What it ACTUALLY COSTS to be a "PROFESSIONAL" Fisherman
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
- In this video I tell you what it actually costs to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series, and what it costs to be a Professional Fisherman. It might shock you or it might not!
I have a few things for you. #1- congrats on completing a full season of what most of us here have only dreamed of doing. That's a huge accomplishment and I'm super proud of you. #2- thank you for putting this out there. There have always been things that need to be figured out in the tournament world. It's not just bass fishing. #3 things are the way you are. Stay strong. Keep yourself in the spotlight to make you valuable to the sponsors. Don't let this moment fade. A lot of eyes are on you right now. Keep their attention. You got this dude. We're rooting for you.
I am 59 years old and have bass fished from the time I was very young. I have had 4 boats in my life. The sport of bass fishing I’ve kept up with from day one. I have had a subscription to Bassmasters magazine and watched anything and everything I could on TV or online. I remember seeing you Jacob weighing in on the Bassmasters stage multiple times. I guess my point is I have kept up with the sport like people do NASCAR. That is how much I have loved the sport. When I was in my early 30s I considered fishing some of the opens but never did. Even though I never fished any of the opens I had heard enough over the years to know it was a gamble. The bottom line is I knew your percentage of anglers making it wasn’t good and so I never pulled the trigger. I worked right down the road from you Jacob at Bowater for 34 years. So you know my home lake is the same as yours. I assume your still living at home so you got that going for you. Just think if you had a house payment and property taxes. I think you putting out more content is going to help you. I did listen to that podcast when Rob contacted you. If anyone knows about content it’s definitely that guy. I’ll be watching you on the Elites and hope you hit a lick or two! Good luck!!!!
What’s crazy is how the winners of these events win $100,000. This has been the same for 20+ years.
Keep spreading the truth - funny how many other anglers are now opening up about these facts after you were the first brave person to speak the truth.
💯 Exactly. Crazy how many others immediately starting posting videos as soon as they saw him explode, but many still bash him!:(
Exactly what I have been commenting on every angler who has found the balls to speak out since jaccob broke the thing wide open.
Pro fishing is not a good career choice.
who else has? I want to watch their vids, too.
Agreed , very brave
This is what The Younger Generation needs to here.
Hear
Heir
ear
Beer
Deer
Jacob, it's great to see someone have the kahunas to speak about what the actual cost of being a pro is-just a few points I would like to help with. #1 Write down the points you want to speak about. You're saying a lot of the same thing over and over in your video #2. Get outside or somewhere you are comfortable talking to the camera; don't sit at your desk with a plain background. #3 Keep your head up. You earned the right to call yourself an Elite Pro!!!!
Heard Bradley Hallman state in a video one time that unless you got $100k to burn for all expenses on top of the 110% personal commitment necessary, then a man really doesn’t even need to consider fishing the Elites or BPT circuits.
Jacob, thank you for sharing this! Keep bringing it brother!! We appreciate your transparency!
I know someone that did this in the 80's. He was fairly successful, friendly and had a great personality. His last year fishing the Redman circuit he won two tournaments, top 10 in 6 of them and won the Redman regional that year. Coming from a small town and having to work full time when not fishing he really never had the chance to get involved in the industry like he needed to. In the end he qualified for the "big leagues" and couldn't find a single company that would help him out with even product. He just wasn't part of the "in crowd" and it made a difference. So really it's never been a lot different than it is now. Even the cost difference, considering the average pay for a worker, isn't as big as folks think. It's more about being in the "crowd" than anyone wants to admit.
Used to dream of becoming a professional as a youth. But now that you see how much it cost and how unrealistic your profits are, you really have to love this sport to get to where you wanna be. I’d love to see the cost back then compared to now cause it’s gotta be a huge difference in cost.
It’s great to see somebody finally talking about this. I’m sure that very few people understand the true cost of
Wonderful video.. no easy ride! College students and high schoolers need to see this. I might be a nerd but I would love to see a pie or bar graph to show the big picture. Good luck this year!
Got a new subscriber here, I’m looking forward to the financial breakdown for next years tournament schedule this is what I’ve been wondering for years. Good luck and I hope you make huge profits next year!
funny to see the spats between u and Milliken but you rock the Waterlands :)...like the videos man keep them coming
Truth is always good. Thanks for sharing. It is conceivable that tournament fishing may completely go away. The industry has stopped trying to fuel the dream that the sport is open to everyone and that it is possible for many people to attain it.
