Well I must admit, that at certain times in my life, I have accepted a bit of sponsership. (Never in the UK) It has never involved cash, just a bit of free tackle from time to time.
I don't mind wearing a cap with "Drennan" or ESP on it beacause they do make excellent equipment. And I often wear my FM cap because I am proud of it. (Mind you I must get another, I gave the last one away.)
However some people go over the top.
Take fly fishing for example. How you look as a fly fisherman has become incredibly important. Not only must you have the right gear, but you must be the right age!!
In the good old days you could wear your tatty old tweeds, your checked cloth cap or deerstalker, an old Royal Mail bag and a cigar tin to keep your flies. As long as you had a rank of at least "Major" you could look as scruffy as you wanted, even on the most exclusive chalk stream.
Today it's a different story.
Your vest (they don't call them waistcoats any more) shirt, waders and baseball cap must all be colour co-ordinated and bear logos from such companies as Sage, Orvis, Fenwick, Thomas and Thomas etc. Nothing Less. It MUST be an American company. Even the august firm of Hardy's, these days is only for Plebs.
Your fishing vest MUST be one of those short ones, and it must bulge at the seams with all the latest gadgets, including a pair of scissors that must have cost at least ?100.
You MUST wear a pair of designer prescription polariods on a sling, and you MUST carry one of those stupid little tennis racket style nets on a "zinger" on your back.
Next come the real test. It must be the attutude of your stance at the water and the look on your face.
You have to scowl and I mean scowl. At the same time you have to assume a semi-stooping stance, almost like a heron.
It is most important that you NEVER show anyone the contents of your fly box.
It does not matter one iota if you never catch a fish. It is the image you are projecting that counts.
And never arrive at a trout water in an S reg diesel Citroen SAXO. Even if you empty the water you will be classified as a poacher.
And NEVER cast well. If you are seen throwing a beautiful line on the water, you a liable to be expelled from the fishery.
It's terrible for the modern young macho fly angler to be shown up by a doddering old coffin dodger who can chuck 40 yards.