So you want to be a sponsored kayak angler

Ever wonder what it takes to be a sponsored kayak angler (i.e. a pro-staffer)? 

I'm probably not the best person to address this lately, but as one of the first pro-staff members of NWKA I'll take a stab at it and hopefully some of the other sponsored members with chime in as well.

First of all, what is a sponsored kayak angler.   Well, my rule of thumb is that if you have a relationship with a kayaking and/or fishing company where they give you something (free tackle, special discounts, etc..) and you then feel obligated to put their logo or name in your forum profile, you have a sponsorship.

In no particular order, here are some things to consider if you want a sponsorship ..

1.) Win a tournament...   

Win the AOTY competition and you obviously have some fishing chops.  Win one of our "biggest single fish of the day" tournaments  like the ORC and well, you probably got lucky, but who cares, people now know who you are and that you caught a big fish when it counted.   Win a couple of those and well, maybe it's more than just luck.

2.) Social media presence..

Post lots of great reports, big fish pictures, and how to's here on NWKA.   If the report is really good, share it on other regional fishing forums like iFish or Piscatorial Pursuits.   

Start a blog, twitter feed, youtube channel, facebook page, etc.. and get a bunch of people to read/watch/follow you.  A good example of that has been Uplandsandpiper's Cascadia Big Fishing Year.

Grab a GoPro or three,  catch a bunch of big fish and edit yourself a sure fire viral kayak fishing video... good luck filming the next Kayak Octopus video.

3.) IRL (in real life) Networking ...
Start a local meetup for NWKA members in your area
Host some kayak fishing clinics a local paddle or tackle shop. 
Start a kayak fishing guide service. 
Attend paddle/fishing shows and introduce yourself to the kayak and/or fishing tackle company reps.

4.) Leverage your existing sponsorships to get others.
Once you have a sponsorship you can often leverage that to get other sponsorships as long as you don't have conflicts of interest.  For example, a kayak company sponsorship can be leveraged to get a fishing tackle company sponsorship.

As for me, I got into kayak fishing in the late 90's and then in 2004 I manged to be one of the first members of NCKA.  In the next 18 months I proceeded to win two major NCKA tournaments and another kayak fishing tournament run by the Recreational Fishing Aliance.  Basically, I got lucky.  I also helped develop the AOTY concept at NCKA and wrote all the code for the AOTY site.  When I moved to Portland in 2007, I already new Allen "polepole" from NCKA, he needed a moderator for NWKA and his sponsor, Ocean Kayak, needed a pro-staffer in Oregon.   

By the way, the "pro" in "pro-staff" does not, contrary to popular belief, stand for "professional".   Professional would imply that kayak fishing is what I do for a living, as my profession.  This isn't NASCAR, almost all of us maintain a day job.    Pro-staff is really short for "promotional staff".  Your job is to help promote your sponsor.   For me, this means I work the both at local paddle shows to promote Ocean Kayak and I also try to answer questions about Ocean Kayak on this forum and other social media outlets.   


If you have any questions let me know.

If you are a sponsored kayak angler and have any insights please feel free to add them.  How did you become a prostaff member?


Brian

Best way to get sponsored ... know somebody.  That's the way the world works.  I just happen to know of a few kayak companies looking for pro staff in the NW.  Think you have what it takes?  Post your kayak fishing resume and let's see!   

-Allen

All makes sense to me...

I would add in addition to having a social media presence...do your best to make that presence a positive one...we all know guys who have social media presences and are often more negative and critical than positive and supporting...

I bet most companies would prefer a decent angler who is positive and friendly to an excellent angler who is negative and a jerk...

Just my 2 cents. 

I managed to get to be on the JK prostaff mostly through luck...they were looking for more guys to be on their team in NorCal...I know a guy through NCKA who they asked to help find more members...he reached out to me and put me in touch with them.

I'm also an "ambassador" for Aqua Bound, and got hooked up with them through another NCKA member who was affiliated with them...

And yeah...for me "pro" definitely does not mean professional...I am at best an average angler/diver/paddler, but I do get out there quite a bit and have fun and try and share my stories and adventures with other people. 

The discounted prices on kayaks and paddles etc are nice, but for me the big payoff is if I can "leverage" my sponsorship to get donations for different events that I am involved in...like NCKA's DOTY/AOTY and Pay It Forward events...

And...the fact that I REALLY like using JK and Aqua Bound products makes it that much easier for me to "promote" them... 

