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Clausen Credible

Category: article

 Sep 27th, 2012 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Sep 27th, 2012 at 12:00 AM

Anyone who follows the world of pro bass fishing knows there is no true off-season for the anglers who make their living solely from the fishing industry. However, when a pro like former Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Open Champion Luke Clausen stops fishing for the season, his daily routine changes from the tour grind.

Clausen recently competed in an FLW Open event on Wheeler Lake and then spent some time at Larry Nixon’s farm. Of course, his pro commitments are always priority, but time off is on his mind.

“It was great spending some time with Larry Nixon on his farm,” said Clausen. “I am now heading to Ranger Boats to get my boat refurbished to deliver to a person who bought it from me. Then I am off to Springfield, Missouri to talk to a potential sponsor.

“My off season is sometimes even busier than my tour season. “I live in Spokane, Washington, so heading home after the Wheeler event wasn’t an option for me. That’s due in part to the Ranger and Springfield stuff, but also since I will be heading to Texas to fish the Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Lake Conroe this week.”

Clausen does make sure he takes some real time off as well to pursue his hobby, hunting.

“When I was riding around with Larry Nixon on his farm, I was getting pretty excited about hunting season,” said Clausen. “I can’t wait to get into a deer stand. I hunt all over Washington. I do a lot of bird hunting. I have a new pump I can’t wait to use.

“I’m also planning on a deer hunting trip in Illinois and to go duck hunting in Arkansas with Larry Nixon.”

After his hunting hunger is satisfied, Clausen focuses on his business partnerships.

“Like most full-time pros, my off season is actually when I get the most time to do promotional appearances and to work with existing sponsors or on new opportunities,” said Clausen. “Over the years I have truly come to appreciate working with some of my sponsors over the long term. Having longevity with a sponsor is important for the credibility of a pro and for the company.

“When I was younger in the sport, I used to think cash was king, but now I realize it’s not always the most important thing. Often the quick buck doesn’t provide longevity and can often destroy your credibility. I need to really like a product and believe in it to want to be associated with it professionally. That creates the long-term relationship.

“It’s tough to promote anything unless you truly believe in it. It comes out in how you promote it and really kills your credibility with the fans and other potential and current sponsors.”

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