buy the stuff so what do they care) I've seen an irrate pro smash a bundle of rods over a transom of his boat because he didn't bring in a bag as big as a couple of amateurs. (Who are tremendous sticks). All this happened out of the general public's view but not out of the view of other competitors. Not a good example to set. What happened to the fishing gentlemen? Right now we have fishing loudmouths, fishing badsports and fishing salesmen.

Bring back Grigsby, Dance, Rollin Martin, Virgil Ward, We need an Isaac Walton!!! I guess Ike's goofball behavior isn't so bad after all, the kids like him.

[NE angler]

Ike gets real old real quick when he is whooping and hollering over a 1 lb bass - whoopie! My 7 year old daughter has caught bigger. It was funny in the begining now it is irriating. Wheres Hank Parker when you need him?!

[river rat316]

I like Parker, as all the shows he's always selling his goods, but does it in a way that doesn't irritate a guy. I also love the ribbing he gets and dishes out when he's fishing, it cracks me up!

[BigMike]

Quote:

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Ike gets real old real quick when he is whooping and hollering over a 1 lb bass - whoopie! My 7 year old daughter has caught bigger.

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NE - You have to look at the fishery they were fishing. A 1 lb bass was like a 3 or 4lb bass on any other fishery. The biggest was under 3lbs for the entire touney. Not to mention total winning weight just shy of 13lbs and Ike took 5th with 11.5lbs - that's not bad at all - not to mention all the other guys were freaking out when they caught a "13 incher".

Ike is a good angler, 4 first place finishes (against the best in the world), 1 classic win, 2 2nd place, 2 3rd place and 22 top 10's. That is impressive, as impressive as most anglers on the B.A.S.S. Tour and career winnings of over $809K.

My point in my post above was that guys like the aaron martens of the tour, who have almost identical stats as Ike and for martens, he has been the most consistent angler over that last 2-3 years won't ever make as much sponsor money as Ike because he is too mellow. I agree, the good ole' boys are fun to watch and "normal", but the showboaters and "big names" are what make a sport... take football, baseball, hockey, etc... They have all risen to the top because of recognition... and those superstars of the sports are the ones that are going to make a lot more $$ from sponsorships than they do from winning/performance... just a fact. As a mentioned earlier, sponsors are paying people to get their name recognized and will pay more $$ to more recognizable figures. Ike being one of them...

[NE angler]

I agree with you that you really have to work to self promote yourself - some guys just want to fish and not have to deal with the business end. You get what you put into it. Not just this tourney but others as well he gets screaming and it has gotten to more of an act than it is true excitement over a great catch. He just needs to expand the repotoire and keep it fresh to keep people excited as well. Won't deny he is a good fisherman and not the only overly cocky guy on the circuit either.

[DomW]

Does the fact that Ike is a great self-promoter mean that we should like him?

I don't think so.

He seems to be all about himself. I think the spasms he has when he boats a fish are a bit artificial. He does it to get attention. Good for him and his sponsors, but I don't buy it and I'm a bit tired of it. Also, I was in Rogers, Arkansas for the FLW on Beaver Lake. I saw him in the Yamaha tent. A little kid came up to him for an autograph (he was at a table with a couple other guys doing autographs). He was all mopey and grabbed the kids hat, signed it, and handed it back to the youngster without saying a word to the polite young man. I'm not saying these guys should kiss up to us all the time. He was probably tired after fishing all day and not making the cut, but it just makes me think that all of his antics and hyperactivity are part of a nice acting job. If a camera was around, he probably wudda screamed "Wahoo for Arkansas! I love kids!"

He is certainly a great angler, so he should just focus on winning more tournaments. If he wants to draw attention to himself, maybe he should get his own show.

[Lunker]

Dom, you summed it up perfect.