Keep Grinding Bro!!! You’ll do Good. Keep the Faith. 😎👍🏼🔥
Thanks for sharing what it cost to be a "Professional Fisherman". I'm sure a lot of people don't know and if they watched this video where very surprised. That's a lot of $$$$$ out of your pocket without any help. Keep your head up as you move forward!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!
John Crews had some good words for you as well. Keep pushing content, you’re blowing up.
Thank you for your transparency!!!!!
Thank you very much. I really appreciate all the good info. Keep it up!
Nice breakdown, it's amazing how fast it adds up!
I'm just gonna take my 300 bucks worth of stuff...the river is a 5 minute walk... smallies, walleye, pike, catfish... good enough for me!
Best of luck to you, I will enjoy following you!
Amen my dude!
Great info, nice to see the behind the scenes financial situation. Sadly, as long as anglers are standing in line begging to get into the top level of fishing, it's not going to change. Good video
It seems like you didn't see this reality coming. Surely you crunched the numbers before diving headfirst into "professional" bass fishing, right? You're on the right track getting into social media. Hopefully it can fill the income void so you can keep at it.
Great content. I’m a way way outsider looking in. Picked up a baitcaster 3 years ago, after my 5 year old asked if we could try fishing after exploring the banks of a local lake. Needless to say, fishing took hold. Once getting the hang of baitcaster clicked I’ve started to look for kayak clubs to get exposure to different lakes etc. and the expenses were higher than I expected … so seeing this content and the upcoming content I think paints reality. Is fishing something you want to do for fun or something you want to work hard at in all facets to reach local, regional, or national level.
Mr. Jacob. Thank you for your honesty! My first thoughts are to say ,maybe it's time to cut your losses and move on! Remember that when one door closes an other door opens!
I don't know if you are married, or have a family, but if you do,there's nothing more important, or as rewarding!
Whatever you decide down the road, remember to do what's best for you and,or your family!
Take care,and God Bless!
Tough way to make a living. I think that's why so many fish the opens and make their living with another full time job. It's a shame many Elite fishermen have to depend on social media for an income, but that's the world we live in. But you have the skills to win an Elite, which of course will boost your social media presence. I've got a lot of respect for the guys who even attempt the Elites after they qualify. So keep your head up, keep working hard and success will follow. Best of luck in the upcoming season. You'll win one.
Thank you for sharing this information
That’s a long way to breaking even, and longer to get ahead. Not to mention the risks of the road, not cashing checks in tourneys, unforeseen expenses related to home that have nothing to do with your profession. I personally would do something else if those were my financial metrics. I hope you have a better 2024 season. Your honesty / candor matters and your message should be heard by many who think that pot of gold is in a little green or brown fish.
Fantastic video!!! Dont see any of the other pros saying what they put out and what they get coming in…. Very hard to make a living with this sport
I think it is a "go broke fast" situation for anyone depending on just tournament winnings to actually make any real money. Everyone needs additional revenue streams. Sponsors "other job/s", family wealth, ect...Good Luck Jacob! You have a lot of people pulling for you.
I think you are on the right path shooting more videos. building a brand is what it is all about. Take Rob up on his offer
^^^^this^^^^
Appreciate your honesty and wish you the best. With that said, no one forced you to become or stay a professional fisherman. If it doesn’t make financial sense then stop. Most people don’t get to do their hobby for a living. Again wish you the best but it sounds like you already know what you need to do.
It’s about time someone actually tells the truth on this sport. Thanks man.
Diehard Anglers will help change the way things are done to offset those costs, and much more, and hopefully save the industry/sport. You also have to ask, what's time worth? Yes your living the dream but your time is work. Countless hours preparing, going to the dealer for maintenance etc regardless if you are a guide or not would be another persons expenses of time. Plz consider clocking the hours moving forward for everything, that would be VERY interesting! Factoring in just insurance, maintenance, and miscellaneous expenses I'm sure your loss would be over 25k. I enjoy the content, keep it coming and good luck this season.
I would start looking for a new career. No SSI being paid, no savings, no benefits. This is a rich man’s tax write off. Ridiculous, and seems like there is not much upside unless you are BASS. I wish you the best and appreciate your videos.
I was thinking about your time with Casteldine and Ish. Maybe I'll go watch that again.
Curious as to what music you're blasting when no one is around. Might surprise some people. Kinda shows the "mindset". What do you play on your boat ?
This drop, kinda makes people go what ? You didnt even mention that the 100 for first - isnt really a 100. Taxes on winnings. Sometimes both State and Fed.
