I AM A NEW MEMBER OF THIS CLUB, AS I CONTINUE TO READ THE COMMENTS OF THE MEMBERS I HAVE REALIZED THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF UNSATISFIED CUSTOMERS IN THIS CLUB. I WAS CONSIDERING BECOMING A LIFE MEMBER BUT UNLESS ANOTHER MEMBER CAN CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE I REALLY CANT UNDERSTAND WHY I WOULD WANT TO WASTE MY MONEY WITH NAFC.I JUST READ THE CONTEST UPDATE AND THERE  WERE TWO POSITIVE COMMENTS OUT OF ABOUT FIFTEEN TOTAL, AND A SMALL SPOOL OF FISHING LINE EVERY OTHER YEAR AS A CONTEST WINNER CERTAINLY WONT KEEP ME AS A MEMBER.WHATS THIS CLUB ALL ABOUT -IT SEEMS TO ME AS A MONEY RACKET- I CAN EASILY GET A FEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES AND TALK ABOUT GOOD OLE FISHIN WHITOUT PAYING FOR IT. MEMBERS PLEASE COMMENT.  GOOD SAFE FISHING TO ALL!..

its almost as the club has some type of brain washing system going on - no-one is willing to admit that they have wasted their money as I have.Its just a club and a simple question - thanks for responding bigbarry- I mean a pack of good hooks are much less than you spent on this club membership.!!!

I am kind of with you guys.  I have been toying with the idea of a life membership, but I looked up the cost of the rod and reel the club gives you and well, lets just say that if you want any club gear, you have to go to another website anyway.  As I have not yet recieved my first magizine, I can't comment on that.  But I have noticed all of the disgruntled members, I have even emailed member services asking what real "benefit" is there with this club.  The contests, well, let's just say if you watch cabelas, bass pro shops, walmart, or even your local sporting goods store, you can probably pick the items up on a fall sale, or a pre season sale for realatively cheap.  Now while free is better than cheap, let's be realistic.  Even if you enter the contest every day, there are thousands of members and quite honestly, I would have better luck trying to convince the Pope to convert to Buddhaism. 

I would imagine the forums are worthwhile, but you can sign up for those as a guest anyway, so no super benefit there, not to mention the forums seem to be more of a place to vent about what people don't like than offering the help and assistance which this club is supposed to be about.  The editors do not respond to questions or requests, and until you stop paying dues (sorry about this life members, since it seems the establishment got all it wants out of you) you most likely will not hear from them.  The test products you do eventually get, as far as what I gather from reading the "glowing" (sarcasm) response of the members about the quality, quantity, and availability, I wouldn't spend sleepless nites waiting. 

Yeah I know I sound a bit negative, but like you, I am wondering if I didn't just piss away 31 bux, when I could have spent it at Walmart or Cabelas.  Unless things change, I will not be renewing, nor will I consider becoming a life member.  And if the editors, moderators, or administrators are reading this post, I STRONGLY SUGGEST you guys/gals start spending more time attending to the needs, wants, and desires of your members, or this club, like many other failures, will end up in the toilet.  Word of mouth advertising is 100 times better than magazine inserts, commercials, and mailers.  Right now, the word of mouth advertising is turning this club into a lepar colony, and the exodus of disgruntled members will become more than apparent.

To my fellow club members, I apologize in advance if I have offended, and I wish you all happy fishing...

Any day on the water or in the woods is solitude itself.

Do any of you subscribe to In-Fisherman magazine ? It comes out as often as North American Fisherman , is similar in content and costs about the same as N.A.F.C. does yearly. I get both and consider both magazines a good value. Anything more I get from N.A.F.C. is icing on the cake. Also, In-Fisherman doesn't offer a forum , product testing or anything else. They do sell very good fishing DVD's , as does N.A.F.C. , and N.A.F.C.'s fishing book library is also excelent. B.A.S.S. membership costs about the same too , and doesn't offer anything more either. So what's the gripe ? I don't get it.      Happy fishing.

~N.A.F.C.~B.A.S.S.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

How can you order these club books?  I don't see anything on this website that lists the books, nor do I see anything that lets me order DVDs either.  The Videos link is all on line stuff.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

As for the gripe, and while I do like the forums, the lack of a response from the editors, the lack of selling club merchandise, and the general disgruntled mood of the members is what I am pointing out.  It seems, and quite honestly I am new here so my exposure to the club is limited, but in reading the topics in the forums, it appears there is alot of things wrong.  I am the kind of person that likes to provide a solution, but in this case, I can't solve the problem of the members.  That will take involvement by club higher ups, that just don't seem to care.

