PRESS RELEASES

Mack’s Lure New Webmaster

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By Stan Fagerstrom

Al Neace would be a good guy to have around when you slide your net under a record-breaking walleye.

Why? Because when you get it off the Mack's Lure you caught it on you're going to want pictures of it. Few residents of Wenatchee, Washington have pointed a camera at more people and places than Al Neace has in that region for many years. Al, a native Washingtonian, is a photographer who specializes in shooting pictures of everything from weddings to football games and from family portraits and landscapes to photo restorations.

But that's not all Al Neace does. He's not one of those hapless individuals who tears his hear out and practices profanity when his computer goes haywire. He just goes ahead and fixes the darn thing. Photography, you see, isn't Al's only area of expertise. He's also a computer expert who specializes in Web design, graphic design and computer consulting.

"We wanted readers of our newsletter to know about Al, says Bob Schmidt, vice president of Mack's Lure, "because he recently joined us as our new webmaster. We're pleased to have someone with Al's impressive credentials join our team. You'll undoubtedly see evidence of his extensive computer and Internet related skills at the Mack's Lure Web site on down the road."

Neace obtained a BA degree from Eastern Washington University in 1974. He has continued his educational development ever since with a variety of photographic, computer and technology related courses. Some Wenatchee residents are certain to already be familiar with his name. That's because Al for a time hosted a Wenatchee radio program called "Tech Talk."

Prior to going into business for himself, Al was a computer training specialist for the Wenatchee Valley College Community and Professional Development Department. His expertise focused on teaching about everything from computers to real estate sales. He was also a computer instructor for the Business Information Technology Department at Wenatchee Valley College.

He has been an active member of the Wenatchee community and presently serves on the board of directors for the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, the North Central Community Network, the Greater Wenatchee Area Technology Alliance and the Cascade Foothills Farmland Association.

Like lots of the rest of us, Al Neace is a fisherman when his busy schedule permits him to be. Mostly he goes after trout or mackinaw. Occasionally he hits the Columbia or Snake Rivers of steelhead or salmon. I love to fish Hells Canyon, " he says, for winter steelhead."

Al and his wife, Cindy, have two daughters. Their names are Grace and Anna.

Welcome Aboard Al Neace!

Mack’s Lure Opens New Facility

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Mack’s Lure, makers of the famous “Wedding Ringâ” and “Glo Hookâ” fishing lure products, is pleased to announce that we have moved our offices and distributing facility from Leavenworth, Washington to Wenatchee, Washington.

Our new facility is slated to open February 28, 2005. The new location reflects our company’s continued growth in the fishing tackle industry, boasting an additional 1,200+ square feet of warehousing and distributing space, enabling our company to continue to provide fast shipping of quality products that anglers have enjoyed since 1969.

Says company President Ray McPherson, “We are seeing significant growth in new market places as well as our current areas of distribution.  This growth is a direct result of exciting new product lines supported by an incredibly dedicated group of pro-staffers around the country.”

In addition to the new facility, Mack’s Lure is pleased to announce a new line-up of fishing tackle products, which can be seen on our newly designed Web site at www.mackslure.com.

New mailing address & contact information:

Mack’s Lure Inc.

2514 Easy St.

Wenatchee, WA 98801

Telephone: 509-667-9202

Order Desk:  800-525-8737

Facsimile: 509-667-9896

Website:  www.mackslure.com

New Hot Wings ®

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New Hot Wings Grabs Attention Of Walleye & Kokanee Anglers

Don’t be surprised when you start hearing walleye, trout and kokanee anglers talking about the fish-catching qualities of the new Mack's Lure Hot Wings.  You may, in fact, already have.

So what’s the Hot Wings?  “We think it’s the lightest and most light reflecting attractor ever to hit the market,” says Ray McPherson, president of the Washington State based company.  “Our Hot Wings features two Mylar spinner blades that weigh only 1/10th of an ounce.  These lightweight blades turn at extremely slow trolling speeds or with the slightest water current.”