New t shirt idea "It doesn't suck" oveer a bass image. You fishing with the a rig ? Thats where that came from. Been rattling around my brain since,
It shows that this isn't natural for you. Yet, here you are again. I love you have the guts to keep coming back.
Let 'em hate all they want. There are a bunch of us out here that don't
Would love to hear this conversation on a Dave Ramsey phone call.
😂 that would be fun to hear!
Jacob, its great you have the desire, the passion, the want to to be a professional fisherman. While you need all those things, you also have to live. Every one who works has " work expenses " yours are different than most. I personally could not do what you do and depend on it to make a living. The only thing I got out of this video is for the first 3 minutes you repeated the same point you were trying to make. You made your point, maybe you get money for filling space or get paid to do videos based on how many words you use, im not sure but I could not work at a job expecting that job to pay me a good wage and yet potentially loose money " my wage " at the end of the year. If your guide services are the only other income you have, you must be a real good guide and I'm not saying that sarcastically. Its good to do what you like, but a lot of people NOT ALL are on welfare, food stamps, they live off tax paying people to do what they want to do, drink beer, drugs, and make no contribution to society. Good luck Jacob.
I love fishing but it's always hard in the beginning. Hopefully it will get better soon
You should be calculating your driving expense by using the federal rate not the gas you put in the tank. This accounts for maintenance/ wear and tear.
keep going but use some type of board to show the figures. What are you doing about individual support from fans. Boat wrap etc
Do you have mortgage payments or expenses at home along with your fishing expenses??
Sad truth.. Social media is killing the value of professional anglers.
Yes, have a newer truck and boat to fish it. One Elite on his first year fished on barely any money, and older boat & truck. His rookie & only season, he got slammed with problems getting to and fishing lakes. Truck breakdowns, and his boat almost sank in a Lake Erie bay. Trolling motor and motor problems as well. The 2007 season.
Meanwhile a certain pro got in on family money....and only made 1 top 50, by an ounce.
Highly recommend you seek out a teax accountant and attorney. You can literally create an l l c and write everything off. Boat truck lures gas everything.
Are you able to write some of that off as business expenses for your taxes as well? Definitely get a white board for visuals. Thanks for putting it all out there that way people don’t get caught up chasing something that isn’t feasible in some people’s situation.
They are able to write off some expenses, but the IRS as you probably know will only let you have a net loss for so long before they deem it a hobby and not a profession
You can add in depreciation on your truck and boat. Sounds economically impossible without cash paying sponsors.
Thank you for sharing, very useful info. There are a lot of parallels to golf players and poker players. There used to be a time when playing professional golf was frowned upon as it was considered a “hobby” and not a worthwhile way to make a living. How times have changed…
Does BASS make any money from TV, magazines, subscriptions, etc? It sounds like it might be time to revisit the compensation structure for pro anglers. And the fact that you are on your own for insurance and for retirement makes it even worse.
Yes, you are technically self-employed, but you are also contributing to BASS popularity and revenue. And anglers should be compensated for this beyond just getting social media exposure…
Should be like other sports with teams, companies put up the money, their anglers fish, etc etc
The same could be said as is Racing take a look at Sprint Cars competing at the higher levels is tough.
It's actually worse than what you are saying. That $77,000 yearly cost is all after tax dollars. You have to make over $100k just to break even.
Something I have lived by, surround yourself with successful people and more likely than not you will be successful. Control what you can control and don’t stress factors that are out of your hands. If the guys making the most money are those that are consistently placing in the tournaments, thats what you have to do. What was that old saying……..10% of the guys catch 90% of the fish, become one of those 10% and the sponsors will reach out to you. Good Luck in your future endeavors whether that be fishing the Elites or some other profession.
What did you make guiding??
Do the younger pros go without health insurance?
What will u get bck on Taxes at year end and what job do u claim on w2 ??
You sir are the peoples champ!
It’s a rich man’s game for sure. I don’t know how ya do it to be honest. It’s almost like you’d have to have other irons in the fire other than fishing to make an income. Yes the sponsors are a huge help but ya have to be able to offer value to them for them to support you. Best of luck to ya this upcoming season
🙏🙌❤🎄merry Christmas 🎁 never give up
A REAL SPONSOR WILL PICK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE TELLING THE REAL DEAL OF AN UPCOMING YOUNG AND COLLEGE ANGLER WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO GET INTO. ONLY A FEW PROFESSIONALS HAVE TOLD THIS PART AND IM PROUD OF YOU SIR FOR STEPPING UP TO TELL THIS SIDE OF A PROFESSIONAL ANGLER LIFE. THANK YOU. YES, I CAP IT LOUD AND PROUD BECAUSE THEY TRYING TO BLACKBALL HIM AND ITS WRONG.