Which brings me to another question, who and how are the club president and other "officials" selected.  Or do you have to be "one of the boys" in order to be in a position where you can assist the club members with their complaints.  Again I am new, but I definitely don't like what I am seeing.

I do belong to the VFW, a Masonic Lodge, and to the Montana State Fishing Log Program.  Any of those organizations, when there is a question, complaint, problem, or a desire to do more, they are more than happy to provide guidance.  And they sell their own "Members Only" gear.  You don't have to surf the web to buy club merchandise from a 3rd party vendor.  I also realize this club is nothing like those, but there is something to be said about active participation from the powers that be, and I think that is true with all organizations.  There just doesn't seem to be any of that going on here.

And yes, I just got my first copy of In-Fisherman magazine.  I am sending in my subscription card on Monday.  16 Issues for 18 bux is a deal I can't pass up. 

 

Any day on the water or in the woods is solitude itself.

Hey Theolan, I don't know how to request getting on the mailing list for the fishing book library or the fishing DVD library. They just started sending me books/DVDs to review and keep or return . Average price fo each item is @ $25 and they are very well done and informative. Just hang in there and I'm sure you'll start getting them in the mail. Also , I have never had any problem with returning any I didn't want to keep and not get charged for them or any other hassles related to any returns. I've kept 12 books and only returned 2. Kept 5 dvds and only returned 1.      Happy fishing.

~N.A.F.C.~B.A.S.S.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

Thanks a million for the info.  I was wondering though, how come you can't order membership patches, decals, fishing jackets, and other merchandise from the club website.  I saw a link to sportsman guide where you can buy club gear.  And of course there is always e-bay, but it is perplexing why I should have to spend money buying stuff from a third party vendor, when I would rather spend my money with the club.  The other vendors do not require you to be a member of NAFC to buy the gear, so that is what I am getting at.  I would like to see this club become better than what it is right now, as there are ALOT and I mean ALOT of disgruntled members.  We had a saying in the military that if people weren't bitchin about something then they were either dead or retired.  I would hate to think that is the case with this club, since I basically joined to help other anglers and to learn from them as well. 

Best wishes and thanks again for the info.

-Will

Any day on the water or in the woods is solitude itself.

Hello Theolan,

 

 I sent you a pm, please let me know you recieved it.

 

 

IF it moves whack it <))) especially if it's from Illinois

Info on club merchandise can be obtained by calling the club member services.  They will mail the club sticker free, they will give you info about all club products.  Why this info is not on the web site is beyond me!  The membership has desired this for a long time.  Most of the members are disgusted in this new site....A lot of member provided info was lost and if you have spent any time on this site you should have noticed how slow it is.  The few that are responding now are those that will stick it out, hoping it will improve.  The info about the club mag and the In-Fisherman mags is correct...Good stuff!  As far as club patches go, hard working individuals have made this possible thru their own efforts, not the club.  BTW, when you are a life member you own the club insignia.  That is, you may duplicate but not sell for profet.  The web site is why I became life member in 2005.  It gave me the opportunity to communicate with other club members.  Because of this I have made many new and good friends and I have the opportunity to meet them at club member meets.  Which as far as I know, no other fishing club offers.  I hope this helps you out...

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif

Thank you for the information.  I can see the sense of frustration in the various posts in the forums.  I guess after having sent a number of e-mails to the club people, that is the editors, and the powers that are supposed to be, and the fact I have yet to recieve a single reply, I do not fault the poor attitude of the disgruntled members.  I have always been a what can I do to make it better type person, but I have to admit, I am at a loss as to where to even start here.  I would hope that the editors and directors would take a more hands on approach to keeping the members satisfied, since afterall, without dues and purchasing of gear through the club, I wouldn't see how they could pay salary.  I know they own various other on-line clubs and publications, but I would say if this is how they react and respond to the members of this club, then I could bet this is probably how they treat the members of NAHC as well.  Maybe what it would take to get their attention is if there was a mass exodus of members, I think that anytime 100 or more members start calling cancelling membership they might take notice, but like all greedy bastages, till you hit em in the pocket, they won't listen or give 2 sheyahts.  It is sad, moreso to the new members, like myself, who joined in hopes that we could find something that meant something.  We have not had the joy of knowing what the club was, like the older members, who now have a sense of loss, frustration, and for that, unlike the editors, I personally apologize and freely give my empathy.    I know there are good people here, good members, and loyal people.  Why else would they stick around when apparently this club has long sense seen its good days.  Turnip, I have to admit, you remind me alot of my Grand dad, mostly because of your demeanor in your posts, and because of your passion that is very apparent.  Ice Cube Bob is an outstanding, honest and forthright person, and I have enjoyed hearing from him.  I have never seen such honesty.  I will stick this out with the rest of you, but I have to admit, I think it is a fruitless pursuit since the only ones that care are the members, who can not seemingly get the editors to care just one tenth as much.  Truly sad for such a noble cause....
Any day on the water or in the woods is solitude itself.

