Outstanding Catch: May 2009

SuperUser Account — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:33:06 GMT

The NAFC staff has carefully chosen 10 finalists for the May Oustanding Catch Awards contest. Now it's up to you! Vote for the catch you feel is the most outstanding, considering not only the fish's size, but also the body of water, geographic location and method used.Review the finalists and their photos (click on the thumbnail to enlarge), and then cast your vote below. Also, one random voter will be selected to win a prize, so please submit your name and e-mail address below when you vote for your favorite outstanding catch. Michael Dunphy 23 2/8-inch largemouth bass Cedar Creek, Ky. CrankbaitDarryl Stoddard 16-inch crappie Pit, Mo. Crappie jigLarry Miller 44-inch flathead catfish High Rock Lake, N.C. Shad Roman Smikh 45 4/8-inch steelhead Slater Creek, N.Y. Casting egg sacksCameron Kerkenbush 49-inch muskie Banana Lake, Wisc. SuckerMark Little 48 6/8-inch land-locked striper Liberty Reservoir, Md. Trolling live bait Jason Hibpshman 26-inch largemouth bass Mariposa Reservoir, Calif. Thrash 'n SplashLindsey Fleshood 26-inch channel catfish Mississinewa River, Ind. Casting a Rattle ShadArron Slater 17 1/8-inch black crappie Red Cedar, Neb. Minnow Frank McMahon 22 4/8-inch smallmouth bass St. Lawrence River, N.Y. Nightcrawler

Frabill Acquires Snosuit

SuperUser Account — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:36:44 GMT

When the round peg fits in the round hole, you go for it. In that spirit, Frabill, Inc, legendary manufacturer of premium ice fishing products, acquired Snosuit, LLC, the ice fishing industry’s foremost designer of performance winterwear.Jeff Kolodzinski, Marketing VP of the 71-year-old Milwaukee-area employer, said it was an inevitable and natural move. “The ice fishing outerwear category is substantial and growing. Frabill needed to be in that space. But to parallel the level of product quality our customers are accustomed to, we had to enter at the top. Snosuit gave us that opportunity.” Previously headquartered in Cross Lake , Minn. , Snosuit pioneered the high-end of the now well-established ice fishing outerwear category. The gritty northwoods company has never wavered from this pursuit of developing the best of the best, either. Snosuit founder Chris Leonard’s mantra to “design and engineer the finest cold weather garments in the ice fishing industry” will survive and flourish under the stewardship of Frabill, too.“Frabill and Snosuit share an ideology of excellence,” Leonard said.Innovation and an emphasis on research and development are shared traits as well. “Snosuit is built from the ground up,” Leonard said. “Every feature is developed organically, from scratch. We design and engineer garments based on direct input from anglers in the field.” Leonard will stay on to guide Snosuit’s bedrock research and development process. Sharing such core business philosophies was central to Frabill’s decision to grow via acquisition. “Our motto is ‘Trusted Gear Since 1938,'” said Frabill CEO Jeff Marble. “Snosuit brings with it that same pride in brand that we believe in at Frabill. "We feel really good about this partnership. It’s hand in glove.”The move expands Frabill’s already extensive coverage in the larger ice fishing marketplace. “We’re a major stakeholder in portable shelters, ice fishing rods and reels, tip-ups, bait management products, and ice fishing accessories,” Kolodzinski said. “The addition of Snosuit makes Frabill’s ice fishing product offering even more comprehensive. If it’s for ice fishing, Frabill makes it.”Available this fall, the Snosuit lineup will include a redesigned release of the signature two-piece bibs and jacket. An extreme weather, gauntlet-style glove and mitt are also being introduced for ice fishing 09-10. Snosuit products are available through major sporting goods chains as well as select independent dealers.

Outstanding Catch: April 2009

SuperUser Account — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:35:17 GMT

