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Week 6 - Marty Stone
Stay, Don't Go 2/4/2005
While most BassFans know Marty Stone as the reserved bass rat - at least when compared to his compatriots Gerald Swindle and Skeet Reese - he's certainly tuned into what it takes to make sponsors happy. Last week, after he missed the cut at the first Bassmaster Tour event of the season at Lake Toho in Florida, a lot of the field packed up and moved on the Leesburg for the Harris Chain event. Not Stone. He stuck around and worked sponsor booths on Saturday. He did this without pay, but said things like that pay off in the long run.
Workin' Hard for the Money
Like many pro anglers, Stone knows that pro fishing isn't just about winning tournaments. There's plenty of give-and-take, along with effort on behalf of the angler, to attract and keep sponsors. "It ain't rocket science," he said. "I mean, so many anglers pass up the opportunity to be available for sponsors. Last week I stayed at Toho after I missed the cut. Most of the other anglers left, but I worked the tents for Citgo, Purolator and Mercury. I don't get paid extra for this, but it makes me visible to potential sponsors.
"With BASS moving to Orlando and losing about 60% of its staff, there will be plenty of new people who don't know who we are. If these people don't know who you are and a new sponsor, like Cialis, asks about anglers to sponsor and they don't know you, well, you won't be someone they recommend. "It's really all about building relationships."
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Photo:
Cox Marketing Group
Marty Stone missed the cut at Toho, but stuck around to help his sponsors. |
A Different Harris
Stone won the Bassmaster event on the Harris Chain last season. This year he didn't have a great practice, and said his chances aren't very good to make the cut. "My fish have been somewhat uncooperative through practice and on the first day. Unlike last year, there are a lot of bass on the beds in the canals. I just stayed away from them. I did not want to get into the crowd." He said the spinnerbait bite - the bite he used to win last year - was "non-existent." His primary lure on day 1 was a soft-plastic bait.
Hydrilla Sparse
The state of Florida is well known for spraying chemicals on hydrilla to reduce weed growth. Although many pleasure boaters enjoy this, anglers find it detrimental to the fish population. "They sprayed the fire out of the Harris Chain," Stone said. "The Kissimmee grass is still here, but if the folks around here see one piece of h
ydrilla, they kill it. I know the biologists know more than I do, but it sure seems like when they kill the hydrilla, they kill the bass fishing too."
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Heading Home
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After 3 weeks away from his family, Stone's excited to get home. "I'm really excited about getting home after this event is over and hanging out with my family," he said. "I've been on the road for 3 weeks and the break will be good."
Notable
> Stone planned to use a variety of Lucky Craft crankbaits at the Harris Chain, and possibly one of the Pointer jerkbaits, but water clarity put a stop to that approach. "The conditions didn't warrant using a crankbait," he said. "Plus, the water is a lot dirtier than in the past. The water clarity has not been right to throw a jerkbait."