Hey theolan, I've been a member for just under 2 years now , so I guess I came in after the haydays of the club. I do like to help out when others need info that I'm informed about enough to give advise. I've also enjoyed reading posts from others that have been informative or simply interesting. If we newer members keep giving when we can, perhaps we can turn around the attitude of some of the disgrunteled members and return the club to it's apparent former glory.      Happy fishing.

~N.A.F.C.~B.A.S.S.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

Hopefully, but I think it will take involvement by the club leadership as well, since the members are not in a position to rennovate the website, fix the lack of response by the editors, or make good on the promises of the establishment in the way of product testing, membership "gifts" and the like.  I did have the pleasure of talking with a NAFC member from Florida today, and I have to admit, I was thrilled to speak with someone who has a love for fishing as much as I do.  It was interesting to say the least to see just how much in common he and I have living on opposite ends of the country.  The club, more specifically, the forums, made that possible.  So, even though the "club" itself may have some issues, the members themselves are what is important.
Any day on the water or in the woods is solitude itself.

I certainly didn't mean to cause any hard feelings but I do feel that this topic is obviously a topic that the editors or administrator's  should look at fixing, they should make sure the members are receiving what the club promises them, as well as letting the members know that they are appreciative of their time and money. Good safe fishing to all- thanks for the comments guys!

All very legitimate points. I have not been able to log on for a year until yesterday. I wrote to the club 75 times before they fixed it. I am a Life member since 1996, and used to be in the NAFC Hall Of Fame until one day it mysteriously disappeared from the website and magazine without any explanation. I can go on, but I won't.
"Life Member" since 1996 "Able to log on to site since Nov 08"

Hi Everyone,

   I just wanted everyone to know that as far as I'm concerned the contests are LEGIT!! I've been a Life Member since 8-18-08 and I have won the NAFC's Gear Giveaway for December '08/ January '09. I won the Team Daiwa Fuego-2500A spinning reel ($279.95) and the TD Fuego G661MXS rod ($199.95) I can't wait for the weather here in SE Iowa to get warm enough for me to get out and try it. It looks and feels greatin my hands. Just keep entering the contests and don't give up. You play the lottery don't you?

George Barber

Life Member

I agree, the contest are legit. TSS

 

"The Salmon Slayer"

To me you get your moneys worth when you sign up.....A monthly issue of NAFC magazine, a forum that provides endless amounts of fishing info, great contest that allow you to enter daily,( Alot of other websites dont do that) a product testing application to fill out as offten as you want and the chance to test a product that hasnt come out in stores yet and you get to keep it after you test it. Also you will get your moneys worth if you become a life member, i just got nominated to become a life member and it didnt even take a second to think about it and i signed up...what do u get out of becoming a lifer...a life time subscription to NAFC magazine, a new Reel, Rod (Personalized) you money back that you have payed in dues up to date at that point in time, a life membership padded rod case, a portable lure case, personalzied life member belt buckle, and product testing eligibility for life...AND the chance to pay of the life member ship fee over the course of a year...now thats customer satifaction right there if you dont have the money right upfront alot of other clubs dont do this which is great for a NAFC member, and i know other loyal members will stick behind me in saying that this is a great club to be apart of and if you dont think so then dont post it in the forums and give the club a bad name or rep no loyal member wants to read it just call and cancel you subsciption and be gone. Thanks for reading.......Good Fishing!

As a new life member I have received a $200.00 Kistler rod and besides that there are alot of things to spend/waste money on, the nice thing about being a life member is once it is paid you never have to worry about sending out the annual check to keep the magazine coming and to put in for your tries to be drawn for the give aways. But is your money do what you will..