Tournament Economics
"Dollars & Cents Don't Make Sense"
by Joel Stokka
After reading an article in ProBass.com regarding angler economics
of fishing the FLW or B.A.S.S. I came to think about this idea on a
local basis as we travel and fish circuits in Minnesota. Here are a
few thoughts and reprints from that article.
When the
final standings were released it was shocking to see how many anglers in the top
50 actually lost money on the trail this year. With FLW instituting the "top 50
get 10,000.00" a lot of anglers thought they were destined for success as making
the top 50 only requires an angler to finish in the top 25% of the field and the
egos that drive the anglers would assure them of that small feat.
What looks
to be "good money" but a closer look at the "expense" to fish and follow a trail
such as this leaves anyone with a business mind realizing if not already in the
very near future all the anglers on these trails will have to have corporate
sponsors as spending $ 35,000.00 and a season of traveling and missing soccer
games, graduations, baby's first steps, etc. and then coming home off the trail
with $ 57,000.00 in total earnings does not equate to "making it big".
On a local
basis, when applying the same economics, it’s difficult to justify costs to
travel beyond your own backyard and local watering holes. Let’s look at a
recent tournament that was held on Lake Vermillion. Most Pro Angers had 3
overnight stays and with food, entry fee and the high cost of gas for both tow
the truck and boat I estimated (on the low side) $900. In looking at the
payout you would have had to finish in the top 5 to recoup your direct costs not
counting the indirect costs i.e. insurance, boat maintenance, tackle ect. If
you were looking at this as running a business and saw your Profit and Loss
Statement, you would say it’s a bad investment on you’re your resources and
money.
But the
question is why do we do this when the Return on Investment (ROI) percentages
are so low?
If you were
to keep track of all your expenses and compare them to the money earned from
tournaments, I think you’d be surprised at the money spent over a year. Most of
the Pro’s on the B.A.S.S. and FLW circuits fish to put food on their tables and
have “corporate sponsors” that alone make them a good living. Unlike the Pro’s,
most of us have jobs and then we try and squeeze into our budgets money to fish
tournaments. For most tournament fisherman, it’s a hobby or sport and yes,
while a few local competitors do make some money, most don’t. The ones that are
consistently successful have also invested heavily in time and money over
several years and frankly… have paid their dues and are now seeing their return
on their investment.
It’s an
individual’s choice to weigh the costs of one’s hobby or sport. I can’t speak
for all anglers but if I looked at the cost of fishing as a business or a way to
generate income, my business mind would tell me it’s a losing business venture.
However, the benefits I receive are intangible and impossible to quantify with
dollars. The combination of nervous anticipation and a rush of adrenaline at
blast-off, the challenge of the hunt, the years of fellowship with other
tournament anglers and being out in nature all figure into my return on
investment of tournament fishing. The addition of the element of competition to
the normal challenges faced by an angler also adds to and enhances the overall
experience. I equate this to most other competitive sports - and after all,
fishing is a sport, so why shouldn't it be competitive? And as much fun as they
are to play, they can be even more fun when there is actually something on the
line. As with anything, I suppose some people can take things too seriously, but
those folks are in the minority among the tournament ranks.
Sure, we all
go out every time with the attitude of taking first place. But when we come
back to the docks and we gained enjoyment from the event and learned something
in the process…we’re all winners!
Have a great
year!
Joel Stokka
classicbass.com Pro Staff
Excel Bass Tournament Director
Pro Staff for:
Snagproof
Minnkota
Humminbird
Uncle Josh
Culprit
Nemire Lures
Sizmic Lures
