Fishing Business Podcast

The Bassmaster Classic is a great place to see world class competition, see the latest fishing products and to network! A lot of business gets done at the Classic.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Shimano and G Loomis media event at the Bassmaster Classic and that gave me the opportunity to sit down with a couple of the Shimano pros who were fishing in the event.

Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson and Trevor McKinney were both grtacious enough to talk with me on the night before competition began. Both were great guys and I think you will like hearing from them.

The sound quality isn't great because we were in a room with lots of flat surfaces and a lively crowd of people talking, but the content was good so I thought you might not mind the poor audio.

I recently reconnected with a friend I hadn't talked to in years. His name is Rick Horrow and he's the Sports Business Analyst for SportsGrid, CNN/CNN International, and Fox Sports. He also hosts The Power of Sports on Fosx Sports and Beyond The Scoreboard
for Yahoo! Finance.

The reason Rick is called on to give his take on sports business is because he actually changed the landscape of the business of sports when he was the critical factor in bringing the Heat to Miami by putting together deals to get a new arena built as their home. Then he went on to create arena deals across the country and pioneered naming rights and corporate branding to help pay for them.

I met Rick when I was one of the producers on a show we used to produce for Fox called Sports Take. When I talked to Rick I thought.....what could I talk to him about that would help my friends and listeners learn something new?

Well, Rick sits right at the sweet spot were sports and business meet and after doing over 100 deals worth more than $20 billion, he knows a LOT about negotiating.

So thought Rick would be a great guy to share some insight on negotiating skills.
Whether you're trying to get a sponsorship deal or a new job in the industry or working with vendor....we all negotiate deals.

Heck I negotiate deals to get my dog to take her heart worm medicine!

Take a listen to this week's episode of The Fishing Business Podcast and let me know what you think.

I sure enjoyed this conversation with Lawrence at Blue Fish Canada. Lawrence is North America’s only blind conservationist and professional angler, outdoor writer, podcaster, blogger, film maker and TV host.

And he’s just a genuinely nice guy.

Have a listen!

There are anglers interested in taking their love of recreational fishing to the next level by working with the fishing industry. Whether it’s to secure the support and recognition as a tournament competitor, or to promote their favorite brands to other recreational anglers, the industry is looking for people that can give back to the sport in numerous ways. Thankfully, there are people like Angie Thompson who have transitioned from working directly in the fishing industry, to advising those who are looking to gain the industry’s support. Angie is my guest on The Blue fish Radio Show. We talk about the different ways anglers need to be able to give back to the sport if they are to gain the support of the fishing industry in return. Link below to hear more about Angie’s Fishing Business consulting service and podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/5725616/e334-the-fishing-business-and-angie-thom
Bassmaster
Fishing Business Podcast
Ontario BASS Nation
Keep Canada Fishing

Spring has been so busy around here but it is an exciting time in the fishing business.

There's so much change in the air. Things are moving fast and we all better be ready to adapt or we'll get left behind!

So it's appropriate that change is what we're talking about on the podcast this week too.

This podcast, in many ways, is all about making your dreams come true.

Achieving your dreams is hard work. But you can follow your dreams, no matter how crazy or far fetched they may seem. No matter what a turn in the road they represent and no matter who else believes in those dreams.

I know a lot of people who have reached for their dreams and many who have gotten there already. Funny thing is, none of them got there the easy way. Everyone I know did it through hard work.

And they also have been flexible and resilient. They have figured out how to ride the tide of change and to swim with it instead of against it.

This week’s guest is a good example of that. Sean Lawless has spent his career as a firefighter in Tulsa. 5 years ago, he and his wife were living in their dream home after having successfully raised their kids. They both thought they would spend their next years working in Tulsa and then retire there.

But a trip to Florida changed all that. Sean and his wife realized they wouldn't really be truly happy unless they lived by the coast. Sean fell in love with fishing and started thinking about how he could earn income in retirement and still spend time on the water.

What happened the next 5 years is a story that might inspire you. Sean figured out how to start a Youtube channel on saltwater fishing while living in the heartland in landlocked Oklahoma. The Lawless Tide has led him to many new friendships and opportunities. So much so that he is now planning to start a guide business in the Florida panhandle.

