It has become apparent to me, and perhaps to fellow members, that the magazine has become thinner over the past year. Just out of curiosity, I’ve decided to compare this years February issue to the one from February 2004.

There have always been some complaints and concerns about some ads in the magazine. Well, my question in that regards would be: what does an ad for sex videos have to do with fishing? This particular ad takes up a whole page which could have been filled with, let’s think, o yeah, fishing related articles.

The fishing Q&A section consists of merely two inquiries. Compared to the 2004 issue, which had five, which were answered by household names, such as Kevin VanDam, Dan Johnson, and so on. I don’t believe that there are no more then two members who have question which are worth being printed in this skinny magazine.

Where are the “Partners” and “Discount” sections we used to have? The “Bits & Pieces” and “Member Story” parts of the magazine are apparently gone as well. But wait; instead we have several more pages of advertising.  It almost seems that the editors are more out to make some extra money for their high stake fishing trips, rather then thinking of the people who make the club a club, which are the members.

I guess I am just ranting, but there is always a reason for such. Am I still proud to display the NAFC logo? Yes, I am very proud. But it doesn’t mean that I have to agree with the ways the administration and editors treat us. This boils down to the magazine, as well as to the new forum. One would think that at least the good old printed fishing world would stay as it was. I was wrong. Yet, I still have hopes that the magazine will fill up with great articles, and less advertisement in the very near future.

I appreciate the members and the friends I have made here. Also, I know that some of you will respond to this post, either agreeing or disagreeing with what I had to say. But one entity will probably not respond on this issue: The administration and editors.

KAI: I TOTALY "AGREE" OUT OF CURIOSITY I "COUNTED THE PAGES OF THE "FEB.'08" NAFC-MAG. IT HAD A WHOLE 85pgs. 1). 42Pgs. CONSISTED OF FULL PAGE ADDS. NUMEROUS OTHER PAGES HAD "PARTIAL" ADDS; UNDER THE QUISE OF WHAT ONE WOULD THINK ARE FOR MEMBER BENEFIT?  2). ADULT-CONTENT ADD ON Pg. 79?, THE LITTLE "BLUE PILL Pg.85?, WHAT IN THIS WORLD DO THOSE THINGS HAVE TO DO WITH "FISHING"!!?? DUUHH!!!, WOULD IT BE MORE "BENEFICIAL TO MEMBERS, STATE CHPTRS. & EVENTS-PROJECTS" BY SAID BE "BETTER"!*? "WE COULD USE NAFC SUPPORT", SIMPLY DUE TO THE "FACT" THAT "OUR ENDEAVORS PROMOTE A POSITIVE IMAGE" OF "THE NAFC" & THE "MEMBERSHIP"!!!*** L8r. James,"VATO LOCO"<;({})><

I couldn't agree more, there are a lot of entities involved in making the magazine, which need to be paid. And we all feel the wrath of the rising gas prizes everywhere. And I am the last person who wants some one to loose a job in order to keep costs down and provide us with more fishing related items.

However, if we compare the latest issues to earlier ones, many changes are very apparent. I have pointed out several of those, and I will not add to that at this time. At the same time, I don't want to tell the club how to run their business, but take advantage of this threat and give some "feedback". This "feedback" can be both, negative or positive. Either way, it is "feedback". A little critique should always be taken with a grain of salt.

I am not out to cause bad blood, rather then pointing out what has become obvious. My main issue at the moment is to get the club involved with the meets and chapters anyway.

To wrap this up, for now, I don't expect any great changes in any aspect in the near future. I will go on as I always have, plan the annual Texas meets and conduct our Chapter meetings as the chairman. It would be nice to see the club paying a little bit more attention to all of us, and what we are doing for them, but as I have said before, my expectations are very small.

The magazine, as I have said as well, is still a good resource to have, and I always look forward to the new issue. But some things just make me scratch my head and I wonder what they have to do with fishing????? 

kaiman, im tired of asking this club, AND MEMBERS that as a whole, we could make this ORGANITATION alot better, The club wants to make money period!!! The people here will follow the club no matter what they do? I get run down from our members for trying to change the way this ORGANITION rules the way we would like this club to go, I give up!!!  I want you to know i followd your thoughts and beleivs on how to make this club a better one,,, But we are gonna lose, cuz  this club is domanated by those who love the way it is right now, They dont want change KAIMAN, The change the club did to this forum was acepteted .by our members,,,,, (GO FIGURE) ? I dont know,,,,,, i give up,,,,,,     JIM

To put it simply a year ago I would recommend this club to anyone who asked about it. A year later, I can't, in good concscience do that.

Angry Bob NAFC Life Member Registered Smallie Fanatic

  Well lets see. I am a member of two other Clubs. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, and The American Legion. Nothing is changed in either of these clubs without a VOTE from the membership. As I see it WE are the members of this fishing Club and WE should have a say of some sort in what is in the magazine or on the website. But then the only Club part of this deal are the Member Meets.

  I fully understand the advertisements to support this. But then don't tell me I belong to a Club. I have paid Life Member Dues to an advertising forum, that is all. 

  I do however feel that the friendships that I have made in the past year are well worth the Life Member fee even if i never see the Magazine again. The only part of the Web that I need is the Forums.

The sad truth is that the fishing industry is in a bit of a slump, and the changes you are seeing are across the board, from manufacturers (boat, electronics, line, lures, you name it), to guide/resort/charter businesses, to publishing and beyond. Take a look around and you'll see it's the truth.

Part of the reason is that there are fewer anglers every year. Our elders pass on or retire from the sport, others quit because they can't find the time. There's not enough young blood coming in to replace them all.

That's why we're urging all NAFC members to take the Anglers' Pledge (see Community on the Home Page) and follow through on it. You'll be pledging to introduce one new person to fishing per year. Someone who's not participated before.

The best way to get back to the way things were is to make the sport stronger, and the way to do that is to increase the number of anglers nationwide to what it was 10, 15, 20 years ago. We hope you all will do your part to help our sport.

And Tosser--YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. This Club--any Club-- is just that--simply an organization. It's the Members who give it Life.

From what we see on this forum, you guys do a pretty good job of that.

You are joking, right? If the fishing industry is in a slump come out and join the meets and chapters that are springing up all over the country. See the members and fish with them. There are your articles. Slump or no slump, there are plenty of stories out there which are worth writing about. Just make an effort and at least pretend that you guys care about your members.