The NAFC staff has carefully chosen 10 finalists for the April Oustanding Catch Awards contest. Now it's up to you! Vote for the catch you feel is the most outstanding, considering not only the fish's size, but also the body of water, geographic location and method used.Review the finalists and their photos (click on the thumbnail to enlarge), and then cast your vote below. Also, one random voter will be selected to win a prize, so please submit your name and e-mail address below when you vote for your favorite outstanding catch. Mike Sikora 28-inch largemouth bass Lake Guerrero, Mexico Long casting a crankbait from boatMike DeWeerd 30 2/8-inch walleye Red River, Manitoba Jigging a 3/8 Max Gap Jig tipped with salted shinerSteven Hyman 28-inch largemouth bass Local pond, Fla. Texas rigged weightless; Yamamoto 5 inch Senko David Saunders 34 inch-lake trout Lake of the Woods, Ontario Ice fishing jigging a power tube, barbless hookPerry Gillis 49 1/8-inch musky Green Bay, Wisc. Trolling a 9G RapalaHarold Webster 52-inch striped bass Long Island Sound, N.Y. Drifting a Bunker Gino Florian 14 4/8-inch black crappie Oneida Lake, N.Y. Popping a float with red egg sack hook; Fat HeadRick Quibell 26 4/8-inch brown trout Candice Lake, N.Y. Ultra light with 4 lb. test casting from shore; No. 4 Panther martin, white & silverConnor Bachmann 50-inch striped bass Chesapeake Bay, Va. Drifting an Eel Michael Hall 23 4/8-inch largemouth bass California pond Drop shot rubber worm

May - June Web Links

SuperUser Account — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:37:03 GMT

Review: Lake Fork Live Magic ShadLive Magic Shad: http://www.lftlures.com/categories/soft-plastics-lft-live-magic-shad New F-150: Tricked Out For Towing2009 Ford F-150: http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/f150/New Products6-inch Ghost Rainbow (Castaic's Catch22 Swimbait): http://www.castaicswimbait.com/Catch-22-Ghost-Rainbow-(4%7B48%7D6%7B48%7D8%7B48%7D10-inch-sizes)/29/Seaguar Red Label: http://www.seaguar.com/Products_RL-FLR.htmlThe Medalist Reel From Pflueger: http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products/products.php?p=10Live Target Series Smelt From Kopper: http://www.koppersfishing.com/Smelt.aspx

Big Cat Photo Contest!

SuperUser Account — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:33:42 GMT

Have you recently caught a trophy-class catfish? If so, here's your ultimate chance for bragging rights - not to mention a great prize! Whether it's a blue, flathead or channel cat, submit a photo of your top catch by June 30. After this deadline, the NAFC staff will pick their favorite photo and the winning angler will receive an Okuma Induron IDx 250a baitcaster.Please email your photo to hrule@namginc.com and make sure to include your first and last name. Photo entries will be added below as soon as reasonably possible so everyone can check out all the great Big Cat Photos. Matthew NicholsWilliam HolsombackDennis Flom Fred HallFred ManzanaresDavid M. Watts Gary DoneganConnor BachmannMike Sirmons James Johnson Jason AleshireChad Aleshire Logan Archer-ConeryNiko FortinTodd McAloon Chris FiorentiniMaria MiragliaDavid Merrill Rory Nelson Arthur Gibson Eric Anderson Robert Penkal Ber MouaJeremy Jelinek Tina Rogers Adrian GhioneMike Keener Christopher JohnsonDanielle MatherneCameron Kerkenbush David VailLarry MillerAshley Register Joe CurtisNate Harrower Carlos Carrero Cruz Rodriguez Josh Collier Eddy Olson Jeremy ThompsonJonathan Biggin Lori Boehme Zane Albus Jeff Catlett Julie Solock Anthony ArmstrongStevey ArmstrongBeth Venuto Adrian O'NealJose CuervoMike Bingham Robert MatticeTimothy SchneiderJason Bates Lindsay Fleshood Stephen AguileraJustin Radosovich Jared Treichler Nate Petersen Cheryl Linholm Nate GerencserJustin Severin Leonard Pelehowski Randy Eagle Alfredo Valdez Steven Whaley Matthew ParkestAaron Maiher Tony Sabatino Clay Bradley Dannie Lamb Jr. LuLu Martin & Ian Achord James FuerstLogen BatesJimmie Bates Daniel ThomasJames CriseLandon Penn TerriScott King Logan Hochevar Chris ThompsonBrad ChismJosh Jehramy HeckmanRalph HarrisKen Lawyer James C. Johnson Justin SturtzSteve Allen Kent Hollands Dave Riemenschneider Janet Cox Mike Elsberry Haley LawyerBrandon Zeolla Joe SeibelCliff Cayler Michelle Thomas Donald Mick Lyle GallowayRicardo Mamuyac Jr. Dustin Amack David Leija Dustin Pulchny Lauren LeakeDerek LeakeCharles Leake Kadlin Leake Daniel LeakeKevin Bish

North American Fishing Club

Outstanding Catch: May 2009

Frabill Acquires Snosuit

Outstanding Catch: April 2009

May - June Web Links

Big Cat Photo Contest!