I joined this magazine/club cause I thought it was a good deal at the time.  It however has been non stop with the stupid letters trying to get me to be a life member and selling out my information to other companies so they can send me junk mail.  I thought the magazines were monthly and they are not.  That is the only thing I really cared about.  It's cool that they send you some hooks here and there and maybe some other worthless things but its not worth being constantly harassed by there stupid letters in the mail.  I will be calling to cancel refund or not and I guarantee the "North American" Fishing Club goes through a Indian call center. 

Also the magazine isn't worth s**t seeing as how its 80 percent ads,  I predict you wont make it  another ten years.  People are looking for ways to cut spending and you guys will the first to go.  This doesn't feel like a club at all more like a company looking for a profit.

i have been a member longer that a few months and i have yet to receive any thing to feild test. i look at like this:its the signs of the times. we are in hard times, not just us but the companys that supply this fishing gear.i have taking the wait and see approch.SEND THE OFFERS BACK. I DO. I AM A LIFE MEMBER AND SEND ME AMEMBERSHIP FOR THEIR TROPHY CLUB.I SAID NO UNTIL THINGS ARE BETTER .

look like they have a paper trail promblem. i been a member a lot long then that. april 2008

If you want to test a product, then you have to wait about a year. You generally get to test one product every year. It just all depends on whats available.

i have been a member less than a year . i have had the same mail outs as you . i have gotten one magazine , waiting for the new one . as for product testing , i filled out the form to be a tester . i was picked for a test and turned in the results . for the love i have for sport , think i will stick it out awhile , maybe things will get better . i wish ya  happy holidays ....

fishing is life , everything else is just details . and i prefer my tails with specks or spots .15 miles NE of austin

Well for one I am very happy with the club... just became life member. I have met many new fishin partners that other wise i would just drive by on my way to work every morning. I would like to see more mag issues out per year but hey i guess that can only come with member suggestion. The club lifemember card gets me bout 15-20 percent off when i go shopping for new gear which added up so far in the month i have had it is around 75 dollars in savings, which is about 1/4 of the membership price so i figure it will pay for itself within a year or two. I guess if you just get the membership to sit around and read the mag, no it isn't very good deal, yet, it is up to you to go out and find discounts and special member benefits in your area... If there are none, don't be afraid to talk to the manager about starting a discount for members.... Good Luck to ya and hope you find something to make ur stay worth while.

There are two types of fisherman - those who fish for sport and those who fish for fish.

Ive been a life member since Jan 2002. I filled out the forms to be a field tester, and to date, nothing has ever been sent to me to test. But no big deal, I did not join the club for free product to test. I'm also a NA Hunting Club life member. I do agree with some of the comments about the magazine articles. Way to few actual fishing or hunting articles in both magazines. Needs to be more. Plain and simple.

I have been a member (life) for quite awhile and mostly i like the magazine and feel good about joining, i do think that with this economy the gear is out priced for some stuff actually a lot of stuff, I think if fishing is going to survive we had better make it accessable to many,because only a small percent will stay. That should be the focus that is most important. Happy New Year and lets enjoy the sport we all here care so much about.

Im a Life member also When I joined I could swear it was a monthly mag. like others. Now Im seeing 3 months on one mag.????????????? As far as testing must be a low low supply of things needing testing. I havent seen anything I buy a few books and was getting free fishing line but that has seemed to stop also. Im paid in full on my life membership - well see If I get the rest of it????????????????? Does anyone ever win the contests????? I never see anything. Ronnie

Ronnie: As long as I can remember the mag has been 8 issues a year, just like In-Fisherman and a couple others. When I first joined I got all kinds of offers to buy books,videos etc. The only thing I have ever purchased was this year's calendar, mostly because I needed one. I recieved my one and only field test item last fall after about 2 years of membership. I don't know how long you have been a member as the membership dates don't seem to reflect reality but if you filled out a field test profile, sooner or later you will see something to test. I look at membership as a magazine subscription that offers an interactive bulletin board. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Kyle,
  I'm sorry you feel that way, you're certainly entitled to your opinion and choices. I would however suggest you check out nearly ANY magazine on any news stand, sports, other hobbies, heck even the 'womens' magazines my wife gets, and they all have that same high percentage of ad you're talking about. Unfortunately, that is their main source of revenue. I get frustrated with the local newspaper for the same reason.
  As for the product testing mentioned, I've been a lifer for about two years and I just got my second test product. OK, it's just some hooks but, they need to be tried out in the 'real' world too. My biggest trouble with the program is I may not be able to test the products in a timely fashion. How do you try out a warm weather bass lure in the middle of the winter in Washington? 
  Like Pegsguy said, I appreciate the forums because there is a LOT of experience and knowledge to be found there. Being a virtual rookie, It's indispensable for me.
  Yes, you'll get the usual sales pitch from the company but, you just have to roll with it and perhaps take advantage of the few things offered that may benefit you.
  I guess I'm going to have to work harder at finding those discounts ETrete mentioned, I haven't had that experience yet.
  Hope you hang in there for a while longer, take the good with the bad, and who knows, you might just find yourself getting more out of the club than you expect. Either way, keep on fishin' and enjoying the sport you love...
                                                           Prober

Here's my take.  A member for 10 yrs. , life member for 9 years.  Tested products maybe 7 times.  Some good some not so good, but none in last couple of years.  I've got free items over the years, everything from hooks to line and pocketknives.  When I became a life member I received a free rod, a free reel, a rod case, a worm bag and lifetime mags.  I figure I've got a lot out of  my membership fee.  By the way, I like the magazine a lot. Sure it's full of ads, but show me one that isn't.  I like it better than Bassmaster, a whole lot better than Field & Stream and Outdoor Life.   The only peeve I have is--they keep sending my magazine to a relative in another town (for about 2 yrs. now) and for some reason I can't get them to get it right.  Otherwise no complants.