The original Mack’s Lure Flash Lite trolls have been on the market for some time.  Anglers who have used them know they have 80 per cent less drag than heavy metal blades.  They can be trolled without an extreme bend in your rod.  Fish don’t have to weigh a pound or more before you can tell for sure if you’re having a bite.  The new Hot Wings does that---and more.

“Actually,” McPherson says, “the idea for our new Hot Wings came from some very successful kokanee anglers in California.  They asked if we could come up with a smaller version of our Flash Lite trolls and that’s what we’ve done.”

But there’s more to the story.  The two Mylar blades of the Hot Wings attractor have reflective surfaces on both sides.  These blade counter rotate as they are pulled through the water.  That results in light being reflected in a 360-degree pattern that’s a cinch to get the eye of fish that are on the prowl for food.

“We found out fast how well our new Hot Wings works for walleye,” McPherson says.  “Dave Eichler, our manufacturing manager and his wife, Deborah, are ardent walleye anglers. They’ve already used the Hot Wings to take walleye of more than 12-pounds out of the Columbia River.”

Because the two blade Hot Wings is so light and easy to use it can be employed for a wide variety of angling purposes.  The flasher comes with swivels fore and aft.  All you need do is attach it to your line, hang the bait or lure of your choice out behind and you’re in business.  It’s also simple to “tune” the flasher’s two Mylar blades.  They can be bent at a wide angle for a slow spin or narrowed down for faster action.

“The counter rotating blades on the Hot Wings serve yet another purpose that might not be obvious at first glance,” McPherson says.  “Because its two blades turn in opposite directions they help cut down on line twist that’s so common where spinners are concerned.  The counter rotating blades, plus the swivels at the front and rear of the Hot Wings, prevent that kind of problem.”

The ultra light Hot Wings attractor is available in a variety of colors.  It figures experienced fishermen who employ spinners for fish-attracting purposes are going to want to take a look at this new Mack’s Lure product. 

That’s easy to do if you have access to the Internet.  The Mack’s Lure web site is at www.mackslure.com. 

Introducing Stan's Spin™

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The country’s anglers now have a chance to show the bass in their favorite river or lake something they’ve not seen before.

What is it?  It’s a brand new Pro Model version of the Mack’s Lure Stan’s Spin spinnerbait.  “We’ve been experimenting with prototypes of our new Pro Model Stan’s Spin for the past three years,” says Bob Schmidt, vice president of the Washington State tackle company based in Leavenworth.  “We’re thrilled with the results.”

The original Stan’s Spin was introduced several years ago.  The lure has a unique Mylar blade.  The lure’s lightweight blade turns at extremely slow speeds.  Its whirly helicopter style action on the fall is unlike anything else on the market.

“Our new Pro Model Stan’s Spin spinnerbait still has a Mylar blade,” Schmidt says.  “But it’s smaller than the original blade and has a reflective surface both front and back.  The smaller blade makes it much less likely for the blade to tangle with your line on the cast.

“And that’s just part of the story.  As easy turning as the original Stan’s Spin blade is it has very little vibration.  We’ve remedied that by adding a Colorado style blade just ahead of the Mylar blade.  The result is a lure with all the unique qualities of the original Stan’s Spin, but that now also has the thumping vibration of the metal Colorado blade.  The bass love it!”

Skilled spinnerbait anglers will recognize a couple of other new features.  One is a reduction in the bulk of the lure’s skirt.  Another is that the skirt now carries a few strands of Flashabou material.

”Drop the Pro Model Stan’s Spin into the water next to your boat and hop it up a couple of times,” Schmidt advises.  “If there’s sufficient light and good water visibility you’ll see the Stan’s Spin glitter and flash much like the movements of a quick moving minnow.”

