Outdoor Media Inquiries
BASS ONLINE is a business born on Outdoor Media more than twenty years ago after the founder traveled the state fishing tournaments and meeting guides along the way. Only to realize they had no benefits, organization, or security as a fishing guide. “It amazed me that they all have so much passion for what they do, but never knew where or when they would get another trip. That your only resource was the guide-owned websites and testimonials on review sites that were out of date,” said Founder, Todd Kersey.
Oftentimes, we found the guide’s boat was broken or in the shop, or the guide was not as qualified as they make themselves to be. He realized very early that many in the industry had no security, just a tremendous amount of passion for what they do. Fishing guides are amazing, without knowing them they make you feel safe, and secure and many times become friends for life.
Mission
Bass Online’s mission is and has always been to provide through outdoor media an amazing experience to the customers. By providing our fishing guides with a secure, and most of all consistent workplace. Providing staff and a team of like-minded people closer together working on one common goal. This helps and provides a greater chance of conserving the natural resources we all love for future generations to enjoy.
Bass Online furthers its mission by reducing the guesswork for consumers looking to book a fishing trip. No need to research the guide’s ability, knowledge, equipment, security in booking, and customer service skills. It’s all backed with our award-winning 100 percent money back NO Fish, No Pay policy guarantee.
Today, Bass Online outdoor media provides fishing charters in over 400 locations from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys in Florida. As well as all of Pennsylvania, California, and Texas where we specialize in freshwater only. We have already expanded to saltwater with the iOutdoors brand, servicing every coastal city in Florida and Mississippi offering inshore and offshore fishing charters.
Vetting Guides
In order to hire guides, Bass Online has created a multi-step process that includes but is not limited to:
- Meet with the guide face-to-face, not via video chat, in order to get to know them as a person.
- We look to understand what drives their passion for the work they do, and how we can help them with outdoor media.
- Ensure they believe in conservation and preserving the great outdoors for future generations.
- We verify credentials: Are they insured, bonded, and have a captain’s license? Correct coast guard certifications? Equipment?
- Do they have the experience needed to be great at what they do?
- We talk to previous customers: How did they like their trip? How would they rate their experience?
- We complete a detailed background search using every source in the outdoor media.
- As a leader in the industry, we have to understand their reputation and reliability.
- We heavily rely on our other guides: Would you send them business if you’re booked? If we had a group charter, should they call them?
- Finally, Bass Online management goes fishing with each of them but we never send the first customer.
Bass Online has vetted and partnered with 100+ amazing guides around Florida. In addition, Bass Online is the largest in all the major markets Orlando, Daytona, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Naples.
Technology
The Bass Online website, launched in November 1997, provides consumers with easy access to Florida lakes and fishing information, then progressed to a booking engine, making it simple to search availability and purchase a fishing trip online. Users can toggle to the advanced search feature and search by lake or destination to target their specific species.
Confirmations and payments are handled by Bass Online, taking the burden off the customer and guide allowing them to focus on what they do best. In the itinerary, users immediately users can review the trip itinerary and easily communicate with the guides to confirm whether, times, etc.