Use it to make connections and friends
 sure the free stuff and contest are nice additions but seriously the more friends you know the better of you will be.
lets take Musky fishing for an example . you make a friend and share info . perhaps on the same bodies of water .
well chances are that person has friends that fishes those same bodies of water that has shared info with your friend .
Now your friend may just share his friends info with you with out you even knowing it.

That is called networking  that is what this club lets you do  Puts you in a network to make your fishing time more productive and enjoyable.

Well said.

Exactly! This forum and the magazine are the real benefits of N.A.F.C. membership to me.

is it rellly free

I wonder why more of us don't use the forums? Over a quarter million members and only about a dozen of us on here...that's pitiful! There should be hundreds of members on here. I think its a direct reflection of all the pissed off members...they're not going to participate in something that left a sour taste in their mouth. Example: The $3 pocket knife I received as a $25 dollar free gift. I put in a tackle box, and I use it regularly, but some people get more irate about these issues. The club should quit over glorifying these offers and free gifts, it sets too many people off. Have you noticed its always the same 4 or 5 problems...over and over...Why don't they address it? Just think how many books and DVD's they could sell if the members were happy. I think the few of us that are happy with the club are the ones who don't get so upset when things don't turn out to be what they were supposed to be. I think these forums are an awesome benefit of membership...I would love to see more activity here. And then there's the chatroom...why doesn't anyone use it? There's only about half a dozen of us who use it. 265,728 members and I'm ALONE on here right now.
                                                                                                                                                    

Most sites only have a small percentage that really use it. I'm a moderator on the www.outdoor-fishing.com site and we have about 1500 members there, but only about a dozen who use and post on the forums regularly. 

Well bass, now you've got a baker's dozen...I just signed up!

I see less and less people on here all the time. I only make it on a few days a week depending on my schedule. I couldn't agree more Mo. If you are here for all of the free stuff, you will probably get discouraged. I read the magazine and browse the posts to see if I can help somebody out, throw my 2 cents in somewhere or learn something new. Sure I would love to test a brand new Ranger Z522 Comanche or a Lowrance HDS 10. But I'll take a spool of Berkley line or a pack of worms or 3 snap swivels. Either way, I like browsing the forums to see how other people do things. I read the magazine, even though its half ads, and try to learn something I didn't know or refresh something I had forgotten. And someday, I might get something else to test. I'm happy with my investment so far.

I have been absent for a while for many different reasons, but am happy I am a Life Member.  I have been trying my best to get back in the swing of posting as much as possible.  The more participation, the better the boards.  

Posted By mo65 on 28 Nov 2011 09:27 PM
Well bass, now you've got a baker's dozen...I just signed up!

Great! I think you'll really like the site. And N.A.F.C. is a sponsor!

Many members, especially new ones, get caught up in the whole free gifts and product testing. NAFC shouldnt glorify these aspects of the club. If you look up the NAFC in the BBB, NAFC has received over 700 complaints in the last 3 years. Most are billing and cancellation issues. They are also listed under marketing club. So putting much emphasis on the free gifts and product testing is there M.O. The real benefits of the club are reaching out to other members and sharing tips and ideas, and making a few friends along the way. NAFC should emphasise that aspect of the club as well.

And while I'm brain storming...here's an idea...most clubs, unions have an annual convention. NAFC should try to hold one next year...in a central location, a good way for the members to meet each other and to meet the staff. I know the likelihood of that happening is slim to none, but its 2am and I'm bored...

Information exchange and cultivating new friendships would probably be the most beneficial aspect of joining this club. If you really are passionate about the art of angling and have the monetary resources I would encourage a potential member to enlist, as it were.

I may not be any where near as active on this site as I once was, but I have to say that I have made many, many friends through this club. I can always count on friendly, informative conversation here. This site is what made me decide to become a life member. If you really want to enjoy big benifits of this club, make it a point to attend a member meet. Those of you that have never attended one have no idea what your missing! Because of this site I am able to meet club friends and fish with them all over north america.

What's up Pete??    Long time Old friend.
I hope you and yours are well and enjoy the upcoming Holiday Season.

This year I built a new home in a retirement community, my wife was involved in a serious traffic accident which has taken most of my attention...I was having trouble with this site, it is some what better now, so I kinda stayed away from posting. That was hard for me to do! The folks of this club are fantastic and I have missed them greatly...So I am making a point of trying to be he more often!

I come up on the forums just to see what others have to say about fishing and sometimes get some good Ideas that I'll use. I have more gear than I'll ever use so don't get into the give away stuff. God Bless!

Very well said. I have always felt that nothing is free someone some where is paying for the item. So I do not expect much, but when the item is over stated and represented as something it is not people get dissappointed. When this happens a member is lost.

amen that is exactly why i joined not for the louzy hooks they gave me but to learn how to fish better there is no such thing as too much knowlege to hell with all the "free" things yea they are nice and id love to have them but im not gonna gripe about it im a firm user of the forums i may not post often but ive read everyone well close lol thats my 2 cents

I was aware of all the problems members have with NAFC; I have a few friends who have been part of the club for a long time. I joined for the info I can get by cruising the forums. I'm more of a lurker than poster, but will try to post more. NAFC also led me to outdoor-fishing, which is another great site. Just an example of how networking can work for others.

On a sour note, and as an example of how the people who run NAFC tend to "sour the milk"; I did the trial period, and never got to use it until I paid my subscription. I kept calling and emailing, asking for my login info, and kept getting excuses, such as "we're really busy right now, so it takes awhile to get those emails out". Funny though, once I paid the subscription, I got the login email that same afternoon. Not a way to start a relationship, in my opinion. Also, I've still never received my magazine yet.

Okay, enough whining from me, my rant is over. See you all around the forum.

Sometimes I think joining this club is like paying a drug dealer in advance and then waiting afterwards for him to show up with what he promised. Why would he show up and deliver what you agreed upon after he already has your money?......

I joined original for the magazine as a yearly member then went to life membership away from the renwwal drag. Between the rod and reel and not having to renew, I am ahead of the game. I have enjoyed many of the comments from other members on the forums, even dicing with the guy who advocated no gass motors on any of the waters and fishfearme. Fishfearme posts on asbasszone and still gets wound up once in a while and takes some hits when he is inflexible (as he was here). azbasszone is much more "free" about can be posted, some interesting avatars though.

havent met any locals yet, and im still fishing

where ya from, dodge?

Its all good Dodge Most of the friends I made through the club are in different states so when i go out of state I may have a place to stay cheaper and better then a hotel , I may have a free guide to take me out . At the very least i have a new person to gain info from . I may even discover a new method or lure to add to my list .

I agree, Trev! I have made many friends that will last a life time...All across north America!