The original Stan’s Spin was named after Stan Fagerstrom, a long time outdoor writer who specializes in bass fishing, and an internationally known trick & accuracy caster.  “Stan was deeply involved in the design and testing of our new Pro Model,” Schmidt says.  “Some of his testing of the lure was done at El Salto Lake in Mexico.   Ask him and he’ll tell you he used a prototype of the new Pro Model Stan’s Spin to hook one of the largest bass he’s ever had on at the renowned Mexican lake.  It came unpinned right at the boat.  But hold on!  Fifteen minutes later he hooked another on the same lure.  That one did wind up in the boat and weighed 10-pounds, 4-ounces.  We doubt there are many new spinnerbaits out there with that kind of a test record.”

Fagerstrom, Schmidt says, isn’t the only experienced angler who has used the new Pro Model Stan’s Spin to good advantage.  Others have done the same thing during its testing process.

“Research shows that bass do eventually get leery of lures they’ve seen ten thousand times,” Schmidt says.  “ Maybe that’s one of the reasons our testing of the new Pro Model Stan’s Spin has been so successful.  It’s a cinch the bass have never seen anything quite like it.”

Jim Grassi – Master Fishing Instructor
“The Most Prolific Fishing Educator in the West”
National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame – 2007 Inductee

The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame announced its short list of 2007 Inductees that will include Jim Grassi, a resident of Post Falls, Idaho.  This prestigious organization boasts of approximately 350 anglers who have been inducted into the museum rotunda since it started.   

The Hall project reposes on six, beautifully landscaped, acres of land strategically located adjacent to the City of Hayward in northwest Wisconsin in a high traveler traffic location and vacation destination region. It attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year for a nominal gate fee. A gateway building, a walk-through fish (Muskie) structure, and a four-building connected complex make up about 25,000 square feet of floor space for museum visitor traffic and displays

According to the Executive Director, Mr. Emmet Brown, “Jim was one of the most qualified candidates we considered this year.”  This award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on someone is the sport fishing community.   In a letter to Grassi, Brown states that, “Grassi’s selection was the result of our prestigious National Awards Committee’s wide-ranging search to find deserving individuals for induction.”  Grassi’s name was originally submitted by people like fishing legends like Al Lindner, Jimmy Houston, and Master Trick Caster Stan Fagerstrom.

The NFFHF was formed in 1960 and is the depository for fishing memorabilia, artifacts, equipment, and world records associated with every fresh-water species in the nation.  Anglers would be familiar with the recognition and fishing records program where meticulous records on verified catches of world-record freshwater fish are registered for various line weights.

Grassi’s name is holding court with only three other Idaho luminaries who were inducted:  Ernest Hemingway, Pat Mc Manus and Outdoor Life’s Editor Ted Trueblood.   In recognition of Grassi’s passion for using fishing as a way to connect with men about faith issues, Brown reminds us that, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

Jim’s contributions as a professional fisherman, fishery biologist, educator, television personality, and sports show celebrity were chronicled for the review committee and can be viewed on his ministries website at www.theoutdoorconnection.org 

“I’m both honored and humbled by the honor of being recognized by the NFFHF as a Legendary Communicator”, states Grassi. “Most of my fishing achievements were posted prior to 26 years ago when I became involved with the most important calling to any fisherman.  You might say it is ‘The Ultimate Fishing Challenge” issued by Jesus over 2000 years ago, ‘Follow me…And I will make you fishers of men’.  At the end of the day, the only record book I really care about is the one kept by our Master.

Grassi is the founder and president of the strategic international men’s ministry called Outdoor Connection.  He and his Coeur d’ Alene area staff seek to inspire, equip, and encourage men to know Jesus and make Him known through activity-based evangelism and dynamic resources that help build relational bridges with God, their families, and other men.  OCM’s primary focus is on helping pastors and men’s ministry leaders train, equip, and motivate their men to become vibrant warriors for faith. 
Grassi, his wife of 42 years, Louise, and their fisherman grandson, Tyler, will be taking a trip to Wisconsin this year to visit the hallowed halls of the world fishing rotunda and the tributes to many of the world’s best known fishermen are recognized.

Stan Fagerstrom Inducted into The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame