There's no shortage of anglers looking to get sponsored, but there are not many companies out there putting pro-staff on and many are reducing staff and not renewing contracts. At least that is the way it is with my sponsors. As a matter of fact, I might have lost one of my oldest sponsors but it was time. CastAway makes a fine rod, they have been around a loooong time, actually some of the most durable rods I know of. My partner in the guide service came back to CastAway from Falcon, there is another guide on the lake sponsored by them and he actually runs the tackle shop at Anna Point so I know they have got great coverage in my part of the country. They have also gone through many personnel changes and were at last check, requiring quarterly reports, etc. I never had to do the reports in the past but would send periodic updates. I use another sponsors rods most of the time anyway, Bass Pro Shops takes very good care of me in the Rod and Reel area so in order to keep CastAway happy I was going to have to do double duty with JLM/BPS rods. I do not double up on sponsors meaning no double dipping on products. Bass Pro sells it all but I don't consider that a conflict since they sell my other sponsors products as well. They don't carry KeelShield anymore (they carry KeelGuard and it is inferior) but do carry some of their other products. My sponsor list is:
Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits
Bass Pro Shops
KeelShield
SPRO
Gamakatsu
CastAway Graphite Rods
Sturgeon Creek Marina
GUEST Chargers
Radley Chevrolet
TOXIC
