Tournament bass fishermen are tough critics. When it comes to the daily operations of a tournament trail, it seems many anglers feel they could do it better. Running a big circuit can’t be that difficult, they imagine, and offers endless self-employed freedom and perks.
But how true is that, really?
Is operating a bass circuit all that it’s cracked up to be, or is the grass greener to those of us without the obligations?
For some reason, Mark Lassagne decided to find out. You’ll recognize his name; Lassagne was a standout competitor in his own right on various trails circling the West Coast. A couple years ago, he recognized an opportunity to do things a better way – his own way – and potentially change the game for the better.
Purchasing the infrastructure from a struggling bass circuit, Lassagne immediately found himself in business. Plans were to expand the offerings and bring big-money regional fishing to western waters.
The best laid plans, they say, often go awry. But failure was unacceptable. Perhaps it’s his background as a U.S. Marine, but, upon meeting Lassagne, his no-nonsense work ethic is quickly noticeable. Defeat is not in his vocabulary.
I interviewed Lassagne upon the formation of his new Bass Angler Magazine (BAM) Tournament Trail, then again recently as he expanded to Pro-Am and Pro Tour Divisions, high school, college and kayak fishing. He appeared to have it all figured out.
Or did he?
“Going from competitor to tournament owner was an eye-opening experience,” Lassagne chuckled. His introduction got my attention. “People have no idea how much goes into each step.”
From there, Lassagne seemed to have an endless list of overlooked stressors. There were tourism bureaus, considerations and relationships with the host cities. Endless meetings. Scheduling was mind-boggling when considering how to attract anglers and not overlap other events.
The logistics, and the special infrastructure considerations necessary to house and fish hundreds of anglers at a time, had to be weighed. Boat ramps, parking, meeting spaces and more.
“Then there’s the rules; everyone forgets about the rules,” Lassagne added. Every single line in the entire set of rules needed to be carefully scrutinized before it was too late.
There were the media considerations, something Lassagne, publisher of Bass Angler Magazine, is a pro at, but still take tremendous time. Press releases, YouTube videos, email newsletters and material for a television network. Print and social had to be considered and frequently updated.
“You’ve got to have a way to get the results up immediately.” Lassagne was passionate about that one. “It’s not rocket science, people want to see their results.”
A website had to be built, from scratch, complete with sign-up forms and links. All of this and much more was necessary just to get off the ground, before a cast was even made.
Once the fishing began, there were endless duties in running a smooth event, and no dress rehearsal. Lassagne pointed out that each job had to be considered and scrutinized to determine if another body was really necessary. Remember, no one is out there helping for free.
Of course there’s compensation to be considered to workers, contractors vs. employees, taxes, 1099s and more. The moving pieces must often seem insurmountable.
Somehow, though, Lassagne seems to be keeping his cool. His secret surely lies in his diverse industry experience. Lassagne already knows what it takes to please a competitive angler because he is one. He understands the needs of the media because he’s a member. And he can sell the whole package because he’s been successfully doing it for years.
Lassagne is uniquely talented to pull this off.
Proof of concept can be observed by his list of customers – many of the big West Coast names are here. Ish Monroe, Greg Gutierrez and Ken Mah are competitors. Mah, according to Lassagne, was instrumental in providing guidance and networking in the organizing days of the BAM trails.
Still, the formation of the BAM Circuits has not been easy. “It’s an arduous task,” Lassagne added. “Much more work than I ever anticipated.”
What’s the payoff? Through all his effort, Mark Lassagne is building a resource for western anglers who, like himself, are tired of second-tier operations. His numbers have tripled year-to-year. Sponsors like Bass Boat Technologies, Tackle Warehouse and Chicken Ranch Casino have come on board, embracing what he’s doing.
Best are the praises of his peers: “Most anglers are very appreciative of the circuits and the media attention, and they tell me at every event.
“Sometimes I have those days when I just want to quit, really. Then a couple days go by, I get caught up, things get good, and everything turns around. It’s the anglers, they keep me going and let me know I’m on the right path.”
I’d say so. It seems the West Coast may finally have a circuit that will stick, offering numerous options, big purses and a place for every skill class.
Oorah, indeed.
(Joe Balog is the often-outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)
