PUBLISHER
Dan Dannenmueller
EDITOR
Keith “Catfish” Sutton
SR. WRITER
Ron Presley
ART/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Matt Mullikin
WRITERS
Alan Clemons
Brad Durick
Brent Frazee
Michael Giles
Anietra Hamper
Terry Madewell
Ron Presley
Richard Simms
Keith Sutton
Brad Wiegmann
Copyright © 2024 CatfishNow Online Magazine. A KMS, Inc. Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Cover Photo Credit
Former CatfishNOW Editor Ron Presley is understandably proud of this trophy flathead taken on the headwaters of Guntersville Reservoir on the Tennessee River while fishing with Capt. Ty Konkle. (Photo by Capt. Ty Konkle)
Industry Associations Provide Big Benefits
In January, I started off the year attending and presenting at the annual National Professional Anglers Association conference held in Ft. Meyers, Florida. With more than 100 fisher people, industry representatives, speakers and fishing educators, it was an awesome event. This association is for all fishing industry professionals and fisher men and women.
The conference spans two-and-a-half days and is packed with very informational presentations, round tables and discussions between the best of the best. Whether you want to work or play in the fishing industry, be a guide, tournament angler or learn more about how to fish for various species, this is the association.
For Sue and I, we got to sit down and have lunch, dinner, breaks, etc. with some of our sponsor’s leadership such as the President of Bass Cat Boats, Yamaha leadership and other non-sponsors such as Skeeter Boats, Caymas Boats, Mercury Outboards and numerous others.
My presentation was on how to gain and retain sponsors while taking in similar presentations and seminars from other fishing points of view such as the industry view, bass, walleyes and guides. Other presentations were given on insurance information and trends, tax changes and safety considerations.
Membership allows all to reap huge discounts from many premier companies. One does not have to come to the conference, but members can gain these from their website, www.npaa.com. A weekly news release keeps everyone in the know on fishing impacts by potential new laws, changing fishing regulations, etc.
NPAA is not the only association I would recommend. There is a new one, Professional Crappie Anglers United (PCAU), for crappie fisher people and industry folks. It, too, has a great website and sponsors with big discounts on trucks, boats and other fishing-related industry partners.
You should join to experience the industry at its best. It includes how-to information and links to our ezines, CrappieNOW and CatfishNOW. Podcasts and newsletters are posted sometimes daily but no less than weekly.
If we join hands and passions for fishing, it will stay alive and well. If we want to retain access to our open waters and freedoms, we must unite.
Join and have fun!
God Bless,
Dan Dannenmueller, Publisher
