St. Croix Sponsorship Activity Report

Professional Fishing Guide: Louie Bartenfield

---April, 2012---

Executive Summary -

First and foremost, I want to make sponsors and potential sponsors aware of my specialty: giant spotted bass. There aren't many places in the country where you can catch big spots, and pound-for-pound, the spotted bass is hard to beat. They are an INCREDIBLE game fish, and here in Georgia, we have one of the best spot lakes in the country: Carter's Lake. Carter's is the native home of the largest variety of spotted bass: the Coosa Spotted Bass (Aka: Alabama Spot). And I am the only full-time guide on Carter's. I have clients travel from all over the US to come fish with me for a chance at one of these awesome fish.

I do everything I can to leverage these spectacular fish as part of my business, and I do everything I can to take care of sponsors that take care of me. This is why Humminbird added me to their professional guide staff---an honor few guides hold. This is why Joe Thomas has brought his show to me twice in the last 12 months. Kim Stricker has called on me twice in the last 8 months to do shows with him, and I've had numerous other smaller media opportunities to my credit in the last 24 months. I'm not just a trophy spot guide, I'm a professional that understands the business of recreational fishing, and I'd like to work for you.

I have recently learned of St. Croix's "media points program" and am compiling this activity report in hopes of getting credit for my promotional activity over the last few years.

I believe in St.Crox the brand, St.Croix the company, and St.Croix the people. They are hands down some of the best rods I have ever used, and I would prefer them, and reccomend them to my clients regardless of what promotional arrangements are made.

NOTE: Only shown here is activity DIRECTLY related to the promotion of St. Croix. For a more complete review of my activity, please refer to my bio page by clicking here.

Guide Service Activity -

As I understand it, guided fishing trips may not be eligible for "media points", but I see more conversions through my guide activity than anything else, so I'd like to take a moment report on what I do for your brand.

Roughly 70% of the rods I keep on my boat are St.Croix brand rods. At certain times of the year, such as late summer when drop-shot techniques prevail, that number is higher. I put these rods in the hands of my customers, teach them principles of fishing, and give them confidence that the gear they are holding is the gear they need to catch fish. There is no doubt in my mind that these customers are going out and buying St.Croix rods. Regional distributor, Craig Miller of Dugout Tackle, Inc. tells me that he sells at least 100 rods based on my referrals alone.

Big Georgia Spots Internet Magazine -

This is a web site that I co-founded with former Humminbird Product Manager, Adam Broughton. Adam and I regularly assemble articles on a wide variety of fishing topics: tips/techniques, product reviews, news, and all kinds of entertaining fishing topics. The site was founded in April of 2011, and has grown tremendously in size and popularity over the las 12 months. 

Adam and I are very proud of the web site, and hope that you visit it with respect to my visbility and what I can do for my sponsors. You can visit the site at:

http://www.biggeorgiaspots.com

Fishing Reports -

I often mention recommended gear in my fishing reports to help people understand the right gear for catching fish. St. Croix rods have been highlighted in several of my reports over the last few years. Although I can't recall all instances, here are some examples.

Georgia Outdoor News discussion forum - I post fishing reports to http://forum.gon.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7 on a weekly basis. At some times of the year, daily. In many of these reports, you can find endorsements for St. Croix rods.

Carters Lake Guide Service web site - You can also find fishing reports here on my own web site. Although I honestly don't recall specifically mentioning St. Croix, I can certainly do so in the future. These reports get a great deal of views and it would be a good opportunity for brand-visibility.

http://carterslakeguideservice.com/index.php/fishing-reports

Digital Media: Direct Sponsor Recognition -

CartersLakeGuideService.com- St. Croix has been featured as one of my sponsors on my web site for over four years. This web site was updated in late 2011. To see the sponsor page, please click the link below:

http://carterslakeguideservice.com/index.php/sponsors

The St. Croix Logo has been included in my web site's flash rotation seen on the home page. The banner appears as follows (reduced to 600 pixels wide):

The banner flash rotation can be seen on the home page of my web site. Click here to go there.