This is a good story of American ingenuity, grit and determination. Just my kind of tale.

Link in bio
xxo

You have to apply yourself each day to becoming a little better. By applying yourself to the task of becoming a little better each and every day over a period of time, you will become a lot better.

-Carol Dweck

Y'all are going to love this week's guests on the Fishing Business Podcast.

Mom & Pop businesses are symbolic of the American Dream and emblematic of the grit and gumption of the kind of people who built our country. But they may be an endangered species. Reseearch show that the number of small, independent, family owned businesses as been on a steady decline since 1978.

Resee & Blake Phillips started a business in their garage making a specilly modified jig that holds scent enhancers on the head of the jig itself which gives the fish a better target to strike and reduces the need to replace them as often. The idea came while the couple was fishing in a crappie tournament and Resee wondered why someone hadn't found a better way to do that.

Well Blake went home to his Dothan, Alabama garage and found a way.

Now Resee and others are working full time in the business that is growing every day.

This All American couple can teach us alot about hard work, following up on ideas, and believing in yourself. And they are just like your neighbors next door - just plain ole good, reliable, conscientious, people.

I always cheer for the underdog and in today's corporate environment it's challenging for the little guys to win. But I think Resee & Blake have what it takes to make this work and I bet you will think so too.

Give this a listen and share their story so more people hear about thier thriving Mom & Pop business started in their garage in south Alabama.

Link in bio for Podcast. Link in comments for Youtube.

My 3 Key Takeaways from Out conversation with Jake Rutledge from. Chill-N-Reel. Jake had the gumption to come up with a unique idea, go through the patent process, and b ring it to market. He's got that entrepreurial drive that most of us have at some level....but he had the courage to act on it.

I don't know about you, but I feel like I can leanr a lot from Jake!

How many times have you or someone you spend a lot of time with said "I've got this great idea for a product?" It seems like we all come up with ideas for how ot build a better mousetrap, but how many of us have the gumption to say....I'm doing this thing.

Today's guest on the Fishing Business Podcast is Jake Rutlege, a firefighter from Tulsa who come up with an idea for a product and did all the hard things to bring it to market.

He's sharing the process and journey with us today and it's a GREAT story. Even if you've never dreamed of doing anything like this, you will be rooting for Jake by the end of the episode and you'll probably do what I did, which was to go right out to his website to buy some!

Meet the Chill-N-Reel - a koozie you can fish with! For real y'all.

Jake Latendresse is one of the most creative and innovative storytellers I know. He knows how to tell a story verbally and visually. That's why he's such a pleasure to get into conversation with and this week on the Fishing Business Podcast he downloads tactical advice on how to get better at taking you own photos and video.

Listen at link in bio.

Or watch here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_JtiS1pqyU&t=1s

Here's my 3 Key Takeaways from our recent coversation with Tyler & Bill Jordan from Realtree.

This week's podcast guest is Jake Latendresse who is a videographer for the Bassmaster Elite Series and also a content creator in many different outdoors endeavors. He's a gifted storyteller with a deep understanding of how to frame a story visually.

He's also been in the boat with almost every star in the sport of bass fishing, so he knows what to do to be engaging and memorable. And he's sharing that knowledge with us today.

Whether you are in a position to be on television, in Youtube videos or on your own social media channels, if you want to get better at being on camera, Jake is a great person to learn from.

I am LOVING all of the emails and notes I'm getting! Let me know what you think after you watch or listen to this episode.

This is making my speakers go Boom Boom.

My friend Rodney Clawson is the guest on the Fishing Business Podcast this week. Rodney's a Nashville Songwriter and if you aren’t familiar with his name, I bet you are familiar with his songs. He's written some of the great songs we all know every word to BY HEART.

And heart comes into this conversation a lot.

Rodney wrote songs like "Drunk on You" by Luke Bryan and "Take a Little Ride" by Jason Aldean. He wrote “Where I Come From” recorded by Montgomery Gentry and “Get Your Shine On” by Florida Georgia Line.

In 2012, Rodney had THREE #1 SONGS on country radio, with Blake Shelton’s “Drink On It”, Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You” and Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride”. THREE NUMBER ONE SONGS!

He co-wrote the groundbreaking Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw duet, “Feel Like A Rockstar”, which won the 2012 CMA Vocal Event of the Year.

