Press Releases

Bold New Fishing Gear “N GAGE” to Feature Take Me Fishing
The latest collection from industry leader South Bend targets new generation of young anglers

ALEXANDRIA, VA (July 15, 2009) Take Me Fishing™, the boating and fishing communities’ award-winning national campaign is joining forces today with South Bend®, a 100-year-plus fishing industry leader to launch a new product line called N GAGE®. Designed to engage a new generation of young anglers, the N GAGE® Outfitters® collection is a lifestyle brand that positions fishing as an exciting, extreme sport for youth. Announced today from the ICAST show floor, Take Me Fishing will be featured on the new N GAGE® collection and a portion of every product purchase will go towards the campaign that works to bring new anglers into the sport. 

“Take Me Fishing is committed to introducing boating and fishing to a new generation and this line of products will engage and motivate kids to spend more time outdoors,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “Their future fishing and boating purchases will not only sustain the industry but also contribute to the health of our waterways.” 

Aaron McAlexander, a ‘Take Me Fishing Master Caster’ at 23, will be the face of the “N GAGE® Nation.” McAlexander attended Purdue University where he studied fisheries and aquatic sciences and served as president of the school’s bass fishing club.  

“We are proud to partner with Take Me Fishing to bring this new line of gear to younger anglers,” said South Bend Vice President of Marketing Frank Bruno. “We want kids to visit TakeMeFishing.org and get excited about fishing and being out on the water. And Aaron is a natural fit for the new brand. He embodies the heart, spirit and soul of N GAGE and as much as he enjoys fishing, the idea of getting kids to go out and fish excites him even more.”
 

The 2010 N GAGE collection includes a first-of-its-kind three-piece rod/reel combo housed in an over-the-shoulder carrying sling, a two-piece seven foot rod/ reel combo, a messenger bag, baseball style hats, t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, various tools, canteens and collapsible net. The collection has an urban look that integrates distressed and weathered fabrics, buckles and rivets with worn, hand-illustrated graphics, all targeted to the extreme sports crowd. The look of the N GAGE® line is designed to reflect the independent, confident and active lifestyle that characterizes much of today’s eight to 21-year-old crowd. That same group is also a major consumer force, accounting for billions of dollars in annual purchases.
 

The centerpiece of the Take Me Fishing campaign is TakeMeFishing.org – the premier destination Web site for boaters and anglers to learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. TakeMeFishing.org earned national recognition with a 2009 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Bronze Anvil Award. The site currently has three million active visitors and hosts the social network “Fishington” - The Fishing and Boating Capital of the Internet. Fishington was recognized as a 2009 Webby Award Honoree for excellence on the Internet.

About South Bend
A family fishing tradition since 1906, South Bend® is a longtime industry leader with a reputation for providing quality fishing products at reasonable prices for novice and recreational anglers. South Bend® is constantly developing new products and innovations in order to provide a fresh offering. Their ultimate goal is to keep the popularity of fishing growing among enthusiasts and recreational anglers of all ages. To learn more, please visit south-bend.com.

About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers' Legacy™.

Contacts:
Heather Sieber (RBFF), 703-216-8938, hsieber@rbff.org
Frank Bruno (South Bend), 847-612-5020, frank.bruno@south-bend.com