I have St. Croix listed as a sponsor on my biography page for Big Georgia Spots. You can view the page by clicking here.

Digital Media: Direct Links -

I have a special banner in the flash rotation on my home page. This artwork is original and specifically made for my web site and St. Croix. Clicking on the banner takes visitors to www.stcroixrods.com. I am not receiving any compensation for web traffic via pay-per-click or impressions --I have included it merely as a "thanks" to St. Croix for discounting rods in support of my guide service. 

The banner appears as follows in 1000 pixels wide (shown here 600 pixels wide):

 NOTE: hover your mouse pointer over the banner to stop the rotation.

Television Appearances -

Stihl's Reel in the Outdoors with Joe Thomas - Outdoor Channel

In 2011, I guest-hosted two episodes of Stihl's Reel in the Outdoors with host Joe Thomas. The firs episode was shot in April of 2011 and has aired on the Outdoor channel several times. During that episode, I used St. Croix Avid rods for spinnerbait fishing in close cover.

Here is a shot of me with Joe Thomas the day of the shoot. Pictured left to right: my co-guide Bill Payne, Producer Jim Cramer, Host Joe Thomas, and me, Louie Bartenfield. Note I'm the guy wearing the St. Croix sweatshirt :')

The 2nd episode shot in 2011 was in December, and featured float-n-fly fishing techniques for large spotted bass. I used a 8' medium action St. Croix Avid rod to demonstrate the technique. Joe Thomas, and producer Jim Cramer commented that the episode was the best float-n-fly footage they had ever captured. A review of the shooting can be seen on BGS here:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/news/1-latest-news/171-joe-thomas-revisited.html

Although Stihl's Reel in the Outdoors originally airs on Friday Night Fishing on the Outdoor Channel, each episode will air at various times throughout the year. I am still booking trips off the first episode. The 2nd episode we filmed in December is scheduled to air for the first time on Friday, June 1st, 2012 ---don't miss it!

Hook-N-Look TV with Kim Stricker - Outdoor Channel

In the fall 2011, I met up with the Hook-n-Look crew on Parksville Lake in southern Tennessee. This is a lake on which I regularly guide, and provided support and instruction for the crew to help make the episode successful. Although my air time was limited, I am scheduled for an exclusive show as co-host with Kim Stricker and the Hook-n-Look crew in May 2012. It is very rare that Kim selects a non-sponsor of his show as a guest-host, and I am very honored to have been selected.  This shoot will be filmed at Carters Lake to show-case our giant Spotted Bass in just 2 more weeks!

Here is a shot of me with the Hook-n-Look crew. Pictured left to right, crewman Danny Stricker, me Louie Bartenfield, host Kim Stricker. Note I'm the guy wearing a black St. Croix polo shirt:

Printed Media - 

Georgia Outdoor News (GON) - I write a monthly fishing report for Georgia Outdoor News. In these reports, I often cite St. Croix as perferred gear for various fishing techniques. Although going back and citing each reference would be prohibitive, I would gladly report any future reference to St. Croix upon request.

GON Feature Article, December 2010 - In a GON feature article written by Senior writer/editor Ronnie Garrison, I was featured as an authority on spotted bass and early winter techniques. The article was titled "Christmas at Carter's Lake" I was quoted for describing St. Croix as a preferred rod.

GON Feature Article, 2011 - In a 2011 feature article also written by Senior writer/editor Ronnie Garrison, I was featured as an authority on float-n-fly techniques, and again quoted for describing St. Croix as preferred gear for the technique. The article was titled "Float N Fly Spots"

Chattanoogan, The - I write monthly fishing reports for writer/editor Richard Simms of the Chattanoogan. In these reports, I often mention St. Croix as preferred gear. Although going back and citing each reference would be prohibitive, I would gladly report any future reference to St. Croix upon request.