LOOKING FOR REAL SPONSORSHIP
It is a business. You have to treat it as such. Palaniuck stayed in the Tundra Suites. Swindle had a business. You'll never profit just bc you can catch fish. What are you selling? Why would a company want to work with you, and compensate you over another guy. Marty Robinson had a plumbing business. If you're hungry, you'll figure it out. If you think for a second someone is going to give you cash just for qualifying, you wouldn't be making these videos. Create a business that supports your passion. That brand is up to you. Be entertaining. More practice in front of the camera. Open up and develop a relationship with your viewers. I heard you repeat yourself 5-7 times in a video recently. I want to watch and support you, it's just difficult at the moment. The days of something for nothing are long gone. Build you sir. Work on what makes you Jacob Foutz Fishing. You get out of anything what you put into it, and yes you need a little luck sometimes too. Good luck sir. I'll be rooting for you.
Great video
All your normal expenses for day to day life at home, expenses for travel and expenses for entry fees. Then your winnings become profits, thats how its done. You're well on your way now, keep grinding and you'll get it.
A white board would really help this video, thank you for putting this out there
If your not bringing 50k a yr in profit your not making a living is the cold hard truth of the matter keep grinding brother Good Luck man!
What about license, launch fees, insurance, medical care. I’d say more
How do yall handle licenses for each event? Thx for transparency. Goodluck this year! Put GOD out front and hold on!
Definitely a gamble, this is why you’ll never see me throw an Ike fit and kick my lowrance in the water, after all… most of us that do fish… don’t have 100k + dangling on the end of our lines like the elites, keep ‘em coming Jacob
This is why a professional angler has to have enough sponsorship income rolling in to cover all expenses, and make a decent living. Most anglers are in that 75k-90k range. So a decent sponsorship portfolio would be around 140k per year. That would leave them with approximately 50-60k profit to live on outside of tournament weeks. Tournament winnings has to be considered as bonus money. I had Mark Menendez, and Tom Mann Jr tell me many years ago back in the 90’s when I was in High School that a successful Pro angler was a salesman first, angler 2nd. They both told me then that you can depend on winnings to live. Remember that most BASS Top 100, and Top 150’s had a cash payout plus Ranger Boat. Still total purse for the win wasn’t but 50k at most.
Just wondering if you ran the numbers before you chose this career? Sponsors aren't gonna give you money if they don't believe you will add value to them.
Documenting your year like Joe Thomas did with his book several years ago. There has to be sponsor money to get behind that concept
Dude keep track of everything next year. We wanna know!!! Really interesting. Ignore the negative comments. We wanna know every single expense/earned cash down to the dollar!!!!! Thanks dude!!!!
That’s the plan my man!
that is crazy, i think how how much i spend just fun fishing gets really expensive
Jacob, I'm super proud of you ! It takes a huge amount of work and sacrifice to be a pro fisherman. But this is just some food for thought ! If your the Pro why are you paying to FISH ? They are using you to push there products on your dime ! They should be paying for you to compete, and furnishing your boat, fuel, tow vehicle, baits, food, lodging, ect. Your not a pro if you settle for anything less than that. Your paying to fish a tournament, and your paying everything. That's not a pro fisherman ! Your paying to play. Not getting paid to fish ! If everyone would walk away it would change the whole system. And that's what it's going to take to fix this !
That would be AWESOME if all the anglers just walked away. It's all b.s. right now.
Good video! It is shocking what it costs to be an Elite pro. You have to be independently wealthy and/or have killer sponsors that will at least pay your entry fees and do a loner boat.
it is far easier to talk behind the camera, maybe next one, just take your boat out, set it up in a nice scenery and talk about the stuff while showing the boat :) I do it all the time, you can also do these videos while you are rigging tackle and stuff, it makes more interesting and easier on you
Do you live at home with your parents or rent? You didn’t mention normal adult living expenses in addition to your tournament travels.
Stop saying you don’t care …. Yes you do ! Much Love ! #GoCATCHeM
Buddy you need a white eraser board. Lol
😂
Yea. Definitely need some color or use tackle room to talk in. Will generate a lot of conversations
And......how much did you write off for tax purposes as a business expense with mileage etc etc
Glad you stepped up to the plate and bringing this out so we can see who don't like you shaking up the house of cards.
Those guys complaining about you that are part of the tour can just kiss your ass.
