SNAGMAN

I'd like to have a dollar for everytime over the years I have heard the phrase " Man I'd like to do what you do and how did you become a field tester?" Guys & Gals seriously it is not that easy and here is why. Sherry-Lynne and I call ourselves Independent Field Testers, we are not in search of free baits nor do we accept money in advance or after field testing products. Independent Field Testing is not a "Get Rich Scheme" nor a venue to obtain "FREEBIES". Why no monetary exchange for services rendered....Accepting pay opens up an opportunity for the lure maker or equipment manufacturer to dictate and expect nothing but good to excellent product reporting outcomes (ie) assuming they are buying a good report paid in full. I wanted to be known as something more than just a product prostitute. Our mission statement is written: We promise and stand behind our reporting that we will use assigned products up to and beyond manufacturers/makers standards. In the beginning I had been approached by a Mid-West States newly formed company asking if I would look over their product and test them on different bodies of waters while out on the tournament trail. I was instructed that I would only send reports of win-place-show positively no bad reports and that since this product was new to the fishing scene I was to keep it hush-hush. Upon recieving the product they were not a new concept and looked to be possible knock-offs or production seconds. I did some research and made several phone calls and my concerns were confirmed the products were in fact production seconds and when talking with the owner of the new company about my findings, I was told that my job was to test the product not question it and that anglers didn't need to know the origins of the product. My convictions and beliefs about field testing was being put to the test and I knew I could not be a part of deciet to my fellow anglers or myself just to allow gains and profits of one individual. I heard within three months after refusing to test the products and sending them back, the company went belly up. I was determined to become an Independent Field Tester that would be known for honesty and candor and truthfulness as well as I'd have to develop a screening process to eliminate these fly by night schemers. I wanted to represent companies that held the same beliefs and convictions I did and I wanted their acceptance and referrals as much as they would want my reports and photos while field testing their products. My plan took five years to develop as far as gaining companies/luremakers trust and respect and as well gaining a name for myself within the fishing industry. I talked with hundreds of manufacturers and luremakers over that time and I did not go willy nilly accepting products to test as that would not have been practical nor fair to the companies. I picked several companies that their products fit the style of fishing I was doing, which at the time was bass fishing and panfish fishing. Each year I contacted or was contacted by companies/luremakers and decisions were made whether to test or not to test. This system seemed to be working out well for both me and the companies/luremakers. Several of the early companies, I am still with today testing prototypes and providing feedback whenever they ask. In late 2002 I had been noticing at sports shows and watching fishing shows, that women where starting to appear and that industry manufacturers and luremakers where asking for a womans view on their products and what their views where about fishing as a whole. Then I had an idea come to me during the holiday season of 2002, my fishing partner was definately a woman and she was a good angler as well as one who gave me input on things I was testing during tournaments or just being out on the water fishing. I asked her if she would like to form a partnership were we would promote her as an Independent Field testerand companies could get a first hand review from a womans perspective. The "BEAM TEAM" was born and in 2003 Sherry-Lynnes announcement of forming the "BEAM TEAM" and along with my writings and building our profile secured our positions with several more luremakers and Zebco/Quantum and a scent/attractant company out on the east coast. Sherry-Lynne went on to do so well that one company decided after two seasons of field testing honored her by naming a lure after her and promoted her as one of the top female anglers in Canada. So pretty much in a nutshell this is the story of how "THE BEAM TEAM" Independent Field Testers came to be. You may be asking still why no "paychecks"? The compensation comes from the product themselves...We are still going to be on the water fishing, so why not test products and save ourselves that expense of fishing there is our benefit by saving spending dollars on Rods-Reels-Lures-Scents/Attractants. Do we still purchase fishing products, why sure we do as we use other products that are similar to do effective comparison testing. We also found that we were limiting ourselves to one specie specific testing and now test products for Bass, Walleye, Musky/Pike, Catfish, Carp and panfish. Sherry-Lynne still longs to get into ice fishing but I find it awful difficult to walk over and fish water where just a few months before I was driving the boat. My experience and views on becoming a field tester is one must build a reputation and trust. Create an interesting profile and be a good communicator both verbally and written. One must know what the manufacturer/luremaker wants. One must create a detailed plan for reporting and have a code of ethics a a creed in which to follow. One must Never Ever trump up testing just to make things look good, manufacturers/luremakers needs to know the truth about their products in order to plan for their production or in production changes. A field tester should not be thin skinned or fear rejection. My early attempts was a hundred type written letters (before I had a computer) to companies I studied at the local library and reference material. At first I recieved a whole lot of rejection notices with comments like: No Thanks, You Have To Be Kidding, We hire Pro-Anglers Only, Do You Know How Many Requests We Get For Freebies, Not only NO but Hell NO. So I hope this helps in explaining what Sherry-Lynne and I do within the fishing industry, We love what we do and have formed strong bonds which has turned into great friends with many of the manufacturers/luremakers we work with. We hope you look upon us as a venue to get a honest review and report on what you make for the anglers across North America and beyond. "THE BEAM TEAM" Willis "SNAGMAN" Beam Sherry-Lynne aka BASSETTE