He's had a song named Country Song of the Year and has been named Nashville Songwriters Association International’s Songwriter of the Year and BMI Songwriter of the Year.

Rodney has had TWENTY SIX number ones in his career so far.

That's just super, over the top, hugely successful in an industry in which it is extremely hard to succeed.

Rodney's also a really good fisherman and he fishes tournaments a good bit. So he gets what it takes to be successful in a field where it seems like you could shoot to the top if you only got the right opportunity.

But it’s like Thomas Edison said…” Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Rodney understands how to work hard and how to never give up on himself. I want you to work hard and never give up on yourself. So listen to this one with an open heart. I bet you'll be inspired.

I love photoshoot days!

I love photoshoot days!

Courtney Nicolson of the Outdoor Channel is our guest this week on the Fishing Business Podcast. We talk about writing, good writing and how to land a job in the world of outdoors media.

Courtney shares her story about how she got the shot at working in outdoor television – a field where there aren’t a lot of jobs available. Her story is just very interesting… she’s been a video editor, a writer, and a social media manager for the network.

She knows how to tell a story and she’s generous in sharing her knowledge including some very tactical advice on how to get a job in an outdoor field.

Farm pond video shoot for a client today at a top secret hidey hole.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be the best in your field?

Well I can tell you a big part of what it takes is a commitment to excellence. And that's what we talk about on the Fishing Business Podcast this week as Dave Pfeiffer, President Shimano North America Fishing joins us for a wide ranging conversation about what it takes to get to where you want to go in your career.

Dave & I have been friends for decades...ever since the inception of The Spanish Fly with José Wejebe, which our production company produced. José understood excellence too and that's probably what made his television show on ESPN so memorable and beloved.

I think you will enjoy this conversation no matter what your dreams are. If you want to acheive them....take a cue from Shimano and commit to excellence.

Bill and Tyler Jordan are guests on the podcast today. They are the father/son duo that host RealTree Outdoors on the Outdoor Channel and who are the catalysts for success behind the iconic RealTree brand.

Bill founded RealTree in 1986 and led the company to become a powerhouse in the outdoors space. His camouflage patterns are a staple in the hunting world and the RealTree logo is an highly recognizable symbol of the outdoors lifestyle and passion.

The folks at RealTree are masters at business and marketing and have anchored their brand in content beginning with television programming and now with robust digital products in addition to many other smart marketing strategies. They understand at a very deep level how those of us who love the outdoors are usually more than just casual hobbyists.

Plus they are just GREAT storytellers. Anyone who loves the outdoors will enjoy listening to these gents talk about how they built thier business on family values, being good to people and creating a good product while always lookg for what's next.

WE ALL NEED TO DO THESE THINGS.

Talking to Tyler and Bill made me remember how proud I am to be a part of the outdoor business family. They are good humans.

Please listen and tell me what you think!
Link in bio to listen.
fishingbusinessschoool.com to watch!

🔥🔥🔥GIVEAWAY!!🔥🔥🔥
We're giving away this Lure Lock Pack. This week's podcast guest, John Skrabo, President of Lure Lock wants you to have this new product. This is a $119.99 retail value, so it's a fantastic opportunity.

To enter:
✅ Follow
✅ Follow
✅ Tag friends for additional entries
✅ If your friends you tag follow the Fishing Business Podcast, you get another entry for each one... so ask them to follow!

Winner will be chosen on Thursday, Feb 25 at 6pm.
Good luck!
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This week on the Fishing Business Podcast, we continue our conversation with John Skrabo, President of Lure Lock.

First I gotta make sure y'all know what Lure Lock is. They make these super cool tackle box systems that have a special high tech gel coating in the bottom of the boxes that your tackle sticks to but when you pull it up, there's no redisue or scent. It keeps all your stuff from rattling around in your boxes while you moving and that means tackle stays organzied and your hooks dont' get all tangled up. Very innovative.

This week John talks about how to create engaging content, what he looks for in athlete endorsements, and more about how to be a winner.

Share this with the people in your life that would like a career in the outdoors industry! John is dropping hot knowledge🔥🔥🔥

John Skrabo, president of is the guest this week on the Fishing Business Podcast. He’s a winner and we talk about what it takes to BE a winner.

