We all love watching fishing and hunting shows on TV, and for whatever reason, the fishing industry has led the way when it comes to clever commercials. In fact, many times the ads are even better than the TV program itself. So sit back and enjoy my picks for the top-five all-time angling spots.
UGLY STICK AND THE ANGRY WIFE
What starts out with a kind and gentle “Good morning, honey” turns into angry “You. Are. Not. Going. Fishing. Today!” rant. I love so many things about this classic commercial that it’s hard to know where to begin. A few of my fishing buddies have spouses that don’t exactly share their passion for the outdoors, and I can’t help but laugh knowing this scene plays out every Saturday and Sunday morning across America. The “Don’t you know it’s an Ugly Stik?” look on the man’s face while he never misses a beat with his cereal is priceless. (Author’s note: I’ve owned a 6-foot, 6-inch two-piece Ugly Stik spinning rod for exactly 36 years; it was gift on my 14th birthday. It’s my No. 1 catfishing rod, and like the commercial illustrates, the Stik is bullet-proof.)
MINN KOTA ULTERRA
No fishing commercial has garnered as much attention in recent memory as this one from Minn Kota. According to data on Minn Kota’s YouTube page, it’s been viewed more than 300,000 times since it was published on Jan. 19, 2015. It has the cool factor, the production quality is off the charts, and each one of us can relate to those two guys watching and wishing. And here’s something you didn’t know: The guy running Ulterra in the commercial is central-Florida bass guide Chuck Pippin. I recently spent some time with Chuck during the 2015 ICAST show, and he’s a great guy. Click here if you’re ever in his area and want to spend a day on the water searching for giant largemouths.
RAPALA RIVER OTTER
Perhaps no company has produced as many memorable TV spots through the years as Rapala, and this one ranks as my No. 1. From the concept, to the execution, this commercial is A+. I won’t get into the details of how I know this, but river otters can –at times–be aggressive and nasty. How the guy in the back of the boat pulls off this interaction with the creature amazes me. The underwater footage is fantastic, and I love the angler’s leap at the end; otter guy deserves an Oscar.
NITRO BOAT VS. WHINY GIRLFRIEND
This commercial is 5 years old, but with more than 3.8 million views on YouTube, it’s still going strong. Much like the Ugly Stik commercial discussed earlier, this one begins with the classic man vs. woman struggle regarding choice of free time activities. Unlike the Ugly Stick spot, however, the girl in the Nitro Boats ad doesn’t simply walk away from the conflict. Kudos on the well-timed crow calls, too.
TAKE ME FISHING
While humor is often the driving force behind many successful ad campaigns, a commercial can be a home run if it grabs your attention and makes you think. This 60-second spot from TakeMeFishing.org does exactly that, no matter your gender or age. My dad–now almost 80–introduced me to fishing at a very young age, and this ad serves as a good reminder that it’s been too long since we shared time in the boat. Can you think of anyone who’d appreciate an invite?