This is definately a hot button topic for sure...Here in Ontario at all Provincial Run/Operated Parks & Bodies of water they are lead free areas and are monitored pretty heavy. I remember a few years back when New York State did their ban on lead fishing products and ended up with some compromise by limiting the ban to lure/lead sizes. Everyone thought it would be the down fall of fishing in New York State and they still hold tournies and fishing continues. So who knows what will happen State by State...but I do know this for fact organizations like PETA and there are definately a few more that has great influences in all of our Dept of Natural Resources as well as in the different Fisheries around North America. Want to know how strong an influence these groups have within our governments decisions read about the Cormorant Culls held on the Great Lakes from Ontario to Michigan, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania & New York. Look up the different stories of boat launch sites and ramps sabotaged with nails/screws and protesters trying to block ramps etc. I don't believe the governments have anything to gain with the bans but individuals within the governments gain a lot with contributions to their political coffers. I have field tested and still do field test for a company that makes "lead-free" in-line spinners and spinnerbaits and they are fairly successful with their endeavors. Out in Western Canada there is a barbless hook law as well as in some areas multiple hooks ie trebles are not allowed....so don't think this subject is just an American Issue its covering North America as a whole. I don't condone big government and micro-controlling governments but as we see things today its here and not getting any better. Willis "SNAGMAN" Beam Independent Field Tester

hazmail.......thats a kind suggestion...but first allow Sherry-Lynne and I a chance to catch up on all the different topics and then post a few more times as well as posting a more extensive story about what we do out on the lakes and rivers. Thanks so much for the kind words.

Thanks to all for the welcome......Yes I will be sure that Sherry-Lynne gets a word in on her views of field testing and her ideas from the back of the boat will be a nice break from hearing Willis get the Net lol!

Thank You all for the welcome and I hope to actually learn a lot from everyone that will also enhance our testing abilities. I will put together a story for sure from our perspective of things in the fishing industry and get it on the docks section. Thanks for the suggestion for sure.

Yes I have had some hands on experience with lure designs as well as color patterns both in crankbaits and spinner/inline baits. I do not personally build the lures except from a prototype lure that the builder actually wortks from.

Hello name is Willis aka SNAGMAN along with my fishing partner Sherry aka BASSETTE do field testing for various companies. Our biggest field test program is with Zebco-Quantum. We also test for several lure manufacturers and scent company. I am from central Ohio and bounce back and forth between Ohio and Ontario mostly the Windsor area of Ontario where Sherry is from. We fish the Detroit River, Lake St Clair from the Ontario side of the border as well as the western basin of Lake Erie. When in Ohio we fish the inland reservoirs like Alum Creek, Buckeye Lake, Dillon Res and the shores of Lake Erie out of Port Clinton and Sandusky. My favorite fishing is for bass either bronzebacks or bucketmouths. I had never fished for or caught a toothy critter until I came to Ontario and after the first one landed I was hooked so to speak and we went on to learn about musky's and northern pike from the owner of Woodie Musky Baits in Windsor and we owe him a lot on the knowledge he has passed on to us. Walleye fits in as a favorite just due to the fact that they sure do taste good along with fries and coleslaw. Sherry she likes winging baits for smallies and really likes when we go out targetinig the toothy critters along the shore lines and shallows casting big baits at them. I have been field testing since 1997 and in 2003 formed the team with Sherry as I was getting requests from companies for a womans perspective on rods-reels and throwing different baits. She was already an accomplished angler from her GrandFathers teachings up on Georgian Bay and Parry Sound but furthered her accolades when JackFish Lures (Athabasca Alberta) named a lure after her called the Sherry Bombs. So together we been at it every since. Like to say I am happy to come on board and with all the makers information it helps us when we are talking lures etc on other websites and at seminars. We are always learning and enjoy passing on to others what we have learned. Thanks TU and I hope for many years continued involvement with the site!