Those entries are ridiculous use to cost $22,000 total expenses everything to fish the Top 100
Keep up the vids bro!! You’re doing great! GET ON BOARD WITH ROB!!! His mind is built for handling the bass fishing business side of it all. He’s brilliant. You go!!
When I tried fishing on the pro level in late 70’s the prices was a little cheaper but you didn’t include insurance and the bills still come in at home. I couldn’t do it to be honest
& he didn't include the yearly price of property taxes for the boat & truck either
New sub good stuff
BASS and MLF make enough to pay their competitors at least somewhat of a salary. I find it hard to believe they can't manage to pay at least 45-50k a year.
Yeah, and now a lot of boat guys are going to kayaks becuz the entries are much cheaper, and less gas, and a lot less expenses, and bassmaster has a good kayak division. and if you fish enough of them, and have sponsers and social media, you can make a living. But the downside of that is, now kayaks are getting more high end, use expensive motors and batteries, and multiple fish finder screens for livescope and active target..... so its starting to get un-affordable for a lot of guys to have an even playing field when you looking at $10,000 to $15,000 kayak builds.
I think what has happened, and it may have always been that way, is that the tournaments have simply become a "pay to play" entitiy that allows fisherman to stay relevant so that they can earn real money through other outlets. I think that BASS as well as other leagues have kind of decided to just bleed what they can out of fisherman and if anglers fall off because of lack of money they feel like they can simply get someone to replace them due to the massive interest in tournament angling.
They seem to be at least trying to project the image that they care and want to show the reality of what it takes and kind of mentor anglers with the opens format but I think that they should be more transparent and perhaps develop a course that helps aspiring professional anglers see what needs to happen in order for them to survive.
I don't know if they could or would even want to eliminate or restrict from entry anglers who fail to meet a certain financial foundation, i.e. sponsor backings, social media earnings etc. before they can get onto the big tours that cost so much. I just feel like what you're sharing is what a lot of current and past anglers have went through and it doesn't seem right that these leagues are so nonchalant about seeing anglers fail so long as they can make their money from entry fees etc.
Good insight.....I figured gas for both truck and boat would have been ALOT more.....I think you said less than 2000 dollars for 9 tournaments???? I figured you would spend 2000 in gas for one New York tournament.
I spent over 7,000 on gas
Im surprised the tackle cost is so low for 9 tournaments.
Yes, you're correct. You must end the year in the BLACK. 1. You need personal money for non tournament personal life 2. You need operating capital for the business. No different than any other small business, which includes being self-employed like yourself... 🍺🎣
With maintenance and labor add another 10%
7:42 that’s the nature of the “business” I guess
Finally, a pro that wears glasses. Could you do a video on your polarized glasses game for us blind people?
I literally took my prescription to eye mart and bought some Nike frames and had them put some polarized lenses in them and it was about 380 dollars.
Yeah man! I can do that! I wear Waterland’s when I’m on the water!
At this stage ur at there’s is no way you should be going in a hole with expenses , this is messed up ; when I was young all I wanted was to become a PRO but back then all we had was magazines , and I could not figure out how to get there , I ate slept an sht bass fishing , but I never could figure out how to get there and I’m talking about in the mid 80s , I’ve been bass fishing since I was 8years old but listening to Randy Blaukat and now you I’m kind of glad it did not happen ,I guess everything happens for a reason
Income taxes?
People need to remember Jacob earned this shot but unlike the PGA where everyone makes 7 figures the bass professionals just aren’t there yet. I run a high school series and I point the kids and their parents to Jacob’s videos. The true reality needed to come out.
You're badly mistaken to think all on the pga make 7 figures.
Sad so many have no common sense and believe just because you’re labeled a professional, you’re financially lucrative. If all these cats got paid for all the stickers on their boats, we’d all be fishing with cane poles cause we couldn’t even afford a zebco on a uglystik
I 'll bet the next big thing will be electric powered bass boats. And I'll bet the cost will be more than the already high costs for conventional gas engines. I don't fish proffesionally and I passed on the power pole spot lock and livescope technology and took that money and got a fixer upper house near the lake. I should get into the rental business for all the tournament guys needing lodging!
that would be disappointing to have that much love an work that hard at something and not even break even
BRO… You have/had an Invaluable Chance to chase your dreams.
A lot of ppl want to do this for a living but can’t.
Greetings from the BIG SKY. It ain't cheep.
I’d like to see you interact with us in the comments. You don’t respond very often. And thanks for this video.
Hey man. Thanks for watching!