I hope all you have canceled till now and leave this, to us who are satisfied with this club. Good Bye and Good Ridance.

mkolziol et al: Check the comments in the Life Members topic. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Kyle:

I have been a life member for 13 years. The magazines are great for the price. I have learned alot from them over the years. How many others are you going to find for $1.50 an issue? I'm sure it cost about that to print. Therefore, they have to make up the difference somewhere. No magazine, I don't care how hard they try, can't make it on subsciptions alone. As far as the number of issues in a year's subsciption goes, if I'm not mistakened, the initial sign-up said "8 issues". Learn to read stuff thoroughly before you write a check.

 

I must say, there are aspects of the club that I'm not all that happy with but, the parts that I am happy with more than make up for it.

 

I hate that you don't see the same value in the club as some of us do and wish to quit. That's your decision to make. However instead of quiting why not try communicating with others and try to make things better. Mostly our experience in the club is ours to make.... or not. Anyway good luck on whatever you do... or don't do... in the future.

Ben Bryant Life Member Since 1997

Hey guys:

As I looked through the history of this posting, I saw a couple of things that I think I can clarify for a number of Club members.

 

First, North American Fisherman is published seven times per year, and has been since 1995 when we increased it from six to seven issues. Never 8 issues, never 12--for the past 15 years it's been 7 per year. Here's the breakdown: 1. February, 2. March, 3. April, 4. May/June, 5. July/Aug/Sep, 6. Oct/Nov, 7. Dec/Jan.

 

Incidentally, the February 2010 issue is the 146th issue in the Club's history.

 

Regarding Field Test opportunities, I think most here know that you first have to submit a Field Test Profile. Anyone unfamiliar with this should click the Member Benefits tab, and then Product Testing.

 

It's also important to realize that there is no set period of time you have to wait to become a Field Tester. It depends on whether your profile matches a product that has been offered for Field Testing. When I say "matches a product," I mean that you won't be sent a crappie rod if your profile says you strictly fish bass or catfish.

 

When you do get the opportunity to Field test an item, be sure to submit your report after you finish testing. If you don't send in a report, you won't be considered for a future test.

 

Likewise, after completing a test and submitting a report, you must also fill out a new Field Test profile. That's mandatory if you want to be considered for another test.

 

I hope that this has been of some help, and thanks to all of you who offered help with details and explanations along the way.

 

 

First off, I am impressed to see a response from Kurt on here. I tip my hat, since I've been trying for a number of years to get some responses to several topics. But that's neither here or there.

 

Second, and I just quote:

"It's also important to realize that there is no set period of time you have to wait to become a Field Tester. It depends on whether your profile matches a product that has been offered for Field Testing. When I say "matches a product," I mean that you won't be sent a crappie rod if your profile says you strictly fish bass or catfish."

 

I have had several opportunities to test products. Most of them did not match my profile, which clearly stated which fish I target and which not. Trout, for one, has never been checked by myself on any of the forms. There are not too many lakes or rivers in South-Texas which hold those species, eventhough they are stocked in some. Yet, I do not target them. Why then does the club send me trout bait and hooks to test?

 

Also, I wear glasses, why then send me polarized fishing glasses, which will not fit over my presciption frames?

 

I do enjoy the program, and I have hopes that I one day will get a product to test which is actually something I can use and utilize. Perhaps even a canoe or kajak. But I am not getting any of my hopes up. Non the less, I will keep participating.

 

Just send me something that corresponds to my profile!

Kai; Life Member

I have just come back. was a member way back in the laste 90's  out in Oregon moved to Oklahoma about 6 years ago. never let the club know i moved, So rejoined . became a life member for the second time . Don't think there going away any time soon .

jerrwnn

Life member 1/25/2010

First off, Kurt been doing a heck of a job attempting to answer questions and concerns. Thanks Kurt!

           I for one have definatly gotten my money's worth being a lifer for 10 years. never had a problem with mags not arriving. this alone had covered my dues. Got to test a few items. Just make sure to send in your report, and if possible thank the manufacturer of the product. Maybe if they get reponses they will be more likely to send the club items to test in the future. I have taken advantage of a couple of the clubs offers such as a calandar and a book. True the volumn of offers sent by the club and other companies gets a bit annoying at times. I have met some great people through the club and the forum and have learned alot and hopefully helped a few along the way. I just wish more of these people lived closer to me or I got a chance to travel more.

rhicks and others, i hope you stick around for a while and see what the club has to offer. Look at things with perspective and hopefully you will find reasons to stay and take advantage of what is being offered, knowledge and fellowship.

Brian

Fishing! enough said.