I do my promotion mostly on NCKA (where I am a moderator of the diving section and the AOTY/DOTY comps), but also post on here, on a handful of diving/spearing forums, on Facebook, have a YouTube channel, and also post my reports/pics/vids on the JK website:

http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/author/jimrussell/

Cool topic Brian!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

ps...

Best way to get sponsored ... know somebody.  That's the way the world works.  I just happen to know of a few kayak companies looking for pro staff in the NW.  Think you have what it takes?  Post your kayak fishing resume and let's see!   

-Allen

What Allen said. 

I think the most important part is that you like the product. If you get so caught up in trying to get a sponsorship that you only half heartily endorse the product then it is not a good match.

I managed to get to be on the JK prostaff mostly through luck...they were looking for more guys to be on their team in NorCal...I know a guy through NCKA who they asked to help find more members...he reached out to me and put me in touch with them.

I'm also an "ambassador" for Aqua Bound, and got hooked up with them through another NCKA member who was affiliated with them...

Psstt ... there were some "back channel checks" on you.   

-Allen

I managed to get to be on the JK prostaff mostly through luck...they were looking for more guys to be on their team in NorCal...I know a guy through NCKA who they asked to help find more members...he reached out to me and put me in touch with them.

I'm also an "ambassador" for Aqua Bound, and got hooked up with them through another NCKA member who was affiliated with them...

Psstt ... there were some "back channel checks" on you.   

-Allen

LMAO!!!

I bet there were!!

Thanks for not telling them EVERYTHING about me!!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Now we need a "My Sponsors are Better than Your Sponsors" thread. 

Seriously though, everything that Brian said was spot on.  And, anybody who knows polepole is well connected indeed.

-Spot-

I contacted Tony from Lancer Jigs shortly after I won Roy's AOTD using nothing but Lancers. Lancer Jigs are not a big name but Tony was happy to have me on board to help with promoting. He sent me a super generous package of extra jigs with my second purchase. I tell everyone about my success with them, handing out jigs to power boats, while on the water isn't uncommon.
I run a local Facebook group call Coos Kayak Fishing, JustinSkyWest (Justin Wesson) helps run the page and he has been putting in work gathering sponsors to help support Team Coos Kayak Fishing. We have gained gear, as well as cash sponsorship from local businesses and some brand name companies. Eagle Claw has provided us with Wright and McGill rods and reels, we even got a huge package of Trokar hooks. We thank them by promoting their name or products as much as we can.

I have been interested in becoming a pro staffer, I'm just building my resume. I'm going to apply to the Hobie Kayak fishing team at the end of the year. I think that will be a great place to start in the pursuit of pro staffer-ness.

I think the most important part is that you like the product. If you get so caught up in trying to get a sponsorship that you only half heatedly endorse the product then it is not a good match.

Yeah, don't be "that guy" that takes whatever path to sponsorship they can.  You need to be able to look people in the eye and say, "this is the best product ever!" and mean it.

-Allen

I have been interested in becoming a pro staffer, I'm just building my resume. I'm going to apply to the Hobie Kayak fishing team at the end of the year. I think that will be a great place to start in the pursuit of pro staffer-ness.

One thing to keep in mind is regional distribution of existing pro-staff.  Live in a region that's a hole in the coverage and, well, you have a higher chance of becoming pro staff.

Another thing to keep in mind is that pro-staff is mostly driven by the regional sales people, mostly outside sales rep.  Go to kayak festivals and meet these people in person.  More than one person has gone down the path to sponsorship this way.  And often times these sales rep cover more than one line which opens up other channels.  Keep in mind you have to sell yourself.

One other channel is to get "in" with your local kayak shop.  Build that relationship, it often leads to other opportunities.

-Allen

All professional means is that you got paid for it - just ask the girls down at the county jail....

I supervise a lot of temporary employees, and they often tell me they're not professionals at whatever task they've been assigned to. I usually reply, "You're getting paid, so that makes you a professional. However, that does not necessarily mean you are an expert."

I should be sponsored by Aleve,  the anti inflamatory drug. "Strength to go all day".  They could paint that on my Trident.

I would like to chime in with a little look from the outside.  Brian, Allen and others in the Pro-Staff positions forget to add that they are very good at what they do? Most of them (I say most because I haven't met them all) are known within the community as leading examples of their area and focus.
The qualities that I see As most desirable by sponsors are enthusiasm for the sport and the willingness to share their knowledge. Most of us remember that teacher who was extremely knowledgeable but absolutely boring. Take that same teacher add enthusiasm for their subject and a little charisma and then you have something. As for my experiences fishing with the ones I know, they have all fallen within the latter.

My two and half  cents worth 

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