Bill Dance Outdoors Blog

I can’t tell you just how honored it makes me feel to get the many requests I do for fishing trips with me, usually to give to loved ones for birthdays,  anniversary gifts, etc.  And if it were possible, trust me, I’d dearly love to be able to go fishing with every one who requests it!

Of course that’s not possible, because we do reach a vast number of viewers with our TV program, and receive many, many such requests. I wouldn’t even have time for work (not a bad idea there though, huh!)

Seriously, because I couldn’t have the pleasure of going with everyone who honored me with such a request, several years ago, I decided to donate what spare time I could muster in this regard exclusively to trips for disabled children’s organizations such as the “Make a Wish Foundation.” 

Since then, I’ve had the good fortune of being able to spend some time fishing with a number of these cherished and loving children. I hope you understand.

Almost every week, I get mail or emails asking something like   “How do I get started in becoming a professional fisherman and market myself for sponsorship?”  

Well, that would take an entire book to answer, but here are some points I think are important:  

1. Times were different back when I started, and because  bass fishing was my goal, I made it a point to learn everything I could  about it from every source I could….books, tv,  & other fishermen. Read,  read, read, watch, watch , watch… and listen listen, listen! That’s what I  did. 

It’s also extremely important to: 

2. Practice every chance you get. Even when it seems  like what you’re doing isn’t paying off, do it some more. Then change  methods and keep on fishing. You can never get enough practice, regardless  of age or how long you’ve done it. 
3. This one is more important today than when I started  — Recognize that there is a lot of competition in this sport today and it  continues to grow! As with most endeavors, with rare exception, only the  best of the best at anything make it to the top, and this is NEVER by  accident. Lots of HARD WORK is required, so roll up your sleeves and get to
    it.
4. To earn and impress sponsors (and, of course, that’s  who pays the bills for all professional fishermen) you’ve got to get their  full attention. You can do this ONLY by beating out the competition and  continuously making a name for yourself locally and then expanding on a  larger scale. That word “continuously” is the key. You’ve got to come  through again and again and again!

   I was fortunate to have won several major bass  tournaments in a fairly short period, and this got the attention of some of  the larger, potential sponsors. Today, the competition for advertising and  support money is 50 times greater than when I started, so you’ll have to work even harder!

5. Finally, you’ve got to think positive all the time and believe in  yourself. Watch what the other professionals are doing, try some of their techniques, but be innovative -  invent some unique ones of your own!

A couple of weeks ago while doing some electro-shocking research here in West Tennessee for our new Bill Dance Signature Lakes program, we shocked up and netted what has to be the prettiest bass I’ve ever seen. It’s shape and size were prefect and it didn’t have a single blemish on it. On a set of certified scales, it registered a whopping 14 lbs, 2 ounces!  This was just 6 ounces shy of the Tennessee state record! A real beauty for sure, and of course, it was immediately tagged and released.