I need to update my website on my Sponsor’s page, with links and all that, but I wanted to write a brief blog about all of the new sponsors that I have gotten at the end of the year. I say at the end, but more between the third (June) and fourth (September) tournaments, I seem to have acquired a number of new sponsors. To be fair, I am going to introduce my new sponsors in the order in which I acquired them.
First off is Hawg Wild Custom Baits @ www.HawgWildCustomBassBaits.com. Larry Rydach is responsible for the design and development of his “Larry the Lizard” bait, which I was first introduced to a couple of years ago. I got a sample pack at an Emory/Lake Fork Area Chamber of Commerce function, and immediately took them out and fished with them. As soon as I came back in, I went out and bought those lizards in every color and size available. They are really unique - a rattle lizard that comes in a six-inch and 10-inch size, and catch huge bass. He has also developed a frog that is new to the line, which also has rattles in the legs. These baits are unique and work great to catch bass.
Next came Steve’s Custom Props @ www.stevescustomprops.com. Steve is well-known in the Lake Fork area for his 17 years experience working on boat propellers. After he worked on my boat and adjusted my prop (including grinding it, smoothing it, and adjusting the height), my boat performance changed dramatically. I know get much better gas mileage, better hole shot (come up on plane faster), and my top speed went from about 60 mph to 74, and this was deep into the heat of summer. I also burn much less oil than I used to. I can’t say enough good things about what Steve can do for your boat performance, even without having to buy a new prop! If you need a new one, he’ll tell you, if you don’t, he’ll tune and adjust the one you have to give you optimal performance. It would be definitely worth anyone’s time and money to consult with him and see if he can improve your boat’s performance. With the cost of gas and oil today, consulting Steve will end up saving you money in the long run.
Next up is Dave of www.BayouTackle.com. Bayou Tackle has a line of products that are very unique and highly fishable (meaning you’ll catch lots of fish using his products). The first one I fell in love with was his special weighted hooks for wacky worm fishing. No more sticking those stupid nose weights in the worm, just hang your worm on the specially weighted, weed-guarded hooks and go fish, weedlessly! In addition, he has a special VooDoo In-Line Buzzer that’s terrific. He has tournament-fished for years, and his products aren’t the same-old ones that you see done and re-done again and again by tackle companies. I am proud to be representing his products and helping place them in more tackle stores. Until you can get them in stores, you can buy them on-line at his website.
Finally, for new Sponsors is Gamma fishing line. I was persuaded by Pam Martin-Wells and Steven Wells to try the line because of its excellent properties. I was sold on it after one use and strung it on all of my rods! With my disabilities, I can fish longer and easier using their special small-diameter, light-weight lines, with easier hook sets and better line strength and abrasion-resistance. That translates to me being able to enjoy fishing more without pain. That is one of the reasons Pam and Steven told me to try it, that it would make my fishing easier and more fun, and they were definitely right. If you go to www.Gammafishing.com and enter TETX in the discount code section, you can get a 15% discount on all line you buy there. I especially recommend that you read the recommended knots section for what type of knots you need to tie with this superior line. I can’t tell you enough how great both the Co-Polymer and Flourocarbon line are, I’ve never seen anything like it. I actually gave up using braided line in favor of their Flourocarbon, which is plenty strong to use for any fishing application, as long as you use the recommended knots.
Finally, I would like to thank my VERY SPECIAL Sponsors, who were with me for 2009 and will be continuing. Thank you to Lake Fork Marina and Motel. It’s a great place to stay and to shop, and the people are terrific to talk to if you just want to go into the marina and gab. Firetrol Fire Protection Systems, thank you so much for your support and your commitment for another year. If anyone has a business in need of fire alarms or fire suppression equipment, you couldn’t do better than to contact David Ellis at Firetrol www.firetrol.net. I appreciate all of my sponsors and will update my website ASAP to reflect the new ones and link their URLs to mine.
I will leave you with a final comment. I don’t take a discount from any company, or agree to represent them, until I have evaluated their products at full price. That is, I pay full price for whatever they are selling, and then only if I strongly believe in a company will I at sometime contact them and let them know how much I like their product. That means I am a loyal customer more than anything. It is only an additional benefit if I make some kind of financial arrangement to represent their company or its products - in truth, I would happily be a full-price loyal customer for any of my sponsors - I don’t do it for the discount, and I won’t take an up-front discount on anything, so that I am not biased or influenced in any way in the products that I use. Just to let you know. Some people do it differently, and I’m not saying that that’s wrong, I’m just clarifying that that’s not what I do.