JD-- What Dave says is pretty much on the money. Our reputations depend upon our integrity and ethics. If we sell out, then the reading public will eventually find out as will our editors. When we lose our integrity, we're out of business.

Bad recommendations happen for a lot of reasons. Sometimes the communicator is misled by exaggerated claims from the manufacturer (this happened to me once, and I've learned from THAT mistake), or the communicator had one really good experience and didn't evaluate the product long enough or in enough different situations to find that it didn't work as well as he originally thought, and of course, the communicator could be trying to make the manufacturer (sometimes an advertiser) feel good.

Certainly, there is fraud in the outdoor communications game; I've seen it happen personally once; that guy no longer works in the field. I've heard of it happening in other situations, but usually it's at the "entry level"-- done by people who are hobby writers or beginners. For the most part, frauds don't last long. Most established writers work to avoid strong links with manufacturers because readers and editors could construe that communicator as "bought".

Here's an example of how most editors regard this writer/manufacturer connection: I wrote some catalog copy for a rod manufacturer. They by-lined the copy when they used it, and one of my editors chewed me pretty thoroughly because of that. I was told that if it happened again, I would no longer be able to write about rods for her magazine. She insists on keeping her writers "clean" of any commercial taint. That experience has guided me ever since.

For my own self, I don't let a free trip, a free rod or even a free boat (I wish) color my work. If I mention a product it's because I've found it works or I've interviewed someone who says it works. If I mention a product a lot, it's because I use it a lot. To provide balance, I usually try to mention other similar products (if I know they'll work) as alternatives to my choice.

As a writer, if I was "bought" to use your term, I would have to let you know, if only by a phrase like: "As a pro-staffer for XYZ bait company, I've found that the XYZ Big Dipper works..."

Sorry about your bad experience; it's not typical, but it does happen, sometimes for innocent reasons.

My $.02,

Keith