Hi there all. I’m working on a ethnographic study for my master’s work. I’ve chosen to study tournament bass fisherman in the upper midwest. It’s not about techniques or sponsorships but rather about motivation, identity, networking among fisherman, connection to the industry.
This is something I think will be fun to do. I could make it available to anyone wanting to read it once completed. If you would like to participate via e-mail or on this forum it will be anonymously. Please provide real answers from your own experience.
Here is a list of questions. If you would like to answer them all, copy and paste them into a Word document and e-mail them to me at [email protected]. If you would like to answer in the forum some or all of the questions, that’s cool too.
Thanks for any help.
1) How did you get started fishing in general? Who was most instrumental in getting you to love fishing?
2) When did you fish your first tournament? Was it for money? League? Club?
3) How many tournaments do you fish annually? Are they local? Statewide? Regional? National?
4) What do you love about tournament fishing?
5) What do you dislike about tournament fishing?j
6) Have you considered quitting tournament fishing? Why?
7) What are your annual tournament costs including entry fees, travel, lodging, boat gas, tackle, etc.?
8) What do you do for a living? Self-employed or not? How much work do you miss each year for tournament related fishing?
9) What are your goals in fishing tournaments (short term and long term)
10) What is your family status? How does your family feel about your tournament fishing?
11) What networks do you see among tournament fisherman?
12) Have you gotten any foothold in the fishing industry as a result of your tournament fishing (new fishing business, job in local shop, pro-staff/sponsorship, etc). How has that benefitted your tournament fishing?
13) What is your education level? If you have a degree, what is it in?
14) Do you feel that tournament fisherman are active in conservation? How?
15) How do you fish differently in a tournament vs. fishing for fun? What about driving your boat?
I know it’s a long bunch of questions, but it will be fun to look at the results in a week or so.
Thanks again. If you have any questions, e-mail me at [email protected]