Listen link on bio. YouTube link in comments.

Don’t wait until you reach your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take.

I've got a special treat for you this week. Our guest on the Fishing Business Podcast is Kay Donaldson, who runs the Alabama Bass Trail. Kay has a big personality, a true heart and a brain that's on overdrive all the time. The girl is smart and knows her way around the fishing world.

The Alabama Bass Trail is something special. It was created by the state to showcase the premier bass lakes in the state which in and of itself is unique - that the state would recognize how special it is to have such fine fishing and then actually fund such a big program to promote that fishing.

If you give this a listen, I can almost guarantee you will find tidbits that you can use to take your career to the next level.

If you're looking to up your game as an angler, developing your personal brand is the first step. So I've created a workbook to help you get started.

Download this free resource at
FishingBusinessSchool.com/brandworkbook

This week on the Fishing Business Podcast we continue our conversation with Tammy Foshee, President of Big Bite Baits and take a deeper dive into High School Fishing. We talk about how brands work with High School Fishing clubns and trails, including how they activate at events and how they engage with these young student anglers.

She also tells a really good story about how Big Bite Baits got through the Covid shutdown through hard work and humility.

Tammy has a lot of great ideas and insights and she generously shares them here. She's a rock star y'all.

Even if you're not connected to high school fishing at all...it's totally worth listening!

Tammy Foshee is president of Big Bite Baits and the guest on the podcast this week.

Big Bite Baits is 20 year old fishing brand from Eufaula, Alabama. Tammy has a brilliant business mind, is a smart marketer and has been very involved with high school fishing from its infancy.

Today on the podcast we get the chance to pick Tammy's brain about high school fishing and believe me, she knows her stuff y'all. She was the coach of a high school team for 5 years that saw 18 anglers go on to fish on college teams with many of those kids on scholarship. One of her kids even won the College Championship in 2019.

We talk about her background and how her career led her to Big Bite Baits, her experience as a high school coach, and the qualities a brand looks for in high school anglers and teams they work with.

If you're on a high school team, or if you're a coach or considering coaching a high school team, this is a great resource for you.

And if you're looking at high school in the rear view and wishing there had been programs like this when you were in school, this is still a good listen because what Tammy talks about here applies to any angler.

This week on the Fishing Business Podcast, we finish up our conversation with Luke Dunkin, of the Low Budget Live podcast.

Luke tells us how the podcast evolved for him, and how he started out with one goal and ended up with something really different, which is something all of us can learn from. We don't want to be so narrowly focused on something that we miss another opportunity.

We also talk about how he got his first sponsor, why it's important to show your vulnerable side and how you have to KNOW who you're talking to when you're pitching yourself whether it's to a sponsor or a podcaster.

Three good tires and a spare.

If you know that lyric you know who our guest is on the Fishing Business Podcast this week.

Luke Dunkin in the host of Low Budget Live a very popular bass fishing podcast and a Youtube Channel called Luke Dunkin's Traveling Circus. He's also a fine musician, regional sales manager for TH Marine and the new on-camera talent for the brand new National Professional Fishing League.

The guy's got skills y'all.

He's smart, funny, talented and a crazy good communicator.

This is just a plain ole interesting conversation. You won't regret investing your time with us this week I promise you.

If you spend any time at all in the outdoors or fishing, you’ve noticed the HUK Performance Fishing brand of apparel. The brand was launched in 2014 and in a very short period of time….like by the end of the fishing season in 2015….they were everywhere. It's safe to say they are fishing business experts. HUK's fishing prostaff was a who's who in the sport or professional fishing. Sponsorship and relationships were a huge part of the success of their launch.

The brand was created a couple of fishing business people who actually left Under Armour to create Marolina Outdoor the parent company of the Huk Performance Fishing brand, as well as Nomad Outdoor which is hunting apparel.

Today on the Fishing Business Podcast we’re lucky enough to get to spend some time with one of those founders of Huk Performance Fishing who also was the CEO – Ben Verner.

Ben grew Huk into a powerhouse and has now gone on to start a couple of other businesses including another apparel brand called Revolution, and also an agency called Critical Mass Brands, which helps bring outdoor products to market.