NBC Outdoors in Chattanooga - I write monthly fishing reports for outdoors writer/editor Chris Coleman. Same as above, I often mention St. Croix as preferred gear for various fishing techniques. Although going back and citing each reference would be prohibitive, I would gladly report any future reference to St. Croix upon request.

Radio Shows -

Pro Anlger Radio.com - I am a regular guest and interviewee on Pro Anlger Radio, an internet radio program with host Matt Driver.  I often cite St. Croix on the show as the preferred rod that I use for specific fishing techniques.

Georgia Outdoors Radio - I am also a regular guest on Georgia Outdoors Radio with host Brad Myers. Again, I have refered to St. Croix rods when talking about recommended gear.

Seminars/Public Appearances -

March 2012 - Sonar Seminar, Pro Lures Dalton, GA: I gave a seminar on sonar and marine electronics, and featured St. Croix as a rod that I prefer for vertical fishing techniques. During the seminar, I showed a video of vertical fishing techniques that make heavy use of sonar. In that video, I land a 22lb striper on a medium action St. Croix Avid spinning rod.

A shortened version of the video can be see on YouTube here:

January, 2012 - Northwest Georgia Expo: I held a drawing for a St. Croix rod as part of promotional activity for my guide service and the St. Croix brand. Promotional banners were printed and distributed and appeared as follows:

Ariticles, Product Reviews, and Other Visibility -

August 2011 - My web partner Adam Broughton and I reviewed a new line of fishing worms from Big Bite Baits, called the Shaking Squirrel. In the article, we specifically call out A St. Croix rod as recommended gear for fishing finesse worms such as the Shaking Squirrel. This article has been one of the most-read articles on BGS that I have co-authored.

Here is a link to the article:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/lures/78-general-lure-articles/145-all-new-from-big-bite-the-shaking-squirrel-finesse-worm.html

NOTE: as part of BGS, we are VERY interested in bringing new product reviews to our readers, similar to this Big Bite article, and would like to get a "first look" and any new rods being released from St. Croix. Please contact me about any potential product reviews.

July 2011 - In an article I co-authored on BGS about the top 5 lures for night fishing, we recommended St. Croix as preferred gear:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/lures/78-general-lure-articles/139-top-five-lures-for-night-fishing.html

June 2011 - In a BGS article on the Cotton Cordell Redfin, we recommended St. Croix Legend Elite rods. You can review the article here:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/lures/the-red-fin.html

May 2011 - BGS reviewed the new lake record hybrid striper, caught by one of my clients while fishing with me in May of 2011. The rod used to catch the record fish was a St. Croix, and we give credit to St.Croix in the article. This has been one of our most-viewed articles on BGS. You can see the article here:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/news/1-latest-news/116-new-record.html

April 2011 - In a BGS article on the fish head spin lure, we recommended St. Croix as the preferred fishing rod. You can review the article here:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/lures/the-fish-head-spin.html

April 2011 - In a BGS article on jerkbaits, we recommend St. Croix rods as preferred gear. You can review the article here:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/lures/jerkbaits-101.html

March 2011 - In a BGS article on night fishing for stiper, we recommend St. Croix as preferred gear. You can review the article here:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/the-fishes/striper-try-the-night-bite.html

St. Croix has been mentioned in serveral instances of the "Pig of the Week" ---a weekly feature of viewer-submitted catches on BGS. Here are some that specifically mention St. Croix:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/otherstuff/pig-of-the-week-archive/169-pig-of-the-wek-12-05-11.html

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/otherstuff/pig-of-the-week-archive/156-pig-of-the-week-10-30-11.html

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/otherstuff/pig-of-the-week-archive/155-pig-of-the-week-10-16-11.html

Be sure to read this one (link above)---great story. Picture below:

http://biggeorgiaspots.com/otherstuff/pig-of-the-week-archive/133-pig-of-the-week-71011.html

Here is an older video I did as a fishing report. I feature four St. Croix rods that I use in the spring for catching big spots: