carolinamike Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Has anyone heard of US Anglers Choice? These folks have emailed me several times now asking for donations. I'm kind of suspicious about this one, most places if you don't reply back, you don't hear from again. But these folks just keep asking. Maybe somebody could help shed the light on this organization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Well, I found a US Anglers Choice on the web, there even seems to various chapters (one in Southern Illinois) AnglersChoice.com, The Largest Team Bass Trail in the USA! and U.S. Angler's Choice Bass Tournament Trails, America's Largest Team Tournament Trail You may need to call 'em and tell 'em to stop. They seem like they real deal - MAYBE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jigslinger Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Never heard of 'em. Asking for donations is even more suspicious. Don't think I'd go anywhere near that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxfish Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Its for real. I fish the circuit here in Northern California. Owned by Mark Mendez who ownes Bass West Magazine, and a lot of tackle shops, the largest being Oroville Outdoors in Oroville Calif. I can't understand wanting donations thou as he has just about everything out there. But if he likes your stuff he might put it in his stores. When the Basstrix thing was on fire, he was the biggest supplier around for awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallie Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I have known of Anglers Choice for a number of years. As far as I know, they are legit. We had a trail in New Hampshire a while back. It sounds like a good way to get your baits in front of a bunch of tournament anglers. The exposure would be large. Something to think about anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Mark Mendez has more money than Davey Crocket (to quote Gump). He has no need for donations. If anything he should be giving the donations to worthey causes. He buys out every mom and pop shop and small lure maunfacutrer to corner every market and eliminate the competition. Sorry to vent but I do not like these practices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickcalderone Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Seems like the American way more and more these days...big fish eating the little fish...now, HUGE fish are eating the big fish...whats next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxfish Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Well your right Mr B, but some people feel the same way about Walmart. Thing is these mom and pop stores were not forced to sell. The guy he bought out in Oroville was filing for bankruptsy. He has a gold mine there now as every tournament on our lake has to pass that store and he's always open for them, plus most of the signups are done there. Mike, I'd say if you want to move some plastic, it wouldn't hurt to send some. Like him or not he moves a lot of baits and he knows a lot of people, plus you might get some space in his magazine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnie3035 Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Isn't this the same dude who wouldn't let you buy a pack of Basstrix from Bass Tackle Depot w/o purchasing the same amount in other tackle? Isn't this the same guy who is making bank selling Basstrix on Ebay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ifishutah Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 It's the same guy. They run pretty tight tournaments. Can't speak to knowing Mark Mendez, but there are some quality humans that are TDs here in Utah. If you want the skinny on U.S. Anglers Choice, i'd talk to one of the TD's. Basswest is a very legit magazine. PM me if you want information, but the Lake Powell Director is a good human and he'll tell you straight away what the "real" deal is. Here's a link to his trail and info. US Anglers Choice Official Homepage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jigslinger Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I did a little more research and yes they are legit. But, donations? Are we talking monetary or tackle? I still don't like the sounds of it. I buy a lot of my baits and tackle from the mom and pops stores. You have to respect a guy for going out and trying to make a few bucks against the "Big Box" stores. Pay a little extra to keep a small operation in business? Absolutely. Hand my hard earned money to those who already have? NO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ifishutah Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I don't know that it matters, but I really think this whole thread is a little jacked up. Once again, i'm fairly positive that you are only seeing half the story. Some of the responses here seem awful self-righteous to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinamike Posted April 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 OK guys here's more information. The gentleman asking for the baits name is Avery Poles. He says he is an assistant director with US Angler's Choice. His address is in Virginia. I did some checking and called the director of Region 4 which should be the Virginia area. I missed his call but he left a message saying that he had never heard of this person. He did say however, he would check at headquarters and see if anyone knows of him. The main reason for posting this is so if someone is out there just starting a website or just starting to sell baits might say, Wow this is a great way to get business. I'm an old hand at this so I always like to get as much information as possible before I make donations, exception being the Casting Kids. It being such a fine organization and someone asking on an open forum, I feel they're OK. I'm always glad to help someone out but it ticks me off to be taken advantage of. Thanks so much for the input. If anyone knows Avery tell him to PM me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I don't know that it matters, but I really think this whole thread is a little jacked up. Once again, i'm fairly positive that you are only seeing half the story. Some of the responses here seem awful self-righteous to me. You have to realize that a lot of us have had the "touch" put on us by lest than honest folks in the past. So you can't blame anyone here for being skeptical. You do have to admit that it seems a bit "off the wall" that a company with that type of background is asking for donations. Nova Lures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinamike Posted April 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Thanks Nova, we're just not familiar with US Angler's Choice in our area. We have 5 or 6 lakes within an hour of our house, Lake Norman and Wylie being a couple of them, and there's a whole lot of tournaments around. Angler's choice just doesn't seem to be in our area. The only thing I can figure is maybe this guy fishes tournaments and is trying to fish for freebies. I would have come closer to giving them to him if he would have asked me outright. But if he does turn out to be with Angler's Choice, I'll probably have to give up a few free baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I understand what you're saying. Seems to me he should have just come out and asked you man to man instead of trying to impress you with his connections. This approach just semmed to complicate and confuse the issue. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
