Arkansas to host national fishing promo tour

info for story submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Arkansas will soon be the center of attention for writers and photographers who follow the sport fishing industry.

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism announced that they will help host a national outdoor media conference. “Arkansas: The State of Fishing,” takes place Nov. 15 -23, 201,0 in the Arkansas Ozarks and the Arkansas Ouachitas.

More than 20 nationally published writers and photographers will visit Arkansas in phases—possibly two to four at a time, with each group staying two or three days. In this way, each trip is personalized. Special arrangements for interviews with members of the local media can be made.

The event stretches from the Arkansas Ozarks to the Ouachitas with fishing events on Norfork Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, the White River and Lake Ouachita. The fishing tours include factory tours of Ranger Boats and the Outdoor Sportsman’s Gallery, trips to the Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery and the James A. Gaston Visitor Center, and special educational tours by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission including habitat building and electro-fishing for research purposes.

“Arkansas: The State of Fishing” is part media event and part corporate photo shoot for Frabill, Northland Fishing Tackle, and Marcum Underwater Cameras. It brings top fishing pro-staff, national writers, and the award winning photographer and videographer, Bill Lindner, son of the famed Ron Lindner and nephew of Al Lindner to Arkansas lakes and rivers. Photography will be used for promotional videos, press releases, freelance articles, retail displays, catalogs, and will be widely distributed throughout all sport fishing media channels.

“We are very excited about this as it is the first time these major fishing manufacturing companies have selected Arkansas for the backdrop of their promotional photo shoots and marketing campaigns,” Dena Woerner, communications manager for Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, said in a statement.
 
Noel Vick, President of Traditions Media and co-organizer of the event, provides insight as to why Arkansas was selected by fishing manufactures from the north.

“November is the time of year we’re between open water season and ice fishing. So from a media standpoint, we’re in limbo, unable to gather photography or shoot video,” Vick explained. “Having a southern partner like Arkansas affords us the opportunity to keep producing material in what we Midwesterners would otherwise call the “off season.”
 
Media members attending the event write for legendary publications such as In-Fisherman, Bassmaster, FLW Outdoors, North American Fisherman, Outdoors Canada, Outdoor Life, Game & Fish Publications (representing 20 unique state titles), Crappie World, Field and Stream, and numerous fishing designated websites including Wired2fish and Go Fishing.

Additional partners in the event include area fishing guides, Twin Lake and White River area businesses, Ranger Boats, Sysco Foods, Post Familie Winery, Wiederkehr Winery, Raimondo Winery, DeVito’s Restaurant and Bear Creek Springs Trout Farm. Blue Lady Resort in Gamaliel, Gaston’s White River Resort in Lakeview and Mountain Harbor Resort in Mount Ida will host the team of writers and prostaff.