Funding The Fishing

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sam Swett of Covington, Louisiana, has fished on the B.A.S.S. professional bass circuit for 10 years. Avid fishermen in his home state know him as an expert knowledgeable bass angler.

Question: You fished the pro-am tournament. Too, instead of fishing through club tournaments and trying to build up your fishing knowledge, ability and reputation, you went straight to the national tournaments. Then you fished as an amateur. How long did you sit in the backs of the boats?
Answer: Actually I just fished one year. After the first year, Ranger Boats heard that I'd beaten nine pros out of the back of the boat and saw that I had bass-fishing potential. Ranger approached me and put me on their national team. Then B.A.S.S. invited me to fish on the organization's invitational side, which provided the first step to recognition as a national pro.

Question: Did Ranger pay your entry fee at that time?
Answer: No, Ranger provided me with product. I got a great discount on the boat, used the boat and later sold the boat and bought a new one.

Question: Where did you get the money to fish the tournament?
Answer: At the beginning, the money came from my own pocket. I had my own business building portable buildings for 10 years. I tried to save as much money as I could because I knew the expense involved with fishing the B.A.S.S. circuit.

Question: What does each year cost to fish on the B.A.S.S. circuit?
Answer: Presently I spend approximately $40,000 in cash per year fishing the circuit.

Question: How much do you figure you make, or have you made any money yet?
Answer: Right now, I break even. If I win any money on the circuit, basically I make a profit. So, I never count that because you never can count your tournament winnings. That's the gambling part of fishing.

Question: But you break even because of the sponsors you've got, right?
Answer: Yes.

Tomorrow: Serving The Sponsors